“Pay him what you know…”

You and I, we can only do what we know. If we don’t know, we just don’t know.

Not an unusual sight in India

When I first arrived in Madras, India in 1976, the mode of local transportation outside of walking was either very crowded local buses or cycle rickshaws. This is a three wheel contraption that would be comparable to a local taxi.

The “wala” (man)  would pedal while one or two passengers (or ten) would sit on a seat behind. Of course there were no meters on these contraptions and I asked my local host, “How do you know what to pay the wala?” The answer was a profound,

“Pay him what you know.”

I didn’t get it at first. I didn’t understand the whole street smart negotiation style of the East.

Here is how it went: “Where going, suh?” My answer, “Teynampet”. “Twenty rupees, suh.” “Too much, ten rupees.” “Ok, suh, get in.” By the time we got to Teynampet, I was so guilty for having this man pedal me around, I would give him the twenty. Back in those days, it was 7 or 8 rupees to the dollar. (Suh = Sir)

So I learned the style of street smart negotiation quickly, an important lesson that has helped me throughout my life, even

School Bus

negotiating with my kids. Although they grew up in the East and they are better at it than me!

But it dawned on me this morning, that we can’t do what we don’t know and in order to move from not knowing to knowing, we have to become aware. I know it’s sounds simple, but it is as simple as having the right key to unlock a door to the next step. If you don’t have the key, you don’t have it.

In the past couple of days, I have been reading and writing about epigenome and supplements that can open up chemical pathways to our DNA and flip switches. You can say it’s the same as eating well, exercising smart, staying flexible as we age through yoga, but there is a profound difference in “knowing” what you are doing as opposed to doing something out of rote.

I have been a consumer of premium supplements since 2005 and I know that I am much better off for it.

However, since putting two and two together with what I learned from Vaughn Gray, Dr. Al Sears, Tim Ferriss, Dr. Brian Sanderoff and Joe Varghese, when I take my supplements in the morning, I can sense a shift in my being. When I take my Omega-3s, I can visualize my cardiovascular system and my brain absolutely enjoy the Omega-3s almost as if those systems are thanking me, for being good.

When I take my PAGG supplements, I close my eyes for a brief moment and imagine the food I consume, working its way through my system without fat residue.

It All Starts Somewhere!

This could be just fanciful thinking on my part, but I know there are many folks who envision their reality before it actually happens. Just ask Tom Brady, Aaron Rogers, or any other performer who goes over their role incessantly before they take the field. They imagine, they believe, and metaphysical things happen. You could say the same of movie stars, or legends from opera or ballet.

The ensuing realty may not always match their “envisioning” but it will be close. They are forging their reality with their awareness.

So the lesson? Learn more about PAGG!

You may be at this moment nodding in agreement with me or shaking your head at my nonsensical musings.

So before I lose you entirely, let me share one more overseas story:

As a younger man I was, one morning, boarding a plane at 7am flying from the Manila to Hong Kong. I was appreciative of the fact that I was seated next to a lovely young Filippina woman. The stewardess came by and asked us to choose our breakfast.

There were two choices: Bony fish or eggs and sausage.

Both the young Filippina and I did what we know.

We stuck to our environmental upbringing. Young Filipina chose bony fish, while I requested the eggs and sausage. Bony fish is smelly and disgusting to me. Just as I am sure, the scrabbled eggs and sausage were to young Filipina.

You see, young Filipina was raised eating fish in the morning, while I was raised with eggs, toast and breakfast meats.

Now, the bony fish, I have since learned, is actually better for you than reconstituted scrabbled eggs but my DNA and upbringing would still cause me to rebel against bony fish. I will take my Omega-3 capsules and derive similar nutritional benefits.

If you don’t know the PAGG system, please pay attention to these emails and also take the plunge and buy Tim’s book, The 4 Hour Body.

I hope you already are a good student at life and working on learning good stuff. As you read Tim’s book, you will get the drift that he is a life-long student, as we all should be.