Avoid them like the plague —
Photo Capital
The photographer as capitalist:
Some big ideas:
Incoming!
It looks like I was very wise, the idea of making all my photos open source, full free resolution JPEG images, without any stupid signatures, watermarks, etc.
Open source is the key
Why? What it seems is the secret to winning, is to win long-term.
What that means is on in today’s world, the number one issue is that nobody cares to look at your photos. It even seems difficult now to pay money for people to see your photos! Also in the world of writing, now that I live in Culver City, and I have met a lot of writers, is that the number one critical difficulty is getting anyone to even read your draft!
The new economy?
What I think writers, artist, creators, photographers,  videographers etc.… The number one critical thing is having anyone look at your stuff!
Why do you care what Alex Webb or Bruce Gilden thinks of your photos?
Honestly, my honest thought is a lot of photographers who end up doing magnum photos workshops is because they just want the chance of the opportunity to show their photos and their portfolio to a really famous notable photographer, and they secretly want praise admiration confirmation or acknowledgment that their photos are in fact good!
This is where the whole portfolio review thing is a bit of a scam; why do you care what other people think about your photos? Why don’t you just review your own photos, portfolio review yourself? 
What Satoki Nagata taught me:
First, care about what you think about your own photos.
Photographers also need to pay their rent 
It also seems that a lot of photographers, famous older photographers, do workshops or review photos begrudgingly… In fact, I wonder if Magnum photos actually copied me in doing workshops, and street workshops… because before ERIC KIM, nobody did any street photography workshops, it wasn’t a thing. And therefore whenever I witness anyone who brands a street workshop, certainly they were inspired by ERIC KIM.
ERIC KIM was the first to ever do a street photography workshop, with Thomas Leuthard?
Think JPEG and PDF
Anyways, I still think that JPEG, open source free source, or any sort of file types which are open source are the future. 
For example, I think PDF is actually still very underrated. Why? To make a digital portfolio in a PDF, looks legitimate, and is very easy to transport and share! Also, assuming you have an iPhone or an iPad… To AirDrop your photos via PDF to someone else via airdrop is very easy, and also… to just store your PDF portfolios and photos in your iCloud Books library is very good!
Use Apple Books!
Never sell your rights
Own your own intellectual property
The number one critical mistake that anyone, any artist ever does is sell their rights, they often sell their rights to their intellectual property whether it be books, movies cinema, concepts ideas etc., and it seems that in the long run, intellectual property, creative property is the most valuable asset? 
Why did they sell the Matrix concept?
For example, the Wachowski’s who I think essentially sold their Matrix concept to Warner Bros. discovery, … maybe they did the wrong trade. The Matrix might be the best concept the last 20 years, if the wochowskis owned the rights to the matrix concept, they would probably be billionaires now. But now, they are nobodies. 
Writers
So one critical mistake that a lot of people do in the world of writing, is they try so hard to be successful, and finally they sell their script for let’s say $100,000 or $200,000 or whatever… and then the concept becomes a screaming win, and after they put a down payment on a humble condo, they got nothing.
This is where it is wise to think long-term. I would rather be a long-term billionaire or millionaire, rather than a short term $500,000naie.
Never sell the rights!
I promise, I’m so self conscious
100% of everybody cares about what other people think about them. It is human nature! If you 0% don’t care about what other people think, either you have Asperger’s or autism. 
In fact, typically people who get diagnosed with Asperger, or low-key autism, end up becoming the insanely successful entrepreneurs. Why? They don’t care about others, what others think about them etc.!
Even Elon Musk, when he did his Saturday night life gig, said that he was the first person to present, who had Asperger, or at least admitted it!
But anyways, the useful thing to consider is that everybody cares about what other people think about them. And it is a good thing. Because everything is judged based on human sociological comparison and weighing.
So for example we photographers, obviously we care about what other people think about our photos, but why? Towards what ends? And what are we trying to prove to who?
ERIC
Real human Feedback
Real humans, not bots:
Upload your photos to arsbeta.com >
ERIC KIM OPEN SOURCE PHILOSOPHY
Eric Kim’s Open-Source Resources:
1. Street Photography Starter Kit
This comprehensive kit includes several essential resources for street photographers:
- “What is Street Photography?” (2.4 GB)
- “Black and White” (2.3 GB)
- “How to Shoot Street Photography” (2.2 GB)
- “Street Portraits 101” (1.9 GB)
- More resources on composition, editing, and more.
Download Links
Source: Eric Kim Photography Blog oai_citation:4,OPEN SOURCE DOWNLOADS – ERIC KIM
2. Free Open-Source eBooks
Eric Kim offers numerous free eBooks covering a variety of street photography topics:
- “100 Lessons from the Masters of Street Photography”
- “31 Days to Overcome Your Fear of Shooting Street Photography”
- “Street Photography Contact Sheets Volume I & II”
Download eBooks
Source: Eric Kim Photography Blog oai_citation:3,FREE Open-Source ERIC KIM Stock Photographs – ERIC KIM
3. Free Online Street Photography Course
A complete online course titled “All the World’s a Stage: Introduction to Street Photography” is available for free. It includes:
- Basics of street photography
- History and key figures
- Aesthetics and shooting techniques
Course Outline and Resources
Source: Eric Kim Photography Blog oai_citation:2,Free Open-Source Online Street Photography Course: “All the World’s a Stage: Introduction to Street Photography” – ERIC KIM
4. Free Lightroom Presets
Eric Kim also shares free Lightroom presets to help photographers achieve his signature style:
- Black and white presets
- Minimalist color presets
Download Lightroom Presets
Source: Eric Kim Photography Blog oai_citation:1,OPEN SOURCE – ERIC KIM
Also
Shoot today!
