Efficiency vs. Inefficiency: A Life Debate

Welcome to Wabi Sabi, the art of imperfection. And there's no better way of starting a podcast, but actually not knowing exactly what we're going to talk about today because we're on a tight timeline today. And Jim just got back from a massive trip and I'm sure I haven't even spoken Jim about this, but I'm sure there's some Wabi Sabi moments in your trip to New Zealand and back to Europe. So let's go through it. Jim, tell us your trip. How was it?

Yeah. Yeah. A hundred percent, a hundred percent. Yeah. So I had a great time. I flew from, uh, from Edinburgh to New Zealand. So, uh, stopped over in Australia for a few days to catch up with our son and between his brother. So, and, and some friends and family. we coordinated a get together one day, just trying to bring everybody together. Then there was that was on Sunday and then just had to do some tasky things like go to the banks and stuff. So when you live internationally. Uh, there's always, we've talked about it before you get locked out of accounts. You've to go and do things. So that was some things that I had to do some housekeeping. And before we knew it, we're on a plane to New Zealand. Uh, we spoke at a conference, uh, which was fantastic. And then turned around and came back and, uh, in true what we saw of you style is usually always some drama running around, running, trying to catch planes. Um, but our luggage is somewhere still in Hong Kong. So we got here late last night. And, um, yeah, I was just, I was just about to tell you Lawrence. thought, nah, let's, let's, let's record it. Uh, when you just make your plane, sometimes your luggage doesn't. And there's a, there's a process that they have is if they don't look like you're going to make it, they hold the luggage back because they don't want to send the luggage ahead of you before you. So that's, that was a, and I can, I can see that the merit of that, but it's a darn inconvenience where that happens. So yeah, that's,

Huh.

That was the run out of that.

Well, the plus side of that though is that you are heading home, you know what I mean? You know, without your luggage. The worst is usually when you're going on a trip and your luggage doesn't make it with you, that is the worst. I think that's.

Yep. Yeah. Yep. Yeah. Yeah. Exactly. think to be, to be fair in all the years I've traveled and particularly like, like only in the last, this trip and maybe one other trip we've ever had luggage, this ever happened. So from, from that perspective, we've, we've, we've been fine. haven't been good. We never put ourselves in position where anything is just invaluable that gets checked in. That just doesn't happen. But Like I said, to be fair, not going to hit on, on airlines because they get enough of their problems. And as it turns out, when we left Hong Kong, they, there was a typhoon that hit Hong Kong last night. So Qantas, the national carrier of Australia basically much grounded all planes going in and out of Hong Kong for 24 hours. So, but we were flying Cathay, we were flying another airline, which, you know, props to them. They're an amazing airline to fly with. got to be, got to be.

Yes.

honest, uh, they're one that'd have to be one of my favorite ones to fly with. And, but we somehow got out and 35, 30 minutes later is when they, uh pretty much the Typhoon hit. So we were very fortunate. it's, it's very much, you know, uh, like a thriller as it goes on, you know, like sometimes it's like you get in, sometimes you get caught out. Cause we've spoken about times when you've traveled and you've got caught in Bali, but this is on the ones where, okay, this one I got through, but it's okay. Next one you'll get caught out or it's just the roundabout and swings philosophy that happens.

Yeah, I've had multiple flights where I've just like barely made it. And I was definitely the last one on the plane. I don't like having that feeling. I usually like being the first one on the plane. Um, it's interesting that the, you know, when I've moved to Europe, I don't know if you notice this, but when I used to be in Australia, I used to travel like always, you know, checking bags, you know, cause you feel like I never know what I need, but being in Europe, I don't know if it's because of the discount airlines or because of like the more prominent of short distances. I'm traveling pretty much all the time now.

Nah. Yeah.

in, you know, carry on. don't think I can't remember the last time I actually checked in the bag. And, and you'd be surprised always how much I can actually fit in, in a small little carry on bag. um And I don't know what I used to do. I don't know how much clothes I used to just bring.

Yep. Yep. It's I totally agree. I totally agree. Especially when I'm traveling when I was in Barcelona I said too much to the same thing just carry on not a lot uh But what long haul one was a lot harder especially for the time that we have and we had to take things there and To be honest, there was some things stock of things that we can't get in Europe that we brought back with us That was an extra we had to buy an extra suitcase to fill, you know, that was a bigger one. And that was some things that, know, our favorite things that we did that we can't usually get here. Um, we, we, we did. that was, that was that to be fair. That was an extra, extra spiky.

Okay, Jim, you're have to spill the beans. What did you have to buy an extra suitcase for to carry that you can't get in Europe that's in Australia? Are we talking Vegemite here?

I can't, I, no, no, I don't, I don't like Vegemite at all. I'm probably one of the only ones here. No, it's just some, local things, but you know, funny enough, it was just some clothing brands, things that fit really good. So that's what it was predominantly clothes and a couple of pairs of shoes and those kinds of things that they ever trust these.

