An In Depth Interview With Jet Set DJ Mike B [Video]

I have a secret confession to make. I am completely fascinated by DJ’s. Specifically, the kind of DJ’s that clubs pay $10,000 for someone to spin and bring a crowd. I have never understood how they do what they do. How do they take a ballad and turn it into a dance song? How they move us in a hypnotic trance at the flick of a button? How do they bring us up or down at will?

To answer these questions, I convinced that hottest DJ in Atlanta, DJ Mike B, to sit down with me. DJ Mike is the real deal. He’s been at this a long time and is VERY well respected in this world.

Rather then writing a long blog post, I decided to let DJ Mike B do the talking. This is a long- ish video that covers every thing you ever wanted to know about being a DJ. At the very end of the video, DJ Mike takes me in to his inner sanctum, the DJ Booth, and shows me how it’s done.

To get in touch with DJ Mike B:
Facebook
Twitter
Music (Sound Cloud)

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On a different note…Kim and I are trying to decide between Punta del Este Uruguay or Buzios for Xmas week vacation. Which would you choose and why?

How To Take A Month Off- The Choice Effect Plus: A Gift

 How To Take A Month Off  The Choice Effect Plus: A Gift

I hit a point where I just got tired of running into people who were taking a month off at a time. It seemed the further I got out of the U.S. the more I ran into these people. How were these people doing it? The answer is actually fairly short, (as most truths in life are) they DECIDED to!

I know what you’re thinking, “you don’t know my situation”, or, “I have a wife, kids and more importantly a job that would never let me do it”, I know I had that, too. “Oh yah, and…and…. I have a mortgage, a car payment and private school payment…..”, I know, I had those too…..and…and…. “what about my credit card payment and and….ya know the economy is in the toilet”. I know, I live in the same world as you do.

Any of that sound familiar? We all have (or have had) that kind of crap to deal with in our lives. But, the truth is that will NEVER change, unless we DECIDE to change it. In other words, make a choice, draw a line in the sand, get pissed if you need to, but do something to change it.

Kim and I made a list of every expense and decided what was worth keeping in our life and what wasn’t. We ruthlessly assigned a happiness index to each dollar we were spending. Before long, we came up with an overhead that was over 50% less! There was so much crap. We had no idea where it all came from. Don’t get me wrong. We still live pretty large. We just eliminated the things that weren’t serving us any longer.

Let’s put things in perspective here. We’ve got roughly 80 years to live on this planet. How much joy are you really getting out of paying 100 bucks a week for the gardener or the pool maintenance guy (insert your own low happiness index expense here). If you’re over the top in love with what a particular expense adds to your life- just keep it, but if you’re not, cut it out like a cancer. Your life is just too damn important.

Rome wasn’t built in a day. Start with a goal of taking two weeks off to travel. But, have a plan, (an intention) to be taking 1 month off to travel within in 3-5 years and NOT when you retire. Striking that balance between working hard now so that you can live a bigger life later, is not always so easy- I’ll readily admit that, but it is critical.

Kim and I have been blessed to lead this amazing life of world travel. And, yes, we’ve also been blessed (and probably lucky) to have the income to do it. But, don’t kid yourself, we worked hard to make it happen.

Here’s some real actionable tips that you can use to start your journey to taking a month off.

1. Look at every expense that doesn’t give you a happiness index of 10 or higher and cut it out.

2. Make a list of everything that you want to put in your dream life and decide how much it costs per month. Let’s say it will costs you $30,000 per month to live the fantasy. It probably won’t, but let’s think big. Calculate how much per day that would cost.

3. Create and sell an information product online to pay for your dream life. Using the above example of a dream life that costs $30,000 per month. If you work the math backwards, that means that you would have to sell an average of one $1,000 product per day to achieve that dream life. If you don’t believe you could ever do that, you’re probably right. But if you do believe that, you could do that- you’re probably right as well:). There are people, every single day, achieving that goal and more. I know because I’ve interviewed half of them for Jet Set Money.

This is all within your reach and totally possible. All you have to do is make the choice. Make a decision. The word decision comes from the Latin word incision (which means to cut off from). Cut yourself off from all options and make it happen!