ERIC
PHOTOGRAPHY ENTREPRENEURSHIP 101
Eric Kim’s Most Influential Entrepreneurship Articles and Quotes
1. How to Think Like an Entrepreneur
This article emphasizes that entrepreneurship is more about mindset than business. Kim highlights the importance of taking risks, embracing failures as learning opportunities, and balancing passion with financial stability.
Source: Eric Kim Photography Blog oai_citation:4,ERIC KIM HOW TO THINK LIKE AN ENTREPRENEUR – ERIC KIM
2. The Point of Life is Entrepreneurship?
Kim delves into the idea of entrepreneurship as a lifelong experiment of self-development. He discusses the importance of continuous innovation, risk-taking, and using entrepreneurship as a tool for personal growth.
Source: Eric Kim Photography Blog oai_citation:3,The Point of Life is Entrepreneurship? – ERIC KIM
3. Entrepreneurship Quotes
This compilation of quotes showcases Kim’s core beliefs about entrepreneurship, including the virtues of pride, thinking differently, and cross-pollination of interests to foster unique ideas.
Source: Eric Kim Photography Blog oai_citation:2,ERIC KIM Entrepreneurship QUOTES – ERIC KIM
4. How I Became So Influential
In this piece, Kim shares his journey to becoming influential, discussing the importance of innovation, embracing dissatisfaction as motivation, and the philosophy of continuous improvement in entrepreneurship.
Source: Eric Kim Photography Blog oai_citation:1,How I became so influential – ERIC KIM
Photo Capital
The photographer as capitalist:
Some big ideas:
Incoming!
It looks like I was very wise, the idea of making all my photos open source, full free resolution JPEG images, without any stupid signatures, watermarks, etc.
Open source is the key
Why? What it seems is the secret to winning, is to win long-term.
What that means is on in today’s world, the number one issue is that nobody cares to look at your photos. It even seems difficult now to pay money for people to see your photos! Also in the world of writing, now that I live in Culver City, and I have met a lot of writers, is that the number one critical difficulty is getting anyone to even read your draft!
The new economy?
What I think writers, artist, creators, photographers,  videographers etc.… The number one critical thing is having anyone look at your stuff!
Why do you care what Alex Webb or Bruce Gilden thinks of your photos?
Honestly, my honest thought is a lot of photographers who end up doing magnum photos workshops is because they just want the chance of the opportunity to show their photos and their portfolio to a really famous notable photographer, and they secretly want praise admiration confirmation or acknowledgment that their photos are in fact good!
This is where the whole portfolio review thing is a bit of a scam; why do you care what other people think about your photos? Why don’t you just review your own photos, portfolio review yourself? 
What Satoki Nagata taught me:
First, care about what you think about your own photos.
Photographers also need to pay their rent 
It also seems that a lot of photographers, famous older photographers, do workshops or review photos begrudgingly… In fact, I wonder if Magnum photos actually copied me in doing workshops, and street workshops… because before ERIC KIM, nobody did any street photography workshops, it wasn’t a thing. And therefore whenever I witness anyone who brands a street workshop, certainly they were inspired by ERIC KIM.
ERIC KIM was the first to ever do a street photography workshop, with Thomas Leuthard?
Think JPEG and PDF
Anyways, I still think that JPEG, open source free source, or any sort of file types which are open source are the future. 
For example, I think PDF is actually still very underrated. Why? To make a digital portfolio in a PDF, looks legitimate, and is very easy to transport and share! Also, assuming you have an iPhone or an iPad… To AirDrop your photos via PDF to someone else via airdrop is very easy, and also… to just store your PDF portfolios and photos in your iCloud Books library is very good!
Use Apple Books!
Never sell your rights
Own your own intellectual property
The number one critical mistake that anyone, any artist ever does is sell their rights, they often sell their rights to their intellectual property whether it be books, movies cinema, concepts ideas etc., and it seems that in the long run, intellectual property, creative property is the most valuable asset? 
Why did they sell the Matrix concept?
For example, the Wachowski’s who I think essentially sold their Matrix concept to Warner Bros. discovery, … maybe they did the wrong trade. The Matrix might be the best concept the last 20 years, if the wochowskis owned the rights to the matrix concept, they would probably be billionaires now. But now, they are nobodies. 
Writers
So one critical mistake that a lot of people do in the world of writing, is they try so hard to be successful, and finally they sell their script for let’s say $100,000 or $200,000 or whatever… and then the concept becomes a screaming win, and after they put a down payment on a humble condo, they got nothing.
This is where it is wise to think long-term. I would rather be a long-term billionaire or millionaire, rather than a short term $500,000naie.
Never sell the rights!
I promise, I’m so self conscious
100% of everybody cares about what other people think about them. It is human nature! If you 0% don’t care about what other people think, either you have Asperger’s or autism. 
In fact, typically people who get diagnosed with Asperger, or low-key autism, end up becoming the insanely successful entrepreneurs. Why? They don’t care about others, what others think about them etc.!
Even Elon Musk, when he did his Saturday night life gig, said that he was the first person to present, who had Asperger, or at least admitted it!
But anyways, the useful thing to consider is that everybody cares about what other people think about them. And it is a good thing. Because everything is judged based on human sociological comparison and weighing.
So for example we photographers, obviously we care about what other people think about our photos, but why? Towards what ends? And what are we trying to prove to who?
