This is a fun post I've had on the backburner for a while. Perhaps because it is personal, or maybe just because I couldn't think of things to share. However I'm a pretty open book, so I figured why not!
PolyInnovator is my personal brand, it is my name, it is me; So I'll be using it interchangeably in this post.
1 - I am Right Handed >
Not a huge surprised, as I think a large chunk of the population is as well. Although I will say I have tried quite a lot to teach myself to use my left hand too.
From writing the alphabet, to brushing my teeth, all using my non-dominant hand!
2 - I started Blogging back in High School.
This is sort of common knowledge, at least if you've seen my podcast appearances. Although we're getting into a bit more personal details here. As I wanted to create an organization for polymaths and innovators.
Even back then I knew that in order to grow it, that I would need to market it. Thus content came to mind, and there were various ideals I was trying to convey too.
"World Unity Through Self-Development"
3 - I'm a pretty big nerd!
Given that I am a huge nerd about content, as a concept of itself even. That may come to no one's surprise. However it doesn't stop there.
I've spent a lot of my life being into gaming, exercise, computers, technology, and comic book cinema. Oh not to mention Legos!
I've watched most of the star wars movies, as in more than just the skywalker saga. Not to mention pretty much every Disney+ show, although Visions didn't hook me.
I've watched even more when it comes to Marvel. I've literally watched everything but season two of Luke Cage and the Inhumans show. Technically Agatha's show too, but that I haven't been able to yet.
Then finally I've been a gamer all my life. One of my earliest memories was playing Super Mario World on a PC emulator. I was like 4 years old. Later on playing on PC, then I played all 3 console brands over the years too.
4 - I love to Travel, or in Particular: Explore.
I've been lucky enough to be able to go on some trips in my life, thanks to my family, and in the past year due to my work.
Each time I visit a new place, I find myself naturally picking the area around me, like a 3D google maps in my head.
As of late I've been obsessed with things like EDC - Every Day Carry, Travel backpacks, and even packing up to move either in my car or just in suitcases in a plane across the world.
5 - I always Knew that I didn't want to go to College
Now that I am older I am considering it, but I knew for a fact that when I was in my teens and early 20's. That it did not make sense for me personally at all, as it would only distract me from what I felt was going to be my success or fulfillment.
Teaching in the pool was a great time for me, and I felt like I impacted those people's lives. Doing the jobs that I WANTED to do, and to learn from. Rather than doing it purely for paying for bills.
I had control over my time freedom, and I was able to teach myself the skills I felt was needed.
6 - Always wanted to be a "Businessman" or CEO
Something else that was privy to me from a young age, was that I felt this pull towards becoming a global CEO.
It was ingrained into me at a young age, and not from some external source. Just something I felt was right. As I got older the business man changed to CEO, then to:
"I'm going to be a CEO of an international company, driven to innovate technology and ideology."
That blogging endeavor I mentioned earlier was that of the United Living Construct, which was the manifestation of that CEO dream.
7 - I didn't learn to SWIM until I was 13/16!
This may come as a shock to those who know me as the pool guy, or "Aquaman" as they liked to call me.
However I didn't have anyone to teach me really in my youth. When I was 13 my step-father taught me some doggypaddle basics, then when I was 16 I took a swimming for fitness class in high school.
Something I desperately needed, as I was quite weak, then I learned proper form. Was I good? No, not yet. However I very quickly became a lifeguard after, and the rest is history!
8 - I really Struggled at Math
Huh, this is not something I've been very vocal about, but it was a deep pain for me in my academic years. Trying to catch up in the realm of mathematics. Maybe it was because I was 'homeschooled' for a year, or maybe it was just genetic. Not sure.
Although I do remember trying, and having to retake classes just to get by. At the end of my high school years I had to test out of math in order to graduate even.
While I was never much of an academic, there was one thing I for sure knew I wanted: to have a diploma.
9 - Obsessed with Minimalism, but born a Techie
A constant duality in my life is the process of getting rid of stuff, so that I have less materialistic things to attach myself to.