Okay, got it. Oh, you know, that's right. Yeah, that's right. You don't see a lot of t-shirts and shorts uh in Edinburgh. So therefore you decide Australia

Pretty much. I've got some pretty much and, like some, yeah, you don't, you don't, you don't normally see them for at least for the 10 months, 10 months of the year. Um, you go, your people are just wearing just coats. Uh, but you know, it was just some things that I just get, yep. I know what's coming now. I prepared, I'm anticipating to be, to be honest, I don't like, I don't like the process of shopping. I really don't enjoy it at all. So if I know where I need to go and I can just bomb it and just do.

the two days that, you know, it be sunshine. Yeah.

half a day and just have everything taken care of. That's me. that was, that was my motto and approach.

Yeah. Well, I've actually been shopping with Jim. You know, I was actually in Madrid, which I was there on the weekend, by the way. was just, I was in Madrid for a few days. And I remember that time. Like I have never seen anybody shop faster, you know, than Jim. Like he literally bought a whole suit, like full on pants, jacket, shirt, tie. I think we did that in less than...

Okay. oh Yep.

I don't know, maybe 30 minutes, you know, and it's incredible. And Jim is a tall man, right? Like not many suit stores will actually fit you, but man, you were able to go into that store, I think it was El Cordon Glez, to be able to just, you know, get all that done. So I think, I think he even did socks and shoes as well. I don't know.

Yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah. Yep. or We're on a timeline. That's why I walked into this guy, to the store, because I had to, because I was speaking in London. And so I went into Madrid with you Lawrence. And that's why it was a great, great experience catching up. then it was walking into the guy and said, listen, dude, you're going to get this great commission if you play your cards right. Here's what I need. I have 30 minutes go. And the guy was an absolute ninja. He was fantastic. And he took measurements, gave me some options.

Yeah.

I went, how do you think about this? This, this, yes, yes, yes. No, done. was like, if I could do shopping like that, that would be awesome. You know, because I don't particularly enjoy the whole, I want to have, I like the idea of options, but if I'm in the, in the buying zone, I just want it to really basically get in and get out. That's, that's what works for me.

Well, it's interesting. think that the common theme here between those two things, it's about efficiency and inefficiencies, right? So let's talk a little bit about that because I think, you know, oftentimes when we're running a business or running our lives, um we're so inefficient. And we even talking about the luggage things, right? Like I was so inefficient in my packing because I would never knew like, I don't know if I should wear that. So I just going to pack everything and then, you know, and carrying this heavy ass luggage, you know, across the world.

Mm.

And now I just like carry these like, even got, when I was in Canada, I actually bought this air uh vacuum seal pack so I can actually compress my luggage even tighter. So you could buy like a vacuum seal pack and you got a small little, little device which sucks in all the air and just compresses everything so that, you know, it makes everything kind of tighter. And I'm trying to be more efficient, you know, as you know, now that I'm in Europe, I'm trying to be more efficient because it, you know, just.

Right.

You just don't want to be lugging in. You don't have to want to wait to check in your bags. Uh, you don't want to have to wait for the bag to come out and you don't want your bag to be lost. so it's, it's not being efficient in life. Um, even from the point of view of luggage or when it comes to business or shopping, it becomes a thing. Um, if you're looking forward and I think this is the trouble I kind of have sometimes is I'm so inefficient in my day sometimes, you know, or in fish inefficient in my, you know, scheduling of my time or.

Hmm.

I feel like I can do a lot more, but yet I don't, but not, it's not because I can't, it's because I'm so inefficient with the time that I'm given or I slack off. Even today, he wanted to play paddle and I had all this intentions about doing something before this podcast. And like, you know, I got chatting with friends and you know, we started talking and then there goes that 45 minutes. And then by the time I got home showered, I'm like, Oh, I got to eat lunch because I'm meeting some front, some from friends from Australia. It's like, Oh, there, there goes that time.

Yep.

half an hour of time I was budgeting for to learn something, that's gonna get pushed out to the day. I think oftentimes we, or I notice what I've been doing lately is that I haven't been planning my day very well. I haven't been as efficient. And so therefore like things are slipping through the cracks. And instead of doing the hard work, because it's not scheduled, I'm just basically going down rabbit holes. You know, whether it be on YouTube videos or, you know, Facebook, Instagram, whatever, and I'm falling into that trap. And I think that

Right.

I'm recognizing that in my life that when I need to be efficient, I can be, but I don't apply to my daily life. And I'm, there's definitely times are just being sucked away.

Okay. Okay. Do you think it's the post uh summer lull? uh What do think it is that might be doing that?