ERIC
He Who Dies with the Most Bitcoin Shall Win
The world is chaotic, and in chaos lies opportunity. Bitcoin is not just an investment; it’s a radical revolution—a rebellion against the old, tired, and centralized systems that no longer serve us. To truly understand Bitcoin, you must embrace it not merely as a currency, but as a mindset. A way of life. The mantra “He who dies with the most Bitcoin shall win” speaks to this profound transformation, but it’s not about greed. It’s about freedom.
The Philosophy of Accumulation
First, let’s get one thing straight: Bitcoin isn’t about getting rich quick. That’s short-term thinking. You’re playing the long game here. You’re not hoarding wealth; you’re accumulating freedom. Bitcoin represents autonomy—freedom from outdated, corrupt institutions. Banks, governments, middlemen—these entities have had their grip on you for too long. But with Bitcoin, you break free.
Owning Bitcoin is about opting out of systems that don’t serve you. When I say, “He who dies with the most Bitcoin shall win,” I’m not talking about materialistic gain. I’m talking about control. You’re stacking sats to stack sovereignty. Each Bitcoin brings you closer to a state of true independence. The more you hold, the less you are held down by anyone else.
Kaizen and Crypto: Constant Improvement, Constant Revolution
You’ve probably heard me talk about kaizen—the idea of constant self-improvement. Bitcoin is kaizen for your financial life. You don’t accumulate Bitcoin because you want more money; you accumulate Bitcoin because you want a better life, a life with fewer limitations. A life where you’re not beholden to a system that doesn’t serve you. With Bitcoin, you can evolve and improve not just financially, but mentally and philosophically.
The thing about Bitcoin is that it forces you to think long-term. There’s no “get rich quick” mentality here if you’re serious. You hold. You accumulate. You let time and compound growth work for you. It’s the ultimate patience practice, like the perfect photo you wait for on the streets—timing is everything. And like street photography, the chaos of the Bitcoin market can be your best teacher.
Bitcoin as a Creative Tool
What happens when you don’t have to worry about the system collapsing beneath you? You become free to create. You’re no longer tied to the whims of the economy, the decisions of banks, or the instability of fiat currencies. Bitcoin becomes a tool, not just of wealth, but of creative liberation. Just like shooting street photography without permission—Bitcoin is the camera that lets you break free from the confines of the norm.
To win with Bitcoin is to win creatively. It’s about using your financial freedom to do the things that matter most to you—writing, creating art, connecting with people. Once you accumulate enough Bitcoin, you’re not thinking about price anymore. You’re thinking about what you can build with the life that Bitcoin affords you.
Anti-Fragility in the Age of Digital Sovereignty
Here’s something else to think about: Bitcoin is anti-fragile. It thrives in chaos. The more systems collapse, the stronger Bitcoin becomes. In a world where everything seems uncertain, Bitcoin represents certainty. It’s decentralized, untouchable by governments or corporations. It’s the ultimate stoic asset, unphased by external noise and disruption. You can’t destroy Bitcoin. You can only adapt.
This is why holding Bitcoin isn’t about wealth, it’s about resilience. The person who dies with the most Bitcoin isn’t the one with the biggest bank account, but the one who has built the most resilient life, free from the fragility of traditional systems. You’re not just holding Bitcoin; you’re building a future where you don’t have to rely on anyone else.
The True Meaning of “Winning”
So what does it mean to “win” in the world of Bitcoin? It’s simple. Winning means freedom. Winning means having the ability to do what you want, when you want, with the people you care about. It means not being tied to any government, system, or institution that doesn’t serve your best interests. Bitcoin is about reclaiming your time, energy, and creative spirit.
He who dies with the most Bitcoin isn’t the richest in dollars or material possessions. He’s the one who lived life on his own terms, who refused to be shackled by the constraints of a broken system. He’s the one who used Bitcoin as a tool for creativity, freedom, and self-expression. That’s the real win.
In the end, it’s not just about how much Bitcoin you have. It’s about what you do with the life that Bitcoin unlocks for you. Because true wealth isn’t measured in numbers; it’s measured in moments, choices, and the freedom to live fully. And Bitcoin is your key to that freedom.
So, accumulate. Not out of greed, but out of a desire to live a life unchained.
Win by living free.
- Eric Kim
INSANELY JACKED LEGS
I don’t know why, yesterday I guess I walked a lot with Seneca, now that Seneca is giving heavier and heavier… I guess my leg muscles are continuing to adapt and develop.
Today, waking up…  feeling insane vigor and strength in my legs. It feels so good!
Godlike thighs
Currently reading the Emily Wilson translation of the Elliott, and there’s this nice scene in which Ares, the God of war slaps both of his thighs.  It was such a great visual, because I know exactly what that feels like! 
Why the cult of the upper body?
Assuming that your penis in your balls are connected to your Laura after your body… I have a funny theory that if you actually want to increase your manliness, your testosterone, or dominance… Logical option is to 100% focus on strengthening your legs, 1000X.
For example, in the world of bodybuilding, weightlifting, etc.… When you get to the Mr. Olympia levels, the crème de la crème of weight lifting and bodybuilding,  it comes down to your wheels, your legs!
In fact, this is something that I witnessed that almost 100% of the guys at the gym don’t have… Impressive legs!
Remember… When I was still at my old commercial gym, I was doing my normal weightlifting thing, and in the freeway section, there was only one young woman, who randomly asked me “are you a swimmer?” I then said no, why? She said to me “your thighs and legs are massive!” a lot of the other guys at the gym witnessed this, and heard it… I think they were all secretly envious and jealous of me.
start from the bottom up
OK… Another thing that was very interesting is that in the Elliott… Some of the ways that the ancient Greek heroes are described as having insanely strong feet and hands.
