I’ve been quiet on the Discourse front, cuz I like to find cool ass dudes, with loads of value to share. If you’re new to this series, go here for the first installment of the Discourses. It’s with one of the baddest dudes in the planet.
This month I attended a special event of The Avtoritet and we bonded better, and got to know each other better, and he’s been growing like mad on Twitter, and we’ve known eachother long, so I thought he’s the perfect guy to pick his brain.
The interview took place in Brussels, Belgium. So there’s an exotic, travelley touch to the interview, with a bit of a story. Sidenote: It was my dream in 2017 to travel the world and interview the baddest people on the planet. Slowly, with cigar in mouth, puffing, this dream is coming to fruition.
Avtoritet (AV) has a degree in marketing, and is a content creator. Cigar lover, and traveler, and enjoys the finer things in life. Creator and owner of his own lifestyle brand, Hauteur, which has released the first issue of its magazine on Warfare.
The same questions as last time, with The Vituvian Man, but of course different answers.
Enjoy.
- What is the book, or books you’ve given most as a gift, and why? Or what are one to three books that have greatly influenced your life?
I’ve given out multiple books, depending on the person. I remember giving out “Start with why” “The Prince” “Laws of Human Nature” and “The Crowd: A Study of the Popular Mind”.
- What purchase of $100 or less has most positively impacted your life in the last six months, or in recent memory? Specific brands, models, where you found it, etc.
Less than 100 bux? Very low threshold to impact me tbh, don’t know. Maybe cigars.
- How has a failure, or apparent failure, set you up for later success? Do you have a favorite failure of yours?
I failed the Hauteur brand 2x. First was with jewelry, second shoes. The second time I pivoted shies there was moderate success but I realized it was capital intensive and dropped it temporarily.
This led me to re-use the brand now a third time for the magazine. It was something I envisioned long ago but did not have any steps set out for.
Now I stumbled into the magazine execution and ended up branding it with Hauteur.
- If you could have a gigantic billboard anywhere with anything on it – metaphorically speaking, getting a message out to millions or billions – what would it say and why?
A few words, or a paragraph, IF HELPFUL it can be a someone else’s quote: Are there any quotes you think of often or live your life by?
Fear and desire disrupt your rhythm.
Fear stills your step while desire clouds your vision.
Master these two.
Maybe I’d add the following quote to my own as a follow up:
“Assumption is the mother of all fuckups.”
- What is one of the best or most worthwhile investments you’ve ever made?
Money, time, energy, etc
Time, in my wife. Biggest dividends are paying off right now. If I take a look at any week yet, I have not been bothered [by the mrs.] with anything household related, always motivated [by the wife] to “go work on your stuff” etc.
I literally am living the dream, focusing on my shit, living with all the comfort in the world.
- What is an unusual habit or an absurd thing that you love?
Don’t know anything weird about me, perhaps dozing off in thoughts at moments where I should be more communicative.
- In the last five years, what new belief, behavior, or habit has most improved your life?
Entropy is death.
- What advice would you give to a smart, driven college student about to enter the real world? What advice should they ignore?
Ignore specific advice. Carve your own path. Do not be stifled by fear, nor consumed by desire. All is but vanity. Use your judgement and apply the 90 second rule to escape emotional decisions.
- What are bad recommendations, you hear in your profession or area of expertise?
“Work hard.”
Hard work pays off only in two scenario’s in my opinion.
1. Is when you persevere long enough, like Columbus for example. He “pitched” royalty for 9 years before he got funded.
2. Is when there is an element of luck or smart work involved.
Luck in my book however, is closer to “preparation meets opportunity” rather than “lucky”.
Working smart compounds hard work, and the other way around. Doing 1 of the 2 only means you’re either lazy or stubborn.
- In the last five years, what have you become better at saying no to – distractions, invitations, etc? What new realizations and/or approaches helped? Any other tips?
Saying no to compromise. Think well before agreeing to compromising decisions or situations. RE: 8, get the 90 sec rule dialed in
- When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, or have lost your focus temporarily, what do you do? What questions do you ask yourself?
First, I indulge in the moment, usually when it’s a matter of dopamine. Like a small win, that’s not significant in and of itself. Just indulge, but be conscious of its short span. Then attack the rush head on. Immersing myself in work again.
When it’s a negative situation, meditation helps. Putting things in perspective. Meditate on death, and most things become insignificant.
Ask yourself, if my head was on the chopping block right now, would I be bothered by this or would I be clinching my asscheeks, focused on the ax about to come down?
There’s your answer.
Hooa.
Hope this finds you well.
This concludes the interview. Hope you learned a lot, and enjoyed the interaction.
If you want to support AV, go here to check out his new Hauteur Magazine. The first Issue on Warfare.
Follow his Twitter: @theavtoritet
Follow his IG: @theavtoritet — Flexing with his greatest investment in life, and smoking cigars.
Follow my YT channel: HOOAFURY — where AV is featured.
This Discourse is part of the big cover story of JULY 2020, Go to these articles if you want more AV:
