Keith Ferrazzi and his current Nanny

Keith has the most amazing home.  Since he travels so much, and hosts weekly dinner parties, he has to have help. Here’s a wonderful opportunity for anyone in or near LA that wants an amazing with an amazing person (which I honestly think Keith is)- Here is the job posting, followed by an interview I did with the current “nanny”.

Looking for a personal "nanny" (more than just an assistant) for a healthy, crazy busy, fun but very demanding adult 44 year old man.

Skills: Must be SUPER organized, NEVER drops a ball and always finds a way to GET IT (anything) DONE.

Style: Very candid, tough, NO DRAMA. Big nurturing heart, a true caretaker who loves children (none yet).  Trustworthy beyond belief!  Very socially engaging but knows boundaries with many guests and friends. Frugal and a great negotiator.

Special skill: A flair for elegance and throwing parties and dinners.  Able to cook some.

Fairly unpredictable schedule includes many evenings and weekends and some travel required for out of city events.

Please don't waste your time answering this add if even one of these criteria are in question at all.

I’ve met Julie (pictured to the left with Keith), and she is a super hero, capable of all the above listed items… so, I wanted to share what her experience has been for the last 6.5 years working with Keith. Read the rest of this entry »

Thinnest I've ever been

Short post- just a video really.  Everyone’s been giving me grief about “What do you look like now that you finished your cleanse?”  and “You’re supposed to take before pics when you start P90x!” — I don’t even have a scale, and I don’t really care right now.  I’m just committed to doing the exercises, and eating healthy… and running on occasion too, ’cause I have that 185 mile relay race later in July.  So… here’s the video (since I don’t have anyone around to take my pic for me):

Again, as I say in the video… there’s many more reasons to do a cleanse than just to lose weight.  Look into it.  If I can help, feel free to ask any questions you have.

I’m excited that I’m beginning P90x from the thinnest I’ve been… should be interesting to see the restults I achieve by September 17- when I’ve completed the program. Wish me luck!

In this post, I actually give you a real set of stories from my travels… but I’m not 100% sure how to format my book.  I’d really love your feedback!

ARGH! Who knew a book was tough to write? Well, I guess everyone, ’cause not everyone does it… but once you get started, all these little details come up: Read the rest of this entry »

Dear friend – yes you!

I have something really important to tell you. It’s very exciting, and very difficult for me all at once.

I’ve arrived here in La Jolla, CA where the weather is truly amazing, and I am house-sitting for the next 5-6 weeks.

On my drive here from Austin, TX I had a lot of time to think, and if I’ve learned anything, it’s that the best answers come from asking the right questions. My question that I chose was “How do I make the best use of house-sitting near the beach for 6 weeks?”

I came up with many ideas, but the ones that made the most sense are also the most difficult, and I’d like to share them with you.

I have completed 3.5 years of couchsurfing around the USA.  I’ve met the most incredible people that I could ever imagine.  I have had amazing adventures, where Read the rest of this entry »

I’m going back to Cali… Yeah, I do think so! My last 2 posts were kind of sad, so here’s a happy one:
“Open invite to surf by beach spot for 6 weeks from june 12th till mid/late july.  Must watch Webber though.  Trying to find someone.”

Ummmmm….  6 weeks, with a 1.5 week notice. Wait,  I’m already packed up!  I had cleared out everything (‘cept Read the rest of this entry »

Today is tax day.  Some post offices stay open till midnight.  I was going to e-file, like I always do.  TurboTax.  It did not work today- not sure why.  I did my organizing last night, so today should have been plug and play…. but that wasn’t the case.  It told me that I gotta print, and mail, not e-file.  So I went to the post office, which was closed.  So, I ended up filing electronically through Freefilefillableforms.com for free, for an extension…. until I figure out what’s going on (probably tomorrow) – - but now my taxes are not done… an incomplete loop, I got a few of those to close (that’s why I won’t sleep much today).