Yeah, for me, think it's a bit of both. It's a transition of time, obviously, like the summer time to now, you know, getting back to some routines. ah I think a board, I think that's just like, that's the answer is that there's no, there's not sense of urgency and there's no sense of purpose. And that's sort of where I think that it all falls back to because when you, like you said, when you got to get to somewhere, when you try to catch that flight in Hong Kong,

Okay, yeah. Okay.

like there's a sense of purpose, like you gotta get there. So you move a little faster, right? You you kinda hustle a little bit more and you're like, okay, hope and pray, but you're still gonna make that happen. um You know, when I got a pact to say like, even internationally, when I go to Canada, I was there for two weeks in New York. I'm like, okay, what do I pack? I gotta pack a suit and a carry-on, you on top of two weeks worth of clothes. You're like, okay, how do I think that? do I do this logistically? You know, and you start thinking about it. So I think when there's a purpose, when there's a sense of purpose and there's a sense of why you can make things happen. And when it's kind of loose, and this is where I've sort of been lately, it's just that I've been having this like, kind of not lost, but just feeling like I can't get into this. there's just nothing that makes me like, I want to dive right in. And hence I just kind of take my foot off the gas. And then it's just like, there's just this no sense of urgency. On the flip side, which I'll finish my comments, I'd love to hear your thoughts, because on the flip side is that I also know that I can, but I can't sustain it for very long either, because I don't have the desire to just stay completely focused for long periods of time, because that's tiring as well, at that stage in my life.

Yeah. Hmm. I hear that. hear that because, you know, there's this paradox that exists where we want to have freedom of time. And then when you have a lot of freedom of time, And you've got so much flexibility. Sometimes what happens is you do become inefficient. I noticed that in the time that I was in, in Spain, particularly because I had optimized operations of a whole lot of things I did, I didn't have the structure of the, the essential structure of what work had to work in a certain time. And so constantly I had flexibility. And so what I found is, okay, As long as this task got done today, that would be okay. know, except for specific times where I had said appointments or calls or something. There was a lot of flexibility in when I did things and that meant that I got inefficient. And so I realized over time that, you know, I'm a very disciplined person. I work with instruction, but when I have too much flexibility, I just, lose some, need the edges of a pool to keep the body of water sustained and then actually work within that. But I, found that in myself that I needed the structure and that's why in my journal, my diary, I have specified, I've gone, you know, to specific class times. So if there's a jujitsu class, I actually find that works really well as opposed to today, I'm going to get up and go to the gym. that doesn't work really well. have to have a specific locked on time to have a target to move to because otherwise it's demotivating for me if I have too much flexibility. Is that what you're talking about? Yeah.

Yeah, agreed. I yeah, I hate being like the one, the reason why I got up at, you know, five o'clock to go to the gym is because I know if I don't go to that class, I'm most likely 98 % sure that I'm not going to go hit any other classes available that day. Uh, not because I can't, it's just because I just don't want to fight my will because my will, my natural human tendencies to don't go. Cause why do you need to go?

Yep. Hmm. Yeah. Well, will power will power motivation. Uh, they decrease. It's just the habits and routines and, and, and your daily habits that basically get you to do stuff. agree. I like I've had two weeks off now. Like it's being away. It's like the thought of, I gotta get back in this again is just like, And I thought to myself, what if I had to, what if it was like a year, two years, who could be bothered doing that? So yeah, that's what I, that's what I'm up against now is to go, okay, you're back in town.

Yeah.

Uh, let's get into it. it's part of me is gone, but I haven't been doing it for two weeks. And you know, especially when you do jujitsu is like my body feels better now than when I'm not doing it. know, the, I'm doing it. So I'll, go, I'll go in the neck. I'll go tomorrow and tomorrow I'll go and I'll feel sore. Then I am today. And I, and it's that, it's that sort of game you're playing in your mind. Yeah.

Yeah. Yeah. It's weird, isn't it? It's like, absolutely. Your brain will just make sure like, cause your brain goes, why should you go like me? You feel really good right now. You're not battered and bruised and maybe you need the rest. So then your body, your brain sort of justifies it by going, well, it's actually good. Maybe you need three weeks instead of two. Like maybe it's better. And then you start playing tricks with your mind. I'm like, maybe instead of going three times a week, you should just do twice because you know, you're less sore. And then, and then you go down this rabbit hole and then all of a sudden, next thing you know, it's been like three to four weeks you haven't been. And then you went,

Correct? Yeah.

Hmm, and then now you're feeling guilty and now you got to feel like you're going but then you go Oh man, if I go I'm gonna now have to start all over again because you know my cardio is off and then you just fight and this is exactly what everybody goes through right was we're no no different and For me, I get that sense like I have I haven't been I've been away for four days I drove to Madrid as I mentioned so I haven't worked out and it's actually so now it's been over a week now because I didn't go work out today and I didn't work out

Yeah, exactly, exactly.

you know, yesterday, because I was late watching the Niners game because it was on late and it was right down to the last second for them to win. And today I didn't go because I play paddle and I want to do both. And it's like, so you see these excuses start coming up and I know I need to be in, I'm to go back tomorrow, but it's been a week. It's been a full week. Now for some people it's like, man, what are you talking about? A week? But for someone who trains on a regular basis, a week's a long time, like you, right? And

Yeah. It works a long time. That's a week of time. It's different when you say to someone, how long has it been? Oh, including today, three and a half years. That's different. Someone to someone, but, it becomes so, so much part of your routine that it feels harder not to do it than to do it.

And one day. Yes, absolutely. And I know I'm gonna be like you. I know I'm gonna be sore. And as you get older, the time to get to where you were physically is so much longer. When we're in our 20s, I can probably recover within half a week. I'll be right back to where I was. When you're 30s, you maybe take a week. In your 40s, it takes two weeks. Now that I'm at 50, I'm feeling like this is, it's gonna take me a month to get back into routine. And let's face it, in the summertime, I wasn't training the most.

