When I hear “Nicaragua,” it conjures up memories of my mom cooking supper in the kitchen while Dan Rather reported the day’s news. He would talk about the Reagan Administration backing the Contras against the Sandinistas, then show pictures of camouflage-clad Commandos brandishing AK-47s. It was a different time in the 1980s. Nicaragua was embroiled
House Hunting in Costa Rica!
Costa Rica has become a hotbed for Americans buying second homes. The appeal of a country where locals greet you with “Pura Vida” (“simple life” or “pure life”) is immediately apparent. It is a magnificent country famous for its world-class surfing, rain forests, jungles, reserves and national parks. Thirty-five wildlife refuges protect more than twenty-five percent of
Why I Embrace Solitude (and you should too)
I’m an experienced solo traveler. Usually, I’ll meet more people vagabonding alone. But Norway is different. Perhaps due to its high prices, remote location or combination thereof, I encountered zero rebellious hippies, counterculture losers or brainless bleeding hearts. Nobody attempted to tell me I was from “The Great Satan” or that I’d need to “check
How Does it Feel to be Rich?
Money was coming in faster than I could count. Guys around me were envious. Consistently stacking up cash made me feel like a boss. I remember thinking, “Is this how it feels to be rich?” None of my best friends were having success yet. They hadn’t learned how to play the game, didn’t know winning
No More World Series “Blues”
My college coach once said, “Umpires are the bottom of the food chain. If you can’t play, you coach; if you can’t coach, you scout; if you can’t scout, you umpire. It’s far beneath you to argue with bottom feeders. Let me do it.” 2017 World Series Game 5 (Astros vs. Dodgers) Game 5 of
6 Productivity Hacks for the Digital Age
We may be the last generation with a powerful tool like the internet, yet still possess the ability to focus the mind long enough for deep work. Today’s technology entrepreneurs believe we’re living in an “attention economy,” and you can bet they’re vying for our attention right now. If we continually succumb to the fleeting
How the NCAA Experience Prepares You for the Real World
In recent years, I’ve had the great honor of giving talks to groups of NCAA Division I athletes. I relish the opportunity to regale them with stories of my days as a college baseball player. I share the lessons learned from my NCAA experience in three areas: work ethic character development building a quiet confidence
Japan: Travel Advice & Itinerary
We were 6,700 miles from home facing centuries-old cultural norms and codes of etiquette. Being in Japan is like traveling through 11 centuries of history. Endless peaceful gardens and ancient Buddhist temples adorn the island country whose capital, Tokyo, is teeming with busy streets and vibrant culture. I wondered how they keep a country of 127 million
My Journey into Real Estate
During my first job interview after college, the interviewer asked where I saw myself in ten years. I said, “My long-term goals are in real estate. I want to build my own little real estate empire,” to which he smirked. I wasn’t seeking a job so much as a mentor. I needed to find a place
Real Estate Investing for Financial Independence
Article read by the author: After reading several books in my early 20s, I chose to pursue financial independence (FI) through real estate investing. The FI pursuit requires purchasing income-producing assets in lieu of shiny things that depreciate in value. In choosing to pursue FI through aggressive saving & investing, you’re designing a lifestyle that consists