I just watched a talk about Happiness by Professor Srikumar S. Rao and Loved how simple/right on his concept of happiness is!

This talk intrigues me because of how we deal with happiness day in and day out and what the majority of us thinks creates ‘real’ happiness.
We put conditional elements of happiness into a little imaginary box (This box could include any number of things; A new job, getting married, a promotion at work, the house our dreams, the perfect vacation, etc.) and we say to ourselves, “If only I can get that little box (no matter the time or sacrifice), then I will be truly happy”.

I don’t believe that the statement above is totally negative, we should have goals, dreams and ambitions…but these obtainables shouldn’t be the definition of Happiness in our lives.
We need to learn how to be happy, even if we have nothing ’special’ to speak of.

When happiness is dependent on the if/then statement, we set ourselves up to live an unfulfilling & depressing life…Be careful, because this could be a very poisonous mindset!
Let your daily happiness drive you to be a better & more full person.
Have an Awesome Day!
~Chais Meyer

[There is an update at the Bottom of this Post]

I was recently loaned an Audiobook called “Adventures in Creative Thinking” By Mike Vance. This particular Audiobook is a set of 6 cassette tapes, not CDs or an .mp3 file, making it very challenging to listen to if you don’t own a cassette tape player…I don’t know if you know this, but iPhones, iPods and most computers don’t have a cassette tape slot! You probably knew that

The last time I listened to a cassette tape was probably about 5-7 years ago. So, in order for me to listen to this highly recommended Audiobook, I would either have to convert these tapes to .mp3s or listen to all 6 of them on a tape player. I decided to convert this Audiobook Set into a single .mp3 file. Easier said than done…

After about 4 hours of searching for my old tape player, and having no luck finding it, I decided to search for this book on the internet…ARE YOU KIDDING ME? NO DIGITAL COPY OF THIS AUDIOBOOK AVAILABLE ON THE WEB…NOT EVEN TO PURCHASE!?!

I started doing a little investigating and found the company that made this Audiobook, here’s a link to their website: http://www.creativethinkingassoc.com/
“OK, now I’m getting somewhere”, or so I thought. They have a online store with all of their Audiobooks (15+ published books) but NO .MP3s!

Whether this was right or wrong, I noticed an opportunity to help a company upgrade their products and possible make a little money for myself in the process. So here’s what I did:

1. I went to Audible.com to see what the procedure is to submit published Audiobooks for digital distribution and possible resale on their website. I don’t see any actual instructions, just an email address that I can send my questions to…so I write them an email.
2. The email to Audible.com is copied below (I sent a copy to Audible.com and a copy to ‘Creative Thinking Association of America’ The creaters of this book) :
   “Hello Audible.com,
   My name is Chais Meyer and I’m writing for ‘Creative Thinking Association of America’.

   I am currently in no way connected to ‘Creative Thinking Association of America’, but I would like to assist them with the conversion of their Audiobooks to the proper digital formats to possibly be distributed and sold by Audible.com.

   ‘Creative Thinking Association of America’ currently has 15+ Complete and Published Audiobooks that involve creative thinking and entrepreneurial mindsets. These books have made a dramatic impact on myself and my business partners, and we would love the rest of the world to be able to have access to these Audiobooks in a digital Audible file format. I believe that this conversion will allow ‘Creative Thinking Association of America’ to earn additional revenue from their Audiobooks by being converted and sold with your proprietary digital format (I view your company as The Premium Audiobook Resource) .

   I do not have permission to act legally on Creative Thinking Association of America’s behalf, I am only doing investigative work to make this process as smooth as possible for them, if they do indeed decide to convert their Audiobooks into a digital Audible format. Can you please direct me to any/all page(s) or document(s) that explains the specifications and/or requirements needed for converting Audiobooks to the proper digital format? I would like to have a clear answer for this company of how these processes would work. If there is anything else they should know (contract documents, etc.) I would love to provide them with any appropriate literature that will help them understand this process and get everything moving in the right direction, if they choose to do so. I believe that their knowledge and experience needs to be spread to the world.