Yeah.

And so I'm Murray void. We're already like mid well past summer. And yet, you know, a month or two months later, I'm still kind of like still recovering. But the only way to get me in is like, I take it easy. I go, I always say like, I'm just going to take it easy for two weeks and just give myself the, the, the rest, but the, the mindset of going, it's just going to take time. Be okay. You don't have to lift the weights that you normally would lift. I don't have to push it as hard as you normally push it.

Yeah. Yep. Hmm.

And so I kind of give myself that flexibility to kind of ease my way into it rather than trying to push it. And I think that comes with a little bit more wisdom and experience. But I also find it's always hard finding these balances, right? Because you also got to realize, I'm like, if you don't push though, you might not get there. Like you're just making excuses.

Yeah. Yeah. You basically it's a, it's a very interesting thing you say, because I've, uh, we might've talked about it before about optimum performance for me. If I go to, got to try and stay at least the 70 % all throughout the year, you know, like stay around that 70 % because then I can leverage up to a hundred if I need to, if there's a specific objective and goal, but if I get to zero, that's not a great place from zero to 70 sucks. And it sucks a lot. And that's not, you know, basically just getting out of the habit of doing what you normally do. So what I found is that, okay, we knew we weren't going to be able to train the way we want to do. So we tried to make sure we're walking. Okay. At least we're keeping some kind of movement going. So you're not coming off an absolute zero base because that's the hardest part. But yeah, look, it's just, I think it's, it's too important to

Hmm.

me and my identity. I'm like you said, if you can make peace with it, because for a lot of people, if you can't hit the points that you were before, a lot of people get really despondent in that. And then, and then they go, I'm not going do it at all. Is that all or nothing? But I think over time to come to a healthy relationship with it and say, okay, it's not ideal. know it, you know, like I've been having buffet breakfasts for the last two weeks that That's a really, that's, that's brutal. That first day when you wake up in the morning and you go, what am I going have now? Well, I don't have the options that I had at the buffet bar, you know, so I don't have the selection of fruits and stuff in the same way and beautifully prepared and on tap. So there's a harsh reality that comes with it, but you know, that's okay. That's all right.

you Ha ha. Well, so going back to this, right, like if you notice it comes down, you said identity, I really like that because that's reality of where we're at, right? The reality is that identity is purpose, right? This is what I was kind of hinting at is that without a sense of purpose, it's very difficult for you to be motivated or to be disciplined enough to be able to create those constraints. As you mentioned, I really liked the analogy of the pool um because those constraints is what keeps us kind of focused and Discipline enough to do the work the challenge though that record in order to have those constraints you need to have a purpose and an identity is a purpose right because you're identifying like this is I'm an athlete right you go I'm an athlete and therefore athletes do X so then that's the constraint so you're gonna go and show up the gym no matter what it is even if it's just showing up and move your body because you're an athlete like so that's that's why I think you know having that identity and so but if without that though it becomes very difficult and hence like

Yeah.

I feel like one of the, know, if anybody's listening to this and, know, struggle to kind of maybe start a routine or start something, you know, whether it be, you know, starting a class or starting to work out or starting to a new, um, you know, ritual, it comes down to is like, what's, you know, finding that purpose. it may be just as simple as asking yourself, like, what's the identity you want to be known for. Right. And what do you stand for? Because that could be that sense of purpose that you want to live up to. And hence that will. automatically move you towards taking action.

Yep. So let me, let me tell you about something productive that I did do Lawrence while I was, uh, I was traveling. Uh, I know you're big into AI. know you're big into Bitcoin. Uh, and I think I've mentioned to become a Bitcoin bro myself. I've been really going down there. Uh, yeah. I look at this. Yeah. Look at this, man. Yeah. Have you read, have you seen this book, the great harvest? It is a guy by guy called, uh, Adam Livingston who's already written a book in there. It is phenomenal. I highly recommend this one to you.

Ooh, look at you converting one, one at a time. I have not. AI labor in the Bitcoin life. Okay?

because it talks about AI and it says, you know, about everything that we've spoken about. It talks about how it harvested all this information and how it progressed. What impacts expecting labor. obviously, yes, there's a, there's a focus on Bitcoin in terms of that as being the solution to a lot of these things. So, um, highly recommend that book as I've been reading it. So that's what I've been doing while I was flying. um, basically reading, watching, you know, mission impossible, uh,

Nice.

the, the, the, I did in having a nap. I've been doing all that, but because he, but he's the, the wabi-sabi part of this. So I've set up some Bitcoin accounts and I've done that throughout. haven't gone the whole wallet myself, but I've gone through the exchanges. Can I tell you how difficult it is to verify your, um, your identity when you're running through KYC? Like I do that in the finance area, but when you're, when you try to invest in

Mm. KYC

Portugal or in the UK like I have now and you've got overseas accounts and different identities Like it has been an absolute nightmare uh And and then I get locked out of my accounts. And so is that there's the whole thing sometimes you just go I Want to progress from this point to this point, but there's so many obstacles and blocks in the direct path That I'm just you've got to look at this and go. Okay

I'll be. Yes.

