Don Kowalewski
Writer. Ad Sales and Marketing. Social Media Content Creator. Aeropress Coffee. Makes the best salsa in the world.
A Mnew Mnemonic: Phone on Four for Four
If you ask some people, they’ll say I’m forgetful. It’s not true. My problem is, when people are talking to me, sometimes I’m not listening intently. That’s a bad habit and I’m working on it. When I want to remember things and work at it (ie pay attention), I remember stuff. That’s the key …working at it.
To remember names, I need to employ all the tricks like immediately saying the name back to the person, using that name three times as quickly as possible, and creating some sorta feature association …like Bald Bill or Smiling Steve. Or assign the person to a room somewhere I’m familiar with …like putting a Pete with all the other Pete’s I know in “the pantry” or if I meet a Mike, put Mike with the other Mikes in the “mail room.”
But the memory technique I’m most proud of is my use of mnemonics. It’s something I invented and combines Atomic Habits, Getting Things Done, and more. I have a bunch of them and I’m always inventing new mnemonics to help me always remember what I want to remember and do. Read More
MY CHRISTMAS WISH-LIST (2025)
One of the most popular features of my Blog is my “Stuff I Want” list – an ongoing list of things I would love to have but I don’t buy for myself, allowing readers and fans to buy them for me and enjoy the “feels” that come with giving to others (others = me). Plus, it’s Thanksgiving week and it seems like as good a time as any to revamp my list and redefine the “why” and “what” around people giving me things.
My “Stuff I Want” list is also my attempt to become a micro-influencer and someday get some of that sweet, sweet influencer money from promoting, endorsing, and making videos about products I use and like. I don’t get boxes of stuff sent to me (yet), but maybe someday. And I don’t have a focused category like guys on YouTube that review home stereo stuff, lawn mowers, or camping gear. Instead, I do the research and come up with a top-2 or top-3.
The list is also for my wife. She loves knowing exactly what I want for the three annual Don gift-receiving events – Father’s Day, my birthday, and Christmas. Read More
Tyson v. Jake Paul v. Nostalgia
Lots of people called Friday night’s Tyson v. Jake Paul boxing match a disaster. A sham. A scam. A debacle. They’re yelling it was fixed and that it was a complete waste of time.
I loved every minute of it. I loved the hype leading up to it. I loved the undercards. I loved the freezing Netflix (OK, I actually didn’t like that). I loved it all. It reminded me of everything we all used to love and hate about boxing.
It reminded me of my Grandpa. It created a reunion on my phone on Friday night. More on these in a minute.
How Big Was It?
Netflix says, when the fight started, as many as 64-million Netflix accounts were LIVE-streaming the fight which equates to about 100-million total viewers when you factor in people gathered together watching in living rooms and bars. Read More
The BEST iPhone Headphones for Making Phone Calls
I’m obsessed with quality Bluetooth phone calls on my iPhone. It hurts my feelings when people ask, “what’s a phone call?” … or, “OMG, only psychos make phone calls and (gasp) leave voicemails.” I’ll give you one guess who said the “OMG” comment.
Well, I do make phone calls and leave voicemails. I’m in sales. When I’m doing my job right, I spend about 3-4 hours a day on the phone. In between work calls, I like to call my Dad, my brother, or my kids. I like to talk to friends. Don’t worry. People do call me, too, from time to time.
Of course I send hundreds and hundreds of Texts and Emails, but the good ol-fashioned phone call is just something I like. But I don’t like holding the phone to my ear. Hold an iPhone to your ear, for 20+ hours per week, and you will (I did, at least) notice a sore elbow and numb fingers. Read More
How Not to be Bald
Full Disclosure: I know baldness is 100% hereditary. But it doesn’t mean I can’t “flat Earther” hair loss and tell you what I think is a remedy for keeping your hair.
I’m vain. About some things. I’m short. But that’s never bothered me. I’m a little overweight and have a kickin’ Dad Bod, but I’m OK with that. I know about fashion, but for the most part my wardrobe is such that it embarrasses my kids. However, my hair …having it and keeping it …it’s something I think about often. If there’s an article or an X(Tweet) about hair and scalp health, I’m reading it.
