Inputs And Outputs

Yesterday I watched a movie I wish I hadn’t. From the very first minute I knew I’m not going to like it. How?

Well, imagine this, the first scene was of three very young farm boys and a little pig. The youngest of them was convincing themselves to shoot the pig with his pistol and the other two were sitting on the fence, watching in disbelief.

The next few moments back and forth scenes of the youngster looking super uncomfortable and unable to pull the trigger and the poor little pig trying to escape

After a minute, the two older brothers got off the fence, took the pistol from their younger brother, and shot the pig.

I wanted to stop the movie right there as I was almost sure it’s not going to get any better than that. And guess what? It hasn’t.

The entire movie was violent; filled with injustice, criminality, and outright brutality.

The only reason I kept watching was out of politeness let’s say, as my wife and brother were also watching.

But now here’s the sad part: A HUGE part of cinema today is just like that! Filled with guns, backstabbing, and violence.

For example, there’s a new Jason Statham movie coming out this year, called Wrath Of Man. Don’t get me wrong, I think Jason is a brilliant actor! He’s one of my favourites!

At the same time, after seeing the official trailer, where in less that three minutes probably over 30 people were killed, I think I’m going to skip watching this film.

Now, it’s probably important to mention that this isn’t me creating a bubble of sorts between myself and reality. No, not at all. For one, this film isn’t reality, it’s cinema. Two, I know there’s injustice and violence out there, and I do my part to help stop it it many different ways.

But why would I intentionally feed my mind with more and more and more violence?

Our minds are nothing other than the cumulus of everything we’ve ever seen, heart, or felt–i.e. inputs. And everything we think, say, or do is is a sort of conclusion we draw from all that information about what we should think, say, or do in this moment–i.e. outputs.

So why would I keep piling up negative images, if I can choose not to?

I truly believe global piece and prosperity are possible. I believe humanity CAN reach a point where people will realize that the best course of action is understanding, kindness, and love.

Maybe it’s just wishful thinking. But I was blessed with (hopefully) 100 years of life, and I commit to using it to help society make progress towards that.

I invite you to be aware of what inputs are going into your mind. We shouldn’t be “OK” with people killing each other on the screen for any amount of time, but especially not for a full 90 minutes… Just think about it for a minute. It doesn’t make any sense.

The world isn’t filled with THAT much negativity and violence. Yes, there is that somewhere, but there are also BILLIONS of people doing good every day. Professionals adding value through their work and providing for their families, volunteers helping those less fortunate get access to clean water, medicine, and education, and mothers and fathers reading their children bedtime stories and kissing them good night.

There’s good in the world. Let’s be part of that. Every day. With everything we do.

Thank you,
Robert

P.S.: If you ever need to talk with someone, have any questions whatsoever, or just want to say hi, please email me@robertindries.com. I’d love to meet you.

I Don’t Want To Be Exciting

A few years ago I’ve made, what I feel was, an important decision.

I decided I don’t want to be “exciting” by social standards. That’s just not for me.

I like simple things.

I like warm, soothing tea. I like cuddling up close to my wonderful wife, feeling her warmth whilst we’re both reading. I like going on walks, listening to birds sing and watching squirrels jump around between trees.

Just the other day I was coming down the hill and a soft breeze from behind started pushing the leaves around me forward. I thought it was just such a beautiful moment. Almost immediately I was engulfed by an overwhelming feeling of of gratitude.

I literally almost cried.

I was so grateful for this moment in time I’m blessed to be part of. I even became grateful that my parents brought me into this life and took care of me for so many years, as best they knew how and had the resources to.

I know it sounds corny. But I like corny. I like putting on Christmas music and decorating the tree together with Diana. I just love it when she prepares nachos with vegan cheese and we watch a corny Christmas love movie.

And I know it might sound strange to some, but I also really love working.

I love practicing my craft. I love the challenge of figuring out solutions for the many challenges we all face as work. And I just love being there for my team and my clients when they need me.

My best friendships are with the people I work with.

Again, my life is nothing “exciting” by most people’s standards.