How do I navigate through this without getting frustrated, without getting despondent, without just going, too hard, forget it.

Yeah, so that's the inefficiency of systems, right? And I think that this is, you when I started, when we start moving here in Portugal and we have to set up all these new KYC, new banks, new, you know, accounts, it's like, some systems are so simple and easy. Take a shot of your passport and, you know, take a photo of yourself. It's all done online. But when they ask for identities, like, you know, that is so inefficient and frustrating, it's like, try, try doing your KYC when you have an expired visa, right? Because like, you know, Like I don't have an up-to-date port. Like I didn't until like a month ago that I had an out-of-date, you know, Portugal residency card that's been out of date for a year, right? Try convincing someone else to go, oh, this is because of Portugal. Yeah, well, they don't care because the system doesn't accept it. And so you're trying to like verify other ways. it's just sometimes it's like, oh, it's just too hard. Or even like systems like, you know, you've been to Australia and you had to do the whole banking stuff, right? So I understand the frustration because the amount of times I have to like, Say, I don't know. Let's change my phone number on my bank account, right? Okay, change my phone number. That shouldn't be that hard online. But they don't actually have the ability to change it to a different country code because they assume everybody's from Australia, right? It's so frustrating. And or doesn't even allow me to change like, you know, like, you know, whatever it is like an address because you know, now, so now you're sending basically posts to my old address, which I no longer live or own. But it's like, they don't understand it or

Yeah. Yeah. Hmm.

The worst part, and I'm sure you've come across this, in order for you to change anything on your account, you have to get 2FA verification. And what's the 2FA verification for most people? Is send it to your mobile. Oh, to a mobile I no longer have anymore, but I can't change it because I can't get access to my personal information to change it because I don't have the mobile. It's like this WTF moment, like what do you do? And I have to wake up to Australian time to try to contact someone on call center for like 24

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, pretty much.

Like that inefficiency drives me absolutely insane.

Yeah. And that's exactly what we came up against was sitting up accounts. And so what I also did too, was well in Australia is I had two phones. I used to operate one through, because at the time we left the e-sim, um, wasn't ideal. So effectively we, we actually had two phones and then, so I've been, I bought, we've bought two new phones, condensed two into one, going through the whole Palava. And just to, you know, as if I don't have enough complexity. And then I come back in here, try and set up a count, buy something. And I've been locked out of my current account. So it's, it's, you're spinning your wheels. You're just going through around.

It's a cycle, it's a cycle. And I think, we understand, I mean, I understand why there's so many security things, obviously trying to cut down on frauds and everything else, but it makes the process so difficult, which is really interesting to see. We live in such a fast-paced world and such a connected world that you think everything is just very quick and fast. But if anything, the governments and companies have created so many problems that I don't understand to, like we have AI to solve a lot of our problems and we'll continue to, but yet we have so many like roadblocks because we just put in all of these rules and regulations in the place. Like for example, I have my Spotify account. it's just like something's very simple, Spotify account. I remember premium Spotify account. I got it when I was in Australia. Do you think I can transfer to close my Australia and just pay in euros? No, you can't. I have to, I still, three years later, I'm still paying with my Australian credit card to an Australian Spotify account because I cannot change over. Now, I could theoretically delete it, but then I have to start over again and then lose everything, right? I lose all my playlists, all the, and you're like, too hard. I'll worry about that later, probably five years down the track. Same thing with Apple, Apple identities, all that, same thing. Even Tesla was even hard. Like you think Tesla, like to transfer my Tesla account in Australia, because I had a Tesla back then and I have a Tesla here, that took.

Yeah. Yeah, yeah. Yeah. Hmm.

Actually, it was a phone call, but still, was just like, it wasn't easy. And there's all these regulations between countries and regions that you just can't switch. I have so many things that are still Australian, simply because I can't get them to transfer it into a European account.

So they're friction things that you hear so many times that people want to, you know, have got a superannuation account and they want to just close it and transfer it. And it's just too difficult. And so suddenly people will go, well, why have we got so many accounts? It's inefficient. You go, yeah, but have you tried to actually through and, and it hit me a lot because when you travel through different countries, so going in through Hong Kong, man, their system is really efficient, really efficient. ah You know, and then even coming to Australia, like it's, it's a few years since I've been to Australia and the process is so much smoother. You know, remember years ago, how hard that process was and they've taken the friction out of it. So much simpler. just like getting through customs is just, if there's not anybody there, you'll be in and out within 10 minutes. Like, and, that that's impossible. know, it, that's exactly what I'm saying. I was going to say impossible in Europe.

Impossible in Portugal, let me tell you.

