In Part II of my book, Everyone’s Advice Is Wrong . . . Including Mine, I detail a ten-step guide that will unearth your spirit from the demoralization of the cubicle and help you realize there is more to life than 9-5 which has inexplicably become 9-6.
In Step 1: #EnjoyThePointsOfLife I discussed the necessity of leaving the every day for the unusual- now possible thanks to the Points101 directions.
In Step 2: Make Tuesday Humpday, I introduced how a simple nonconformist step can marginally increase your tolerance for the workweek while setting the cornerstone for your eventual departure. The novelty of this change will soon become unsatisfying.
During boring days at work I would stare out my office window hoping to catch a glimpse of the ocean. As a resident of Arizona, all I could see was the endless desert hindering my escape. To stop falling for the mirage of the 401k, I came up with a solution. Once again, travel and adventure were instrumental in advancing my cause. This time my desire for autonomy would take me to the Northern Lights of Alaska where a 26.2 mile journey lay ahead.
Here is a sample of Step 3: Be A Marathon Man
You’ve gained that nth pound of weight and have sworn off cake. Even overcoming Hump Day to enjoy Taco Tuesdays isn’t enough. More bad news: the 4th of July has passed and your next day off isn’t until Labor Day. Flustered, you check your bank account and wonder how you could ever consider quitting with so little saved up and so many bills due.
The next step is to begin the journey of finding strength within yourself.
It was the end of May 2012 when I was map making as general minimal counsel as an employee of ‘Baidu Maps’ (the Chinese equivalent of Google Maps) as I had coined it. Out of the blue, Brent emailed me, irritated that his coworkers had asked him to run a relay marathon, where each member of the group runs a leg as part of a team building exercise.
I replied, “Marathon you say? How hard can it be to run a marathon? I think I will sign up.” A few hours later, I registered for the Moose Tooth Marathon scheduled for mid-August in, of all places, Anchorage, Alaska. I figured if I’m going to run my first marathon, why not do it somewhere adventurous. Also, I had read there was the distinct possibility of seeing moose or bears on the trail. What could be more motivating than a giant bear chasing after me when I hit the wall?
I’m not trying to sound profound when I state that the journey of training, running, and completing a marathon is analogous to the journey of life but in many ways it is. When I signed up for the race, I naïvely thought I would receive support and encouragement. Quite the opposite; friends, family, and strangers alike all had doubts about whether I could finish. Even the prick guy who sold me my running shoes let me know that completing a marathon with less than 12 weeks of training was unrealistic. I am not sure what the motivation was behind their skepticism but I used it to keep me focused during the ups and downs.
Running a full marathon is not a steadfast requirement for completing this step. Feel free to try your luck at a triathlon if you wish. I am partial to the marathon because I believe that anyone can run a marathon and finish. Even if you finish in 6+ hours, you finished. This is an accomplishment of a lifetime that will solidify belief in yourself and erase all doubts of whether you can conquer any future challenge.
The full details of the taxing marathon training and race are described in great detail in the book. But for the sake of summary, here are the takeaways from the Steps covered thus far.
Step 1: Vacation
Step 2: Alteration
Step 3: Elation
The real fireworks begin in Step 4: Scorch The Bridge.
How Hard Can It Be to Run a Marathon?
The Ugly Hungry American
Wikipedia, my only source of reliable information, states that ‘Ugly American’ refers to perceptions of loud, arrogant, demeaning, thoughtless, ignorant, and ethnocentric behavior of American citizens abroad.” Nothing is worse than being told “Oh, you must be American,” in this context. To that end, I try to be more self-aware of my behavior so as to not perpetuate the stereotype.
And sometimes I just don’t care. As part of my MBA, I had the opportunity to study for a semester in Prague, the Czech Republic. Czechs have recently taken the title for highest consumption of beer per capita from Germany. In an effort to assimilate to the local culture, I increased my intake of this wonderful beverage. One night, a few friends of mine were on a social venture when hunger struck. As Americans with discerning tastes for the finest of foods, we made our way to a restaurant that has the most superb hamburgers in all of the world- McDonald’s.
