Mmm... my focus for 2017 is to declutter too. Just before new year I watched the documentary "minimalism". Not that I agreed with all that they said, but overall led me to some introspection. Halfway through the movie I also realized that these guys were maximizing their bank amount via the books they sell, and talks they are invited to give Sometimes wished I was that savvy to get out and speak about something that would get me the dough.
Hm. Minimalism. How much its my thing already! Modji, you rembr? Suggested to have a discussion? Maybe we should do that too.
Isn't it obvious anytime? I mean not just 'them', its happening right here, right now and truth is we get nothing as contributors or volunteers, just some color color bands! Hm, You get the hint? Smart. Yeah, thats #Capitalism for you, everywhere it is! Your addiction, their money. Always. *Shrug*
Golden words @kaniths True. All those "self" help books do help; only not the readers but the authors' bank accounts Loved your tongue-n-cheek write up. See a satirist in you.
Hmmmm maybe not always? I see what you're getting at, but maybe it's not quite so bad? There's some effort and risk involved in getting the darned thing going after all. Not to mention design savvy. First you step into uncharted waters with no guarantee of success and then the reward comes much later, if at all. I have seen some similar attempts fail - and that too fairly recently. I have never attempted it, but I think, in a web universe of billions of pages, it's still something to get noticed! IL is very well done (of course I have no idea of the inner workings). Re: the self-help (and other) genre(s) - you know what gets my goat? The second (and further iterations) after the first hit. Those are just plain marketing, cashing in on initial success by stamping out cloned drivel based on the original template. The first Feynman book, to use one example, is good fun; maybe even the second, but after that it's just Feynman droppings excreted by some publisher out to cash in. One has to be careful not to step in it.
Yes, some truth to this @sokanasanah Perhaps that was what happened in the middle of the documentary "minimalism". At the beginning the two men had no/minimum 2-5 folks for audience at their speeches; by mid movie they became quite popular and that's when I knew their bank coffers were beginning to fill up. By the time the movie ended I felt that this concept was being rammed down my throat and I revolted from TMI - equivalent to Feynman droppings perhaps. Umm... Office closed - snowed in; hence the immediate response
I don't know this film. Please post a link if you remember. Enjoy the blizzard while you can, before the ice shelves come looking for you!
This austere living is dished out in a modern flavour which we find appealing. If I intend to curtail my expenses or economise my living space, I can't pride on such frugal undertaking for the fear of being branded as "skinflint". It is hush hush! With Konmarie, 100 Things Challenge (by Dave Bruno), Minimalism, we have recasted such efforts as 'conscientious fellowship' to feel proud about. You can update your FB status to "Konmarie Kool Aid" and receive 100 likes approvingly. These neo lifestyles have redemptive qualities as disciplinary choices whilst distancing themselves from stingy mannerisms. I like these projects for the way they make people feel good about themselves. Remember, we are in times where we are highly judged by our presence in the social media. We are self-conscious of every photo and status that we upload into the networking gallery. I like these authors and books and tours for the modern and cheerful spin they lend to these spartan outlook. There is no romanticized altruism! If people are making money by commercialising such ideas, so be it, it is win-win for both the sides as I see it. I still love the concepts emphasised in these lifestyle choices. Keep things simple! Keep life simple! However, these days people embrace it not only as a counter-culture (er, counter-capitalism) defiance but also as a fashionable social statement stripped of its erstwhile parsimonious underside.