In fact, if you’ve made it this far, it shows me that you’re serious. I want to acknowledge and reward you for that. As my gift, I’m going to let you try the first module of Jet Set Money for a buck. Here’s the link

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If anyone is going to be in Cartagena, Columbia during the holidays and want to ring in the New Year with us– just shoot us an email to heyjetset at gmail dot com.

If You Want To Be A Jet Set Insider Now Is The Time? Plus, Headed to Party on the Aeolian Islands

 If You Want To Be A Jet Set Insider Now Is The Time?  Plus, Headed to Party on the Aeolian Islands
I realized recently that it’s really my rolodex of contacts that gets me dialed-in when I travel.  If I know someone cool that knows a location well, it’s likely they’ll hook me up with under the radar stuff — that I would NEVER find on the internet.  It really IS about WHO you know.

I get emails from people who are trying to connect with me for the same reason.  Asking where to go when they are in such and such a place.  But, to be honest, I really don’t respond to all of them.  At times it’s just too much.  I also get asked to create some kind of newsletter to help them decide where to go next.  The truth is, I just have too much on my plate!

But, Kim convinced me to do it.  She said, “stop whining and just create one”, so, I did.  It came out great, too (if I do say so myself)! Here’s how I broke it down:

Every month you’ll receive a brand new Jet Set Secret Destination, along with our secret hidden spots to check out that we don’t tell anyone. This is going to be very cool!  Now, you’ll know what Kim and I know.  Nothing held back.  From the relaxed comfort of your iPhone/iPad/ or regular old computer — you’ll have a growing collection of the hottest spots on the planet and know exactly where to go and what to do when you get there.

Just for funzies, we’re going to offer something completely new and different. We’re going to record us planning our next trip.  Before Kim and I take a trip we find the ‘go to’ Jet Setter that knows the destination we’re going to like the back of his hand.  An ‘insider’, if you will.  Then, rake him over the coals and beat him into total submission, until he reveals the secret hidden spots that he doesn’t want to get out.

We then put it pretty for you. We package the Jet Set Insider Monthly Newsletter and Jet Set Insider MP3 recording and put it all on a silver platter for you. I’ve even gotten permission for you to contact the Jet Set Insiders we interview personally (as long as you’re cool with them and don’t abuse it).  These are VERY connected insiders.  This is the fastest way I know of for you to create your own Jet Set circle.

The idea is pretty simple.  Over a 12 month period we take you inside our world and let you know all of our Secret Spots.  So, how much should we charge?  I said A LOT! Kim said, “don’t be an a** hole, make it fair”.  We’re still debating on the price.  I don’t know how much I’m going to charge yet.

Here’s what I do know.  I’m going to offer to readers of this blog a special price and on a first come first served basis ONLY.  So, if you even think you might be into it, enter your email in the early list below and I’ll let you know as soon as I know something.

Cut in Line!
Enter your email address to get special notification with a link for early access and special pricing to The Jet Set Insider.
Primary Email:

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Headed to Aeolian Islands tomorrow (off the coast of Sicily) in search of more cool spots! If anyone is going to be in that area just drop whistle and maybe we can hook up:)

To Find All Rob and Kim’s Secret Hidden Jet Set Spots –

Just Click The Banner Below!

sicily guide book banner If You Want To Be A Jet Set Insider Now Is The Time?  Plus, Headed to Party on the Aeolian Islands


Getting an Invitation to A Small World

shh Getting an Invitation to A Small World

Rob: There’s a funny video with our encounter with David Schwimmer (Ross from friends) last week in Los Angeles, at the end of this post.

The second most asked question I get is “can you give me an invitation to A Small World” (the first is how do you make the money to Live a Jet Set Life – that question will be answered soon with our Jet Set Business Academy).

So, what’s A Small World (ASW) anyway?  Well, the truth is I’m not allowed to talk about what goes on inside.  It’s kind of like fight club.  What happens in fight club stays in fight club.  I can talk about what its founders are willing to let non-members know.

From ASW Public Pages

Erik Wachtmeister founded ASMALLWORLD as a private online community for like-minded individuals.  Most networking communities are open.  Ours is only by invitation.  Trusted members who have existing social networks of quality in the real world extend the invitations.  A SmallWorld offers a retreat that intimately allows members to enhance their networks and to reconnect with old friends.”