But everything in my life is the way it is by choice. And I love it just the way it is.

I hope you love your life just as much. But if you don’t, know that it’s never to late to make changes for the better.

Thank you,
Robert

P.S.: If you ever need to talk with someone, have any questions whatsoever, or just want to say hi, please email me@robertindries.com. I’d love to meet you.

A Grateful Farm Boy From Transylvania

Not many people know this, but I was born in a very small town in Romania (in olden times this was the famed Transylvania) and spent a significant amount of time feeding chicken, herding cows, and working the land.

Fast forward to the present moment, just yesterday my team tallied the number of businesses in my portfolio and we excitingly came to the realisation that we have 8 companies we’re managing. Each one of them selling different products or services and which operate in different parts of the planet.

Looking back, though I was there during the entire trip, I can say even I find it miraculous. How can a poor boy from a developing country (which was communist until his birth) become a millionaire by the time he was 25?

Well, in my case, I attribute it to two main traits that I picked up whilst I was a farm boy, and that have served me ever since.

One, I start working as soon as I get up. No social media, no workout, no 27 step morning routine… No. I just wake up, drink water, and get right to work.

On the farm, there are always things to do. Animals need to be fed. Vegetables or fruits need to be harvested. Food needs to be prepared. (No takeaway in the village… I know… how do people survive?)

And by the way, when I say every day, I mean it. Seven days a week, 365 days of the year, all holidays included. It’s not like chicken care much of human holidays. And it’s not like you’ll tell your chicken “Sorry bud, it’s New Years, I’m not going to feed you today.”

No. Work starts the moment you wake up and doesn’t finish until you go to bed. So whenever someone talks to me about how much they work and how they “shouldn’t be working more than 40hrs/week” I resist telling them how privileged they are to even have such a thought.

Don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against people that for example want to work only 20hrs per week, or not at all. Anything you choose is fine my be.

We’re just on the topic of what traits helped me become a millionaire by 25, and super-strong, zero-complaining work ethic I believe is one of them.

The second trait I believe is selfless and never-ending service to others.

Where I grew up, families involve their children in the day to day maintenance of the house or farm from a very early age. You get to learn (many times whether you like it or not) a sense of responsibility towards the parts of the families affairs that you take upon yourself.

If someone’s sick, you not only need (and feel a sense of duty) to care for them, but now you also need to do their share of the day’s work.

If one of your neighbors asks for help because their corn harvest just came in and all the seeds need to be removed from the cones and stored in a dry place so they can be kept over winter, you immediately go lend a helping hand. One, because you genuinely want to help. Two, because you never know when you might need their help.

In short, I get to work on my most important priority first thing in the morning and if at any point one of my colleagues or clients need help, I drop whatever it is I’m doing and I support them as best I can.

Those two traits I’ve acquired since before I can remember and I’m grateful to the bones for all those early morning farm chores and late nights helping my friends.

They’re a big part of who I am.

I hope this gives you some perspective. Work is everywhere. A life well lived is one in which you’ve added as much value to the world as you could, through whatever career you chose for yourself.

So the next time you wake up, remember today, just like every other day, is an opportunity to do more, to learn more, and to become more.

Thank you,
Robert

P.S.: If you ever need to talk with someone, have any questions whatsoever, or just want to say hi, please email me@robertindries.com. I’d love to meet you.

Fear And Doubt

I feel them every day.

Am I doing the what’s right?
Will that deal close?
Do I have what it takes to achieve my goals?
Will I have enough to make payroll?

I made my first million dollars by the time I was 25. I thought after that it’s going to get easier. “Things will solve themselves somehow” I used to say to myself.

But things never solve themselves. And if they do, the next fear or doubt will creep in without delay.

We are designed to fear. We are designed to have a certain level of paranoia. It’s how we’ve survived for so long.

But we must not let those emotions dominate our thoughts and take control of us. There is no advantage to giving in to fear. Instead, we are to use fear and doubts for what they were designed to do in the first place: warn us of a potential future.

The key words there are ‘warn’ and ‘potential.’

You cannot fear the present moment. This moment is the way it is.