Because, you know, and then Hong Kong, it's like, you're just walking up and it's like facial recognition. That's all done. Yeah. Look, there's the big brother element of that as well, but that'll tell you where you're sitting, what seat you don't need boarding part of the whole lot. So it's, it just goes through those efficiencies. Um, so yeah, it makes you wonder, it makes you look at how people view things, what priorities are, um, how, how, and why, like in the last while, you know, when you travel through the UK. There's some countries that go, it's okay. You can, you can leave everything in your bag. Okay. Everything's in your bag and then everyone's you got to take them out. And then it's like, you can put water. Um, you can have liquid here. Okay. Up to a leader. Great. But when you get to here, you can't have a leader. So it's just, it's just so, yeah, like, but it, it's, called most comical people write memes on it, but that's the bigger play when you're at the effect. If you only do it at once, it's hard and you move on, but when you're doing it again and again and again, you find yourself saying, surely there's got to be a better way. And I think that's the pathway of innovation is ultimate huge frustration and inefficiencies. You go, this can't keep going on this way. There's got to be a better way of doing this.

Well, that's how new companies form, right? New business form because people are finding solutions to some of these problems. uh sometimes the most simplest companies are built on simple problems to kind of solve. And I remember I just read some, was watching this YouTube video yesterday on like simple companies, like Calendly. All it is is just an app to book your calendar. When you're like, such a simple thing, that's all it does. I don't think it does anything else.

Hmm. Yeah. Yeah.

probably due to payments or whatever, it's it's

No, I, I, I, I find it great. find it really helpful because it's the whole back and forth and this and that it just used to take forever. So it's like, here's my calendar link. Go pick that time.

Yeah. I think sometimes we, like, I mean, I'm in the process of like thinking through like what problems do I want to solve? And it's like, there's so many little problems, but you think, ah, it's too little or someone's probably solved it already. But you know, there's a lot of things I think that that's out there that we probably have a lot of opportunity to solve that we just got to really think deeper and go on how can we solve this now? And I think with, you know, I mean, I'm just trying to kind of understand AI a little bit. And I think that there's a lot of problems that can be solved and a lot, a lot more smarter people than I am to be able to figure that out. These things are out there and it's about a challenge to find those problems that irritate you and then possibly finding solutions to solve them. But the friction points are like with any new software, for example, it's like connecting from one software to another and that becomes too hard for some people and they just kind of give up. I know I've given up on some things like, oh, I don't know how to solve that. I don't understand the tech. So you kind of give up on it, but really. It's like, we're so close. Like, I know I'm so close. I'm just right there. I just need to like, just figure this little point and just plug that in somewhere. And sometimes I'll give you perfect example. And then there's nothing to do with AI. Like our washing machine um has this light of like, where the water, there wasn't enough water pressure going into the washing machine. So the clothes were coming out, not necessarily clean. was just like, you can still have that smell. I'm trying to figure out what is on and you know, our thoughts are like, oh, we're so frustrated with this washing machine is like, maybe just we should just buy a new one, right? It's only been two years old. It's like, sometimes the easiest solution is just to buy a new one. Right? So then we go to we hire this guy, you know, he comes in, he's like 150 euros to kind of come in and check out the machine. I'm like, like they said, all right, let's just check it out. First, let's the veterans, but wasting or investing another couple of thousand dollars on a washing machine, let's get someone to come in and check this out. He comes in, does this thing, opens the thing, pulls up a filter. a small little filter, like literally smaller than a 10 cent dime. And he was like, this was blocking some stuff. He pulled it out of the tube, put it back in and the water was fine. He didn't even charge us. Great, you know, because it was such a simple job, but that's the friction, right? That's the inefficiency sometimes. The inefficiency is not something could just be so small, which then affects everything and it's not only affects.

Done. Yep. Hmm.

the downward effect of like the washing machine, which then your clothes smell, then you start having all these negative thoughts, frustration, and sometimes it's just a small little thing that causes your problems. And I think for us is we got to, mean, for me, I'm the kind of looking at value in my life and it's like, okay, is this inefficiencies because of something really small, like that small little filter, you know? Yeah, the pebble, exactly the pebble in the shoe, right? Is it just as small that, and if it is, let's find that pebble and just stop.

The pebble in the shoe,

and stop by the side of the road, just get rid of pebbles so I don't have to complain about it for the next hour of walking. Right? I think that's what, you know, as I talk this throughout, so thank you for the therapy, as I talk to this out, it's like, it's actually spending the time to evaluate, and this is actually where I've been focused on this week. It's like, rather than just rushing and trying to push through my calendar, I'm actually taking a step back and go, okay, where are the inefficiencies in my life? And to be honest with you, I'm looking around, I'm like,

No. Thank you. oh

It's the mess that I'm actually living in. I opened my cupboard today and put my paddle back down. like, I have probably seven or eight cans of used paddle balls that are sitting in my closet that I haven't moved in over a year. Why are they there? I'm not gonna use them again, because they're deflated anyway. But it's like those, that's what I'm talking about. It's a small, small little things. They are there, they're in the way, and I should just.

Yeah. Yeah.

I should really just go in there and just clean it up.