Anyways- that part was annoying, but other than that, it’s AWESOME out!  Check it:

Kathryn calls me up and reminds me that Mother’s Day is coming up. In fact, she reminded me so by telling me that their new technology can probably make my mom a pendant out a photo of my 2 brothers and I.  It sounded awesome- I like creative gifts, but mom doesn’t wear jewelry, so it would just sit there, appreciated, but not worn. I thought of what the next surprise be.

I know!  I’ll visit Mom!  My uncle from Israel is visiting them, I can get my little bro on the way…. and I’ve been tough on myself for not having a crazy enough adventure lately, so why not hit up some hang gliding in Chattanooga?  I’ve always wanth ted to do that.  So, I told Kathryn about it– said she can go if she wants…. “You can be her present!”  “Are you sure she’d be ok with you just showing up with some random stranger?”  “Are you kidding me?? If I show up with some girl, she’ll think it’s the best mother’s day ever.”

Now, rewind a few posts, and Kathryn saw me speaking at a social media event in Dallas, then was the one who showed up to my rescue when I ran out of gas at SXSW.  How we spoke for the first time, was that she had posted a link to her 1st blog post…. and tweeted me that she’d love to see what I thought about it.  You can read my comment on there. Now I went and spent Easter over there, saw her neighborhood’s Easter Parade, and got to watch how Jewelry is made with Cad/Cam (design it on the computer, and the machine makes a physical model).

Back to the present- Mom won’t wear a pendant, but Kathryn didn’t freak out at a semi-joke, when I mentioned Hanggliding– this is fun! Taking a shy/quiet person, and taking them hang gliding?  She kept swearing that she’d never jump out of a plane, and I always said “You say that, now“  – so I actually brought Hang gliding up as “Well, it’s not skydiving” — personally, I think Hang gliding is more fun…. you can be up in the air longer, with more control, you can ride thermals up, etc… Cheaper too– you don’t need a parachute, and all that gasoline.

The details started filling in…. I had asked Craig recently what he thought of going hang gliding, and he said he’d be interested… so I started scheming– planning it on a weekend, so Craig can make it out with us.

Katie was telling me about a rough day yesterday, but not much about it.. just that it was, but today she decided that it was gonna be a great day, so it was… I said I agree, and told her that Kathryn agreed to go hang gliding. Katie lit up like Times Square…. “Hang gliding?  I wanna go!  I love hang gliding (followed in a later conversation by “I’ve been towed by planes, taken off a boat, jumped off the side of a mountain!”  – that’s awesome!  So… Katie’s going, Kathryn’s going… oh yeah… Katie hasn’t visited her cousin – who lives in Tennessee.

I forgot to mention that her cousin works in a White Water Rafting company…. screw it!  We’re adding White Water Rafting to our trip!

The funny thing is that earlier I was telling her that going Hang gliding will be life changing for her… ’cause if you never think of doing stuff like that, there’s a reason why…. and when you push your comfort zone to do something that you’ve never done before… so much so that you never even bothered imagining yourself doing that…. well, you’re gonna have quite the adrenaline rush, and I predict a nice juicy bite in the ass by the adventure bug!

“Well… how hard can this client meeting be, I mean.. I jumped off a friggin mountain!”

“So, after you go hang gliding, you can go on a milder adventure, and take your dad– like whitewater rafting”- and sure enough, later in the day whitewater rafting gets added.

I started calling, texting, and tweeting people– “Wanna join us for some hang gliding?”

Well… I kept adding— since I have until the 10th to kill.  So, drive to Tennessee on the 29th, by way of Dallas, to get Kathryn.  Be there by the 30th- hang glide for 3 days, then go white water rafting…. then go to Georgia, go to the Georgia Aquarium (which is mind blowingly awesome), and even sleep there… they have a thing where you can camp out there, and watch the whale sharks all night long.  I’m so down!  Then, go kayaking on the French Broad.

