Jake Desyllas's Blog, page 27

203 Early Retirement And Housesitting: Interview With Sarah Burch

In this interview, Sarah tells her early retirement story and talks about life after quitting the rat race. We discuss why she has chosen housesitting both as a lifestyle choice and as a great financial benefit. She discusses the pros and cons of housesitting and provides some advice for people thinking about making the jump to early retirement.

Show Notes:
Honoring My CompassListen to Episode 203

202 Self-Deception

In this episode, I share two theories from social psychology about why we sometimes lie to ourselves and fool ourselves, as well as suggestions for overcoming these tendencies. I describe some of my own approaches to overcoming self-deception by getting objective data about my life.  In order to gain self-knowledge, you have to reduce the gap between what you think about yourself and reality. Although this is often an uncomfortable process, the truth is always liberating.

Show Notes
Trivers' Theory of Self-DeceptionThe Better Angels of Our Nature by Stephen PinkerThe Dunning-Kruger EffectTVL E200 Quantified SelfTVL Episode The Unexamined Business Is Not Worth Building
Listen to Episode 202 (20 minutes) 

Special Announcement: Seeking Beta Readers For "Four Ways To Quit The Rat Race" (My New Book)

I welcome feedback from anyone who would like to be a beta-reader for my new book “Four Ways To Quit The Rat Race: Choose Your Own Path To Freedom, Independence And The Life You Want”. I'll acknowledge everyone who provides feedback in the book and give you a free copy of the final version too.
If you’d like to hear more about the subject of this book, here is a presentation I gave about it (this was also in a previous episode of TVL):


A huge amount of additional research has gone into this book. I generated 500 pages of background notes! The book contains excerpts from 15 original in-depth interviews with people who have quit the rat race, as well as data from 34 books and 15 websites. However, I’ve kept the final text short (just 160 pages) and made sure it is easy to read.

I'd love to get your feedback. I appreciate you helping me make the book the best that it can be. You can hear about how the influence that beta readers had on my last book Becoming An Entrepreneur in TVL Episode 150.

Sign up to become a beta reader and get your advance copy here: http://goo.gl/forms/WwF4WpwVk1

Listen to the special announcement about my new book (5 mins)

201 Tools And Systems for Independent Learning

In this week's episode I'm sharing my own tools and systems for independent learning. These are the hacks that I use to be proactive about independent learning, rather than being an uncritical consumer of ideas. Topics covered include:

Making objectives for your learning and capturing them in EvernoteCoping with the information firehoseFiltering your search for learning materials using reading lists and subject tagging in Pocket app.Capturing learning resources in databases using apps like Calibre and EvernoteEffective note taking with mind maps, highlights and written notesCritical thinkingHabits to support learningAutomating parts of your learning system
Show Notes:

Abundance: The Future Is Better Than You Think by Peter DiamantisEvernote appJeffrey Tucker interviewPocket AppMind Mapping, Mindmaps and Mind Maps: Tutorials, Information and How-tosiThoughts Mindmapping AppVoicedream appDrafts appCalibre appIFTTTGoodReadsHow to Effectively Read and Implement BooksTVL 178 Upgrading Habits

Listen to Episode 201 (23 mins)

200 Quantified Self

This episode is about the growing use of technology to automatically collect and analyse data about your life. I share some examples of my own automated tracking of health and productivity data. I'm using various apps to analyse the data in the background and compile all the results into an automated, objective journal. It's getting easier all the time to quantify your life with minimal effort.  Doing so can give you objective data and meaningful analysis about whatever matters to you. This can help you to live a more conscious and fulfilled life.

