Category Archives: The Four Hour Work Week

Makeovers

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I guess you could say I have had quite a few makeovers the past year on my recent travels.  I mean, there was the eyebrow wax in Egypt done with a thread,

then there was the foot massage done with small fish in a water tank in Thailand,

and who could forget the mud bath in New Zealand.

Keeping the theme, 3 years later from starting this blog and 4 years from my life changing diagnosis, I thought it would be appropriate to makeover this blog as well!

There are a few additional things coming up, including the announcement of a book, reflecting the most recent series I have been filming, ‘Catch and Cook.’ With the book release date on the 2nd of August, more details will come soon on the pre-orders and the best part is, 3 dollars from every book sale will go directly to the Cancer organization, ‘CanTeen‘.

On a lighter note, Catch and Cook has picked up a US network as well, MAV TV airing to an expected 40 million July 12th , you can see those details here.

www.mavtv.com

or

www.foodtv.co.nz

Finally, as I sit and revisit this blog and my updated pictures, I have noticed the gravitational pull to the Pacific.  When I decided to leave on my road trip in 2009, I had no idea where I would find myself.  All I knew, is that I would certainly, be pretty damm happy.  So as I sit in the Pacific, scheduling my year out, New Zealand holds me as the current host.  Funny enough, I found myself watching the the true story movie, ‘We bought a Zoo’.  As you can see in this picture, Matt Damons wife is wearing a Maori jade necklace, a signature stone for New Zealand.

Fate, sign, or coincidence?  I will take all three ideas and keep you posted.  Perhaps, there is a Kiwi in the horizon someday…
Thanks for following!
Aaron (Or as they say in Maori ‘Arona’)

 

PS-This week another post about a few young youths getting the ultimate adventure and a volunteer project, worth every second….

MY QUEST TO SET A GUINNESS WORLD RECORD

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Travel Bucket List Item 32, ‘Set A World Record’. That said, meet my next expedition. Kayaking the entire length of the Intracoastal Waterway in the United States, in a solo kayak. The journey will begin the Florida Keys and end in Maine, for an estimated, 3,000 miles. The current record is 2010 miles, held by Helen Skelton, in the Amazon Delta.
So why in the world would I have this as a buck list? Here are my reasons;

1-Perspective- Traveling the world has always been about gaining a different perspective on life. When things get tough, easy, boring, and monotonous, a new perspective has aided to happiness. Seeing the entire east coast from a Kayak, is certainly going to be an interesting perspective.

2-Challenge- Most of my recent dissolved fears have been my greatest personal growths. The overcoming the doubt and sense of urge has been a mental tool that keeps getting stronger as I tackle each fear. I personally hate kayaking. The speed of the kayak vs the speed of a boat, is dreadful, yet important. Slowing things down to appreciate the now, will take patience and a strong thought process. Its the mental game and the idea of coming to terms with an activity I hate, to find the positive in the activity. To date, I have Kayaked a total of 4 hours in my 33 years of life.

3-Chance to Give Back- The more I see the world, the more I see how many things are for free to worry so much about how much money one makes. This will allow me to benefit a charity organization I feel strongly about, while I still continue to motivate others to overcome challenges they may have in life.

4-Happiness- With the above three, its a combination and most importantly, a great way to enjoy life. If I died tomorrow, I would like to feel like I have lived life to the fullest. Part of that, mean physically pushing my body to its fullest capabilities. With the help of Tim Ferriss, second best selling book, ‘ The 4 – Hour Body’, I am going to attempt to case study the skills taught in it. This will include, ‘ Slow-Carb Diet’ and ‘Polyphasic Sleep’. Using these techniques, I will establish a personal weight loss goal and perfect sleep by only sleeping 2-4 hours per day, allowing me to possibly set a second world record, “The longest journey in a 24 hour period”.

Thanks for supporting and following. You can follow the entire journey here,

http://adventureaaron.com/live-map/

Tim Ferriss, My Exclusive Interview

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Sometimes when your in the right place, at the right time, doing the right thing, things just fall in place. This my friends, is a true example! I am proud to have proof and hopefully provide you additional motivation with your muse.

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Recently, I have been shooting a future nationally syndicated television show called, ‘Alive’. Its based on this blog and specifically about living everyday to the fullest. The first episode, scheduled for this summer, takes place in Capetown. IT JUST SO HAPPENS, that I found Tim in South Africa. What a better way to start off a show, that was originally motivated by my success with Tim’s book, than the actual interview!

Topics-
Part 1
His stay in South Africa
Cage Diving with Great Whites
Life Hacking in Cape Town (Group Taxis is a van that takes multiple locals around)
Speaking ‘African’
Realizing your original muse may lead to a better muse
Long term plan for Tim?

Part 2
Favorite town in Capetown to live
Favorite thing about traveling (My favorite POV from Tim)
‘TIA’
Culture shock?

Here is the raw video, stay tuned for the actual trailer of “Alive” and the airing schedule. Its about 12 minutes long. Comments are always welcomed! ENJOY.