Not sure how the conversation began but a friend of mine bet my classmate that he could not finish two large Big Mac meals. Entranced by the smell of golden, crispy McNugetts , I proposed my own wager: four Big Macs in 15 minutes. The only stipulated term: I could have one large Coke.
We placed our order and calmly took our seats. I mentally prepared myself for this great life challenge as my friend calibrated his stopwatch. He yelled “Go!” and I dove in. What my betting friend did not account for is that I am a pupil of Takeru Kobayashi, once an unstoppable force in the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Competition.While a rookie would try to eat each Big Mac, one at time, I knew better. Instead, I quickly separated beef from bun and proceeded to dip the bread into the Coke and consume the patty on its own.
Everyone at the table was laughing hysterically witnessing one of my life’s crowning achievements. Down went two all-beef patties, down went two more. I vaguely recall tasting the special sauce, lettuce, cheese, and let me tell you, there’s nothing like a sesame-seed bun drenched in Coke.
“Time?” I yelled out. “Four minutes,” my friend replied. At that point, it wasn’t the hunger that was making this endeavor challenging, it was trying to not choke on my food as I could not stop laughing. I glanced over at my friend who was making headway with his Big Mac meals and knew it was time to get serious. More chow, less stops, I told myself.
Well ahead of schedule, I took my time finishing up the last Big Mac, grinning proudly at what I had just accomplished.
Challenge: Four Big Macs in 15 minutes.
Result: Four Big Macs in 7 flat.
Our antics had attracted the ire of locals who gave us the dirtiest of looks. They were far from amused at how loud we were being, perplexed as to how we could have such poor etiquette in this fine-dining establishment.
‘Ugly Americans’ or uptight anyones? You can decide. Either way, it made for a great story.
The Big House: Now Playing Euro Soccer
If you’ve read any of my blog you know that I went to the University of Michigan for undergrad and am a huge Michigan fan for basketball, football, and field hockey. 
Michigan Football, the winningest program in college football plays at the Big House in Ann Arbor, Michigan home to 109,901 fans. The Ten Year War with our neighbor to the south is nothing short of legendary.
But, this is not a post about Michigan Football, this is a post about European Football. On August 2, 2014 Real Madrid will play Manchester United at the Big House, a spectacle that should set the all time attendance record for a soccer game in the United States. My guess is the previous best record was the 1994 World Cup when my favorite player Roberto Baggio kicked the ball over the net in a penalty shootout allowing Romario and Brazil to beat Italy at the Rose Bowl. So if you’re looking for a reason to finally come to the Great Lakes State besides some of the best after-hours food then come experience the great city of Ann Arbor and the incomparable Big House for what surely will be a memorable event. It is always funny when traveling abroad to ask locals what the largest stadiums are in the world. Without hesitation, most assume that it is a soccer stadium and are baffled when I tell them that the Big House, home to an amateur football team, is #3. Do you know which ones are #1 an #2?30 Days to Maldives: Step 4
Step 4 is where things get serious. Armed with a 787 credit score across the board, no credit card debt, the realization that living for 30 years at one residence is not within the cards, and abiding by the oath to never hoard points, you are ready to move on to Step 4: The First Churn. First, please read the following disclaimer (taken from the book of course): #ThePointsOfLife Legal Disclaimer: Only those that are disciplined with their finances should partake in this hobby. Otherwise, you may find yourself submerged in credit card debt, staying for free in a double room that will certainly not have a view of the ocean but may have a complimentary gym. Copyright 2014 #ThePointsOfLife™. All Rights Reserved. Question 1: What’s the fastest way to earn points? – Answer: By applying for credit cards with sign up bonuses, meeting the minimum spend requirements to obtain those bonuses, then strategically shifting your spending habits to the cards that earn the most valuable points per transaction*. o What is a minimum spend requirement?
- Cards require you to spend a certain amount of money in order to receive the bonus. Sometimes it can be $3000 in 3 months, other times it can be 1 penny!
