Rise, and Rise Again

It’s time for a bit of resurrection of our own. Were you forwarded this email? [Sign-up to Rude Awakening here.]( [Unsubscribe]( [The Rude Awakening] Rise, and Rise Again - This weekend is Easter weekend. - It’s time for a bit of resurrection of our own. - There’s no Rude this Good Friday or Easter Monday. Recommended Link [Angel Investor: Buy “The Ethereum Killer” Now!]( - Backed by a famous Shark Tank Investor - Processes 20,000 transactions per second (as opposed to Ethereum’s 13) - Gains Projection: 1,000% In 12 Months [Get The Full Details Here]( Sean Ring Editor, Rude Awakening It’s a fine Thursday here in Asti, and I can’t wait for the long weekend. The Rude is on holiday on Good Friday and Easter Monday - I’m claiming my European holiday privileges immediately - but I’ll be back on Tuesday. As Micah ran around with the local kids in the Piazza San Secondo this evening, the bells rang. It was 7 pm, so I quietly counted to myself the seven bells. It occurred to me that I hadn’t heard church bells in ages - not even in the Catholic Philippines. I don’t want to get overly misty about it, but hearing the bells clanging was just… nice. After gnawing on my white pizza - I can’t get enough of the stuff - I let the food, drink, and sounds wash over me. Since we’re supposed to be celebrating a resurrection this weekend, we may as well consider one for ourselves. I’m not a theologian, so I’ll leave the body and blood to your priest or other spiritual advisors. (Although I think Pascal had it right with his wager: if the only thing you need to do to get a glimpse of the Beatific Vision is to believe, then why not believe?) For this Rude, I’ll use philosophy rather than theology to make my point. The Ship of Theseus This is one of my favorite thought experiments and perhaps the oldest in metaphysics. From [Wikipedia]( The particular "Ship of Theseus" version of the thought puzzle was first introduced in Greek legend as reported by the historian, biographer, and essayist Plutarch: The ship wherein Theseus and the youth of Athens returned from Crete had thirty oars, and was preserved by the Athenians down even to the time of Demetrius Phalereus, for they took away the old planks as they decayed, putting in new and stronger timber in their places, insomuch that this ship became a standing example among the philosophers, for the logical question of things that grow; one side holding that the ship remained the same, and the other contending that it was not the same. — Plutarch, Theseus Plutarch thus questions whether the ship would remain the same if it were entirely replaced, piece by piece. Let’s loosely extend this concept to ourselves - and I’m not talking about body parts. But what about replacing the parts of yourself you think are substandard with better parts? For instance, you may not think you’re great with money. Is that a life sentence? Of course not! Just start learning what you need to know about investing better. Perhaps you’re not entrepreneurial enough in your own eyes? Start that side hustle you always wanted to. Maybe you’re not as in shape as you’d like to be… Start experimenting with ways to improve your physique. The point is that it doesn’t matter if Theseus’s Ship is the original. You know who you are - and there’s only one “you.” So if you replace your substandard characteristics with improved ones, you become a better version of yourself. And that’s all that matters. Tools in Your Toolbox The question is “how,” as in “How do I do that?” After many years of failing, I’ve happened upon the one surefire method of getting good at something. You must eliminate all other things you’re trying to get a hold of. For instance, I’d get excited about learning how to play chess. I’d buy loads of lessons and get started. Then I’d think, “I can learn to code.” And I’d start a few lessons. And then I’d think, “I bet I can learn the ukulele.” And I actually bought one once! Needless to say, I can’t play chess to save my soul. Nor can I code or play an instrument. It was too much, too soon. Take Steve Jobs’s advice on this, though he was talking about products: People think focus means saying yes to the thing you've got to focus on. But that's not what it means at all. It means saying no to the hundred other good ideas that there are. You have to pick carefully. I'm actually as proud of the things we haven't done as the things I have done. Innovation is saying “no” to 1,000 things. It works the exact same way with your goal. Pick one. Eliminate the rest for now. For instance, I’m only learning Italian for the next six months. Nothing else exists - except Pam, Micah, and the Rude. No other lessons or ideas, just learning Italian. It must be this way. Replace one plank of your ship at a time. Recommended Link [These weird devices are about to appear all over America]( [Click here for more...]( According to America’s top tech futurist – dubbed the “Tech Prophet” by Forbes – millions of these strange little devices are about to appear in every corner of our country… including your home. What are they? And why did one tech insider with connections to Apple and Microsoft claim they’ll “rewrite the rules of what’s possible?” [Click Here To Learn More]( Shifting Environments But one thing we all must do is be patient with ourselves, especially when it comes to the environment. One of the reasons I like living outside the major cities is that I experienced firsthand how impossible it is to save money while living in them. Warren Buffett says his first rule is “don’t lose money.” But here’s an ugly back-of-the-envelope calculation: If you’re paying out 30% in tax and costs rise 10% per year, you’re down 40% on January 1st. How can anyone get their heads above water when the math is against them? And that’s why it’s so important to be patient. While I’m all for elbow grease and persistence, the cards are stacked against everyone but the oligarchs, plutocrats, and public sector union employees. So be patient with yourself. Everything takes more time and costs more than you initially planned. Wrap Up I don’t mean to get preachy on this day before Good Friday, but I feel delighted and lucky, and I want to pass that on to you. The sky is the limit, though the government is trying to ban aspiration. It reminds me of Ferrari in Casablanca when he said to Laszlo, “I might as well be frank, monsieur. It would take a miracle to get you out of Casablanca, and the Germans have outlawed miracles.” Maybe that’s so, but one must circumvent the government when need be. And that time is now. I’ll leave you with this image from the movie Robin Hood (2010): Be a lion. And have a wonderful Easter weekend! All the best, Sean Ring Editor, Rude Awakening To sign up for the Wiggin Sessions, [click here.]( By clicking this link, you will receive a free subscription to Wiggin Sessions and offers from us and our affiliates that we think might interest you. You can unsubscribe at any time. [Privacy Policy](. [Whitelist Us]( | [Archive]( | [Privacy Policy]( | [Unsubscribe]( Rude Awakening is committed to protecting and respecting your privacy. We do not rent or share your email address. By submitting your email address, you consent to Paradigm Press delivering daily email issues and advertisements. To end your Rude Awakening e-mail subscription and associated external offers sent from Rude Awakening, feel free to [unsubscribe](. Please read our [Privacy Statement.]( If you are you having trouble receiving your Rude Awakening subscription, you can ensure its arrival in your mailbox by [whitelisting us.]( © 2022 Paradigm Press, LLC. 808 Saint Paul Street, Baltimore MD 21202. 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