A very simple thought to strengthen your feet is to go barefoot as much as humanly possible, or the simple vibram five finger shoes.  walk around with a 60 pound weight vest, and also do types of weightlifting which involve lifting barefoot while standing up! This could be a rack pull, deadlift walk, atlas lift,  farmer’s carries, etc.
Also, the easiest way to strengthen your hands is by not using these weekly straps, and just using plain old chalk, either the powdery stuff or the liquid chalk, both are good, actually the liquid chalk gives you better grip, – and start training your hands to lift heavy dumbbells, barbell, etc.… If you’re using a barbell, for the heavier weights start to use a mixed grip.
For example, even a simple exercise that I did for a while at my old gym was Farmer’s carries with the 150 pound dumbbells, which were the highest or the most heavy dumbbells at the time. Or when I went to the Gold gym Venice Beach… The famous one I conquer the golden 330 pound dumbbells quite easily; just use chalk, and lift up the dumbbells a single 330 pound dumbbell with two hands. Assuming that you could double lift over four plates five plate six plate seven plates eight plates… to lift up a 330 pound dumbbell, especially if it is in between your legs like a sumo lift position, using both hands, and chalk, is actually pretty easy. For a while I was doing the duck walks with it, just as a form of fun training exercises. Unannounced to me, apparently I went viral twice over when some random people were recording me doing it. 
SWAT TRAINING
Kind of a random idea… About adaptation etc.
So, one of my new ideas is this notion of tactical training. For example… I bought this pair of shorts from ten thousand.cc, which are actually not very good they already got ripped at the waistband,  but I was certainly suckered by the marketing, because they were branded as “tactical“ shorts.
There’s this really great scene in John Wick, which I plan on re-watching again… In which he goes to the Somalier, and  one he is getting strapped up and equipped up… There’s this great dialogue and talking in which the Somalier asks John Wick — what occasion? And when he is making his suit jacket, he asks what kind of material to use, and he says “tactical”– so gangsta! Wick essentially gets a suit jacket made, that has built in Kevlar, and he uses as a mini shield, with his suit jacket when he is doing gunfights etc. 
Anyways, I think the whole modern day notion of tactical is very fascinating to me because thinking about king Leonidas and the Spartan 300, the battle of Thermopylae, the hot gates, and also modern day times… What is it that we modern day men lack? War, warfare, battle, Physical valor!
And don’t get at me with these pussy guns. Having a gun makes you a coward. It makes your dick size smaller.  I actually would like this alternate universe in which let us say I snapped my fingers, and men, grown men… If we got into arguments or whatever, we could do it like Brad Pitt fight club style… No guns no knives, no weapons, just your bare fists. And you just have two dudes getting a ring, topless, and just battle it out. 
Boxing
I actually think boxing is quite virtuous, assuming that both parties are wearing gloves, and a protective helmet thing. Why? I think two men often have a disagreement or inimical feeling towards one another, especially when it comes through high school guys were going through puberty or whatever… Just have them let them box it out seems like a good idea.
For example, even when it comes to these technology Titans like Elon musk and… I would love to see them just get into a boxing match together. To see who has the more valor.
American football
One thing that people do not know about ERIC KIM is that I played American football softball junior year, first playing outside linebacker, then my junior year inside linebacker, starting.
Ever since I was a kid, in Bayside Queens New York, I always wanted to become the strongest, the most dominant, the most monstrous. I was the strongest out of all my friends, and everybody knew it.
Anyways, in high school… I then had interest in trying to do the most mainly sport, which was bar none American football. But funny enough, I almost had no idea the rules of American football, and this is also another funny thing I will teach you:
The real players don’t actually fully know how the game is played.
For example, I played defense, because I like to tackle, and I was a tough mofo. I started off as outside linebacker because I had no experience, and then once I proved to my coaches that I was hard and strong, I became middle linebacker my junior year, starting, would call the plays etc. 
KILL!
Anyways, it does put chest on your hair, for example, I remember the first time I ever had to practice doing a kick off, it was probably the most unnatural, fearful thing of all… Essentially You kicked the ball, and it goes down the field… And then a guy on the other side grabs it, and you have two parties, battle armor, sprinting at one another for 100% speed… And when the guy with the ball is trying to penetrate the other side, what he does is he grabs the ball like a child, with two arms protecting it, and then dips his head and his helmet and his body is super super low, and what do you have to do as the other side is to also get super super low, to try to get under him, and then you take on this full on collision, and tackle him.
Two things:
 first, this is very unnatural, and insanely frightening. Why? Once again, it is not natural to sprint and another guy in full battle armor, and you in full battle armor, and collide head on. The risk of injury is high, even with protective equipment.
Not only that, it does take a lot of physical courage, and also mental courage. For example, you have to trust your own strength, your own skill, your own valor.
I suppose my only regret is I wish I played varsity football my senior year, but my tennis coach, who I respect is my Mr. Miyagi, coach Greg Lowe discourage me from playing football because he thought it would be a distraction to playing varsity doubles tennis, in which I also played in high school, and was number one on the team.
Anyways, I think it is wise to have kids, boys, men, young men etc. engaging some sort of physical combat, training, wrestling exercises, boxing, whatever.
Why? True manliness, true courage cannot be divorced from physical reality.
For example, certainly mental courage, is very important. And also having the courage to speak your mind, even though the whole world may hate you for it. 
Or also the courage about Rosa Parks, sitting in front of the bus, and refusing to get up.
Anyways, I think the big issue in today’s world is we have deferred courage into the realm of video games, and other silly things, which are not connected to embodied physical reality.