What luck!  Neither Kathryn nor Katie have ever been kayaking, and now Katie was saying she may ride along for the whole trip— ’cause she went to school down there, and has friends down there.   So…. get to Gainesville, FL on the 5th or 6th, get Itay and Nugget, and surprise the crap out of mom in South Florida.  Haven’t thought of the details… Maybe send Kathryn in to the house with my fake (but very real looking) gun?  Nah… poor girl, and my parents… they’d all be traumatized.   I suppose the machette is out too, and I lent out my rocket launcher to a friend of mine for a tv show they’re doing….

Maybe I’ll send Itay in, so Mom and Dad think he’s being sweet and showing up for Mother’s Day… I have him leave the door open (I do have a key), and then I Sneak in, and surprise them.  Or… maybe I’ll send Itay in with Kathryn, and see if they recognize her… ’cause I just did a shoot with Kathryn, and I sent the folks a copy of the picture.  That may be the way to go….  Confusion’s a fun one.

Once in South Florida, Kayaking in the mangroves, rent Jet-skis, water ski at the Ski Rixen , and ride an airboat through the Everglades.

Make mom some awesome brunch for mother’s day- maybe catch a musical performance somewhere, or dinner theatre, and then head back on the 10th– dropping Itay and Nugget off, making a pit stop in Atlanta, and then… having an extra day before Kathryn has to be back at the office, we’ll actually find some cool adventure between Atlanta, GA, and Dallas, TX.  Any suggestions?

We’ll probably ride in 2 cars.  Craig’s probably bringing Bentley, and Katie’s probably bringing Bentley- is that weird? They both have dogs named Bentley.

Basically, a 2 week roadtrip that evolved fully in one day.  It definitely fills up my adventure hole in my heart.  There’s many people to meet along the way.

So, yeah.. .I’m pretty excited.  Now… here’s some info, in case you want to go – either now, or later.

http://hangglide.com/ has the Weekend Package which is $399, for training, and 20 jumps off the short (65 foot hills- as compared to being thrown off a 1,500 foot cliff right away) hills, and 2 aero-tow lifts (get towed behind a small plane/glider  – so you do get the 2,000 foot experience).  I am actually signing up for the Mountain Package at $699 – which gets you ready for Level 1 & Level 2 certification- meaning you can fly solo (non-tandem) off a mountain afterwards.

One of my friends/couches is Derek, whom I just found out works for Thrill Planet, so he told me what their price is on hanggliding- or what rate he can get me as the couchsurfer (I crashed with him for a month in 2007) discount… but Hangglide.com has the same rate for tandem jums.  The thing that surprised me was that I was told the price.. I had actually asked for what would be a bulk rate, since I’m bringing a bunch of people… so I was given the rate, then I asked what I get for it- and I was told 30-40 minutes in the air on a tandem jump.  Well, $399 is a tiny bit more than double the price I was given… but it seemed absurd- why take one measly flight, when for a little more, I can get 20 jumps + 2 tows, and hang out there for 3 days– oh yeah.. forgot to mention, we’re camping!

We’re totally bringing the helmet cam!

As many of you know, I am full of it…. where “it” is useful information.  I am always in consulting mode, and I’m always learning.  I share a lot of information in my blog, but that is difficult to browse to find “that one link you mentioned was a great way to deal with stupid questions!” or “The person who was on your radio show that was talking about Sprouting!”  Well… I’m addressing that!

I’m creating a resources page to make it easy to find links based on categories, etc…. I’m going to feature my favorite companies, programs that can save you thousands of hours, tools, tutorials, etc…. not all stuff by me.  Mostly stuff I recommend.

-Admission- I am currently swamped!  So many projects fell on my lap out of nowhere… so I don’t have time to fill it in today.  The link will be http://CouchSurfingOri.com/resources  – I’ll be filling it in later.

Let me know if there’s something specific you’d like to see more links to, or need resources for.

