Former Community – We Moved
🆕 Coached community here, for posts & feedback public community here.
Hello + Updates (What I'm Doing, Where & Why)
Have you heard about the advice of working without Internet to avoid distractions?
Frankly, I didn't believe much in it.
But having been forced into it in the past few days, I have to say that I was indeed more efficient.
I'm still not going to willingly disconnect my Internet, but it shows that I have still much room for improvement when it comes to full focus and "deep work".
I think that being able to give something your full and undivided attention is an important life skill to master.
Anyway, I'm back with wifi and these are some updates:
My Thwarted Travel Plans: China At Risk
I was planning to visit China and work my way up to Kazakhstan before going back to Europe for my father's birthday.
And then, well, you might know what happened.
Let's see how that turns out and how I might have to change plans.
What I've Done: Dating Power Dynamics Update + Audiobook
Finally, I managed to wrap up the latest update to "Dating Power Dynamics".
And today I finished emailing all the previous buyers to let them know about it.
I was super excited about the audiobook version, too, which is now available.
Turns out, doing an audiobook version is a lot more effort than I thought, even if you opt for the robot voice.
What I'm Doing Next: New Teaser-Articles Based on Social Power
First and foremost, reply forums' threads: there are some very interesting questions that came up
Next, I am going to write some articles based on some Social Power lessons (the articles will not be as good as the lessons to provide the customers with more value).
And I will use that opportunity to update and improve on the lessons as well.
What I'm Reading Now
In the last weeks, I got back to reading more dating and seduction advice for men.
I was exploring some authors I had heard about but had never read anything from.
For example, I have summarized RSD Tyler "Blueprint Decoded". I have also just finished Aaron Sleazy (good and I like the guy), "Attract the Right Girl" (unexpectedly really good), and now I'm reading Nick Krauser (some very good points).
Once I finish this batch I will have reviewed all the most famous authors for male dating advice -and for females, I've already done so, since there is not that much anyway-.
What I'll Be Reading Next
- Politics power dynamics: next I want to get into the power dynamics of politics. I have high expectations for "The Logic of Political Survival", and I got a couple more titles lined up.
- Feminist texts: I have reviewed a lot of red pill books and manosphere authors. Now I want to hear the other side of the coin. I am particularly interested in how female authors describe the famous "patriarchy". Since I bring a male perspective, it's important that I approach it with as much an open mind as possible
Location-wise, I'm in Bohol now.
It's nice, but also overrated and overrun by tourists.
Lots of ladyboys cruising as well, and the will sometimes the heck out of you -I'll write more about it later-.
Book Reviews: Coming Next (Workplace) Power Dynamics for Women
With "Soulmate Sequence" by Richard La Ruina I'm moving off the seduction for men topic for now.
And thanks to a couple of users' feedback and recommendation, I'm getting deeper back into power dynamics, with a focus on women and the workplace.
I'm now reading "Nice Girls Don't Get the Corner Office" and it's very good.
It also gave me some ideas on how to further improve the workplace module of Social Power:
Social Power New Lessons: Assertive and Submissive Behavior at Work
I might spin off the long lessons on submissive and dominant behavior, plus add more material, and do two more lessons exclusively focused on the workplace.
Such as: what are the behaviors that are most likely to lead to career advancement and which ones will keep you relegated to the low-level positions.
I'm sure that would be interesting for many -and it's certainly interesting for me, too-.
Generally, there are two different types of behavior that gets rewarded at work:
- Emotionally and socially intelligent, caring about keeping groups harmonious, they are more likely to become managers
- Drivers and dominant, caring about results and caring less if someone gets hurt, are more likely to become executive
There are exceptions of course, but that's the general rule.
And that's where a few career coaces get it wrong: they don't recognize the two different tracks.
And that's why I might model the lessons based on those two different paths: exec level, and manager level.
I'm in Boracay right now, and will stay here another couple of days.
It doesn't look like the Coronavirus will get better any time soon, so my trip to China is gone for now.
After Singapore, I might come back to the Philippines again in the second part of March.
What I've Done at ThePowerMoves: Released Some Articles From Social Power
Recently I have been releasing a few high-quality articles that are taken from Social Power.
I have used the occasion to further improve those lessons and, of course, I left more details and examples in the course so that the customers get more value -plus the advantage of having everything laid out in order-.
Next Steps
- Workplace power dynamics
I will update the workplace section of Social Power with more research on workplace power dynamics, also from a woman's perspective.
Collecting information and research takes time, and since I'm not in the business of half-assing stuff, this project will take time.
The workplace is also where I have comparatively less experience than all the other power-fields such as socialization, dating, and relationships.
And it's also an area with few good products, a bit of unchartered territory. So I'm excited about it.
I might release a few more public articles on workplace power dynamics as well.
- Fixing old articles
Since I will release fewer new articles, I will now go back to this old project: going through older articles, improving them, and fixing the typos.
- Star rating for books: finding need a new provider
The star rating from the book reviews are not showing up anymore on Google, and the plugin is not maintained anymore.
I will need to find a new plugin that is also compatible with the sorting plugin I use for the reading list page. That way users here will still be able to sort books by star rating.
Since I'm there, I might also consider getting a plugin that will let users rate the article, though I'm not too sure about that as it might look unprofessional.
I will probably then have to hire someone trusted to re-rate all the previous book reviews.
From a business perspective, this was a powerful reminder of the importance of sustainability: always be careful of building something big on top of something that's not been proven.