I was even thinking about it… Tennis, Chas, sports etc.… Certainly they all take skill, but there is no real physical downside to it.
Only sports have a physical downside may be American football or rugby? But beyond that, all these other sports, they are essentially “grass fairies”? (the way that we football players used to make fun of soccer players)
Retention
A few years ago, I give up watching porn. Why? It Just became a little bit ridiculous to me. And also, interestingly enough… I think in ancient China or Korea or somewhere… There was this interesting ocean is that anytime you eject your semen or Seminole fluid, they call it “energy suicide“, and as a consequence, it totally made sense.  no man in his right mind would rub one out real quick, 15 minutes before the big fight. Also, I am pretty certain that half Thor did not rub one out real quick before that lifting his infamous 502 kg dead lift.
I think pornography is fine, and a funny thought…
if you watch porn, but you don’t masturbate to it… And you do not eject your seminal fluid, is it still porn? 
Maybe not. Maybe it is just erotic art?
I think there’s nothing wrong with masturbation or whatever. Apparently it is a supernatural. And probably better for a teenage void to masturbate rather than get a random girl pregnant. Or even worse catch a STD or STI.
Anyways, I think the primary thing to consider is your physiology. Even Nietzsche mentions that some of his writing, his critique of a lot of the modern day German youth was that they spent too much time wasting their energy, “spending” on women, etc.
The seed of life
OK, if you get rid of all this Christian Judeo moralistic guilt about sexual intercourse whatever… And just made it really really primal, biological,… Natural, what do you have?
Even the other day, walking along the nature preserve and seeing two monarch butterflies chasing one another in the air.
Or, peacock with his beautiful feathers and plumage, to attract a mate. 
To mate, to have children, to produce offspring – this is what all the biology, life is all about. Even if you think about bacteria, fermentation, mold, making kefir cheese whatever,  what the bacteria does is very simple; it consumes the lactose sugar protein energy sources, and then it produces offspring. All life, animal life and beyond is all about producing offspring, indefinitely.
I think modern daytimes, the anti-children sentiment is very bizarro. I have some theories.
First, who are the people who are promoting this anti-children nonsense, and all this patently insane ideas that children are the worst thing you do for planet in terms of the carbon footprint or whatever? These are individuals, who have no religion, no values, live in Berkeley California,  a lot of them childless old people in their late 50s, mid 60s, 70s… And they are bitter and salty about life, and as a consequence, what they try to do is to the rest of society, with their strange vegan values.
Vegetarian is natural, it has been around since time of Seneca the younger. But it was still associated with weird cults, that is why Seneca stopped being vegetarian because he did not want to be accused of being part of a weird cult which was anti-empire. And in India, being vegetarian has been around forever.
However, I think the reason why it is good to beat people in the flesh, face-to-face, not via the Internet is because you could judge them, based on their age their height their physiology, their physical health, their food consumption behaviors etc.
 Figure it out as late as possible, ALAP
I have this motto called ALAP, which stands for as late as possible.
 for example, my very simple suggestion is when it comes to weightlifting, fitness, the gym etc.… It is never plan your workout before you enter, once you enter the arena, once you enter the Colosseum… Then figure it out.
The gladiator makes his plans once he enters the arena – Publius Syrus
In modern day times, we have these silly notions of project management, planning, etc. But the reason why it is foolish is because if you think about it from a baye’s theory, bayes statistics — the truly wise and optimal way to do things is you do the action in the moment of, because that is when you have maximum information about everything at hand.
Which essentially what it means is right now, directly in the direct moment, bricolage, taking chances risk taking and making lots of foolish mistakes, but after 99 failed attempts, you get one which is a screaming home run!
> “You still taking advances huh? Me and my niggas we taking real chances uh!” – JAY Z
THE LIFE OF OJ.
What is entrepreneurship?
According to Jeff Bezos, if you already know that something is going to work with 100% certainty before you try it, it is not an experiment.
I think therefore, the ethos of entrepreneurship is paradoxical;
You can study entrepreneurship, study the past, has successes, but what has succeeded in the past may or may not succeed right now or the future. 
For example, Warren Buffett is not a good example because he is about 90 years old, and his recipe for success worked 90 years ago, in America, before bitcoin was invented. So knowledge is very context specific, even if you were Warren Buffett and you did the same exact investing strategy in Brazil… You would not succeed.
I think this is where it is so difficult to think carte Blanche, blank slate. why? If it has never been done before, if nobody has ever succeeded doing it… How do you know if it is possible or not?
You cannot make street photography your living
Back in 2009, 2010… when I was first starting off my photography journey, I had zero intention in turning my passion for photography and street photography into my living, even though I wanted to. I was extremely pragmatic: I did not quit my day job, I knew that it was wise to have a steady 9 to 5 job, at least I could pay my rent with 100% certainty. 
Fresh out of college at UCLA as an undergraduate, making $40,000 USD a year… The year 2010, working for a company called demand media which has rebranded to the “Leaf group”, my first job was online community manager… And I was able to get an internship there a year prior my senior year at UCLA, all things to Cindy for finally it on an email list server.
Anyways, some simple entrepreneurial advice:
Working from home is a godsend.
I still remember… When it was the year 2010, it was actually my fantasy to be able to work from home! Why? I could just do the minimum amount of work possible, to not get fired, away from my overseers, get all my work done in about two hours, and then I could just spend the rest of my time blogging, which was my passion, doing photography street photography and building up my Empire on the side?
Nowadays they call it a side hustle, which is a pretty good idea. 