Many people are often baffled by “What exactly is it Ori does?” and “How the heck does Ori pay for his journey?” – while these things are written in my book… my book isn’t out yet

I can tell you a bunch of things that I do, but I’ll use someone else’s words. Elizabeth Potts Weinstein wrote this after a short while of consulting with me:

“Ori is brilliant in so many things – photography, graphic design, web design, business strategizing, personal coaching, marketing – but those are just the tools he uses to express his creativity, to solve problems, to do what he really does … which is to pull the unique brand out from inside of you and give you the tools you need to express that brand to the world.

And I’m not talking about *thinking* your way into a brand that you “should” be or a brand you “wish” you could be … here I’m talking about a brand that is the expression of your personality, the uniqueness that you already are. Bringing together all your seemingly disparate passions into sync, figuring out the nexus that pulls everything together!”

I like that description. Everyone says it’s accurate. So, yes, I can do Read the rest of this entry »

Good news / Bad news kind of thing.  Mr. Peter Shankman will not be on my show tonight, as he will be out of the country.  He will be on next week.  Instead, I am bringing you Elizabeth Potts Weinstein, who just completed a weekend of adventures with me.  You can check out Elizabeth’s blog: The Continuing Adventures Of Living My Truth.

Make sure to tune in tonight at 11pm EST at http://CouchSurfingRadio.com

More blog posts soon to discuss the weekend’s adventures / photography.

I’m thrilled to report that today, instead of me driving to California, I have someone coming to couchsurf with me in Austin, TX.  I had people stay with me while I was in Atlanta, but this time, I”m couchsurfing with soeone else, and someone else is coming to stay with me (Confused yet?).

Elizabeth has never had Sake, so we’re having a Tweetup tonight–  The Sushi/Sake tweetup. (Haven’t decided on the Where… just sign up, and we’ll tell you today)  Tomorrow morning, we’re going Zip-lining. Also, we’re going to shoot some fun pics, since I’m a photo-elitist, and her photos are too normal for my taste.

That’s a good amount of adventure for one weekend.  It’s also my monthly adventure (if you read my 2010 goals… I”m semi-settled in, but I want to make sure I get at LEAST 1 adventure a month).  I may squeeze in more adventures, but a lot of consulting work has come in, as well as design work, so we’ll see– but at least I’m going ziplining, and helping someone else have a very memorable weekend.

This could be the new model for me.  Come visit me, we’ll go adventure, get you some great pics, and come up with tons of solutions for your business.

I am extremely thrilled to report on the good nature of people, and on the benefits of having over 10,000 followers on twitter:  I wanted a specific video camera for Zip-lining… The Hero Camera.  I asked on Twitter who had one, and Marshall Haas not only has one, but he overnighted it to me!  Just so I can suction-cup it onto my helmet, and get great footage of the Zip-lining experience.  How amazing is that?

Marhsall has actually just developed an awesome Iphone app where you get to beat up your boss   Stress relief is cool… but… you also get a chance to win a bunch of money, recognition, and much more… in fact.. I’m going to have to interview him, and make a blog post about this.  It’s quite fascinating the big names he’s gotten involved, and maybe it will motivate you to develop an app… neat business model.

If YOU would like to go on an adventure with me, contact me!

sorry folks!  I know! I know! I was excited too… but, that’s technology for you.  I misclicked, and kept getting the date wrong somehow, so… I couldn’t get into my own show.  So, 11:30pm EST now– I got 2 awesome business minded babes on the show, and it’s gonna rock!  I’ve love to have you there!

The Couchsurfing Radio Host- Couch Surfing Ori

Make sure you catch tonight’s show! It’s at 11pm EST, on CouchSurfing Radio.

Good news: Tonight I will be less distracted! Through the magic of technology, a lovely assistant

I”m already getting momentum.  Peter Shankman agreed to do next week’s, Tony Hsieh is doing the show in May.  If you don’t know who they are, google them…. but both shows, you’ll definitely want to catch!