What I'm Reading
- Listening to "The Tactical Guide to Women", which was recommended by a reader and which is a true gem on how to assess and judge women for LTRs
- Reading "Hardball for Women", a book for women on workplace strategies. Another top source of wisdom.
Hey Lucio,
It looks like the coronavirus has just gone from bad to worse.
Just came to say be careful on your adventures while traveling and stay safe :).
All the best,
Ali Scarlett
Thank you Ali!
From bad to worse, you said it.
Lots of disruptions along the way, I had to waste quite some time canceling and changing plans, but that's life.
And for a laugh's sake, this month's biggest affiliate earner on the power moves was.... Drumroll... Toilet paper!
I wonder, how has toilet paper even become such a hot commodity.
One would think that canned food and water would be top priority. But this time around everyone seems to be fighting over toilet paper.
Oh well, people are gonna stay clean down there at least :D.
How are things there mate, you, family?
Hey Lucio,
Glad you're aware and I appreciate you updating me on your well-being.
I heard that Tom Hanks got the coronavirus and thought, "Man, if he could get it I hope Lucio's okay."
My mother is currently freaking out and doesn't stop watching CNN. I don't know all the facts, but she says that the virus can spread through the eyes now while others are telling me that China is burning their money because it actually spreads through the hands.
Either way, the Costco where I live is practically having a field day right now. Their waters are almost always sold out and the parking lot is constantly full. People are gearing up like they're preparing for an apocalypse!
Stay safe mate. Hopefully, this will all be over before we know it.
Ali
P.S. Haha didn't think toilet paper would be what brings in the big bucks this month. Next month: heated blankets
I'm now in Cebu, Philippines, and considering my options.
I narrowed down to two good destinations only for which I got tickets already: Korea (1st of April was the earliest I could find) and Japan (23rd of March).
These are the options:
- Stay in the Philippines
- PROs:
- I'm already here and don't need to travel;
- it's warm;
- can move to a condo with pool and gym if I need to keep "holing in" and quarantine (which I've largely been doing already)
- CONs:
- Healthcare in case you need it might be poor, and that's a big one to cover your downside risks;
- People carry almost normal life here, not respecting social distance, and that worries me ;
- If a big wave of contagions hits, and it's a real possibility, hospitals might easily be swamped
- PROs:
- Move to Seoul
- PROs:
- They seem to be past the peak and their containment efforts seem effective (of course that might change)
- the healthcare is good;
- they are taking the issue seriously, yet without unnecessary panic (and no movement restrictions)
- CONs:
- 1st of April is a long time in a fast-changing environment. If I don't fly to Japan first, Korea might close its borders
- PROs:
- Move to Tokyo
- PROs:
- Good quality healthcare in case needed
- From Tokyo I could move to other Japanese cities, or move to Korea later more easily than I could from Cebu
- CONs:
- It's a nation in denial, putting their heads under the sand and pretending all is good. There might be a huge wave coming up and they'd have no idea because they're not doing tests
- Very expensive
- PROs:
If you guys have any opinions, I'm happy to hear, it's difficult to find people to bounce ideas intelligently and rationally.
A quick update:
I sent the same question to the subscribers and the answers were enlightening. I will make it a forum entry on critical skill thinking applied to decision making and how the different messages helped me decide.
In the meanwhile:
- I had decided to fly to Japan on the 23rd, but I was denied boarding because Japan canceled visa on arrival (not advertised anyway, BTW)
- I tried to make a visa to fly to Japan on the 25th, but it wasn't possible. I still had a ticket to Korea for the 29th
- On the 26th I was supposed to move to a hotel by the beach to enjoy a better view the last 3 days, but they canceled. It turned out:
- By government decree, no hotel and no Airbnb are allowed to host any new guests. Which means that non-residents with no long-term booking are left with no places to stay
Long story short, I moved plane tickets 2 times in a few hours, booked a new one, then was finally able to prolong my stay here for a few more days.
And this experience showed how it's in the time of need that you truly find out what people are made of.
Since I wasn't allowed to leave the building and check-in somewhere else, another Airbnb host in this same building smelled the opportunity and tripled the rate.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, this is what my current host instead did and said:
I'm always deeply touched by kindness towards those in need (especially when one could have as easily profited, instead). These are the types of women you want as LTRs
At least I got a room on my head 5 more days, then we'll see.
On the website side of things:
Done: New Lesson for Women
In the meanwhile, Social Power has a new lesson dedicated to women and how they can learn and, when needed, adapt to the male style of doing business.
The Power Moves: Still Workplace Power Focus
On ThePowerMoves side, I am still focusing fully on workplace power dynamics.
My work experience has been relatively intense and spanning different sectors, but it's also the area of socialization and strategizing where I have the least personal experience, so it's even more important I cross all the Ts when it comes to research.
So I am reading some great researches and a very good book on how to combine "kindness with assertiveness" for workplace success.
And I am listening to a top-notch book called "Radical Candor". Radical Candor, together with Ray Dalio's books, will form the backbone for a new lesson on how to develop workplace cultures that maximize efficiency.
The course needs that lesson because right now the module is focused on realpolitik and how most workplaces function. But I want to make sure that people know that a better and more enlightened option is also available.
Summaries of a few more great books on workplace strategies will also follow.
Cheers guys!
I just want to thank you for your great website. It decomposes every subject very well.
I'm very grateful for your work, wish you all the best
