the Pretty Dan Good Adventures interview

welcome to a word by word breakdown of the man and myth that is Dan Good Adventures.

if you haven't met him in person, we're in the same boat cuz this is a text based async interview. thankfully Daniel Liao was down to play in any medium.

there are many ways to skin a cat but here's how we're going about it. this introspection into Daniel's identity is divided into four parts (quadrilogy?)

Pretty

• why is it important to be pretty?
  • feeling pretty or knowing you look good sends out positive energies. Each one is unique in their own way.
• what first impression does prettiness make?
  • Attractiveness/attraction
• what attributes make a person pretty?
  • Personality and character make the person more pretty or handsome.
• prettiness: born or made?
  • In today's time with modern procedures - we tend to unnecessarily beautify oneself but that's a choice each one has made. Each one of us are born with something unique. So I guess both. Prettiness and good looks are both born and made! Haha
• how do you help others be pretty?
  • I use my knowledge and experience with haircuts and color to Accenture features that may overshadow the persons natural features so that's the only way I am able to make the client experience both look and feel pretty at the same time.
• how does being pretty feel?
  • Boosts confidence and self esteem, trust me am speaking the truth here.
• top tip on becoming pretty
  • Eat, sleep, ride and repeat. On a serious note - sleep, good food and exercise

Dan

• who is Dan and how is different from Daniel?
  • Friends call me dan, teachers call me Daniel 🤣 ( from the register) Dan and Daniel are the same no difference between the two. Excited, simple naughty and nice 👍
• childhood influences
  • I think Bruce Lee was a huge influence in my life , my dad used to always tell me Bruce Lee did this and did that. I even got into martial arts because of him. Just his discipline and ethics till date is a huge influence for me.
• pre pubertal dreams
  • Wanted to be in a Tom and Jerry series hahahah but then.... Baywatch happened lol....
• favorite childhood toys
  • I remember having a RoboCop toy which I clung on for many many years. I still have it somewhere in the store room
• the inner child (Dan)
  • Oh I loved flying kites and making the Manja thread from scratch. It was so much, would climb trees to pluck guava, would play hide and seek, police and robbers, dog and the bone, lagori, loved those memories, and I am still in touch with many of my neighbours from where I grew up.
• outer social person (Daniel)
  • I've always been a social guy from school days , played in team sports , allot of tuitions then the parties. I did allot of karate and cricket tournaments. So socialising was a lovely way to also make new friends and learn how to be cordial with others you may not get along too well ☺️
• best friends or enemies (if any)
  • Some of my so called enemies today are my best friends . So yeah. In today's time and age, who has the energy to have enemies. And what good does it do for you.

Good

• why are you intent on doing good in the world?
  • I've made many mistakes in my early years of growing and I still do. We are all human. My granny used to tell me - don't Lie, don't steal and don't cheat. Help elders and anyone you can along the way. She has been a major influence in my life of directing me to doing good. Over the years when you mature and start to understand what this feeling is - you feel grateful and blessed
• define 'good' in your own words
  • Good means - "content" is what I have learnt over the years.
• why do good beyond your circle of concern?
  • I chose to do it cause it grounds me, I learnt that simplicity is key and despite of all struggles, the tough and right times simple ppl still have courage to get up the next day and try again just to survive.
• how do you garner support?
  • My core group of friends, my gf, my biking friends have all been my support. It's still growing but I like it to grow organically. Am in no hurry.
• how do you gather resources?
  • I am a hairstylist - so I have the amazing way of gathering information and ideas and resources when I am spending time cutting my clients hair. It's a lovely time I have when I bring up these topics. And of course i also discuss ideas and seek advice from PPL who are close to me.
• what's your measure of effectively doing good?
  • my measure of effectively doing good is to connect with people along the way. Listening to them and remembering them and what they've shared is the most effective way of creating an impact so strong they remember who you are and what your intent and objective of your initiative means for a long time. This I've learnt over the years of not making notes and scribbling in my book. But today we have tech - can easily voice record but who has the time to listen to it all. So making time for these little things are imp.
• do you have a long term plan?
  • I do have a long term plan. I want to inspire anyone who comes along the way to do their bit. I can't do it alone. I only wish to keep going back and reconnecting and to meet new ppl along the way. I would definitely continue the same way I started. But improvise as I move ahead.

Adventures

• what does adventure mean to you?
  • Adventure means experience, learning and improvising.
• share your earliest adventure
  • My earliest adventure - I didn't even know what I was getting into. I was in the karate team when I was 10 my master asked if I wanted to take part in a fighting competition, I said hell yeah let's kick some ass. Little did I know I was going to be fighting 12yr olds cause my master thought I was good to fight in that category. I came 2nd. The journey of fighting so many 12 yrs olds in the competition was a fucking great adventurous decision I took.
• how did it change you?
  • That changed my outlook of never saying No to the unknown. From parties, to girlfriends, to drugs, to travel to food. It changed me. Like need to try everything once at least. Except doing the crazy shit like - stealing a bank or killing someone. Lol.
• what defines a great adventure?
  • For me a great adventure would mean - being able to ride or drive to remote places, connect with PPL by cutting their hair and making them feel good and just the smile after its done makes me feel great. I like backgrounds. Imagine cutting hair and you have snowcapped mountains, hills, monasteries, parking lots, lakeside. These backgrounds give me a high.
• favorite adventure anecdote
  • I remember in school my cricket coach said - "no matter what happens you'll must still remain a close knit team" win or lose we stick together... That gave me the hunger to lead the team to many victories.
• how is doing good an adventure?
  • For me doing good is an adventure cause it allows me to get out of my comfort zone from my salon set up in Bangalore or just living in Bangalore with the whole swiggy, helps and maids etc. I have a team that helps make my life easy.
• got a bucket list of adventures?
  • I wish to ride or overland in Scotland, New Zealand, Mongolia, Canada but before all that I love traveling in India so am taking my time. No hurry.

if you're curious to know more or support, follow Daniel Liao and maybe even join in his adventures 🥳