- Note: If the card charges an annual fee up front that fee does not count towards your minimum spend.
- American Express
- Bank of America
- Barclays
- Chase
- Citi
- U.S. Bank
- There are others including Capital One and Discover but for now I am going to focus on those with the most lucrative offers.
- While you still may be approved by Bank D, it isn’t worth the hassle of explaining to the bank why you are applying for so many cards.
- Example: I don’t really need a new 70” LED TV but I do have to hit this minimum spend. Yes, I can rationalize that this is a normal purchase.
- No you cannot!
- Personally, I have followed that guideline and have never been rejected for applying for another card too soon.
- I will get into the specifics of when you can break this rule at a later time.
- Remember those 6 cards you applied for (one per bank)? Each application resulted in an inquiry on one or more of your credit reports: Experian, Equifax, or Transunion. Credit inquiries initially lower your credit score by 1-2 points per inquiry. That is not a good thing. (See Step 2: FICO graph.)
- But, ironically, after you receive those cards, meet the minimum spend, and pay off the balance in full (See Step 1: Credit Card Debt Not Allowed) your credit card may actually rise higher than where it began.
- Your credit score must recover to or surpass where it began before commencing the next churn.
“You can get anything you want here.”
Singapore is a country of rules.
Rule #1: No fun*.
You can’t do anything in Singapore: no gum chewing, no jaywalking, and certainly no illicit behavior of any kind.
Did you notice the asterisk?
Singapore is a country of illusions. On the surface, all seems calm, clean, and cultured. On the surface, everything is chaotic.
Welcome to Singapore, a country of no rules.
“You can get anything you want here,” the taxi driver told me on the way to dinner.
He was talking about all the delicious food of course.
Food:
Singapore is my favorite place in the world to eat. Forget formal dining, check out the food hawker stalls is a must to experience Singapore’s diverse food selection.
Your first stop should be Maxwell Food Centre for some chicken satay and delicious Hainan chicken rice.
Politics
“You can get anything you want here.” Those words played in my head again as I entered the Brix bar at the Grand Hyatt Singapore. Brix is a unique wine cellar bar located right off of Orchard Road in the heart of big little Singapore.
What makes the bar unique is how friendly all the nonlocal women were not to mention the multiple offers I received to enjoy party favors. This can’t be going on in Singapore, can it?
After heading to the infamous Orchard Towers better known as the ‘Four Floors of [INSERT WORD RHYMING WITH STORES] my suspicions were confirmed: You can get anything you want here.
While it was all illegal and presumably you will get caned if you are arrested, it was mind boggling that in a country so known for its harsh rules, that everything, was taking place virtually out in the open.
Conclusion
When I arrived in Singapore, I knew I had to be on my best behavior. This was a strict country with zero tolerance for rule breakers.
Two days later, I learned a valuable lesson that would be reinforced time and time again when I traveled to other ‘strict’ countries: all of it is an illusion.
Singapore is 274.1 sq miles in size. I’d assume it wouldn’t be difficult for the authorities to know what goes on in these establishments yet somehow, tourists are given a pass to do what they please so long as they are reasonably discrete.
To be clear, the message isn’t ‘if you’re looking for a good time go to Singapore’, the message is don’t believe everything you read, no matter where you go.
Desensitized by the ‘rules’, the next day I decided to jaywalk while chewing gum at the same time.
You’re Nobody until Someone Likes You [On Facebook]
![You’re Nobody until Someone Likes You [On Facebook]](https://thepointsoflife.boardingarea.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/hf3012.jpg "You’re Nobody until Someone Likes You [On Facebook]")
How did Dean Martin way back in 1960 know that social media would become so popular?
It’s been two weeks of me ‘blogging, tweeting, tweaking, and Facebooking,” and let me tell you it’s exhausting.
Hitting refresh on my Facebook page just to see if my Like count has gone up has me a little worried that I may be losing it. Likewise, feeling the rush from a retweet or favorite on Twitter makes me question my sanity.