You can only fear a potential future outcome.

So in reality, fear is nothing more than a warning.

It’s your mind telling you to be careful–to prepare.

Not to squander, but to prepare.

Think of it as foresight, or clairvoyance. You’re seeing a potential future–sometimes quite vividly. I don’t know if you realize in that moment, but that is something that hasn’t happened yet…

Is it not a miracle we’re able to see into a potential future? Is it not a gift that helps us do today everything that we can to create the future we want, instead of the one we don’t?

I personally think it is.

We are the dominant species on Earth for a reason. And our ability to think–to envision, to plan, to do things differently–is that reason.

Do not allow yourself to torture yourself with this gift. It is meant to help you, not harm you.

Let fear and doubt have their place in your life. They will save your butt thousands of times during your lifetime.

Thank them for being there. They’re on your side. It is you who has not decided to communicate effectively with them.

The next time you’re scared, or you doubt yourself, stop for a brief moment, inhale slowly, and say: Thank you.

Thank you for taking care of me. For showing me what might happen, so that I can avoid it by being prepared.

Once that’s done, take our your pen or keyboard, and write down everything you can do to create the future outcome you actually want.

Then, get going. Your ideal future isn’t going to create itself.

You are the director of your own life. You are the author of this story.

Make the next chapter count.

Thank you,
Robert

P.S.: If you ever need to talk with someone, have any questions whatsoever, or just want to say hi, please email me@robertindries.com. I’d love to meet you.

The Big Impact Of Small Actions

The more time I am blessed to live in this world, the stronger I believe it’s the little things that make the biggest difference.

Saying could you please, thank you so much, and an honest good morning!
Stopping yourself from saying something mean when you really feel you’d be in the right to do so.
Stopping yourself from eating that little bag of crisps when you’re hungry (or buying it in the first place).
Waking up just 10 minutes earlier so you have time to plan out your day and start on the right foot.
Helping out a colleague when they’re not having a good day, saying “let me have that call for you.”
A flower gifted to your lover right before date night just to let them know you’ve been thinking of them and appreciate them.

I’ve read somewhere that how we do something is how we do everything.

For me, this rings true in many ways; and, as a result, I tend to give more and more importance and appreciation to the little things I do everyday.

This makes me very happy every day. And I hope this was a good reminder for you to become aware of the little things you can do that are aligned with your best self.

Thank you so much for reading.

P.S.: If you ever need to talk with someone, have any questions whatsoever, or just want to say hi, please email me@robertindries.com. I’d love to meet you.

Smile More

We sometimes tend to forget just how much everything we think, say, and do matters.

Smiling is one of those things that matters. A lot.

The next time you speak with someone, remember to smile. Not forcefully, but genuinely.

Of course, if you’re at a low point or otherwise feel off, you might need to push yourself ever do slightly to smile.

If something happened that made you sad, face that directly, alone or with the help of others. And then get back to smiling.

Too many people put on emotionless faces by default. But i don’t think that’s how it should be.

Let smiling be our default. Smile when you see someone, anyone. Smile when you talk on the phone. Smile when you write write messages.

Let’s enjoy life. And let’s make life more enjoyable for others as well.

Thank you,
Robert

P.S.: If you ever need to talk with someone, have any questions whatsoever, or just want to say hi, please email me@robertindries.com. I’d love to meet you.

Eating Is Not A Solution

Yesterday I ate oven-backed French fries with garlic soy sauce. Twice.

I knew I shouldn’t, but something inside made me wanted to.

I didn’t enjoy eating. My stomach was hurting even whilst eating. Yet for done reason I didn’t stop.

Now, the next morning, I have a bad stomach ache and I spent the last 15 minutes in the bathroom…

I did this to myself. Those extra fries added no value to my life or health.

I think I ate them because I was seeking comfort. Which is strange because I don’t even feel all that stressed anymore.

Something is telling me I’m actually stressed all the time and I don’t even know it. I’ve been living with it for so many years now, I guess I got numb to it, though I still suffer the other effects of it, such as:
1. craving comfort
2. snapping at others
3. having a scattered mind
4. getting occasional headaches

And who knows what else it’s causing to my body. I will probbaly journal about that in the near future and see what solutions I come up with.