That's the Marie Kondo, um, uh, energetic sort of thing. The things that don't give you joy, you get rid of, but you know, it's really fascinating. It's the day before we left, like the place that we, moved into here. Um, we leased a place when we first moved here, the, the, people, um, who owned the place moved to Madrid and now they're moving back to Australia. So they came into, uh, uh, they, they said, Hey, listen, we're moving back to Australia. Can we just take some stuff with us and we move? Sure. And so unbeknownst to us, they had an addict that was just chock a block with stuff and they've cleared stuff out and energetically, we feel it. I feel it, you know, like, it wasn't my, it's, different if it's your stuff. But what I realized is, man, there's other stuff that's there. So the place feels lighter just having in there. And obviously we've just gotten back and we're just getting some order and things, but I feel that. And I, I, if I look around like.

interesting. Yeah.

Bettina is exceptionally diligent and neat. Her workplace, everything has always been in order. If she's super stressed, it's even neater because she has, that's what she's got control over. I get a little bit messier and I can look around and eavesdrop and go, that's where my mindset's at. Totally get it. And, but.

Yeah. Yeah, yeah. See, that's the thing. Most people say, like, well, you guys are pretty clean. Yeah, this part right here, right about here. Anything below that point? Not so much.

We, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah. I'm, and I'm being transparent, but there's certain things. It's really interesting that you got me thinking when you were talking. I don't know. We've got to cut it short because we were on a time constraint today. So I don't want to open up an idea that we can't continue on, but get really frustrated at certain things and other things. I've got all the patients in the world. So when it comes to people and processes, training, all those things, super patient. Yeah, this is a process.

We'll close it, we'll close it.

But when it comes to a technology thing, I get almost a rationally like, I'm going to become a serial killer here. You know? So I don't know why that is. I don't know what it is. If I can't muscle it through or whatever, I just, get really irrationally irresponsible. And so I've gone back to Melbourne to, you know, pretend a brother, pretend his brother is our, um, go to person, anything technical. got read the riot act in terms of, dude, you can't be doing this with your phone. so that's why I had to go buy two new phones.

You

Um, because he goes, dude, your battery stuff, did you know this? I had no idea. I just noticed it was taking a little bit longer. He goes, and so that's just out of my wheelhouse. And I needed someone to step in and go, this is what you need to do. Cause you can't be the general in all areas of your life. That's what I've got.

Well, think we're just, the point of what you're saying is that humans are irrational. You're talking about, starting about patience, but it's the same thing with money too, right? There are certain things you're like, it'll cost you 10,000 off, okay, not a problem, that seems reasonable. But then you get pissed off, like, man, that guy charged me extra 50 cents, right? I'm using extremes, but it's so crazy that we just kinda, we worry about the like,

Yeah. Yeah, yeah, it's true, it's It's true.

the small things and yet we sometimes don't worry about the big things and it all depends on your priorities and your perspective on whatever, or I guess the value of what you're paying for. I'm sure like when someone, I don't know, screws up a bill or something, you're like, damn it, I'm gonna go and get that two dollars back, right?

Yep. I'm part rain man, man. I can't help that. I can't help that. I'm part rain man. Like I just, you know, and so, um, I'll just analyze stuff in my head, not, not deliberately. And I've got a rough idea of what that is. And I got, look, I don't think that's correct. Um, and, and, but it's different if someone is, if they give, if there's some attitude, then I'll come back and I go to listen. really sorry. go, there's no problem. know, these happens, but, but I just, I don't know why there's certain things I'm irrational in and other things I'm like,

Yeah.

I don't care. It really doesn't bother me. You're right. Maybe it's a disrespect. Maybe it's a disrespect. don't know. Yeah.

Yeah, it's just human beings, I think are just that. It for me it is too. I think it's for me. It's about um the it's not so much about the price or whatever it is It's the principle right sometimes the principle right so sometimes like I hate it when a restaurant going in the states I Bothers me so much about tips right not because I don't want to give a tip watch you don't want to give a tip but it's like you know when you go to a convenience store, right? let's say convenience or even a coffee shop and

No, same, Yeah. Yep.

And they punch in that, okay, what do you want? I don't drink coffee. But let's say I order a cappuccino or whatever. And then they turn the screen around to like, you know, and they give you like, in the minimums like 20, 25 and 30%. What did you do? You just took my order. Like you're not even making the coffee. What are you talking about? You know what I This is insane. And you know the embarrassment is like, I have to go no tip or zero or change other and put zero like, and I have to face that. And sometimes it's like, too hard, just put 20%.

Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

But it's like to me, the principle of that, I was like, no, it's like, just refuse. I'm never gonna see you again. I'm refusing to give this to you. But it's so weird. But in the other day, you know, I was in Madrid, great service, like beautiful service. And like, she just gave me the credit card. I'm like, you know, to pay for it. never, because in Europe, you don't ask for tips. Like, that's not part of the thing. And it's like, no, no, I wanna give you more. Cause I feel so much better. I want to get.

Yep. That's, that's the thing. I agree. I always want to, I want to want to reward something that's exceptional. And to me, that's the, that's the main thing. I'm not cheap, but I don't want to, I don't want to support mediocrity. I really find it really hard or poor service because that just goes, I just do nothing when, know, when you're bagging your own groceries and then they're asking for a tip. It's like, hang on a sec. What's going on here?

