Oh, to be a father of a daughter turning 7. Seems like that age when she is forming her own mind and can no longer be “contained” by my influence ha! Maggie is a super independent kid and we chiseled it out more this past Saturday at a “family day” trip to We arrived 10am-ish and for sure were one …
Slowly “Warming Back Up” (Cross Border Summit 2023 coming)
Last vlog was about getting back to “normal” in 2023 and networking and attending events. Now we are going to take a big risk and make a leap for our “annual” (well up until covid) Cross Border Summit – to go ahead and move it from China to Thailand and host it in Chiang Mai on November 16th and 17th, …
Welcome 2023, New Year, Networking Normal?
The last few years have been a turning point for many, lives adjusted, businesses adjusted – and we keep pushing forward. Entering a new year is always a fresh start feel, and to me, 2023 is the year I feel covid will be mainly behind us. Especially due to heavy involvement with China in multiple businesses we do, it has …
Unboxing – SuperBee | Beeswax Wrap Roll
Grab your Superbee products today on Amazon here! Okay let’s check out today the super b roll this is handmade product in Thailand. I am gonna check it out now so really cool packaging photos of the of the team and this has been there’s many different versions of this but this is kind of the more common use as …
Trip to the Chiang Mai Planetarium
Snuck a quick afternoon trip to the space museum in Chiang Mai, Thailand Sometimes you just need to take the kids out and play. Been cooped up waiting for mommy to come back from her trip – and with Christmas almost here – lets make it happen. We were able to get a seat at the 2pm viewing in the …
Meeting 15 of the “Shadstone Ninjas” on the Philippines Company Retreat
Many who follow my blog don’t even know about our main “operations and creation” company Shadstone. Since 2007 it has existed as a B2B agency for Asia business and boutique marketing. Since Covid, we have really doubled down on BUILDING LEADERS. Janette Toral has been coaching us and we have made some hard adjustments but am proud of the team …
Traveling to Manila from Thailand in the “new normal” of December 2022
On the road again. My Uncle Bill would comment on this very blog (rest in peace Uncle Bill) when he saw me “in my element” of being on the road in China and Asia. With Covid, the world stopped – at least my world – been a few months now in Chiang Mai, Thailand – but time to go “solo …
My Son Wants to be a YouTuber
It has been an ongoing discussion since we were in Shenzhen. Miles, my son, wants to be a Minecraft youtuber. Or a gamer youtuber, as he has other games he likes too. Wendy and I have been discussing it – this means we’d need to get a gamer laptop. Even my mac I’m typing isn’t powerful enough to do youtube …
Experiencing “Sensation” in Mediation with The Living Crystal
Over the years on Mike’s Blog, we have talked about meditation, my temple experience, and diving deeper into productivity and focus with Pomodoro timers. Today, I got to experience what I am calling “sensation mediation” with a product my friend (and now business alliance in the upcoming crowdfunding campaign) John gave me in late November 2022. I only had 25 …
Photo Shoots, Content Creation, Brand Building
Many people ask me how to sell online. How to make a website, how to make a brand. Should they do drop shipping? Amazon FBA? Etc. To me, all that is forged in my mind is to make a brand. The way to sell is just an output of the product. A channel, that is it. Today’s vlog, just a …
A Handy Timer Used For Pomodoro – GymBoss
Since 2014 or 2015 I have been using this interval timer day in and day out. This is my fourth one now so I want to make a video to showcase how I use it and what I am using it for. As I type up this blog post, I am watching the count down as it is clipped on …
Trip to the Chiang Mai Waterfall Wang Bua Ban Pond
Family day, family trip. Decided to take the vlog camera with me and share this trip for those curious on the waterfall in Chiang Mai named Wang Bua Ban Pond A rather simple hike (or maybe we didn’t know how to find otherwise a longer path) around the falls. It had many small “pools” where people were dipping their toes …
Family is an Investment
Life just keeps throwing things at ya and you need to react and adjust. But one that I am set on is to be the best father and husband I can be. Some have noticed the struggle and pain I went through sticking it out in China for 2.5 years (even returning in March 2020 in the first place). Staying …
Trip to a Mountain Factory in North Thailand
With just under a month in Thailand – can’t help myself and had to do a factory visit. This is the factory of one of our brands – Akitai, handmade jewelry. Andres our business partner flew up from his home in Phuket Sunday morning, where we meet in Chiang Mai airport and drove 4 hours to a lake in the …
Arrival in Thailand (Allowed To Leave China)
Typing this up from a hotel lobby near the BKK airport, on the last day of the month of August 2022 – ready for a fresh start in Chiang Mai for the month of September and the rest of 2022. Still don’t want to reveal too much about the process of getting approval for my wife and children to leave …