naidle.com

Theme update for naidle.com

I probably don’t have too many people who follow this site but if you had you’d notice I’ve been a bit neglectful since June. I had expected to post throughout my trip to South America but stopped after Brazil (missing any discussion on Argentina, Bolivia or Peru). Oops.

Anyway, I’m going to make an attempt to update more consistently moving forward. Think of it as a New Year’s Resolution (ie, low probability but good intentions).

I’ve updated my theme as I kind of felt the old one didn’t quite fit. I plan on doing some additional tweaks soon.

Jardim Botanico

Last week I stopped by Jardim Botanico which was about a 25 minute walk from where I was staying. I doubt most will have interest in flowers and fauna but I have uploaded them anyway ;)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/naidle/sets/72157624207226425/

Supposedly they have a similar place in Argentina (with the same name too) so I might check that out. No real stories here, although it was probably the easiest place to get around without knowing a lick of Portuguese.

Things to remember: Plaid is incredibly touristy no matter what the fabric; walking around Rio is not inherently unsafe, it just depends on where you are; It only costs R$5 to get in yet R$18 for a salad and espresso.

Teresopólis, Pao de Açucar and Barra

Teresopólis

On Sunday we went to Teresopolis which is just over an hour north of the city. Unfortunately it was too cold to swim in the waterfalls but the views were still worth the trek. We split up our time in the national park (views of Gods Finger) as well as downtown Teresopolis where we took in the weekend market. There were probably 200 booths and 190 of them were all womens clothing. No idea how that works…

Before dark we went up to see Eddies Dads house which is just being built. The views out his window are insane. I cant even imagine what this would cost in Canada.

Things to Remember: Go when it is warmer with clear skies. Reminds me of Peru as it looks like the Amazon but nearly as hot or humid. Hope you enjoy bumpy roads. Great place to buy a cheap belt (R$15) when you forgot one at home; Great restaurant with top notch seafood dishes. The plant that acts like a spring board when you press on it (http://www.flickr.com/photos/naidle/page2/)

Pao de Açucar

Amazing views, what can I say? Incredibly touristy. I am glad we did it just before the sun went down. It was weird hearing English all around me.

Things to Remember: Stunning views. Lots of tourists, many of which were discrespectful (breaking bamboo, throwing garbage). It is a must see.

Barra

After spending the first five days downtown Rio, we drove out to Barra where Eddie lives. Living right on the ocean, I spend the better part of my days at the bikini clad beach. I feel like I am living at a resort (wait, I am). To some they would rather be in the city but I much prefer it out here. People are friendly, its nice and relaxed but still lots to do.

Things to Remember: Learn how to surf before you come back. It is a travesty that I am a poor swimmer. The over-the-top fat favela boy who was acting up a storm for some Açai. Crying ´Oh My God Im so hungry!` doesnt work when you are overweight and creepy. Pick a better scheme; Açai, and fruit in general, is amazing; Bring strong sunscreen and accept mosquitos like you.

Next up… Ipanema Beach, Lapa, Jardim Botanico, Drinks & Food.

Life in Rio De Janeiro

Well, I arrived here in Rio Thursday afternoon after a 10 hour flight through the night. The first day was hard on the senses. I was quite stressed about customs, carry-on limits and the Sao Paulo airport. Everything worked out well though and I met some great people along the way. Here are a few things that I’ve noticed so far:

People just seem happier here. They understand that there are dangers but it doesn’t stop them from enjoying the day-to-day.
If you can, learn as much portugese as possible. I’m lucky to have a good friend who lives here but it’s an interesting experience to be the foreigner
Food is the same but different. Most products I see, I recognize but they are typically a different flavour or name (chocolate bars, chips etc). It’s interesting to see all the different types of fruit and vegetables though not surprising.
The bars are a dream compared to Vancouver. You can buy beer on the street surrounded by others just out having a good time. It’s like a house party on the street.
The cost of living is very much like Canada here. Dining out, clothes, toiletries all seem to be the same if not a bit more. Things like beer are definitely cheaper though.
If you can, pick an evening flight while bringing a comfy neck rest. I slept an OK 6 hours which shortened my trip considerably. The rest of the time I was chatting with others on the plane about Sao Paulo and life in Rio. Very friendly people.
A “cold” day here seems to be arond 17 with humidity in the mid 80% range.
The driving is very random and chaotic. Many roads don’t have lines which oddly reminds me of Montreal. Getting to your destination is more of an art/skill rather than a science.
Take taxis but make sure they’re new. The one we took last night didn’t have seatbelts and had bald tires (not a good combo).
Most signs have English as a second language but mostly only the middle and upper classes speak it.

