What the Mastermind behind Iraq War and the MP of My Town Said To Me…

Today is 11:38 PM on July 10th.

There are a few things I’d like to talk about:

1. Desk commitment device I used strong glue to tape my laptop to the table, which now forces me to work at a desk instead of in a chair or bed. I read in a book that shaping your environment to nudge you toward your desired behavior is effective and perhaps better than trying to have something that forces you to work. I’ve noticed that working from bed makes me more prone to unproductive habits and leaves me feeling less healthy, both physically and mentally.

This approach became even more binding when I tried to close the laptop and some glass near the hinge cracked (hard to see unless you look closely). That pain of that experience has made me reluctant to remove the tape for now. I’ll keep experimenting with this setup, but if it doesn’t work out, I’ll likely just replace the laptop.

2. Blocking YouTube I’ve blocked YouTube because I was spending 1 to 4 hours a day watching music videos or whatever the algorithm recommended, without getting the results I wanted. I’ve set up a few backups in case I genuinely need it:

• Ask a personal assistant to find, download, and send me specific videos.
• Use my parents’ phone (a last resort) to watch something like a tutorial.
• Go to a nearby library and use their computer if needed.

3. Air conditioning fan I installed an air conditioner fan to help me work more effectively, and I’ve already noticed a positive difference.

4. MP’s Response I heard back from an MP in my area, who invited me on a tour of Parliament. It’ll be a chance to see how the MP operates and get a feel for that environment.

5. Mastermind behind the Iraq War I reached out to a political marketer known for his role in shaping messaging around the Iraq War, asking to shadow him as an intern. He replied saying he’s busy with summer holidays and business commitments right now, but we agreed to reconnect later. I plan to build a relationship with him over time, with the goal of eventually volunteering for him.

6. Marketing business My marketing business isn’t getting the results I want, so I’m considering reaching out to large corporations. They have the budget but not necessarily the expertise for this newer marketing platform, so there could be a good opportunity there.