However on the other end I want to have the latest tech to play with, and to use for my works. This would lead me in some cases to pre-maturely part with a piece of tech. Like a game console for example, only to regret it later.
Right now at the time of this writing I have this urge to purge even more stuff, so that I can move and travel. However I do have a baseline of tech I have to have.
10 - I'm not very Religious
However I have studied, at least a little, most religions of the world. Thanks in part to a favorite late teacher of mine, George Frissell. Who taught at my secondary school, as the "Classical Ideas and World Religions" class.
I was a voracious reader in my junior year in particular, and I burned through the philosophy and religion section of my school library. Reading a ton of books, which a lot of were based on Buddhism IIRC.
I definitely see the point of religion over the course of history, but in a modern era I'm not so sure.
11 - I'm quite sensitive..
I guess I'm opening up in this post, so I'll say this here. When I grew up I would be quite sensitive to what people told me. Good or bad, and would over react to the stimuli.
When friends would "josh" me or mess around, like dudes do, to me I thought they were bullying me or being serious. Now in a lot of cases they were, but in many other cases they weren't. It lead me down a path of Emotional Quotient development. Now I feel that I always had a pretty high EQ, and I know that by saying that I may sound egotistical. Although I'm being purely quaint.
I pick up on people's emotions, and I try to modify my actions to improve the lives of others. It comes natural to me, even though I've been jaded the last couple years. I still want to help people.
12 - Why did I create PolyInnovator?
Now I've said the story many times, especially on podcasts, that I wanted to create the aforementioned U.L.C., but I thought I wasn't good enough.
This wasn't a lack of confidence per se, but rather a self-analysis that I needed to improve my skills. It was quite logical in my memory of it, and I wanted to become something more. Something better.
So that I could be the man I envisioned myself to be.
Thus started my deeper self-education journey, and my content development of my personal brand. Initially focusing on that self-education, which became the Modular Degree.
PolyInnovator came out of the need for innovation in MY life, and then I could innovate the lives of others.
13 - I Love languages!
From growing up with Spanish in my home, to learning others like Esperanto on Duolingo.
I love the nuances, the accents, and I love to talk. Thus I need to learn languages in order to talk to more people. I think even in a world where you have AI translators in your ears, that it is still important to be able to speak them yourself.
I want to become a PolyGlot one day, in addition to becoming a Polymath.
15 - I've been on most social medias SUPER early.
Even well before my content creator days I was quite into social media.
I tried my hand at making some videos for Vine, but it wasn't until Tiktok where I really starting thriving.
I remember being on Facebook back in 2009, which wasn't the college era days, but still is quite early. Twitter I think in 2010ish? Snapchat, Mastodon, Bluesky, Threads, etc. All of them I was on them pretty early.
This has helped me as a creator, not only to plant my flag, but also to gain a first mover advantage at times.
16 - I've suffered a lot.
I won't go into the details here too much. From losing loved ones, internal dialogue, lack of connection with peers growing up, and even abuse growing up.
I've been through a lot, that most people would have no idea. Not only did I not really talk about it back then. I don't talk about it now either. Although I do not feel like I bottled anything up. I've said my peace I believe.
I see no point in living in the past, it shaped who I am today, and I must learn from that. Good and bad. If there is a need for therapy, then yes I think that is important. However to me the past can't hurt me if I don't let it.
Breathe, take in the lesson, and focus on the present. That is what truly matters.
17 - What do I hope to achieve in my life?
A lot of things to be frank. I'm nearly 30, and while my heart wants to think oh I'm getting old. I know in my mind that it is only the beginning. I spent the decade of my 20's on PolyInnovator and content.
I really don't regret that decision at all, and the only thing I do regret is not doing MORE content when I had the capacity to.
I still want to become that CEO, and #MakeAChange in the world. That is my dream, and to me see that coming from the U.L.C.!
Being a futuristic smart city leading the world through global innovations, as a hub of innovative polymaths.
Conclusion
I wasn't originally planning on getting so personal, but I felt like this would be the time. If any of these sparked your interest, then let me know via social. Then I can make some more content around it going deeper!
Thanks for taking the time to read this, as it means a lot.