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Free education

Batter Blaster teamLast Saturday, while walking the streets, I passed by the construction of a massive tent.  Turns out, a California based company named Batter Blaster was trying to break the Guiness Book of World Records by creating the most amount of pancakes in an eight hour period.  One day later, I was paid to lead three teams to help break this world record.  We were able to shatter record by creating roughly 80,000 pancakes.  I don’t think I want to eat or flip another pancake for months.

It’s events like the this one that make this trip not only fun, but also educational.  I’m starting to learn about human interactions in the social sphere.  And so, I’ve been practicing my social engineering, not in the negative notion of using people for an end goal, but in the positive notion that building rapport is important in forming relationships.

The large majority of my trip from paid museums, excursions, and tours to riding horses, boating, and music CD’s has been free.  All of these were started with a mere introduction to a perfect stranger.  Goodness begets goodness, and if others see that you are genuine in your attitude, they will open up and trust you.  Dale Carnegie, an awesome public speaker and coruscating personality from generations before said this:

There is only one way… to get anybody to do anything. And that is by making the other person want to do it.

It’s a shame that some of life’s most important lessons are not taught in school; it’s a code of the streets.

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  1. Marc
    May 11th, 2009 at 17:48 | #1

    “Living life with no regrets”. I don’t think you will ever need to worry about that. While you are out trying to discover who you are and where you fit in in the big scheme of things remember that the person you meet today who you think has changed your life could actually be saying the same about you. Was it fate or a decision that led you to flipping pancakes in the ATL or better yet was it fate or a decision to quite your job and inspire not only yourself but others along the way. Did I think a 25 year old kid (you are a kid compared to me no disrespect meant)would have me looking at his website to see where he is??? NO but here I am. It was a pleasure speaking with you…even if I had been drinking LOL but I wish you the best.

    Marc in ATL

  2. khanfer
    May 12th, 2009 at 01:54 | #2

    funny. i was in ihop this past weekend and had leftover pancakes. We missed Andrew “I’m no quitter” Fu.

  3. Brian
    May 13th, 2009 at 13:04 | #3

    For the most part, kindness and generosity cannot be tought in school, they must be instilled from the early years at home. Selflessness 101 would work on a limited number of people because those who are selfish will generally tune it out.
    P.S. Kokomo, Indiana is a real drag too ;p

  4. joanna
    May 24th, 2009 at 11:43 | #4

    That is so cool! How random to be flipping pancakes and trying to make n’ flip as many as you could. You’re really living, while we’re back here just running the rat race.

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