” Since its inception in 2004, ASMALLWORLD has quickly expanded into a global community of trusted friends and information.  Members range from entrepreneurial and business opinion makers to leaders in media, entertainment, fashion, the arts and sports.”

From Wikepedia

“A Small World is an online social networking service which is an exclusive invitation-only network with roughly 300,000 members.  Founded by Erik Wachtmeister, a former investment banker and INSEAD graduate, and the son of a former Swedish ambassador to the United States.  The network includes several famous names.”

What I think

What I love about ASW is the intimacy and the quality of the demographic profile that I honestly just wouldn’t have access to any other way.  I can’t mention any members by name, but I can tell you that many of its members are names you would recognize.  Having the luxury of being dialed in wherever I go in the world is priceless to me.  I have made friendships with like-minded Jet Setters that will last a lifetime.


So, the big question – how do I get in?  Well, I wish that I had a better answer for you than what’s posted on their sign in page:

“Membership to ASMALLWORLD is by invitation only, which is part of what makes this network unique, and the connections authentic. Trusted and loyal ASW members who meet certain criteria have the privilege of inviting a limited number of their friends to the network.  If you know someone with this privilege, you can ask them to invite you.  If not, please be patient and continue to ask around in your own personal and professional circles.”

Tough pill to swallow – I know.  The truth is there just isn’t any other way to get in.  It took me two years to get access to this secret society.  It was frustrating and slightly embarrassing having to continually ask (beg), but my efforts finally paid off and believe me it was well worth the wait.  My invitation came from the most unlikely of places. I won’t mention his name because I want to protect his privacy. Suffice it to say that it really came out of left field.  My recommendation is to keep asking for an invitation and eventually you will find someone like I did who had invite privileges, thought you were a good match and was nice enough to give you a shot.

Question:

Do you have any stories about trying to get in?  Have you successfully gotten in?  Why do you think you should be in?  Love to know your thoughts or experiences.

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Topless Tanning Comes to the Mirage in Vegas

 Topless Tanning Comes to the Mirage in Vegas

Why are we so freaked out about this topic.  I know, I’m a man and obviously biased (make that very biased).  I get that and I’m happily willing to admit it.  Now, that that’s out of the way, what’s the big wup?  I mean, I’m in the Mediterranean all the time and they seem to have no problem with it.  The last time I looked our European counterparts were a heck of a lot hotter than our oversized, fanny pack wearing, fat american white asses.  I mean, really. Tell me if I’m wrong here.

The weird thing about this is we seem to have no problem squeezing over inflated jinormous boobs into a bikini but god forbid we see a nipple.  Maybe that’s it.  Is it the nipple we can’t handle?   I can’t figure this thing out.  I know, I know Im a guy.  But, what about all those European women that have no charge with letting it all hang out and going au naturale?  Are they just all floozies and we’re the civilized bunch?

Well, which ever way you stand on this, it seems that the Mirage hotel in Vegas has spoken.  They say “let’s give the people what they want”.  They just opened up a super sexy private pool called Bare.  Everyone loves a cool pool party, right?  What better way to pass the time than bikini’s and booze.  The Bare Pool lounge is a totally adult venue (better get that out of the way before the puritans start screaming).  Bare is the ultimate in poolside pampering. DJ spinning music mix sets against a hot sexy crowd enjoying European-style sun bathing secluded by towering palms.

bare pool vegas 300x174 Topless Tanning Comes to the Mirage in Vegas

Bare, offers an exclusive adult alternative to the typical Las Vegas pool experience.  There are two ultra luxury dipping pools that create a break from the hot Vegas sun.  Private day beds and what they call boat beds top off the ultimate in poolside pampering. They also have this really cool pitcher service, for pre-mixed cocktails, like Mojitos, Bloody Marys and Sangria that are served in this specially made pitcher that is guaranteed to keep your drinks ice cold all day.

bare pool topless vegas mirage 300x174 Topless Tanning Comes to the Mirage in Vegas

The pool area is laid out really well.  They have two decks an upper and a lower.  The upper deck has an infinity pool, private VIP area that overlooks the Mirage’s dolphin habitat.  The lower decks are the elevated daybeds that are perfect for lounging with friends and sunbathing.  These private cabanas have curtain walls and bottle service that give new meaning to “what happens in vegas….”.

bare pool topless vegas mirage hotel 300x174 Topless Tanning Comes to the Mirage in Vegas

So, here’s what I want to know.  Ladies: would you go to Bare AND would you take your top off.  Guys: are you cool with your girl going and taking her top off? Thoughts?