   Thank you very much for you help and I look forward to hearing from you.
   Chais Meyer
   (mobile) 402-419-1202
   (email) meyer@threedotinc.com
   (twitter id) twitter.com/chaismeyer “
   

3. I wait for either a good or a bad answer…nothing yet!

I do realize that this could be seen as presumptuous and/or very forward on my part (because I was not given permission to contact Audible.com). But I see such a huge need for any existing published Audiobooks to be converted and sold in a digital format. I mean, we’re in a day and age where portable audio is a standard thing and if your books aren’t in the format to reach the masses, they most likely WON’T reach the masses. Sounds logical anyway.

I don’t know whether this action will be good or bad in the long run, all I know is if you’re trying to run a business in ‘Today’s Business World’, you need to follow suite and sell what people are buying.
Who knows…Maybe this will be the start of a business that converts everybody’s old Audiobooks to the new standard Digital format, and maybe for all my hard work and forwardness, I’ll get a percentage of every online sale (Crossing my fingers). Whatever ends up happening, I know that if I didn’t have the balls to help this company make a change, I would never see any positive benefits!

Be Courageous, Daring, and Spontaneous, and if need be…be ballsy enough to tell others they need to change for today! (Just understand that change can be difficult and scary for certain people)

We’ll see where this goes from here.
Have an Awesome Day!
~Chais Meyer

[Update 3-18-2010 :: I received an email from Diane Deacon, President of Creative Thinking Association of America and it's listed below ]

Hi Chais,

Thank you for your letter and call.  We are glad to know that our Creative Thinking products have helped you be even more creative!

We are working on getting some of our audio programs into proper digital formats.  We will let you know when they will be available.

Keep the Creative Juices Flowing!!!

Sincerely,

Diane Deacon
President

…is an amazing line in the film “Lemonade“.

It is so true that we can take what life throws our way and just see negative side affects. If we look deep enough into our individual situations we WILL find good.
In fact, the good will very much out way the bad, after we get over the initial shock!

If you can, please take 35 minutes, and watch this inspirational film about turning Lemons into ‘Lemonade’!
It’s worth missing one of your favorite TV episodes for.

Live with Passion & don’t forget what you love!
Have a great Day!
~Chais Meyer

Resources from the Film:

• The Lemonade Website: (for additional details about the movie) http://www.lemonademovie.com/
• The Male Copywriter Website: http://www.malecopywriter.com/
• Please Feed the Animals Blog: http://www.pleasefeedtheanimals.com/
• Red Eye Roasters Website: http://www.redeyeroasters.com/

Think about reading your favorite book, watching your favorite movie, riding your favorite carnival ride and now think about adding additional enjoyable senses to these experiences and how it could possibly alter them (ie. your favorite smell, taste, music, etc.).

I just experienced this today as I was reading a free e-book (What Matters Now) by one of my favorite authors, Seth Godin, and listening to one of my favorite musical artists (Explosions in the Sky - Album “The Earth Is Not A Cold Dead Place“).
Seth Godin by himself is always a good read, but while adding the very emotional experience of ‘Explosions in the Sky’ at the same time, this was a completely different than just a book itself. A very positive difference!

The gracefulness of the music amplified the emotion of the book, making me feel like I was connected to every word that flowed from the author. Intense, overwhelming, and touching!

I challenge you to try this for yourself. Choose two separate things that you love (they need to entertain at least 2 different senses) and experience them at the same time. Take some time, soak it in and enjoy.

Until next time, have an Awesome Day!
Chais Meyer

After a recent technological disaster, I realized that there really is a HUGE difference between skill and luck (and I’ve been lucky A LOT).

I took on a project for a local Doctor and I came up severally short! I was asked by this doctor to JailBreak his iPhone (allowing it to work on a competitor to AT&T’s phone network)…
This is normally no big deal and I’ve ALWAYS come out ahead on technology projects like this, without a flinch! To help somebody Jailbreak their iPhone, I charge $150 for the knowledge, actually  JailBreaking it, and filling in the voids that Jailbroken software has for the iPhone; I make them work like they should.

For people that understand technology, especially when it comes to iPhone Jailbreaks, this is NOT a very complicated task. The really smart people out there are the ones that come up with the Jailbreaking software in the first place, guys like me just use their knowledge to benefit from (of course I am actually providing a good service to people that don’t feel comfortable doing it to their phones in the first place).