I’m 51 and still have about 80% of the hair I had when I was 25, and I mistakenly believe I’m 50% responsible for that (the other 50% is genes, which I’ve covered above in my disclaimer and I know genetics, again, is 100% why a man is bald or isn’t bald). Read More
Yearly Goals, Quarterly Update
The good and bad (and ugly) of having a Blog is that I’m an open book. My successes and my failures. Time for a look at the goals I set for myself this year and how I’m doing towards those goals. Not good. That’s what the critics are saying. But … my favorite time to change things is always now. No excuses. Just adjust, refocus, and go. We’re into life’s Q4 and I’ve got about 90-days to hit these goals or I’ll have a great start list for 2025.
HEALTH
Lose 15 Pounds: I’m down about 7 pounds YTD (using biz terms) and weighing in at 167.
Do 100 Burpees (with Push-Up) Daily: This was going really, really well until I gave myself a hernia.
Do 100 Sit-Ups Per Day: Again, hernia. I’m replacing it with Peter Attia’s 40-Day Outlive Workout routine.
Hike with my Rucking Vest 1x/Week: Zero days.
WRITING/CREATIVE
Blog Daily: you’re reading day-2 of my restart
Fix and Organize My Blog: This has been fun. Fixing the categories. Looking at old pages. It’s coming together.
Journal Daily: YES! Best thing I’ve done to keep my calm and focus (added prayer daily and I make a note of some names in the corner …good for that day and starting the next day)
Homework for Life Daily (and get better at it): Zero
Finish writing my “sales” book: Read More
I Feel Bad I Wanted More Calm
Confession …over the years I’ve thought to myself, “Dan Dickerson is WAAAAAY to excited about _____________”. Shame on me. Think about his life for the last 11 years. Day in. Day out. Watching and talking about a baseball team that loses …and loses …and loses. A baseball team with no hope. Aging stars and stars that faded. There were a couple seasons with a hundred or more losses. Sure, the guy has a “dream job” and probably makes a good living (not Bezos sized paychecks but still a pretty good salary), but in a 162-game season, he spends literally MONTHS on the road living out of hotel rooms. MLB road trips can be as long as 14 days.
Anyone who’s traveled for work, like alot, knows “traveling for work” is not glamorous or fun …no matter how positive and optimistic a person is, or how much a person hates their family (yes, I’ve met guys who purposely keep a job with tons of travel because these guys just can’t handle life-at-home …it’s sad). Read More
The Top-10 Songs of All (My) Time, Part 2
Here’s the only song on my Top-10 list that I’m embarrassed about. But …it’s on my Top-10. Emphasis “my”. I can’t help it. This song gets me energized.
It’s “Der Komissar” by After the Fire. Quite different than the majority of the songs on my top ten and knowing this probably wouldn’t make it on any other top-100 (or even too-200) list, I think this song is the definition of “wall of sound.” Incredible bass line. Stops and starts. Horns and shouts. Kinda tells a story. That’s a stretch. But can’t you see this as a James Bond 007 movie song with even a little rewrite? It would beat quite a few James Bond songs, actually. Read More
The Top-10 Songs of All (My) Time, Part 1
Recently, Apple Music and Rolling Stone published their list of greatest-albums-of-all-time lists. I love lists like this. Sometimes these lists remind me of albums I’ve never listened to or other albums I haven’t listened to in a while. These lists are mostly click bait. I get that. I’m not even offended or ready to march out front of Apple’s headquarters because they picked The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill by Lauryn Hill as their #1. Over Thriller? Over Nevermind or Rumours? I get it … beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and there might be a huge group of people that love Lauryn Hill and this album, but my gut tells me Apple picked this as #1 just to get attention. To be different for the sake of being different. Rolling Stone did the same when they picked Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On album as their #1. Over Pet Sounds or Songs in the Key of Life?
Again. I get it. Best-of lists and judging greatest-of-all-time in any category can never be perfect. But at least try to get close. Read More
The Donnie Jalapeno Kitchen is Open for the Season
Hola. Want some salsa? Everyone is always texting me all the time asking when I’m gonna start making it again. And when I say “everyone” and “all the time” I mean about 4 or 5 people and once or twice.
Either way …Donnie Jalapeno Salsa is back and open for business. I have the same terrible business model, but I have the same amazing best-salsa-in-the-world. I don’t ship it. I deliver only in a small radius. Most people pick it up at my house. I told you, it’s the worst business model …but it’s all about the freshness. If Donnie Jalapeno gets really, really big, that may change. But for now, I think they call a business like mine a “cottage industry.”
Thanks for your order. You’re welcome for the best salsa.
Don Kowalewski 