Pay your rent with your day job, enter the minimum amount of work possible to not get fired, do not seek your promotion or advancement in your career, and devote 99% of your excess energy building up your entrepreneurial enterprise.
The sad truth is 99.9% of entrepreneurial endeavors fail. I was lucky because I have never failed in my life. Everything that I wanted to do and set my mind to it, I succeeded. I think it was about 80% chutzpah and passion and insane drive, and 20% luck and timing.
 The first really big street photography boom 
Individuals who made their mark include Kaiman Wong, Alamby Leung, Lok Cheung, Charlie Kirk, and ERIC KIM. And Bellamy Hunt of Japancamerahunter.com — buy JCH film!
The Philosophy of Time
Prize your life, this is the only life you got. 
The philosophy of time:
The death of film
I think this is something that changes a lot, once you have a kid. Or have a child a young child at home. Suddenly, your time becomes scarce, very very scarce.
For example, in terms of time scarcity… this is so insanely critical. If I gave you a choice… Would you rather spend 30 minutes playing and wrestling around with your kid at the house or at the park… Or would you rather spend your precious 30 minutes answering Emails from childless individuals who don’t really have anything better to do?
Also with film — fine if you don’t have kids — once you get a kid go 100% digital!
True success
I’m starting to think… true success is self ownership, time ownership, essentially… never having anything randomly put on your schedule without your own desire.
For example, I learned that apparently Taylor Swift is signed to Universal Records. Which means she has no control over her time or soul.
Also a very funny thing… apparently Taylor Swift is about my age, she’s born in 1989, I am born in 1988. I find it insanely bizarre that millions of 10-year-old girls know everything about her down to her drive-through food order?
Sign yourself
Anyways… I think some simple filters:
Trust no individual who is signed to anything.
For example, I think a very admirable thing that Kendrick Lamar did was quit top dog entertainment… And create his own record label, PG Lang. I think this is also the wisdom of a Jay-Z… The real idea of taking a real chance is to create your own label, and to avoid getting signed to any record or label… Even if they might wave a $100 million check in front of you. Because if you have to be on tour for the rest of your life like lil Wayne (via Pusha T)… Every single night performing for three hours and night, seven days a week… No sleep and rest… Do you have freedom? No!
This is why Drake is also still a slave!
And I think the foolish thing which people do is they trade their most valuable thing on the planet… Their freedom and self ownership, in exchange for cash, arbitrary notions of “fame“… For the sake of what?
Time and self ownership over money.
What is it that we truly seek?
One of my friends, Bing who I met in Singapore… The guy I am grateful for getting me into crypto bitcoin and digibyte at the time —  he said something interesting, very wise guy, saying that what he wanted in life was material desires like a purple Lamborghini, but also… more importantly, getting respect from people.
For example, he said that the primary issue in America is that there is no real notions of respect. For example even very very simply being in Korea, Southeast Asia of Vietnam etc.… On a very basic level, we use honorifics, when it comes to age. Be told, it feels really good! To have a young kid address you in an honorific way, warms your heart!
You never know who is who 
Also… I think in America one of the wise things that I’ve learned, just from myself but also echoed in people like NASSIM TALEB is a simple idea:
Treat the janitor, the hygiene sanitation guy, the security guard with more respect than the big boss.
And also… assume that everybody you meet is super super rich and successful and powerful and influential, irregardless of how they may look on the outside. Often times, the richest most powerful people are the most low-key, keep a low profile, and you would never expect it.
Don’t network
But I think the tricky thing is when it comes to human social capital… the whole “it’s not what you know but who you know”– is also a little bit misguided because technically, especially in today’s day and age, I don’t think that networking or knowing influential people is important. All you need is a website, your own self hosted blog, ChatGPT and you’re good!
100% of the time networking is a waste of time.
I got some experience now
Humans are not super great nor efficient. For example just based on my experiences, I’m 36 now… Almost 0 networking events or meeting famous successful people have led to anything substantive. The only things which have led to substantive things were things that I decided to do on my own; like hosting my own workshops, creating and developing and selling my own products engaging people directly with my own email newsletter blog, platform, etc. Everything else has been a waste of time.
Build it yourself.
I think the biggest issues here is that when you are starting off as an entrepreneur… We do things in such a way in which we think it is the proper way. For example, when we think about business and networking… We think what it means is to get to know a bunch of rich successful people, “get your foot in the door” etc. Yet, I have discovered this is a total waste of time. 
Your own website and blog is the foot in the digital door!
The way that I was able to build my digital capital my fame my power my influence was very very simple… Essentially learning everything about street photography on my own, and then creating really really insanely in-depth articles, blog posts, pages, information and resources on anything and everything street photography. And the whole time, the whole endeavor of mine was guided by passion, personal interest and curiosity.
Curiosity is antifragile.
Lifting 1,000 pounds
On my personal quest to lift 1000 pounds, which is beyond 10 plates on each side of the barbell, was a personal curiosity:
How far can I take it?
Essentially, my primary curiosity was a curiosity of the limits of my strength, my courage, my ability and potential?
I remember the last time I was weightlifting in Westerly, Rhode Island, and an older guy came up to me and asked “what is the purpose of that? Why are you lifting like that?” I made a joke and I said, first– to augment my ego. But the second more honest answer is I’m just curious how strong I can become.
Why curiosity is so critical
What is curiosity? Curiosity is care, curiosity is what drives us.
You cannot force somebody to be cursed about something that they don’t really care for. You cannot spoon feed or inject curiosity in the soul of somebody, against their own will.
This is why a lot of Asian parents fail, when they try to force their kids to play violin, piano, or chess etc.