So why did I find out that there’s such a big difference between skill and luck? Well, I’ve always taken for granted the skills that goes into creating this Jailbreaking software (A new jailbreak is created every time a new version of the iPhone software comes out…that’s how it works, they stay in sync). I’ve always assumed that whenever a new version of the iPhone software comes out, there will always be people smarter than Apple and they will go ahead and create a iPhone fix for us everyday folk.
On this day, my mindset was no different and I decided to upgrade this customer’s iPhone to the latest Apple Software. I figured that a Jailbreak had already been created and it would be pud for me to go to the next step. I upgraded the iPhone to 3.1.3 and then proceeded to look for the matching Jailbreak software…I started having trouble finding the appropriate software I needed, so I dug a little deeper. Before I knew it, I’d been researching on the internet for 2 hours for a fix and I realized a fix DOESN’T EXIST!

No problem right? I can just undo what I’ve done and go to an older version of this fix…right? WRONG! This particular iPhone software upgrade changes things inside the phone that CAN NOT be undone! THERE IS NO FIX OUT THERE! Even the biggest brains in the iPhone tech world are saying that they’re not sure if this version of the iPhone software will ever be able to be Jailbroken.

What does this mean to me? What does this mean for this Doctor who put the fate of his iPhone in my hands?
It means that I fucked up…big time! I made a completely Rookie mistake by upgrading the iPhone before knowing if there was a fix out there! This Doctor CAN NO LONGER use this $600 phone for an unknown amount of time…it is essentially an iPod now. All because I thought I was skilled in iPhone Jailbreaks, because I’ve never messed before, I thought I was invincible!

At that moment I realized there’s a BIG difference between Skill & Luck!
I had been extremely lucky at every point until that moment. Luck, that relied on other peoples skill to make the impossible possible!

I still am not able to fix this guy’s iPhone, and I don’t know if I will ever be able to. I may have to buy this $600 piece of equipment from him (because I jumped the gun on a very simple thing)!
I learned a very important lesson that day, Never jump into something just because you haven’t failed at it before…Make sure to do your research, which allows you to under promise and over deliver!

Please learn from my mistake(s): Know what you’re talking about and know what process goes into accomplishing ‘your goals’…before you find yourself in a sticky situation!

Thanks for reading and hopefully learning!
Have an Awesome Day!
~Chais Meyer

This past year I’ve been doing contract labor (creating/building an educational system and identity) for a local electronics business that I used to work at, called Computer Hardware (while we’ve been building our own businesses). I’ve done what I was brought on board to do and now I’m going on my way again.

‘Going on my way again’ seems to be a little more scary this time than it was the first time. I’m not exactly sure why…maybe it’s because I’ve become accustom to the monthly paychecks that I’ve been getting for my services. Or maybe because I’m thinking like every other employee again (ARGH…) & I’m scared to leave a “secure” job to rely 100% on myself.

It appears to me that the ‘employee mentality’ creates a sense of fear & stagnancy that needs to be broken away from in order to enjoy life to the fullest (for me anyway). When I rely on an outside business (not my own) as the source for my main income, I forget to push/challenge myself to be the best I can be. I become ‘comfortable’ with how things are, and it becomes nerve wracking to walk away from the easy money.
Why do I call it ‘easy money’? Because, working for someone else (even as a contract employee) I get paid even during the shitty months when the business may not make a profit; it’s the owners responsibility to come up with the money for his employees!
What happens when I have a shitty month with my own businesses? I go hungry or I don’t pay my bills on time! A little different way of thinking & living.

Since I’m going to be relying solely on myself again, I need to take a new look at my life and prioritize which businesses will provide me with actual monthly Cashflow and which businesses are a good idea for the future (AKA. Time suckers that provide no cheddar right away). Don’t worry, I’ll share this with you!

This new phase of business has happened before and I’m on Round #2, with more experience, knowledge, and determination than ever before. Now is the time that I need to prove to myself that I can apply everything I’ve learned and fought for to become more successful than ever.

Bring it on Round #2, Just Be Gentle!

Believe in yourself and make the best of EVERY situation, even if that means working 12-16 hour days to make it happen (I most likely will be…).

Have an Awesome Day!
~Chais Meyer

The other day I watched this movie (more like a documentary) about life and what we believe because we are sheep.

I am not expressing my personal opinion of what I feel about this video (I don’t want to taint your own thoughts about it), but I will say that the one crucial thing I got out of it is “Challenge Life”.

