13 2 / 2010

A/B Testing With Fortune Tellers

“I’d rather be lucky than good” ~ Lefty Gomez

For most people who know me; know that I’m a agnostic and very skeptical to things. But being out here in Vietnam, I’ve seen some pretty crazy Voodoo (2 cases; that maybe blogged about laters) and some fortune telling, that I really don’t know what to make of.  How a pack of Hoyle’s playing card, lines on my hand, the way I write my signature, face symmetry and the stars above, along with my birth day can predict my future sounds ridiculous… but personal anecdotal evidence is suggesting otherwise.

So since I’m ‘normally’ more of a ‘sciency’ type of guy… when I go have my fortune read; I usually like to have my business partner go first (actually he’s the one the finds all the ‘good ones’; the ones who read for famous & powerful people); then I usually like to go after.  Since we’re business partners and both year of the dragon, his fortune should always be similar to mine; but should not be exactly the same either (otherwise the read would be too general).  Then we like to A/B test the read fortunes; we’re go see another reputable fortune teller to see if things said are consistent with each other.

In these last two years, things have been consistent with the readings.  And a lot of things have came true, and things we’re waiting to see if it does hold true.  Anyways, I just had my fortune read twice the past week.  Here’s the list of things that both tellers had said of me

My characteristics

  1. Hot headed (probably more so since living out here)
  2. Can be bossy or difficult (part of the job description)
  3. Easily forgive and forget (my philosophy is when you’re upset say it and leave it)
  4. I value people who keep their word (if you follow my blog, it’s a consistent theme)
  5. Very smart, not easy to get over on me
  6. Sometimes to suspicious (out here; only the paranoid survive)

Love:

  1. There’s a few girls that like me but I reject them (odds are good, but the goods are odd; i kid, i kid)
  2. I’m always in denial or hiding that I like somebody or seeing somebody (I have no recollection of such events…)
  3. Won’t marry anytime soon
  4. Future wife will have some sort of fame or power

Wealth:

  1. Money will come in the 4th month (crazy because A/B and C tested, with my other business partner went to another reader; and makes sense since initial payment from big contract sales should arrive around that time frame)
  2. Will be rich (captain obvious over there; ha! jk)
  3. Opportunities are always plenty (actually, I have the problem of not knowing which one to take)
  4. Will be working with my VC’s in the long term and not just this current start up (as much as I bitch about them, I do think they’re great guys who are ridiculously smart and people I really value having in my life)
  5. Should work with somebody a little bit older as they bring me luck (I actually see this as true)

There were also specific questions that I asked also; which in both readers told me very detailed stuff, that they should not know about.  I always ask about insights on the matter and never ask what choice I should make.  That becomes dangerous (stupid for decision making process).  Whether I really believe this stuff or not, I think it’s fun, I like getting my ego stroked; it does boost confidence… and maybe then it becomes a self-fullfilling destiny.   In the States, people look at you as if you got scammed at $2.99 a minute.  In Asia, all the powerful people (celebrities, politicians, moguls) has ‘a guy/lady’ who advises them.  If people believe you to be lucky to them…  you’re probably valuable to them than just being smart or talented.

Hence, I rather be lucky than good.

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