The Four Hour Work Week in 60 Days, The Video

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I have read the doubts, walked passed the doubters, and dined with the doers. The best part is, its was a Tuesday at 2pm on some secluded island.
Who would have thought I was diagnosed with Cancer.   Put your bucket list in the well and drink up, you wont be kicking that bucket anytime soon.  This is my story and your next…
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Its been almost one year since I first contacted Tim Ferriss, after sending him this video.
Related to the earlier post, per request, here is the video.  Above is the intro and below you will find the meat and potatoes, broken up into three meals.
I have put together a short E-Book of the detailed outline and day to day diary of my progress.  Its free to the suscribers to this blog (simply type in your email to the top right of this page).
Cliff Note Version:
-Diagnosed with cancer
-Lost wages
-Accumulated medical bills
-Received the book as a gift
-Documented my interpretation of the book
-Achieved goals to free up my life style
-Successfully opened and sold a business in another country
-Generated automated money
-Did it in 60 days
-Successfully run a company that allows me to travel for a living, The Seven Wonders Tour.
-Continue to live healthy, travel the world, and be happy
Its very important to note as I stress, I HAD NO IDEA WHAT THE OUTCOME WOULD BE.   I ALSO DIDNT THINK THAT I WOULD BE SHOWING THIS FOOTAGE ON THE WEB, SO EXCUSE THE ROUGH FOOTAGE, BUT YOU SHOULD GET THE IDEA.
When the book was given to me, the minute I read the first couple of words, I had some crazy confidence.   I was determined to accomplish what Tim Ferriss calls, “A New Rich Lifestyle”.   I was so determined that I decided to document it on my little hand held camera.  It was that very camera that you will see produced the footage.   I actually had a goal to do it in twenty five days but was sidelined with unexpected Cancer Treatment for 40 days.
As Tim suggest, own the train don’t manage what time it comes in.  The moment I freed myself up from the 9-5 was the day true happiness set in.   Its not the actual low hour work week, its the idea.   For more details visit the E-Book Link or leave a comment.  There you will find the actual break down, with outlined expenses, and all of my detailed notes that you can use.  In the meantime, hopefully you can use this for some motivation or inspiration.  This is no claim to fame, but I do hope it can provide the push you may need, to try it yourself.  After all, its a bit lonely out here…
Part 1
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Part 2
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Part 3
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The Leap of Faith

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1800 ft, Rio de Janeiro

It was the words ” RUN RUN RUN” , that confirmed everything I have been doing so far was an Adventure…
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Video- Around 7 minutes to view, the landing is on the beach, where the all the locals watch.
“WHOOO WHOOO WHOOO, big man.  I am not sure I can take you today”.
These were the words of one of the many instructors.  Being 6’4″ and 225 lbs, I was the largest thing they had seen in a while.  The wind was light and the instructor was in no hurry for extra business.  The regulations only allow each instructor to take 6 people per day, and there were plenty of people.  This was my second and last day before I had to go home, I couldnt possibly leave without jumping!
That’s when I met Ricardo.  Ricardo a seasoned hang glider of 9 years was always up for the challenge.  After all, he was an ex-mechanical engineer, who gave up years of education to pursue what he calls, ” Pure Happiness”.  Its people like Ricardo, I admire.  Similar to the stories in the Four Hour Work Week, its the risk they decide to take, with a reward bigger than my weight. 
“Its not about the money, my friend”, said Ricardo, after I attempted to give him 50 Reais for a tip (About 30 US Dollars).   “The reward is enabling me to take you today when the odds arent in your favor.  Especially after we perfected our landing!”
Notes: I was the only person to move to the right before we jumped, although Ricardo wont admit it, saying “I cant reveal my secrets”.
-In case your wondering about the shoes, they are the vibram five fingers.  This sponsor has been quite the topic with the locals everywhere I go and allowed me to be quick enough to make it off this platform :)   For More, see the post about Vibram.

How to get Sponsorships and Contact Big Name People

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The Day I found Tim Ferriss:
tf

Tim Ferriss is a self admitted, “Hard to Find Guy”, but I am always up for a challenge.  First rule I use in finding those hard to find people who can help you out is: Email every address you can find associating yourself with that person.  Second rule: send something with the word “urgent”.  Lastly, find something interesting to send the hard to find individual. For example, if there is a “how to: bestselling book on the best sellers list for over a year (Four Hour Work Week), do exactly what it says to do, videotape your experience, and send it to the author.  Worked for me…who’s to say it won’t for you.  The question is, then what…????
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The Four Hour Work Week in 60 Days (The Story)

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Ring ring ring….”Hello?”  “Mr. Carotta, this is the doctor’s office calling, we need you to come into our office asap.  You might want to bring someone with you…”
There were two major phone calls I received in 2008.  That was the first one.  I had been in denial for over a couple of months that I should see a doctor.  When I went into see the doctor that day, I knew my life was about to change. The moment the doctor told me that my tumor markers were high, was a day I will never forget.  It was the day I thought my life was really taking a turn for the worse.  What I didn’t know was that it was actually the second phone call that I received in 2008 that I really won’t forget; it was on that day that my life took a turn for the best.
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