5 Must See Documentaries

I love documentaries. They entertain and educate all at the same time. I'm most fascinated with documentaries that look at life from a different perspective or documentaries about people with over-the-top personalities. Below are a few of my favorites that I think will forever change the way you view the world.

5. Freakanomics by Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner

Based on a bestselling book, the film is a collection of short clips covering a wide-variety of social topics. Topics range from baby-names to sumo wrestlers, most of which are interesting and thought provoking to say the least.

4. E-Dreams

E-Dreams is a documentary about the rise and fall e-tailer Kozmo.com. It is a fascinating look at the process of starting a business. The truth is that most start-up businesses fail and what makes this documentary so good is that it looked like Kozmo.com had a good chance of success until things suddenly made a turn for the worse. 

3. The Invention of Dr. Nakamats

Proving that sometimes execution and flair are better than the actual product is quirky Japanese inventor Dr. Nakamats. He has made a successful career because of his eccentric personality and wacky inventions. 

2. Collapse

Collapse paints a bleak view of the future in an interview with Michael Ruppert. He talks about energy shortages, peak oil, hyperinflation, water shortages, and other doomsday scenarios in terms that really don't sound as crazy as they seem at first.

1. Transcendent Man

This documentary paints a optimistic view of the future in an interview with inventor Ray Kurzweil. Technology in the future will allow us to live longer and live better than any generation before us. Some of the technologies sounds extremely far-fetched. Is Kurzweil crazy or ahead of his time? Check it out and decide for yourself. 

Axiom 27: A Guide to Sane Finances in an Insane World

"Better to go to bed hungry than wake up in debt." -Proverbs

"Pay as you go is the philosopher's stone." -G. Randall

I guess I was lucky enough growing up that I was instilled with some solid common sense basics about how to handle my personal finances. No matter how little money I've ever earned I've never been deeply in debt. I've always had spare money in case of an emergency and I've always had money to go out and do the things I want. It wasn't until later in life that I realized that a large number of people in the United States are absolutely consumer crazy and whacked out of their heads when it comes to being responsible with their money.

I can't say that I don't understand where they are coming from though. Most people never grew up with a financially successful role-model to learn from. Their only understanding about money has come to them from lenders who's goal is to coerce people to borrow more money and pay it back with interest. Let's also not forget the books, CDs, and workshops that the financial gurus are selling to help you straight out your finances - gimmie a break! Sound personal finances is not that hard.

Let me help you stop the madness now. Here are the basics to sound personal finances:

1. You should always spend less each month than you earn. This includes credit card purchases.
2. If you're behavior now is to spend more money than you earn, you'll do the same in the future no matter how much money you make. You can easily be a broke rich person earning $15k a month with $20k month in expenses. More money is not the solution.
3. You should save at least 10% of the money you earn each month. Save this money in a separate bank account and invest it safely.
4. If you lend money to a friend, assume you'll never get it back. Remember that lending money has caused the demise of many good friendships.
5. No matter how good you are with your money if your significant other is not at least decent with their finances you'll have a very tough time. Money problems are a significant cause of stress and divorce in marriages.
6. Your lifestyle will try to absorb any extra income you receive and grow as you earn more money in life. Remember this and don't let it get out of control.
7. Always pay your credit card off at the end of the month or at least have a set plan to pay it off as quickly as possible.
8. Remember that if you own too many things that they will start to own you. No one will care about your 2,000 disc blu-ray collection 30 years from now. Learn to have self-control and curb your shopping addiction.
9. A dollar is just a piece of paper whose purchasing power decreases over time. Excess money in savings should be invested wisely rather than lose value in a savings account.
10. Avoid buying cheap things at cheap prices or quality things at expensive prices, It is always better to find quality things at bargain prices if possible, no matter how much money you make.
11. Be a man (or woman) of your word when it comes to finances. It you say you'll pay someone at a certain time, do it.
12. Get in the habit of paying your bills as soon as they arrive so you don't forget about them or spend the money on something else.
13. Look at your bank account at least once a week so you can track your expenses. 
14. Don't overpay for things. Something is only worth what someone else is willing to pay for it.
15. When someone is trying to hard sell you something be aware of any hidden motivations. A steak on special at a restaurant would make me think that the meat is old. An electronics employee pushing an additional warranty on a TV makes me think that the warranty-claim rate is very low and it is a high-profit sell for the business.
16. If the price is suspiciously cheap, or if it sounds too good to be true, then it usually is.
17. There isn't anything free in life. Everything comes at a price.
18. Diversify your your investments because the value of everything is cyclical.
19. You can't have a million dollar dream with a nickel's worth of problems.
20. Rich people are lenders, poor people are debtors. Be a lender as soon as possible.
21. Money is only the vehicle to the lifestyle you want, it is not the goal in itself.
22. More money will only help your happiness level to a point. Once your basic necessities are covered money only adds happiness through freeing up your time and helping you access new opportunities and experiences. 

Axiom 26: A Modern Revision to Franklin's 13 Virtues

"The unexamined life is not worth living." -Socrates

"A man can never hope to be more than he is if he is not first honest about what he isn't." -Don Williams, Jr.

Benjamin Franklin wrote about 13 virtues he thought necessary to have a happy, complete, and successful life. He worked on these virtues throughout his life. For those that are interested you can read more about it here. You can also read in detail about the process Franklin used to refine these virtues in his autobiography.

I think the concept Franklin developed is still useful today. However, a virtue in the strictest sense has moral implications. Therefore, in our modern world Franklin's 13 virtues seem slightly out of place. With this in mind I have written 13 areas of study that transcend the barriers of virtues to encompass all that is needed to become successful and happy in our modern world.

How you work on these 13 categories is entirely up to you. Franklin worked on them by making a grid with the days of the week on one axis and the virtues on the other axis. At the end of the day he would put an 'X' in the box on each virtue that he failed at. His goal was to mark fewer and fewer X's each week. Franklin also began concentrating on one virtue individually for a week or month until he saw improvement and then moved onto the next one. Ideally you will do the same, finding simple ways to improve your life by focusing on these 13 categories as a whole and also individually. Gradually you will notice an enormous change in your life.

The 13 Areas of Mastery of the Modern Successful Person:

1. Education - Always learning, always reading, always watching. School ends but learning never does. Always learning new trades and skills is key to continual improvement.
2. Organization - Everything has a place. Neat, tidy, easy to find and recall when needed.
3. Time-Management - Our greatest resource. You must master time or it will master you. Schedule everything, waste as little time as possible.
4. Balance - Everything in moderation, including moderation. Make ample time for work and family.
5. Simplicity - Always look for the simpler solution. Everything can be simplified.
6. Distractions - Minimize distractions. They are killers for success and happiness.
7. Money - Master your money or it will master you.
8. Appearance - Be clean, well-dressed, always pleasant.
9. Charity - Be willing to help others with your time and resources.
10. Health - Your body is your temple. Treat it as such.
11. Ethical - Be true to your handshake and your word. Your reputation and success depend on it.
12. Network - Reach out to others. Find a mentor. Be a mentor.
13. Faith - Practice and study your spiritual beliefs.