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Follow Rob and Kim on Twitter here.

Dare To Suck: Jet Set Life’s Blooper Reel

Kim and I get the nicest compliments from people around the world about our videos.  The truth is, if you saw some of these videos in their raw state you wouldn’t believe that they could get spun into anything.  When we first started Jet Set Life we figured all we had to do was get in front of the camera and speak.  Easy. Right?  Yeah, it is easy, until you watch the video back in horror!  Do I really look like that?  Sound like that?  I thought all along I was David Beckham- WTF?

Reality sets in pretty quickly in the world of video.  The instantaneous feedback is both a blessing and a curse.  It’s a blessing to capture something incredible, in the moment, and a curse when you screw up your part and the moment is gone forever.  Hence, ‘Dare To Suck’.  Check out the video above and you’ll see what I mean (at 1:39 is when Kim get’s attacked by a swarm of bugs-hysterical).

I realized that I would have to be willing to suck to have any shot at creating something worthwhile.  Dare to suck is not to ‘try to suck’ or ‘aspire to suck’, but rather a challenge to try and possibly fail – to take risks.  To dare – and maybe fall flat on your face and say ‘hey, that sucked!  But, nice try!”

Part of sucking is actually micro testing what works and what doesn’t.  Most of the New Jet Set that I meet around the world have similar experiences with their muses.  Many of them set out to create one thing and wind up with another.  In some cases they abandon their original idea altogether.  Jet Set Life has morphed more times than Madonna.  I think that’s the deeper level in muse creation though.  Truly ‘testing the muse’ involves a more intimate understanding of what is and isn’t working.  As Tim Ferriss points out in the 4HWW, “intuition is a poor predictor of which products and businesses will be profitable”.  So, I say let’s all ‘dare to suck’ together and create the muses of our dreams.  Let’s create a muse that allows us to eliminate the issue of economics from the fulfillment of our dreamlines.

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On another note, if you’re into Vision Boards. Jack Canfield (from the Secret and Chicken Soup for the soul fame) just created something really cool called a vision book.  He said (on the Today Show)  that he changed it to a vision book because most people’s vision boards look like ransom notes (with all the cut outs from magazines).  I ordered one last week and love it. It has both form and function. It’s totally worth the $49 bucks – it’s only carrying all your hopes and dreams for your life:)  Check out a picture of mine here.

You’ve been invited to A Small World Plus Tim Ferriss is on the phone- Part I


timothy ferriss 236x300 Youve been invited to A Small World Plus Tim Ferriss is on the phone  Part I

Every once in a while something happens that makes you say Holy Sh** Balls! This is the first of a two part post. Part I will cover “You’ve been invited to A Small World” and part II will cover “Tim Ferriss is on the phone”. As you’ll see the two are strangely linked together in some sort of weird cosmic way. Here’s part I:

Kim and I were taking a mini-retirement to Punta Del Este to shoot this video for Jet Set Life. It was New Years Eve morning and we were having our breakfast on the outside veranda of this great Posada on the ocean in La Barra. We were chatting it up with a few people (who were part of a group of 500 that were flown in from Manhattan to attend the wedding of a very wealthy Argentinian business man’s daughter) and they were asking us if we were going to the ‘A Small World‘ private party tonight (they must have thought we were part of the wedding entourage). I said “No, we’re not going but what’s ASW?” After obviously (but unknowingly) outing myself I received sort of vague and cryptic answers from that point on about what ASW was and how it worked. From what I was able to piece together from Wikipedia (after a short and very jealous rage which was followed by a brief pity party) was that ASW was an ‘exclusive-invitation only online social network that included people with large personal networks, frequent travelers, highly active personal lives, royalty, film directors, and musicians to name a few. Also, that only some members have the right to invite others and you are not allowed to discuss the inner goings-on of a small world on any website, and doing so may result in internal exile to “A Big World“.