The majority of us act as if we are sheep in this world of decisions, we follow others because determining our own thoughts takes more time than we want to spend and what if we’re wrong? Look at everything you thought you knew to be the standard or norm and ask yourself…

• Why is this thing the standard?
• Could it be looked at in a different way?
• What else in my life could I believe in because others have guided me that way?
• Do the details matter, or just the main belief?

I’m not going to lie to you and say this video is quick to watch (it’s about 2 hours) or that it’s easy to choke down (it challenges everything we’ve grown to trust and know). I will say, if you watch this video with an open mind you will be able to pick out pieces that may impact you in your daily life.
[Caution Note: If you're happy with your life and believing what you believe as TOTAL truth, don't watch this video...if you do, you will see it simply as Propaganda.]

If you can take the time, watch it and push your mind to new limits.

Have a Great Day!
~Chais Meyer

Okay…I tried to give some ‘Constructive Criticism’ on Facebook tonight (maybe that was my first mistake…talking to people), and it didn’t really go so well. I got a simple minded, fast typing (I know it was fast because so many words were misspelled), fast to shoot & slow to ask questions response back from the guy. I will not mention his name, but I will show you the messages that were sent. I really want to know your thoughts, was I out of line?

My message to him (Sent at 9:56PM) ::

Hello (Person not to be named),

This is Chais Meyer. I wanted to write you to ask a favor from you/give you some advice, I’ve received a request to become a fan of Tri-City Delivery Co. for about 3-4 weeks in a row. I LOVE business and I also LOVE social networking, but for me it is very challenging when the two get mixed together (it is what Seth Godin talks about in the book “Meatball Sundae”). I would appreciate it if you would stop suggesting that I become a fan of Tri-City Delivery Co.
Frankly, it gets pretty annoying having it show up in my email. If I believe in Tri-City Delivery Co., as a business I should become a fan of, I will do it on my own. Fans are not people that should get their arms twisted until they give in…they are people that will bend over backwards to make your company better…because they believe in you until the end.

I’ve almost lost a few friends by doing the same thing you are with Tri-City Delivery Co. So, if I can give you a word of caution/advice, don’t make the same mistake I did by trying to push business in a place where friends meet. Please read the book “Meatball Sundae”…it will help explain both sides.

Thank you very much,
Chais Meyer
(c) 402-419-1202

There are so many times that I wonder “What if…”, or “What would happen if…” about certain things, apparently the guys at College Humor think the same way.
I’m not sure if weed was involved or not in their thought process, check out this video! [Warning: Kids may need to leave the room because of the gore! Hahaha...]

~Chais Meyer

I’ve often wondered to myself if it would be possible to start a business that just sells business ideas.

I am in love with the thought process of our current market (whenever the market changes) and what types of businesses could succeed within it. I like to push the envelope with outrageous business ideas just to see if they would work, as well as solving solutions to common everyday problems.

I’ve started an idea list of possible businesses and possible products that could and help and/or entertain people. I don’t have enough minutes (or energy) in one day to accomplish all of these ideas at one time…so, they remain on the list.

Now here comes the questions:

• What if I could sell these ideas?
• What if I could provide a single person (that has time and money) with the ins and the outs of my business idea and the ways that they could attempt to make it successful?
• Could I sell these business ideas?
• How much could someone make on a business idea?
• Could I give the idea away and get royalties on any success that was made because of it?
• How would I build my reputation to the point where people who don’t even know me, know I have a money making idea that they would be willing to buy and run by themselves?
• Would it be more advantageous for me to hire my own team of people that would essentially facilitate and operate all of my ideas for me?
• If I sell an idea to someone with money, would they be capable of making it successful? After all, they couldn’t think of this idea…
• Is there a business model out there like this already that I don’t know about?
• If so, how did they get things started?
• Is it worth selling ideas? I mean if they benefit society they shouldn’t just be sitting on my notepad, should they?
• Could I give the ideas away (open source) and have them benefit others without myself getting any $$ or recognition?
• What should I do?

As you can see, I have a bunch of questions and would love to have answers for them, What are your thoughts?

Just a bit to think about…Let’s make something happen with unused ideas!

Keep pushing your mind to the limit, nothing is unattainable!
Have a Great Day!
~Chais Meyer