Show Notes:
Quantified SelfFitbit One by FitbitTiming App (mac)RescueTimeifttt.comGiftttDyDay One Journal AppApplescriptKeyboard Maestro
Listen to Episode 200 (17m)

199 Car Free

Is owning a car really worth it? This episode is about the financial and lifestyle benefits of deliberately choosing not to own a car (I'm in my early 40s and I've never owned one). Topics covered include:

Why owning a car is often a waste of moneyThe health and lifestyle benefits of living car free, especially walking and cyclingAlternatives to car ownership including car clubs, peer-to-peer transport (e.g. Uber and Lyft), public transportThe problem of car dependency and why it existsChallenges of not owning a carSuggestions for how to live car free
Show Notes:
The Death and Life of Great American Cities by Jane JacobsLife Between Buildings  by Jan GehlTVL E74 City Air Will Make You FreeWalking 10,000 steps per dayListen to Episode 199 (17 mins)

198 Removing Trivial Decisions From Life

We are all subject to a psychological process called decision fatigue: every choice you make depletes your willpower and lowers your ability to self-regulate. This is true for trivial decisions as well as life changing ones. By designing trivial decisions out of your life, you can retain decision making capability for the things that really matter to you. In this episode I share some of my own experiences with avoiding decision fatigue and explain why I think minimalism is a great way to help you focus on the things that really matter.

Show Notes:
Willpower: Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength by Roy BaumeisterThe Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business by Charles DuhiggArticle: Decision Fatigue Exhausts Self-Regulatory Resources But So Does Accommodating to Unchosen AlternativesImage Credit: mylerdudeListen to Episode 198 (12 mins)

197 Resisting Conformity: A Discussion With Brett Veinotte

Brett Veinotte is an educator and host of School Sucks Podcast. This week I had an interesting discussion with Brett about the power of conformity and how to resist it. Topics covered include:
How conformity to "normal" spending habits prevents people achieving financial independence Solomon Asch's conformity experiments and what we can learn from them How conformity can alter your perception The importance of allies in resisting conformity The role of privacy in reducing conformity The danger of conforming to a subculture (and still being a conformist) How exposure to different views can increase your independence of thought Show Notes:
School Sucks Podcast School Sucks Facebook Group Solomon Asch Conformity Experiments Opinions and Social Pressure by Solomon Asch Stanley Milgram's Obedience Experiments Berns' study of conformity The Six Pillars of Self-Esteem by Nathaniel Branden Doug Stanhope on Nationalism 
Listen To Episode 197

196 Self Knowledge and Entrepreneurship: Interview With Hannah Braime

In this episode, I interview life coach and author Hannah Braime (my lovely wife) about the relationship between self knowledge and entrepreneurship. Hannah is the host of the personal development website Becoming Who You Are. As a coach she helps people to develop their self knowledge and live a more authentic, fulfilling life. She is the organiser of an upcoming online symposium,  The Entrepreneur's Inner World. Topics we cover include:
The role of self knowledge in entrepreneurshipKey themes that came up when Hannah interviewed 24 entrepreneursThe benefits of entrepreneurship for personal growth
Show Notes
Becoming Who You AreThe Entrepreneur's Inner World SymposiumThe Ultimate Guide to Journaling by Hannah Braime (free sample chapter here)Anything You Want by Derek SiversEp. 142 Extraordinary Time: An Interview With Augusto PinaudDouble Double: How to Double Your Revenue and Profit in 3 Years or Less by Cameron HeraldThe VIA Survey (Online Strengths Questionnaire)The Happiness Advantage: The Seven Principles of Positive Psychology That Fuel Success and Performance at Work by Shawn AchorBecoming an Entrepreneur: How to Find Freedom and Fulfillment as a Business Owner by Jake DesyllasListen to Episode 196 (50 mins)

195 Technomadia Interview

Cherie & Chris live on a converted vintage bus that they have packed with technology. They call themselves technomads (technology-enabled nomads). The bus has a solar electric system, lithium ion batteries, a mobile internet setup, and lots of other fun gadgets. Cherie & Chris work online whilst travelling and visiting new places. In this interview they share their inspiring story, including both the highlights and the downsides of life on the road.

Show Notes
Technomadia Website

Listen to Episode 195 (37 mins)