Questions About My Trip To South America

With my trip to South America fast approaching I wanted to break down my itinerary for friends and family to see while answering a few common questions. I’ve been rather lazy when it comes to updating my blog. I haven’t been in one place for more than 5 days in a row since April so that’s a big part of it. Over the next two weeks I’ll try and document what I’m packing and anything I’ve learned before my trip. It’ll be fun to compare that to when I return and my view then.

Where and When?
In two weeks I will be flying from Toronto to Rio De Janeiro and will be returning in August from Lima, Peru. The trip is 77 days in length.

Why South America?
After doing a bit of research on weather (I’m Canadian after all), geography and general cost of living I felt South America offered the most upside of all the continents. Living in Vancouver the past two years helped me realize the importance of sun, community and enthusiasm as part of my -day-to-day. That isn’t to say Vancouver doesn’t possess such things but I’m expecting a stark contrast while in Brazil and Argentina.

Europe is probably the most common trip but the expense was a flag for me. Asia, although high on my list, provides more of a linguistic challenge and from my brief research wasn’t the best time of year to go. I’ll go to both but just not now.

What Countries Will You Visit?
I will be in Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia and Peru. If I can find time for Uruguay I will pass on through as I continue to hear great things.

What Are Your Key Destinations?
Brazil - Rio De Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Florianopolis and the Iguacu Falls
Argentina - Iguacu Falls (south side), Rosario, Buenos Aires, Cardoba, Salta
Uruguay - Montevideo (although I’d prefer a smaller town)
Bolivia - Salt Flats, Sucre, La Paz
Peru - Lake Titicaca, Puno, Arequipa, Machu Picchu, Cuzco, Lima (…more to come).

Isn’t This Expensive?
That really depends on how you value travel and what you perceive as “expensive”. Personally I find all-inclusive trips to the Caribbean more expensive given the return on investment. It all comes down to your value system. The cost of living in Peru, Argentina and Bolivia ranges from $15-35/day. What does your day-to-day cost? Also keep in mind that many of the items I’ve purchased will last well beyond this trip (vaccinations, backpack, performance gear etc) so if you can stomach the upfront cost, it’s well worth it.

Isn’t It Dangerous In ‘X’?
Oh how the 6 o’clock news has shaped our view of the world. Is it dangerous? Yes I’m sure it can be but so can any major city that I’ve visited. Common sense comes into play here as does doing a bit of research before you leave. Don’t flaunt wealth and speak to locals on where and when to go out. You’d do the same visiting Toronto or New York so I’m not sure it’s that vastly different. If I get robbed, beaten or shot I’ll probably update this section ;)

Visa Process
This was a lot easier than I had anticipated. Of all the countries, only Brazil required a travel Visa prior to leaving. It was $91 and lasts for 5 years.

Top 10 Ways to Make More Money on Craigslist

I’ll be moving again in April which means it’s time to purge myself of consumer goods. I find it refreshing and liberating but at the same time I never liked the idea of giving my stuff away for next to nothing at a yard or garage sale. The expectation at a garage sale is cheap, used goods. It’s for browsers and not people with specific needs.

Craigslist on the other hand creates niche markets on products through need or want. It’s about supply, demand and narrowing down your target.

How Much Should I Expect to Get Back?
My goal on Craigslist is to make 50-65% of what I purchased for any item. After you factor in depreciation and how much time you want to put towards posting ads, responding etc, it’s best not to expect more. Some items yield higher returns than others. I find furniture, office chairs, mattresses, ikea anything etc., are poor earners where as smaller items like sporting goods, small appliances and electronics can reap solid coin.

Here are a Few Things Worth Keeping in Mind

1. Determine the going rate. If I’m selling an electric kettle I will review 2-3 posts already listed based on price, photo quality and how they word the ad. I will also do a quick search to see what stores are selling for. Remember it’s supply and demand. Just because you bought something on sale doesn’t mean it’s still on sale. Do your research.

2. Always include a picture. Many people narrow their search by that alone so don’t be lazy. It also gives the impression you’re a real person and not just a spammer

3. OBO is your friend. Always include obo (or best offer). If you’re worried about people low balling you just expect that and factor that into your original asking price. If you want $50 say $65 obo. You’ll probably get $55 for it and both parties win.

4. Always give a reason why you’re selling the item. For me, I’m moving so that’s a no brainer. If you got a new item in the same category that’s just as good. Giving a reason gives the sense you’re offering up a bargain. When someone reads your ad they will ask themselves if this is a real post and if it’s a deal.

5. Steal or borrow from others. Off of my first point don’t be against taking a picture from Google images or a block of copy from others. Just make sure you do this from other cities. You can do the same with copy if you’re a poor writer but always augment it so that it fits your scenario.

6. Leave a call back number. Most people avoid the phone like the plague. I don’t. All that does is weed out an older demographic who chooses to sort things out over the phone. It also yields a higher conversion rate on the sales. I’ve had more people send me emails with half-hearted interest than by phone. It’s not even close.

7. Be patient. Make a post, be confident in it and just leave it up. If you keep reposting you come across as desperate or annoying. Neither is an ideal trading partner. If you’re under a time crunch just start selling your goods early.

8. It’s in the details… and keywords. If you were buying the same item you were selling what would you type into the search field? If you’re selling a monitor you may want to include the model number (people copy and paste). If it’s a desk chair you’ll have lots of competition so what’s your unique selling proposition (USP)? Adjustable back rest? Ergonomically awarded design? Don’t lie as that will get awkward but keep in mind that people reinforce purchasing decisions with the details. Doing this will also help with search results within Craigslist.

9. Don’t just your first offer, especially if it’s a low-ball. It’s obvious but just because people make an offer doesn’t mean that’s the best out there. If you’ve done what I’ve said above you have the luxury of time on your side.

10. Avoid theft or spam. The “best” offers I’ve received were from people half-way around the world promising me money once I mailed an item to them. I’ve heard other horror stories of people meeting up in parking lots to make a transaction. Use common sense. If you are using the phone over email like I suggested above you can naturally weed people out using intuition. If you’re not sure bring a friend or make the transaction in a public place where you feel comfortable. My condo lobby is perfect. Camera’s are abound and I don’t have to get out of my comfort zone. There’s no better way to lose money on Craigslist than to be robbed.

6 Ways to Becoming More Productive at Home

In a previous post I had mentioned that I would follow-up with how to become more productive at home. Unlike the first part however, I wanted to keep this more straight forward. I’m learning as I go folks. Better get used to it ;)

1. Cut your TV usage by half. As I mentioned last week, if the average person spends 4 hours a day watching TV, think of ways you could get that down to two. How? Do your best to avoid network scheduling and their advertisements. Stop watching the news. If you need updates ask people in your office or commute into work. RSS feeds are great if you know where you get the right information.

2. Limit your time on Facebook and MySpace. Stop creeping and status checks to 1-2 times per day (gasp!). They’re poor news aggregators and if your goal is to know what your friends are doing you’ll still be able to by checking in once before work and once after you get home. If you’re having a tough time adjusting you can block sites on your home computer so you’re less inclined to check. I’ve done this in the past with amazing success.

3. Finish one task before you leave for work. I could probably just tell you to get up at 5:00am but everyone has their own schedule. Whenever you start your day, be sure to get up 30 minutes earlier than you do right now and get one thing accomplished. Maybe that’s reading a book or learning a new skill. Whatever it is it has to be productive. Don’t just spend an extra 30 minutes surfing the web, using twitter or watching the news.