But I’d be lying if I didn’t say I wasn’t enjoying it. Perhaps the angry, old professor is warming up to social media. I’m already planning a celebration for when me and A-Rod enter the 800 Home Run Club.
Then I’ll know that “You like me, you really like me.”
Step 2: Make Tuesday Humpday
We are well on our way learning how to Step 1: Enjoy #ThePointsOfLife.
As I stated in this post, the points game is only Step 1 out of 10. Now it’s time to preview Step 2 of my book, Everyone’s Advice Is Wrong . . . Including Mine, which tells you how to make a change to your current routine today.
Fitting that I am posting this on a Tuesday evening right before tomorrow’s workday.
Without further adieu I give you Step 2: Make Tuesday Hump Day
Although you can now overindulge on steak and wine by heading to Buenos Aires, Argentina (EZE) with a stopover in Mendoza (MDZ), Enjoying your #PointsOfLife to get you there, you eventually (one week later) have to return to your cubicle where your coworkers do not care to hear about, nor can they relate to, your travel exploits. With each trip, the confines of the cubicle grow more and more intolerable. Fear not, by Step 10, your former life will provide you with comic relief.
Preview ended: No worries, all ten distractions will be outlined in the book.
Pre-order link coming soon.
30 Days to Maldives: Step 3
An excerpt from Everyone’s Advice Is Wrong demonstrates how this will become your points problem:
How do you earn these points? The idea is simple and legal. You can earn points in a number of ways including flying to the four corners of the globe to gain preferred airline status, staying in a ton of hotel rooms to qualify for free suite upgrades, or, by buying one too many [Michigan] teddy bears during a 1-800-FLOWERS Valentine’s Day points promotion.
If that is not economically viable, consider racking up millions of points from the comforts of being ‘in couch’.
All you need is the following:
– A dial-up internet connection
– An excellent credit score
Then:
– Apply for an award credit card once a quarter.
– Meet the minimum spend requirement for that card.
– Patiently wait for the points to accumulate.
It’s that simple.
Before you get all the points in the world appreciate that Step 3 is a preemptive measure whereby you make a commitment to not hoard your points. This is known as Churn ‘n’ Burn. Looking at your points in a pretty Excel document that you have spent too much time at work creating is worthless when all of a sudden it costs twice as much to go somewhere than it would have had you not been so emotionally attached to your points.
I too used to have this problem and would spend all my time looking at my snazzy collection of points. See Exhibit below:
#10: Red Light Pho: Amsterdam, Netherlands
Right next to the organic coffee shops that line the streets and only steps away from the welcoming women of the skinny alley of the Red Light District is Amsterdam’s Chinatown. Fresh Peking Duck is on display in all the windows tempting the Pho seeker to give up his quest of finding that perfect bowl by settling for an enticing substitute.
Having made it past all the bland döner kebap shops that are an absolute waste of money and all the aforementioned distractions along the way, I find the only Vietnamese restaurant in the area. Mind you, I have been to Amsterdam many times but always neglect to take note of two things: 1) the restaurant is only open for dinner 2) where exactly the restaurant is located. I guess writing down the name would help.
Regardless, half the fun of visiting the Red Light District is navigating through landmarks that aren’t really landmarks:
“Oh I think you go over two bridges down one alley then past the first coffee shop next to the girl in the window and it should be on your left hand side. If you’ve gone past three churches, you’ve gone too far.” In this case, I believe to get to the Vietnamese restaurant you go left down the first street of Chinatown and it should be on your right hand side after the awful sushi spot.
When you do finally find the Pho restaurant take note, if you are on a stopover to another city that you still have to weave your way back through the maze, out of the District, across the street to the train station, and back to the airport, all the while trying to keep a straight face when answering questions from the customs agent regarding the overindulgence you just experienced.
As far as the pho is concerned, I worked up such an appetite trying to find the place that I really didn’t’ spend too much time savoring each spoon. Instead, I proceeded to scarf down the bowl to quell my suddenly insatiable appetite.
From what I do remember, the pho was quite good.
Because of the great adventure, Amsterdam Pho comes in at #10.
I am not drinking fucking Merlot!
