Disclaimer: Being a mere eighteen years of age, I am perhaps not the most qualified person to be writing this. Further disclaimer: I’m not a very good writer. Proceed with caution.
I know I was supposed to post my iLife ‘09 review today, but as I was walking home from work, this seemed like a much better post. The iLife review is coming, just not today.
I was chatting with a friend online, playing the “I’ve Never” game and generally shooting the breeze. In doing so, I discovered that, despite not having led a crazy childhood, or a wild series of teenage years, I have actually done a lot of interesting things. I’ve climbed a mountain, gone rock climbing, randomly explored the corporate sector of downtown Calgary and chased down exotic car meets to chat with the owners. It’s not much, but it builds something I’ll call “experience equity.” If Gary Vaynerchuk can lay claim to the legacy > currency thing, I’ll throw in my vote for experience equity.
Experience equity is the value of all of your significant and insignificant life experiences. It is that collective value that is greater than any currency in the world. To sum it up, it is doing things for the sake of doing things.
Next time you have a day off, promise me you’ll go and do something you haven’t done before. Those train journeys? They’re never really planned in advance. I typically try to spend any day I have off to go and do something, anything. We only play this game once, and I think that trying to cram as much stuff into it is a wise move. Every single person (with the means, of course) should have a savings account for random occasions. I have one. I don’t dip into it for day-to-day purchases, for big purchases, or for schooling. It’s exclusively for what many deem a rainy day. For me, it’s usually a sunny day. At any rate, it’s a great way to build experience equity.
For example, being a native Calgarian, there is virtually no legitimate reason to pay twelve dollars to visit the observation deck of the Calgary Tower. But it’s a nice thing to do, and it builds experience equity. Likewise, there’s no reason to pay $2.50 to visit the south end of the city via public transit and to film it. However, I saw things that I hadn’t before. I saw kids enjoying a bright, sunny day sledding. I saw people taking dogs for a walk, and others cycling. In January, in Calgary. Said individually, it sounds like I’m simply easily amused. But I can guarantee that it was a truly fantastic experience. Perhaps it wasn’t life-changing, but it was interesting.
I enjoy doing things because I can. Because doing things makes me feel like a better person. Because nobody can be an interesting person without the experiences to back it up. Hustle. Go rock climbing, just for a few hours. Drive to a nearby small town and have lunch at a local café. Go to bed early and wake up ultra-early to watch the sun rise in a deserted place (and bring a camera). While you’re at it, bring a friend, too.
Always remember: no matter how clichéd it is, quality is greater than quantity. I would rather die at 50 but have been constantly hustling and doing things, than dying at 100 and having no experience equity.
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experiencehustlePersonalthoughtI’m only 2 years older than you and I agree with everything said here. I try to live day to day with this mindset [budget permitting]. Although truth be told, I could definitely set up a rainy day fund. =P
The more I read through your post, the more I find myself disagreeing with you.
Perhaps the part of your argument that I find myself in the greatest conflict with is the point, “Because nobody can be an interesting person without the experiences to back it up.” How exactly can you judge the calibre of another person’s experiences?
I don’t want to be setting up a straw man, but I feel that if we continue in the logic you have set forth in this post, then we would find that I am completely disinterested in you or your experiences (clearly this is not true).
I’ve been blessed with the opportunities over my relatively short life to live in two countries, three cities, and I have travelled to all but four of the States in the USA. I’ve travelled through 4 continents, and eaten food from many cultures. To me, these experiences are what have given me a great deal of my “experience equity.” This does not mean that a ride to the other end of town on the transit line cannot mean anything to you. Exactly the opposite. In my lofty and over-pompous opinion, the value of an experience is set by a personal appraisal, and it is not worth less simply because it is easier to come by. There is no reason that an individual could not earn as much “experience equity” by simply enjoying the life they are given to live.
My argument is that you can’t discredit one person’s experiences because they seem insignificant from your perspective. As you said yourself, a simple ride on the LRT can lead to an exciting and new adventure, and some interesting videos on Facebook.
Interestingly, Phaedrus, despite saying you disagree with me, everything in your comment is pretty much exactly what I was either trying to say or did say.
“Experience equity is the value of all of your significant and insignificant life experiences. [..] it is doing things for the sake of doing things.”
I’m not trying to discredit anyone’s experiences with this. Rather, I’m suggesting that I know too many people who don’t experience anything.
Yes, but you feel that sitting at home is not experiencing anything. What I’m trying to say is that you can gain a lot of experience equity, as you call it, even by sitting at home or completing the mundane tasks of daily life. I ride transit every day and used to live feet from the biggest hill in Hawkwood. There is nothing exciting to me about a transit ride. However, as you state above, it was important for you. Don’t discredit experiences that are not your own, instead recognise ALL the ways that one could learn something new about life.
I don’t think one can gain as much of an equity completing simple, mundane daily tasks. I don’t think that taking out the trash every day will lead to an increased equity – certainly not to the extent that a change of scenery would. Living next to the biggest hill in Hawkwood is something I would bet is extraordinarily interesting for about a year, because after that, it’s just a hill next to your house. However, a simple venture away from the community, even if only to Dalhousie (mere minutes away) would drastically change your experience equity (for the better), if it isn’t somewhere you regularly go.
All experiences can build equity. It’s just a question of how much. Ordinary experiences build ordinary equity. Extraordinary experiences build extraordinary equity.
@garyvee Thought you might be interested in this. Not looking for publicity or anything: http://nickheer.com/blog/doing-things/
“All experiences can build equity. It’s just a question of how much. Ordinary experiences build ordinary equity. Extraordinary experiences build extraordinary equity.” and kitchy catchphrases never fail to nullify your point.
I’ve been arguing on the internet and I’m bored of it. I still think what I think and you still think what you think. Therefore, it is time to improve this post.
“I don’t think one can gain as much of an equity completing simple, mundane daily tasks.”
“I don’t think one can gain as much of an equity…”
“I don’t think…”
“My name is Nick and I have a terrible argument.” <==Fixed.
Successful troll is successful.
Sweet.
I do share your view on this.
Although i don’t do it often, I do sometimes have these peculiar days when I cherish everything I do and see around me. Scary at times, but good nonetheless.
Love your new look btw, the website, that is.
Jörgen/Fuse.
Kai, your fix is fantastic. Well done sir.
Thanks Jörgen.