4 posts tagged “san francisco”
Yesterday I had a spontaneous brainstorming session with the founders of Barcelona-based www.faircompanies.com. They shoot videos and write posts about sustainable products, companies, restaurants, etc.
We brainstormed about product flows and monetization possibilities, long term and short term plans and goals.
These kind of talks really inspire me and get me going.
Check out their website. It's a niche but definitely has a lot of potential. Finding your way around the site is not so easy as of now but a new version of the site is in the works.
Keep it going Kirsten and Nico!
Check out their post about San Francisco Brew Pub 'Magnolia'!
Last night Adrian and I had the honor and pleasure to spend the night with some very inspiring, smart and down to earth MIT alumni.
I have been to an MIT function before, in Cambridge, MA and it was similarly inspiring.
Why? The people there are mainly older (most of them are probably between 60 and 75) and have achieved so much in their life that it is just the most exciting thing to listen and ask.
One gentleman last night was especially inspiring to me: Morty.
If I had to guess, I'd say he's about 70 years old and spoke fluent German, French, Spanish, English (I tested these on fluency) but as he continued with Japanese, Russian and Mandarin, I had to step back in respect and smile. Besides that he's a multi-scientist, I forgot, what he all studied but it was Natural Science.
He has such a curious character, always asking, always questioning, always challenging himself, his whole life.
He and his wife (she passed away) had a pattern they would follow (almost) every day that would keep them challenged and in shape, mentally and physically:
1. do sport
2. work (for money)
3. do another work (something that requires concentration and attention but does not earn you money, i.e. a hobby)
4. do something social (phone or meet friends or have quality time with your partner)
He said they did that over 40 years and it kept them healthy and happy. It sounds like a great plan to me.
Personally I would add:
5. eat veggies and fruits
but that's for me...
Another inspiring person, a lady, was there to speak to us: Susan Hockfield, the President of MIT. What a smart lady with a good sense of humor and no fear of saying NO or doing things differently.
She mentioned some of her MIT students who are currently working on the MIT Energy Initiative and quoted them, humbly saying of themselves: 'We are the people we have been waiting for'.
When I talk to people who have the wilder years behind them, I always get so excited about life. Age does not scare me if I can be like that in my old days too: keep my hobbies, friends and my curiosity and interest in people and life.
This was a fairly small function, maybe 40 or 50 people, inside an MIT couple's Nob Hill home.
What do I take away for today?
Challenge yourself every day. You think you can't do it? You can.
went to Brick the other night, it was a Tuesday and on Tuesdays they offer 2 bottles of wine for the price of one.
The food is fusion type, sashimi, grilled fresh calamares or a mushroom soup with sweetbread as a starter, some nice salads and pasta or meat dishes which friends marked as very good too (we spent our evening with some starters, a salad and a nice bottle of local Cabernet).
6pm. Be ready with your pillow.
I did not bring my helmet though...