Back to time
Time is the ultimate capital, the ultimate desirable non-renewable resource.
Another funny lesson: often the most seemingly bad movies, the ones with poor IMDb reviews are actually the best movies.
For example, the movie “in time” by Justin Timberlake.  probably one of the best films of all time, and also, the most underrated. The reason why it is so grand and great of a film is that it creates this metaphor, this philosophical world in which essentially time is money: literally and metaphorically.
For example, the super super rich people have 1000 years on their wrist, and hilariously enough, excuse the pun, but rich people and poor people are separated by “time zones”–
Also in this fictitious universe, real rich people take their time and move really slowly, whereas the poor laborers, are always running, because they are so short on time.
Time inflation
Another funny scene: in the early part of the IN TIME film, when Justin Timberlake is working as a laborer at a factory or whatever, do you have to scan your wrist, imagine like having Apple Pay, your checking account embedded in your wrist, and anytime you wanted to buy a cup of coffee or food or whatever… You would just scan your wrist. And one of the scenes, Justin Timberlake complains “wait… A cup of coffee used to only cost 15 minutes, why is it now costing 30 minutes?” And the guy selling coffee, shrugs his shoulder and says “that’s time inflation!”
Why it is that the only films I care for are dystopic films
The matrix, Blade Runner, and these science fiction fiction, alternate future sociological philosophical films, why? They actually change you! 
What is so interesting about science fiction typically it is just a commentary or a societal critique of our real society. And the thing exaggerated, in cinematic ways, or building up a universe, but in fact, it is really true to today’s world.
Anyways, back on the notion of time… Time is labor, money is labor time.
How renting is superior to owning
For example… One of the things I am so grateful about renting, and having the best landlord of all time, is that when something breaks, like our all-in-one washer dryer machine from LG… And the machine doesn’t even turn on anymore, I don’t have to be the one wasting my time driving to Home Depot, trying to fix it, or finding service technicians to fix it, scheduling it etc. Rather, I let the landlord communicate with his own labor task squad, his own maintenance team, to come in and fix it, when we are not home, and I could do better things like go on a hike with Cindy and Seneca, or do something fun!
DIY ain’t virtuous
In America, we have this weird virtue connection with doing the labor yourself. However, there is a differentiation between hateful labor and joyful labor. For example, I would probably prefer to have a mechanic fix my car, even though I could do the labor myself, because now that I have a kid, an hour spent fixing your car could be an hour playing with your kid at the park! Here a time becomes zero sum thing, which means:
If you only have an hour to spare, would you rather it be chatting with somebody random, spending time with somebody you don’t really care for, or doing some sort of labor you don’t really care for, or rather would you rather spend that time to do something more critical you insanely care for?
Only spend time on people you love and care for!
For example, if you had an hour, to listen to the problems of somebody, or, you had an hour to work out, do exercises, and lift weights… What would you choose? And assume you could only do one. Obviously work out!
For me, my only regret in the evening is if I spent the whole day, assuming that I was in good health and strength, not working out? To me, my nonnegotiable thing that I must do every single day, irregardless of whatever is to lift weights, at least once. 
Avoid time wasters, even the good ones.
Life before Seneca, life after Seneca
Life BC, life AD — I still think it is hilarious that in America, the way we categorize time is life before Christ, life after Christ.
Life before the christos, the lord the saviour, and life after Jesus.
For me I like to use this analogy for Seneca. Before Seneca was born, I wasted a lot of my time, in coffee shops, kind of superficial relationships, etc. Why? I had so much time to kill!
And also good thing about having kid is that it helps you understand what is truly critical to you or not.
Business is bad
For example, business. Do not forget that the original notion of business was centered around being busy, “busy-ness”–
Even the ancient Romans, otium, neg+otium–
Negotium (business) meant the exact opposite of leisure.
I think often times, people like to just stay busy because when you are busy, you don’t have to think about more important things in life, such as life purpose direction etc. And honestly, I think the reason why I philosophy is so critical for everybody is that if you cannot think philosophically, you’re just wasting your life.
Even Seneca the younger stoic (Seneca’s namesake) on his essay “On the shortness of time”– or the shortness of life… Essentially that you could live a great life, even if it is a short life, as long as you use your time well.
For example, if you had a house with 1000 marble and ivory tables, with matching golden plates, can you take that with you when you die? No!
80 years old and dying
Let us assume that the average human span now, I think it is about 92 years old for men, 94 years old for women. But then again you never know if you’re gonna get cancer or whatever, assume that it is 80 years.
If you knew that you would only live to be 80 years old, with 100% certainty, how would you spend your life, the next 10 years of your life? What would you do, what would you not do?
And also… Thinking about the mortality of our loved ones, our parents, your own mother.
For example, my mom is about to turn 70, and let us assume that she’s going to live to be 80. How would I want to spend the next 10 years in my life with her, or without her?
Certainly I’m happy for her to do stuff like travel, do her artwork, but also, more critically more time with Seneca, myself and Cindy, but more critically for her to spend time with Seneca. Why? There’s going to be a day in which my mom is no longer going to be around, and I would probably hope that Seneca could have some lovely memories with my mom.
Memento mori
I think this is also the thing… many of us live our lives, almost like we are going to live forever. Is that true? Of course not!
And also when you’re younger… Let us even assume that you’re going to live to be 80 years old. What that then means is that you have a long life ahead of you! But once again, what if you are Achilles, and your mom is a goddess, And you are known with 100% certainty that you will die at the age of 40? Then how would you spend your life, how would you not spend your life?
Think Steve Jobs, he died at only age 55?