*My C.Y.A.(cover your ass) Disclaimer- It is NOT the intention of this post to talk any further about this secret society except to say “I wanted in”!

After my privileged new friends had moved on (to presumably some other ‘in the know’ spots in Punta) I sat with my ‘large world’ , the ocean and my thoughts for a few minutes. Then, I decided- why not me? I grabbed a cup of coffee, my favorite pen, my moleskin notebook and listed out my intentions for the coming year. I’m a fan of the Zen Habits site who teaches you to focus on just a few goals you really want and focus on making them happen. So, I set just two clear goals for 2008.

Goal 1- Get invited to A Small World

Goal 2- Meet Author Tim Ferriss

Well,10 months had past since setting those goals and absolutely nothing had happened. I had literally met and asked 10 ASW members (which I’ve met on my travels for Jet Set Life) for an invitation and regularly received the same answer- “wish I could help you but I don’t have any invitations to give”. As far as meeting Tim Ferriss was concerned it seemed that the closest I was getting to him was the 17 copies of his book I had on my desks (home and office), ipod, Amazon Kindle and iPhone (to name a few) and his egg video on you tube. It seemed that no matter how hard I ‘pushed’ – Nothing!

It was “wine Wednesday” (a weekly ritual that Kim and I have to celebrate the middle of the week with a great bottle of wine) and it was also the day after my birthday. My executive assistant had called to let me know that I only had one e-mail to handle that wasn’t covered by my rules (I really do practice what I preach and have a sub assistant in India and an executive assistant in North America to process my in-box). There was one message saying that I received an invitation to a small world. From who, where, why, how???

As it turned out there was a really great guy that had been following Jet Set Life and just thought we should be invited. It was as simple as that. No pushing, no begging, just a nice guy that said ‘I’m happy to do it for you’. Talk about the universe giving you what you ask for. Goal 1- Accomplished. Boom. Just like that! Maybe those crazy hippies in the Secret were on to something. Ok, so you may ask “What’s that got to do with Tim Ferriss?” I’m getting to that- right now.

With my new ASW invitation in my hot little hand- I tucked my daughter Demi in for the night (as is my daily alternating daddy duty- Kim gets the reverse nights) and I hear the phone ringing in the background. Kim answered it and I jumped into the little boy’s room. The next thing I know a swat team opens the bathroom door (it was really just Kim but in my defense there was a lot of commotion) and announces ‘you have a phone call’ (with this sort of sh** eating grin) and hands me the phone. I gave here a weird lingering slow motion eye squint followed by a quizzical stare as if to say this couldn’t wait 8 more seconds for me to come out of the bathroom (did the person on the other end of the phone really need to hear me flush- a fact that later will turn out to be most embarrassing).

I said, “Hello?”… “Robert?” said the voice on the line. “Umm Yes.” I replied. “This is Tim Ferriss Happy Belated Birthday!”…..

Are you F&*%$ kidding me! It seemed that Kim used her magic girl powers to make this happen (which BTW she’s still not telling me- or you- how she did, so don’t bother asking her). Two random goals completely ‘unrelated’ to each other happened in the span of just five minutes. Synchronicity? Who cares! It happened and I am forever grateful to ALL the powers that played a role! What proceeded was an amazing phone call from an incredible man who is truly changing people’s lives. In my next post I’ll tell you how the phone call went.

Part 2 Teaser Alert….Kim had asked if I could interview him for this blog. In true Tim Ferriss fashion he said he doesn’t give interviews to bloggers -but- he would make a special exception, as long as the following three conditions were met:

1-  I could only ask three questions.

2- The questions could never have been asked before and must be interesting.

3- The questions must be asked right now i.e. (I wasn’t allowed to schedule it when I was better prepared- recall the above ‘I was just in the bathroom story’).

Let’s just say it was an experience I’ll never forget….to be continued…..

Now, I’m off to New England for a few days to see what autumn really looks like….

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Follow Rob in real time here.

Wearing a Speedo: Somethings just don’t translate

2740526421 b0e34f6014 Wearing a Speedo: Somethings just dont translate
To speedo or not to speedo that’s the question. The answer it seems depends on what side of the ocean your on. This conundrum happens to me every time I hit a Mediterranean beach destination. At first, I was like, no way would I consider putting my American body in this banana hammock. Then, I thought, if I’m supposed to be this jet set guy and such a world traveler shouldn’t I behave like one?

