Following Up On Some Recent Posts

  • It was pointed out that I should have included an important sentence in yesterday’s post. So here’s that missing sentence…”If you are want to be take advantage of deals at Kohl’s, it is important…very, very important…that you have a Kohl’s charge card.”

  • It was also pointed out that CardCash responded to my terrible experience there. I have to give them credit for taking the time to publicly write what they did. It’s always nice being heard, and I don’t believe they are trying to rip people off. That being said, my interaction with them has been a waste, and I haven’t gotten a cent back yet. On a positive note, I had a conference call with Jonathan from Raise.com on Friday. He wanted to educate me about how they do business. Much like with my buddies at GCZ, users are buying and selling gift cards. But there is one big difference with Raise – sellers get to set their own prices. I’m in the process of doing my snooping, but they seem like honest, smart people. So far, so good!

  • A few of you asked about my last rant. Because it wasn’t about bloggers or readers, some didn’t understand the point. Well, frankly, there wasn’t any point to understand. I’m a person who needs to get things out when they start to fester. Let me be clear, I have to express things. It’s cool if you enjoy my words, but I’m totally ok if you don’t. Like any other writer, artist, or honest person…I say things because I have something to say. Period.  Too many of you are emotionally repressed and it’s scary. One way or another, you are ticking time bombs. It’s very sad when expressing how you feel is looked at as “different” or “strange” by even a single person. I appreciate all the daily support. Seriously, you guys are incredible. But for those who don’t get why I rant… you don’t have to read this blog. And you definitely don’t have to like it. But, at some point very soon, you really do need to find your own voice. Or else…

milenerdFollowing Up On Some Recent Posts

Kohl’s At It Again

I’ve mentioned it before, but many of you who also read FrequentMiler email me all the time regarding Kohl’s. So, again, it may be an average department store but I agree that there are miles and points to be had. I rarely post about it since I’ve done it before, and he covers the store better than anyone. But of all the methods you guys use, I think going through Chase’s Ultimate Rewards Mall is the easiest. You rack up 10 points per dollar in a hurry. Technically, going through twice is better. Once to buy the gift cards and again to do the shopping. Right now, use code MARCH30 for 30% off anything at Kohl’s. Add free shipping with code MAR4USHIP. As always, you resellers do much better at this store than I will ever do. Thanks for the emails, you Kohl’s nerds.

milenerdKohl’s At It Again

End-Of-Week Deals

  • The Bank of America Virgin Atlantic credit card is still good for 50,000 miles, but they just added a huge new perk. A credit of your $100 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application fee! A great move that leaves no more excuses to be non-Global Entry.
  • The Citi Hilton Reserve card is still good for 2 free nights, but is also offering a $100 credit.
  • Start buying up those discounted Visa gift cards with your Chase Ink credit cards. Of course, you get 5 times the points at office stores with your Ink. Rack up the easy points while it lasts.
  • Hotels.com’s mystery coupon is back. I got 15% off, but many of you will do better.

milenerdEnd-Of-Week Deals

Buying/Sharing Mile Deals

Because I’m a hoarder of miles, I don’t ever “need” to buy them. Situations are all different, though, so some of these promos can be decent ways to afford an award. The current offers are ranked below (from best to worst):

  • Avianca Lifemiles – 100% transfer bonus. Very good miles at a decent price. 
  • US Airways – 25-100% buying bonus. If your targeted offer is for 100%, it’s absolutely worth considering.
  • Alaska Airlines – 40% buying bonus. Not terrible.
  • Virgin America – 60% buying bonus. A little too expensive.
  • JetBlue – 50% buying bonus. Meh.
  • American Airlines – 30% sharing bonus. Double meh.

milenerdBuying/Sharing Mile Deals

How To Be Mediocre

Believe it or not, I get asked almost every week when my next “rant” will be. I find that pretty funny, because they sure as hell aren’t planned. I’m not a monkey who dances on command. I can only rant when I feel like ranting. But, yeah, it’s that time again. This week, I’m once again lucky enough to be playing a fun role on a popular TV series. It’s always a true pleasure. I really mean that. But while most people would be happy just to be there, I can’t help but feel something else when I look around. Maybe it’s the curse of being observant or maybe I’m just a jerk. I don’t know. I listen to some conversations around me on the set and start to feel ranty. Much like when I hear my peers in real estate talking. And none of this compares to the feelings I get reading blogs and message boards full of all types. The frustration builds up and I have no choice but to “rant.” So here we go. Let’s call this one…

Why You Will Never Be Great
By: MileNerd

  • Fear. You may disguise fear with arrogance. Or, more cleverly, by overscheduling your days.  But when we get to the root of it, you’re scared. Even with age and experience, your insecurities haven’t gone away. In fact, they’ve become a way of life. You want credit. You want more praise. You wish people would see you as special. But the world never sees it. And it’s all your fault. Sorry to tell you this, but you’d much rather fit in than stand out. You’ve never let the world see what was special about you. You were too busy hiding. Fear owns you. And that, my friends, is no way to be great.

 

  • You are a child. It doesn’t matter how many years you’ve lived. You are not a grownup in the ways that matter. A nonsensical merry-go-round of insecurity has circled through your head since grade school. That is still the defining identity in your life. It’s the voice of an unhappy child and it limits everything you do. It causes daily pain to you and everyone you care about. Don’t think this makes you sensitive. All it means is that you are one of millions who are wasting their precious time.

 

  • You lack gratitude. In the land of greatness, a very common trait is gratitude. The feeling of being fortunate beyond belief. This creates happiness and boundless energy, which leads to amazing achievements. On the other hand, you spend your life keeping score. Feeling less than some and better than others is your full-time job. In the world of bloggers, people will actually feel good/bad based on how many readers they have! People actually base self-esteem on Twitter followers! In my jobs, people will literally feel better or worse about themselves based on TV appearances or escrows closed! Ridiculous, right? But you really shouldn’t laugh at their insecurities. You’ve got more than enough to fill a room. Never able to quiet your ridiculous thoughts, you grasp on to any flimsy branch you can. You try to find any trait that you can feel good about. None of it really works. So you wallow in what people should have done to treat you better, spending most of your life in a state of anti-gratitude. While you wallow in anger and self-pity, the days keep ticking away…

 

  • Selfishness. You are a selfish person. I know you don’t like hearing those words, but ironically, you don’t even know what they mean. Listen, if you’re not the center of your own life, you have some SERIOUS problems. You have to make yourself happy. It is your main responsibility in this world – The pursuit of happiness. Only then can you give anything to anyone else. But you’re not happy. You are somewhere between “blah” and “miserable.” Instead of giving a happy person to the world, you put out a small, petty version of what you could have been. Newsflash…this doesn’t make you a martyr…it just makes you immature. You need to look beautiful…or make a lot of money…or drive a nice car…or keep track of how much you “do” for others. No matter what it is, you’re frantically trying to prove your worth. You can’t really pour yourself into anything because you’re too busy “proving” something. It’s always about you. Your selfishness is not a recipe for greatness.

 

  • Laziness. Stop defending yourself for a second. Be honest, as the “adult” you supposedly are. Nobody is doing anything to you anymore. You are living the life you chose. Right now, you are thinking the thoughts you choose. If you want to hold on to them, go ahead. But why not try harder? Why not be a better version? You could have been a great one. Isn’t it worth seeing if you still could be? Choose to be comfortable in your own skin. Choose to try your best. Nobody has ever been lazy and great. Plenty of people have been lazy and mediocre.

(Disclaimer: I never claimed to be great. Just relatively honest and observant).

MileNerd out.

milenerdHow To Be Mediocre