4. Cook. It might seem counterintuitive as it takes time to eat but if you can learn how to prepare quality meals you’ll feel less lethargic, sleep better and also learn a thing or two about diet. The quicker you learn to cook, the quicker you’ll be able to refine the process and get your time down. Like anything we learn it takes time to refine.

5. Be active enough to sweat. Again, it’s counterintuitive but this improves the quality of your sleep, reduces stress and improves your immune system all the while increasing your endurance. If you find yourself forgetting to fit it in stick post-it notes around your home or set up calendar reminders on your cell phone. If you can’t find 30 minutes a day to do this you’re doing something wrong. Yes, this goes for parents too. As busy as you are you’re just as good (if not better) at making excuses.

6. Stop saying “I’m busy”. This is probably the most overly used and poorest excuses we use in our daily lives. ”How was the weekend?” “Oh, you know busy, busy”. Really? Ask that same person to list out what they actually did and you’d have to assume they slept 16 hours a day. Keep in mind this isn’t to say that everyone lies about their work load but it’s clearly exaggerated for some odd social merit.

Feel free to add a few more to the list.

Ecommerce for Technology Vendors: Maximizing Your Online Channel

Step 1 to Becoming More Productive at Home

To me time is the most valuable commodity we all have in life. Some have more than others but as a whole, people aren’t all that great with it. We create devices or tools with the original intent of shortening tasks only to have them balloon once they’re applied (smart phones come to mind). I’m going to write up a two-part series about how to be more productive day-to-day without being too rigid or process driven.

Let’s Get Started
I’m a big fan of productivity, process and efficiency. As a project manager, I’m lucky enough to work in a field where those skills are so obviously part of my day-to-day. Like many people though, my body loves habits and repetition. Over time the line starts to blur between what’s a necessary task and ones we do out of mindless repetition. To compound the problem everyone values certain tasks differently. If you’re a clean freak are you more likely to value vacuuming than a person who cleans once a year. Looking for a solution?

Step 1: List out the 5 Most Unproductive Things You Do
It might be hard to admit openly but we all have open loops or inefficient tendencies. It’s not about doing a lot more, it’s about being more efficient with your time so you’re free to do other things. Below is a short list of some typical unproductive tasks at home which of course could be longer. Do any of these sound familiar?

Commuting - The average commuter spends 12 full days a year in transit. How do you compare?

Getting Ready / Winding Down from Work - How long does it take you to shower, apply make-up (for the women I assume), eat, get dressed, and check emails? How long does it take you to unwind from work? 30 minutes? 2 hours?

Browsing the Web - It can be constructive and incredibly informative but if you’re like me you waste hours a week just surfing without purpose (one of the habits I’m trying to kick).

Social Networks - Did you know the average user spends 55 minutes a day on Facebook? How much time do you spend using twitter after you factor in efforts required to split away from what you we’re doing before that tweet? Keep in mind, we’re not good at multitasking.

Television - How many shows do you watch a week? According to Nielsen the average American watches 4 hours and 49 minutes of TV a day. This number astounds me but after factoring in morning and evening news plus a weekly show almost nightly you’re set up right for 3+ hours per day.

Housekeeping - I know you’re probably thinking that this shouldn’t be on a list of unproductive things but you likely spend hours a week cleaning, dishes, laundry and general home maintenance. Just because a task is inherently productive doesn’t mean you’re efficiently executing.

I’ll post some potential solutions to the above issues in a follow up post but feel free to come up with your own list and see how you stack up. Just think of what you could do with that spare time.

Superbowl Commercials 2010 - Taco Bell and… Charles Barkely?

As a Canadian we get tortured with bad ad after bad ad. Thanks to the internet I get a chance to take it all in. So far not good though.

Taco Bell “It Rocks, It Rocks” (…no it doesn’t)

I’m assuming this is to pay off Charles Barkely’s gambling debts..? What was Taco Bell thinking? Moreover, how does this sell product?

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