2740525917 04b66cdebe Wearing a Speedo: Somethings just dont translate

So, there I was in St. Barths and literally every where I looked were great looking European guys in speedo’s. They looked fine. So, I said screw it. I’m going to give it a try. My wife goes topless why can’t I rock a speedo. Well, the answer to that question will be very obvious when you see me in this Ralph Lauren store in St.Barths. I suppose some things just don’t translate. I’m sticking to my board shorts.


Speedo from Jet Set Life on Vimeo.

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I reached out to our Twitter followers yesterday and posted the following question.

Q- Why (in your opinion) can a European rock a Speedo (if you think they can) & an American not so much?

Here are the answers i got over the past 24 hours (names have been removed to protect the innocent and the guilt). Enjoy!


• Pure confidence, better diet, no shame!
• Geographical and cultural context. Speedos are more giggle-worthy to US’ers in the US than in Monaco.
• It’s all about confidence….I think…eh, I’m not so sure…actually, I dunno. See, Americans don’t have confidence…
• Europeans Rock a Speedo and Americans cannot because of lack of sexual confidence embedded by Puritanical moral rigidity!!
• Speedos can be rocked, but few do it. Europeans seem to have more comfort with their bodies than US men.
• Speedo? Americans are overweight. Overweight European would look as bad.
• More American’s “try” to look sexy in Speedos, while European’s don’t “try”, it’s just natural for them.
• Twinkies and American beer. :)
• I think it just has to do with being in shape. Michael Phelps rocks a speedo just fine!
• It’s all about confidence. Like going topless. If you feel uncomfortable doing it, you make other people uncomfortable.
• Because they (Europeans) don’t care and Americans do. It’s all about the attitude.
• I would not rock one in America but I would rock one over seas.
• It’s borderline confidence/arrogance
• If a man puts on a speedo in the US & isn’t fit, it’s weird. I’d say Euro’s can b/c they usually don’t care if they’re accepted.
• Europeans do that whole “gel” thing with their hair. For example, basketball coach, Pat Riley, could rock a speedo.
• At the root, it’s all about attitude (what Euros have) and Puritan morals (what Americans have).
• I think it’s because of how open Europeans are about their bodies and sexuality, and how insecure and closed Americans are.
• It’s more about fashion/style. In Europe, a speedo is accepted fashion. In NA, it’s poked fun at.
• I think it’s because the European is more self-confident
• No one should rock a speedo. :)
• Americans are taught to be ashamed of nudity, and so are self conscious by showing that much skin. Europeans are not.
• Rocking a Speedo is all about confidence. Although, the U.S. is winning the obesity race, so that might be it, too.

Pretty girls get Europeans to smoke more on Perivolas beach in Santorini

2692856292 913226cd3c Pretty girls get Europeans to smoke more on Perivolas beach in Santorini
I’m totally addicted to this new show called Mad Men. It’s about ad men in the sixties. It’s from the director of the Sopranos. The show takes place in the sixties and having not grown up in that era it’s incredible to see how much people actually smoked back then. The doctor while doing an exam, a pregnant lady while drinking a glass of wine or even in the elevator on the way up to the office. I just watched an episode on how Lucky Strikes came to the ad guys for help because someone had mad a preposterous claim that cigarette smoking cause lung cancer. The tobacco company said “that’s insane everyone knows that even doctors smoke”! It blew me away that this really went down. I couldn’t believe how successful Madison avenue was at keeping people smoking. Smoking in Europe has always been big, although it’s definitely declining.


Yesterday we hit Perivolas’s black sand beach in Santorini. There right before my ouzo soaked eyes, I see chicks in red and white Marlboro outfits cruising the beach looking for prey. In the states, we had the Marlboro man doing the dirty work keeping us hooked. In Europe, they have chicks in sexy outfits on the beach. I suppose there’s no better way to keep a European smoking than to wrap a cigarette up in a pretty girl and put her on the beaches of the Greek Isles.

 

 

Here’s a short video of the Marlboro girls in action…..



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