Until then, it’s clear that eating is not a solution. Hence from now on, whenever I get a craving for food, I will ask myself: “Will this food make me healthier? And does eating this meal have a positive impact on my long-term goals?”

If the answer isn’t “Yes.” to both of those, I can probably do without eating for a few more hours, or until the next day if it’s already passed lunch.

Thank you,
Robert

P.S.: If you ever need to talk with someone, have any questions whatsoever, or just want to say hi, please email me@robertindries.com. I’d love to meet you.

What I Say Is What I Do

What I say is what I do.
Nothing could be more true.
For everything I say I think
Until it comes to the brink
Of being uttered in the form of sounds
Which then in turn become the bounds
Of a life led by intention
Which will receive rightful mention.

I do sometimes utter words I regret,
But if I ever do so I never forget
To take full responsibility for who I am
And make amends as best I can.
For none of us is ever perfect
And no matter our level of intellect,
We should all remain humble
Unless we want to get into trouble.

Thank you,
Robert

P.S.: If you ever need to talk with someone, have any questions whatsoever, or just want to say hi, please email me@robertindries.com. I’d love to meet you.

Reading Books Takes Me A Long Time

It apparently takes me ages to read or listen to a book.

I’ve tried listening to a 5h book on Saturday and barely managed to listen to 1.5 hrs of it. Today I went for a walk and, as far as I can tell, have listened to only 30 more minutes. Hence there are still 3 hrs to listen to.

At the same time, I just realized I have no benefit of reaching the end of the book. The benefit to my life is in folly absorbing its contents and using it moving on.

What good is it to finish a book in one listening or in one day and not get the maximum value it has to offer?

I would rather take things on board properly, and then reap the benefits for the rest of my life. Whether it takes me 1 day, l month, or 10 months to read a book, that doesn’t matter because I will live for tens of years from now on.

So the only real thing that matters is whether I assimilate the wisdom and make it part of my day to day or not. If I do, I consider I’ve spent my time much better than someone who read 10 books in that same timeframe but has grown much less in wisdom, maturity, and character than I have.

I believe those of us who do not let ourselves get carried away by the rush of the world, but instead take a moment to reflect on what’s important to us and why we do what we do, have a head start to living a life that’s worth living.

Thank you,
Robert

P.S.: If you ever need to talk with someone, have any questions whatsoever, or just want to say hi, please email me@robertindries.com. I’d love to meet you.

Living With Intention And Awareness

For quite a long time, I used to believe some of my headaches were due to me not eating.

I practice intermittent fasting for a while now, because of the dozens of health benefits it has. Meaning I have only one solid meal per day, typically between 4-5 pm, and then the rest of the day I only consume liquids. However, sometimes during the day, I’d get headaches, which as a result of feeling hungry at the same time, I associated with not eating.

This morning I decided to test that. I woke up with a headache, which I’m almost sure is a result of the very eventful day I had yesterday. It was one of those days when your character is tested. And, though it took me quite some mental power, I like to think I handled things well.

But, again, because I was hungry, I said maybe that’s why. So I decided to break the fast and eat something now to see what happens.

I’m happy to report that it’s been over 15 minutes since I had my meal and the headache is still there!

This is one of those moments where Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman would say: “Myth busted!”

The conclusion is food or eating does NOT cure your headaches.

On the other hand, something that does cure them is taking your mind off things and cooling down–taking a break. That is why eating sometimes helps. It’s not the food, it’s the process of detaching from life’s demands for a brief moment.

So many people eat whenever they get a headache because of the same flawed association I had. But if we stop for a moment every day, live with a bit more intention, and become a bit more aware of what’s actually going on within and around us, I’m sure we would all reach better conclusions and become a bit wiser every day.

Thank you,
Robert

P.S.: If you ever need to talk with someone, have any questions whatsoever, or just want to say hi, please email me@robertindries.com. I’d love to meet you.