Though my primary skills are in media/content production (having served as Creative Director for an ad agency and COO for a media company serving the major motion picture industry) — I’ve also pursued skills in Sustainable Architecture and Construction; Systems Engineering; and Italian Cooking. I’ve dabbled in clay sculpting & copper patina, and love downhill skiing and whitewater sports.

Today I am refining skills in Adobe Photoshop, 3D animation/modeling, and Brazilian Portuguese.

My overall focus is on the founding of a media/content start-up (Prior to the dot.com boom I founded a media start-up, secured VC funding, then navigated its merger/acquisition, and subsequent sale to a major entertainment company).

For this new content start-up, I am cultivating relationships on the distribution and product/service branding side of the equation, with an eye on engaging equity and strategic partners, and perhaps VC funding for the venture. To this end, I am preparing materials for meetings scheduled for April 2010.

Overall, I embrace the world view espoused in the Network Infiltration report. One asks oneself, “How may I assist and serve friends and associates within my sphere of influence? How may I help them solve problems? How may we together improve our communities (both immediate and virtual). How may we help those around us enhance their lives and prosperity when called upon to do so.” This — in and of itself, is a skill — to glide effortlessly across the tightrope… poised between service versus economic self-interest.

It’s full-time work, and being free to apply oneself to this work is paramount to success in the daily effort. Rather than constant cultivation of relationships, my greater concern is putting up obstacles against the unsolicited relationships imposed by controlling ne’er do-wells. All others are a matter of accident and serendipity.

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well,of course…but what Simon is referring to is for people who wish to create multiple flags. That is what his site is speaking to…Perhaps your avenue to do so is through weeding out what isn’t or won’t work. Others may choose to focus on what to bring into their lives. Both avenues are valid. And of course not all of us are particularly interested in wheeling and dealing or even hanging out with the ‘elite’ of any country,per se. But Simon’s newsletter is focused on sovereignty through multiple flags.

Like a “fine artist” might, I consider life a personal project and relationships as distractions which cut into your free time. But it would be rewarding to know people who are, and who value, being independent, having self-command, and pursuing the highest levels of quality and virtue.

There are always new skills occurring daily for the learning (managing time & organization, navigating the economic/political/philosophical/psychological/geographic landscape). Developing perspicacity and sensitivity to all the facets of existence are foremost in importance, as this enables a greater appreciation for the facts of reality, providing the means for understanding all that which surrounds us, all of that which has made us, and all of that which we could become.

It’s full-time work, and being free to apply oneself to this work is paramount to success in the daily effort. Rather than constant cultivation of relationships, my greater concern is putting up obstacles against the unsolicited relationships imposed by controlling ne’er do-wells. All others are a matter of accident and serendipity.

It’s only been by realising how little I don’t know that I’ve been able to learn, and practice, things I had never had the balls to attempt before.

Fact.

The relationship I would love to expand would involve you, Simon, and the partners that you work with. Consider this my 20 second Marketing Infiltration elevator answer to your “What do you do? question:

“What I have done (and been told I do well), Simon, I would like to bring to the table the next time you and your partners meet:

I am able to discern nuances within a market’s demographics, and effectively tweak marketing strategy to pursue it as it changes. I am also able to see markets, and how best to approach them where others see nothing. Example: Tweaking the makeup of a sports medicine product to better appeal to serious athletes over recreational athletes. Why? Though a smaller percentile: wealthier, and associated with more likely, regular customers.
Sales more than doubled.

Or, seeing a market that a major sport ignored, we started with $50 in a cookie jar, and sold $4.5 million in product to World Cup soccer teams…..
It would be a kick to work with, and learn from you…..

And,absolutely re: new skills in addition to relationships.
Especially when going to asia or a few other locales,you can take out a certificate of some sort of training,if you dont have ‘money’,and show that you intend to create a viable business with your background.
It also enables you to meet with locals in a given field,at any level,more readily.

I would even say ‘training’ for places like italy and spain,which are more conventional in terms of professional niches [underground economies not withstanding,you often are viewed more favorably if you have a background in something you want to do. In the US,it is quite common to just decide you'd like a certain type of business,and get on the job training or pay others to work for you,in contrast.]

Also,of course,learning a local language of a place you are interested in will invariably be a skill that will open doors for you. And,actually,travelling w/your children is a great way to cultivate relationships and get to know if a city/country/region is right for you. most cultures love children and are interested in foreign children [in my experience]…it’s a great ice breaker! lol

Just curious…..but was the Super Bowl really in Miami???

Michael