Tim Metz

Uncredible Achievements

Post #2, 2014.10.08 | Prologue

Overview of author’s achievements:

  • Started his first business at the age of seven;
  • Sold three companies for a combined sum of $24 million before his 21st birthday;
  • Ranked number three on Forbes 30 under 30 list;
  • Named one of the 100 most influential people by Time Magazine;
  • Author of six best-selling books;
  • Regular New York Times columnist;
  • Two Oprah appearances (one with tears);
  • One leaked sex tape;
  • Expected to run for USA presidency in 2016.

Impressed? It’s the digital equivalent of the typical arrogant prick I used to get introduced to at random parties. After instantly placing me far below himself on the pecking order, he erupts into an unsolicited barrage of personal boasts. Realising this doesn’t get much awe from me, he will graze on, without even the slightest inquiry what I might do for a living*.
I’ll therefore refrain from such behaviour to establish credibility for this blog. Instead, let’s start with everything I have not yet achieved, so you can judge for yourself how uncredible I am:

  • Not an established authority in any particular area (though I get respect in some niches of niches, and in my hometown);
  • Not a millionaire, nor anywhere close to it (though the trend is upwards since early 2014 and I’m bullish);
  • None of my books have been finished, let alone published (in that order, so that makes sense);
  • Not good at picking up random women in bars;
  • Not dating a celebrity (see above);
  • I suck at skateboarding because I’m too scared (and haven’t done it for more than 15 years);
  • Have been involved in several failed businesses;
  • Don’t own any real-estate (I barely own any furniture, truth be told);
  • Was extremely bad at doing door-to-door sales in Australia in 2000; my only closed sales would be made on the basis of pity;
  • Have never attended university and can be regarded as a high school dropout (though some consider that a credential);
  • No influential nor rich family bloodlines (disclaimer: my father played in a well-known** Dutch band for a while during his twenties);
  • I’ve had a happy childhood and no family scandals worth mentioning;
  • No scientific papers or other ground-breaking research from my hand (see high school dropout above).

Hopefully this sufficiently establishes my uncredibility in certain areas. At least it should remind both you and me to take things with a grain of salt when, say, I would start advising you on how to become an overnight millionaire***.

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** He probably can’t help it, as it’s hard for most people, and especially arrogant pricks, to see the world from someone else’s perspective. He would therefore expect me to also boast about my accomplishments, if I would be doing anything of significance. My favourite part then, is seeing his face when somewhat later, he finds out from someone else I might actually be higher on his (imaginary) “pecking order”.*

*** It depends on your definition of “well-known”: the singer of that particular band,* Bonnie St. Claire, was famous in The Netherlands during the seventies. Now she’s mainly notorious for her excessive drinking and supposedly having an IQ of 52.

**** As the saying goes: “Never take financial advice from someone who’s broke.”*

Other references:

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Related postings:
What’s Success? (introductions, part 2 of 2)
Prologue | Post #3, 2014.10.09