Yes. Yeah,

I was just adding value. Why should I tip you? And I heard someone say, I went to a supermarket, but I didn't get the invitation to the Christmas party. Someone goes, what do mean? He goes, well, I go in there and I self serve myself. I figured I'm working for him. Where's my Christmas? Where's my invitation to a Christmas party? But, it's, but I think it's right. Maybe it's a principal thing. Maybe we just too grumpy blokes, um, getting older, getting older and just going, I remember when there's the old days when they used to be service.

you I'm too old.

And these things, but, but fundamentally that's, but when someone does something really amazing, how, how, how sad is it that you, you just kind of go, that's what it's like. That's what service used to be like. And, um, I'm now rewarding something that is just baseline just showing up and that that's not, that's not.

Yeah, yeah. And the sad part, I guess, to finish all this up is that you can see what we're talking about, about efficiency and inefficiencies. Like what I see in the service world is that we're becoming more and more inefficient and there's an expectation for reward. And I think I have a problem with that because what we're gonna end up doing is creating a culture of inefficient service, but it's almost like I deserve this particular uh reward for it. And services is gonna go downhill. And until... we start thinking about reward for the service, not just because you used to be given, I think we're just gonna cause more inefficiency. And that's the worst. I cannot stand mediocre service. It drives me absolutely insane. uh From all levels, not just in service. I look at my school sometimes, the kid's school, and you're like, God, this is so dumb. You just look at how on earth can you not, I'll give you one example, our school, they've been,

Hmm

promoting like this big soccer field, right? You know, massive soccer field um that they're building. It's been two years and it looks exactly the same. Like it's still dirt. They might have some trucks moving around, but I have no idea what is being actually done. So the smart thing to do of course is let's tear up the grass of the existing small field that we already have one week before school starts because we're gonna put AstroTurf on it. And guess what? It's about three weeks in, four weeks in the school now and uh yeah, it's still dirt. It's like, what are we doing?

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

Like what are we doing? You know, you got kids you got young kids who need to run around during recess and now you just basically ripped up to to good feel like a good feel that it was perfectly fine with grass and now they have nowhere to run and You know nowhere to play. It's like this is ridiculous So this is the inefficient we're talking about and I think that we should not we should all put a stop to a rewarding uh inefficiency in the world

Yeah. Last thing was going to say, and then you have the counter story when I said I had to go into banks to do that. And, uh, banks normally get hammered and clobbered for their lack of service. And yet I had what would have been Rolls Royce service from the concierge that I walked into, um, to the bank, to one of the accounts with CBA bank, the guy who was, who was an old timer who'd been around the bank for a long time and he's solutions like we'd spent hours on phones and he just go and, We had to literally go into the branch and he was like, I'm sorry about the inefficiencies. had to go through. Let me solve it for you. Spent like 40 minutes with us. And that saved, that was like three years of frustration. This guy was able to solve in there and he took ownership of it. And he went, okay, you're not leaving until I get this sorted. And he was great. And it was really good. And so when I had an opportunity to write a review for this bloke, I did, he was like a long lost friend. You know, I, I, I acknowledged that and, and I hope he gets. you know, really acknowledged by his group team leaders because he did an outstanding job. So that to me.

That's the sad part about that though. Sad part about that is that that's a rarity, not the common thing. Right. I had to deal with a bank in Australia because my dad obviously lives in Canada, but he still got banking and he just sold his house and we didn't have to move money. And the bank has a restriction of moving like, I don't know, $5,000 a day or something. It's like, this is ridiculous. So we go through all these banking and then, we go through this bank, call them. I have to call it. Skype's no longer available. So I don't have to like go find like some.

That's exactly, That's what, yeah, exactly.

Random like long-distance call to find call them also on the phone for them for like an hour hour and a half they and I Couldn't my dad couldn't answer some of these questions, even though it was right answers But the bank according to the bank it wasn't the right answer So we couldn't proceed when I talked to a manager couldn't proceed because they're a verification process And you know what end up, you know what they end up suggesting is you're gonna have to fill in a paperwork I'm like, okay, what's the paperwork? You know what the proof was his signature? I'm like

Yeah. uh Yeah.

Wait a second, like you couldn't prove like all of these questions, which is like, where were you born? Right? Or like, you know, what, like, what was your, you know, I don't know, main, like your wife's last name or something, all of these like, you know, random security questions that he answered correctly. But the proof was a signed paper set over the internet, right? Which anybody could afford. That was the proof of it. Okay. Now we can allow you to transfer more money. It was like, wow, what is going on to the system?

Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

But anyways, all right guys, I hope you enjoy this podcast. It was full of like massive imperfection all over the world. But the whole point is actually how do you deal with it? And I think the stimulation for us is to kind of talk about this is that there's so much inefficiency in the world that we could be more efficient, not only in the world itself, but also in your own life. And I think it's about how do you look at them and how do you solve them by removing the smallest little thing, removing the smallest little friction to allow you to live a more friction free life. kind of created some of the thoughts around that. And you know, nothing's perfect, not neither as our lives are perfect. And we wanted to highlight this, that we have frustration just as much as you, but it's what you do from here on out. By the way, I'm going to go clean up those paddle balls now and just so that it's done. All right, take care. See you next time. Bye.

Sounds good.