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Welcome to Instructorville, population me! October 26, 2006

Posted by Niels in : Other , 9 comments


After a brief but relaxing respite in California, I’m off to New York again. This weekend is another Art of Attraction workshop, and I will be making my debut as a full-fledged instructor!

This means several things. Most importantly, I get paid. It’s a pittance, but I guess I’m not technically unemployed anymore. More like irregularly employed. And I get to actually lead and teach exercises. I’m a little nervous, but mostly really excited.

I look back on how far I’ve come and can hardly believe it. A year ago, I didn’t even have a platonic friend I could go dancing with. And now I’m giving advice to guys in Australia and flying to New York to teach relationship skills. Most importantly, I’m genuinely happy.

It’s interesting, there are studies where people of all walks of life are asked how happy they are. It turns out that even things like winning the lottery don’t really change people’s levels of happiness. Sure, happiness goes up for a little while, but then it returns to its previous levels, despite the millions of dollars in the bank. However, the one thing that does appear to actually make people happier is sharing their life with someone special. Nowadays, all my relationships, with friends, with family, with girls, are stronger than I ever imagined possible. And I’m happier than ever.

Your thoughts?

Melbourne October 24, 2006

Posted by Niels in : Other , 1 comment so far

Apparently, my Melbourne talk went well.  I’m not really sure - it started at 4:30 in the morning and for some reason I don’t really remember it. 

Mate,
That was a good talk and most of the guys loved your talk. Most stayed well after that. It was a great turnout and will let you know about the audio recordings

Thanks for sharing some of your personal stories… It’s a real treat…

Ha. If you had asked me a year ago what the odds were that I’d be leading a teleconference, dispensing dating advice to a bunch of guys in Australia, I probably would have laughed in your face.  Even now, it’s pretty funny.  Life does throw some curveballs.

Your thoughts?

Exhausted October 23, 2006

Posted by Niels in : Other , add a comment

I returned to California Wednesday evening.  By Friday morning I was once again helping out at the Art of Rapport workshop.  I’m drained.  Three days of teaching guys to open up emotionally to the people they care about.  AoR is an emotional roller coaster and I’m ready to just crawl into a corner and fall asleep in the fetal position.  I don’t need to talk to anyone else for the next week.

Unfortunately, I’m giving a teleconference to a group in Melbourne, Australia at 4am tomorrow morning.  Oh well, such is life.

Your thoughts?

Price adjustment October 20, 2006

Posted by Niels in : Personal , add a comment

Q: How do you make Californian life affordable?

A: Spend three months in New York beforehand.

Holy cow things are cheap here!  I went grocery shopping to restock my shelves and spent like $50!  Tons of fruit, tons of veggies.  I’m going to be so healthy.  And the weird part is that I can eat out for under $10.  After hemorrhaging money for twelves weeks I’m way too used to dropping $20-$30 on a dinner.  I’ve got to get myself back into poor grad student mode.  Actually, I’ve got to go above and beyond poor grad student mode as I’m technically unemployed now.  Those who know me, prepare to see a level of cheapness you never before knew existed.

Your thoughts?

There’s no place like home October 18, 2006

Posted by Niels in : Personal , 2 comments

Well, my New York experience has come to a close and I’m back in Berkeley.  I never did get to sleep on the street in a cardboard box, but I came surprisingly close.  Maybe next trip…

Your thoughts?