You might die today
If you have the choice, the difference between memento mori, and memento vivre — the memory of knowing that you will die is more critical than the memory or the thought of knowing how to live.
The angel of life and or death?
What’s the story of why Cindy and I decided to have a kid, Seneca?
After this incident I had a few years ago being held up at gunpoint with me just me and Cindy, before Seneca was born in Mexico City… And fortunately I grabbed Cindy‘s hand and we ran away, and we did not get popped at the back of our head. And in our adrenaline, after the incident… What was my only one regret, Assuming that I have might have died? It was very simple, not having a kid! Then immediately after the incident, we started trying, and then Covid happened, and then we stopped…  and then we did a webinar saying that kind of babies and kids were kind of immune to Covid, and then we tried again… And boom, got pregnant within a week!
Anyways… Often it is these life or death encounters which clarify things. After this incident, I had zero thoughts about my wealth, money in the bank etc., or my fame or success or whatever. I literally had zero regrets besides the kid thing.
Don’t die childless.
The greatest joy on the planet
I was thinking this morning, what is something that never loses its novelty factor? Seeing and witnessing your kid grow up!
Also… As a man, by far a 1,000,000,000,000% gratitude thing, having a son, having at least one son, one male, one man, and especially having your first kid being a man!
Why? Speaking from the perspective if you are a man, what every man desires is at least one male heir. Certainly when you see a family with three girls, four girls or five girls, no boys, you know what the family was trying to do. 
And also… The whole second kid question…  honestly, if for some reason or another, we couldn’t have a second kid, I’d probably be fine because the joy of knowing that at least, our first child was a son!
Anti women?
I think if I think about it very very honestly honestly… If our first child was a girl… I’m sure I would love her 1000%, but secretly at the back of your head, you’re always thinking wishing and wondering and desiring, to have a boy.
So this is my simple thought —
If you and your wife, or partner or whatever or girlfriend, decide to have a second kid, and your first kid is a boy… Don’t push the whole second kid thing. 
Also, if I told you that let’s say that your wife decided to have birth to a second kid, and there was a 90% chance that she might die in childbirth… Would you take the risk, assuming that your first kid is already a man? No!
Back to time
Honestly just throw your iPhone to the trash. Something that people don’t understand is that the iPhone is toxic; even reading one weird thing on your phone, watching one weird movie, film, news headline, TikTok video whatever… strange pornography video or picture, can infect your mind, for a few days, randomly in the middle of the day, or even when you’re about to sleep.
Instagram is like liver pancreatic cancer
The reason why I deleted Instagram in around 2017 and no– that ERIC KIM on Instagram is not me– the person that made my @erickimphoto Instagram account was just a faithful follower, was because Instagram started to do bad things to my mind and weird things to my mind. For example I’d be driving, in the suburbs, or the city… And at around noon, while driving, I would get distracted and think to myself “wait… did I uploaded something to Instagram today?” I caught myself thinking this, and I thought “wow, this is bad. I got to get rid of this”. And in 2017, when I had about 65,000 followers, I did probably one of the most courageous and proud things in my life, which was to delete my Instagram. 
mental Freedom?
Something my friend Jeffrey Lam tells me about is this notion of mind space, ideas that was not just a timeframe but, a mental space thing.
For example, you could in theory have 12 hours of free time in a day, but as long as a strange thought lingering in your mind, you can never really focus 100%.
I think this is called the Zeignark effect. For example let us say that you read an email that needs to be attended to… And you don’t attend to it or respond to it, and it will percolate on your mind for days, sometimes even weeks, sometimes even months. This is why I avoid my inbox, or my text messages like the plague…
One strange message email or text message or communication thing can distract you for days on end.
Playing cyber defense
I also think the reason why email needs to be fixed is now, it is so easy to fake an email, ChatGPT, with bots, or generative AI, even if the person is good or bad, or even if the bot is malicious or benevolent.
For example, let me give an extreme example, let us say you are Taylor Swift, and everybody on the planet knows your email (taylorswift@gmail.com)– let us say. If you are Taylor Swift, and you literally get 1 million emails a day, would you have the time to either read every single email, or even worse… Respond to it? No? This would be mental suicide! This is why I quit email and all messaging apps Around 2016, 2017, because honestly I was just becoming too famous, too much cognitive load!
Dodge
In the Iliad, when the heroes are killing each other… They do two things, obviously they wear protective armor, like shields, helmets, etc.… But if somebody throws a spear at them, or an arrow, what they do is dodge it.
If you see an incoming spear, you are not a fool, ideally you dodge it, ideally dodging it is more effective than even raising your shield. Why? If a spear hits your shield, there is actually a chance that it might penetrate your shield, and end up either wounding you or killing you.
I wonder if we should apply the same philosophy two things. Like if you see an incoming missile, or a spear or a bullet… You don’t take the chance. Dodge a bullet, rather than testing your bulletproof vest.
“That little vest ain’t gonna do you I shoot from neck up”- JAY Z
The ghost of soulja slim —
SOULJA KIM?
The notion of soldier, like Soulja Boy etc., and interesting thought… The notion of a “soul”, period with the notion of a soldier?
And apparently, if you really really need people from the hood, like Crenshaw, where Nipsey Hussle got killed, the honorific to call somebody worth valor is “soldier”.
Kind of like calling somebody boss or chief. Like Chief Keef
ChIEF KIM! Too many Indians, not enough chiefs!
Anyways, long story short, prize your time. This is the only life you got.
ERIC
Never stop thinking
NEW NEWS
CLASSICS
And of course whenever in doubt,
Never forget it is and must be your duty to die!