5 Surprising Things People Get Wrong About the World

Originally published on January 17, 2024

If you’ve ever been stuck working some BS desk job thinking there’s got to be more to life, then you were right. There’s travel.

High-quality, intentional travel is one of the most transformational experiences a person can have. Without a doubt, my 10 years living abroad made me more confident, more self-assured, and ultimately more educated about the world and the people in it.

It also informed a lot of the philosophy that I've written about over the past 10 years—the counterintuitive approach that so many people have come to love.

This episode dives into the key takeaways I got from my years of traveling. I can’t be sure, but I think they might inspire you as much as they have me. Enjoy.

00:00:00 Introduction
00:01:42 How it all began
00:04:18 Lesson #1: Everything is a trade-off
00:08:48 Lesson #2: Happiness is cheap, dignity is expensive
00:16:52 Lesson #3: Solo travel is great for personal development
00:22:07 Lesson #4: Most people are good
00:28:27 Lesson #5: Some cultures produce better outcomes than others
00:36:32 Mark’s travel tips

[konlaor]

Mark, I have consumed almost all of your contents on YouTube. I learnt a lot and I feel like I am much wiser than before. I get to appreciate everything, everyone and every moment through my daily life. It makes me happy and satisfied with myself much better. This is the best time in my life, period.

Just as our bodies need food, I need your content for my mental well-being.

[chrisschwab]

Focusing on feeling good triggers your brain to push away negative. Negative and positive always coexist together regardless of what you want. But being able to accept what you have is very good, but looking ahead in a direction with that is the most ideal mindset. Happiness with a idea of looking forward to growth however big or small.

[unhine]

Thomas sowell-"There are no solutions, only trade-offs."

[cassieoz]

People underestimate the power of curiosity and cultivating the ability to 'notice' stuff. Most folks float through life with their eyes and ears closed, a refusing to ever ask real questions.

[seanl]

One of the best lines I read was from Ray Dalio who runs Bridgewater. “You can have anything you want, but you can’t everything you want”. Applies to most things in life. There's usually tradeoffs with the choices you make.

[TMIvey-gkmw]

You guys are always well spoken, but I think you really were exceptionally eloquent on this particular video.

[Luis-lwfr]

This is my favourtie episode podcast by far!! please do the part 2

[Kniraven]

Great talk. If you were a young man again in current times, how would you start your path over? Would it look different?

[gabrielafonseca]

I'm from Mexico and you reminded me of how, recently, a young politician here ruined his career while he was doing great on his way of becoming a presidential candidate. He's married to a hot influencer so that helped him a lot. But in an interview he talked about how many people in the country "are so happy" despite earning "little salaries of 40, 000.00 or 50, 000.00 pesos". Of course, that's a sum 99.99 percent of the population, including those with college education, can't even dream to earn.

[sarahfyes]

This episode came at a great time for me earlier this year, I was about to travel outside the US for the first time! I always appreiate your insight, and your traveling tips were very useful. We did a good mix of touristy stuff and gritty local spots, tried all the Australian food we could, and picked up some local books. I actually got to meet you (Mark) on the flight back home at the baggage claim but I was very awkward, sorry about that! lol

[nicksantos]

9:20 "..travel to say a poor country for the first time, they'll go to africa.." 🤣🤣i know you know that's not a country,
pointing it out just for the sake of jokingly nitpicking. on a serious note, thanks for the content as always mark!

great notes about happiness not being worth much, gratitude BUT not settling or downgrading.

[reidherring]

A very deep and insightful conversation!

On a side note, travelling completely broke is an extremely unnerving idea. If you don't have any money to your name and something goes wrong, you don't have a cushion under you.

[noxsinfox]

This was certainly very interesting and very educational thank you!

[HouseGreg]

Loved the podcast! So many things you said really resonated with me. Coincidentally, I’ve been wondering the exact same thing: how do poor people live so happily in a world that constantly tells us to chase money? I live in a city in India, and your point about being in a village, sick without the resources to get better, really hit home. I had a similar experience and wondered, how do people live in such conditions and still manage to be happy? Which brings me to the question: what is the point of life? Aren’t we always told that happiness is the goal? Isn’t life about being happy? But if that’s not it, then what is? What do you think is the ultimate goal we’re all trying to achieve?

[HappinessDIY]

I lived out of the country for 10 years as well. It completely changed my outlook on life and the USA. In particular, people think the USA has gone to hell and the politics is a mess, but the reality is these political issues are minor in comparison. Now it baffles me seeing people lose their minds over such minor political issues people think is the end of the world. We have it good and everything will be fine. I have seen countries 1000 times worse, and they manage to survive and function.

[James-ipzk]

Everything is a trade off. I love my latin country, but it is hard to get stuff done there. I miss family life, but it could also be oppressive at times. Trade offs, find them :)

[pagesculptor]

34:03: Narcissism of the Slight difference summed up in Dr. Suess as The Butter Battle Book

[laurum]

Agree agree agree! Born and raised in Argentina and been living in the US half my life. I would not trade my life for anything. There is a trade off but I pay the price gladly! USA is my choice 🇺🇸

[maverick]

24:40 That rule doesnt apply to North Korea, everybody seems to love their system, have you ever heard someone from North Korea complain about their system 😂

[tinasdf]

Hey, when is the documentary about Hungary and Portugal out?