I haven’t really been preparing. Life goes on… but I did leave you guys with that cliff hanger, so I’ll have to tell the entire guitar story…

If you have questions you’d like answered, you can start sending them to me through the contact form, or facebook.

See you tonight!

Couchsurfing anniversary cake by me

Happy anniversary to me!  Happy anniversary to me!  I’ve been couchsurfing a full 3 years as of today!  Happy anniversary to me!

That’s right, as of today I’m in my 4th year of Couchsurfing.  My parents thought it was just going to be a 1 year phase.  I didn’t know what it was going to be, but it’s everything I wanted it to be.

I’ve met the most amazing people.  I’ve done things that aren’t really on the tourist brochure.  I’ve expanded my mind and horizons.  I’ve seen and photographed things that are amazing.  I’ve helped lives and businesses.

It’s been a glorious 3 years, and I highly recommend it to anyone!  Thanks for being there with me!

Not me, just a photograph I shot

One month till my birthday.  I’m usually the goofy, fearless, carefree person… but lately, I”ve had a few bad days, which led me to some reflection, and a tiny bit of a confidence loss.

I turn 33 in one month, and visiting in South Florida has given me plenty of reminders that I don’t have a wife (or a grilfriend), or kids.  My parents made many “subtle” reminders, and my friend Johnny (the one who designed the most awesome Couch Surfing Ori logo) just got married.  My friend Robert just had a kid (well… Megan had the kid, but Robert helped).  It kind of seems that everyone is either getting married, or having a kid — although, on a separate note, it seems like everyone else is getting divorced — which just means that for some reason, kids and marriage have been defined by my brain as important… thus, have entered my reticular activator (that’s the portion of your brain that brings you from an alpha-wave state, to a beta-wave state… you know how you don’t actually pay attention to anything when you drive to work the same route, thus can fiddle with the radio, talk on your cell phone, etc…  That’s alpha.  Beta is when you’re paying attention to something… like when they’re announcing the lottery numbers. When you buy a new car that you never saw many of before, and all of a sudden, you see a ton of them… that’s because now that car is important to you, thus has entered your reticular activator, thus you snap out of alpha, and pay attention when you see one).  So… while it seems shallow, I figure I’d feel better, and have a better chance at attracting someone if I’m looking better.  That, and why not start my 33rd year looking nice?

I had already made progress with my 30 day raw diet, and had since lost a few more pounds- totalling 34 pounds — though as of today, I’m at 191lbs (24 pounds down).  So… with 1 month left I am committing to a diet and exercise regiment.  I haven’t had time to think about what it is that I’ll actually do though… just that I’m going to do it. Mom made me two cups of coffee already (I was just visiting my folks in South Florida, but am heading out today), which have sugar in them… bad start.  So, I am delaying my departure by at least an hour so that I can get a nice 7 mile run in.

Hydroxicut hardcore has been known to get results– I may pick up a bottle of that (Yeah… no kidding… this is not the same healthy route as a 30 day raw food diet), and have a salad for lunch.  Everyone keeps advertising those Acai pills… I wonder if they work.  I ran into some guy that said he lost 85 pounds with it.  All these ads on all these sites for “Get ripped without creatine, exercise, etc…” show 2 different models in the before/after, so clearly I don’t trust those (and I don’t know how they haven’t been busted).

I need to do weight training too, as building up muscle burns up fat.

It’s not hardcore adventure, but for the next 30 days, on top of my usual stuff, I’ll also be using the blog to hold myself accountable to my diet/exercise routine.

p.s. if you know an awesome girl who’s smart, funny, has a great sense of humor (a  must for putting up with me), is entrepreneurial and adventurous, has the ability to travel (or work from anywhere) – put in a good word for me, eh?

I need to fix my car from this accident’s damage, and it’s also due for it’s next massive fluid flush. To raise funds in a hurry, I am offering custom websites that you can easily maintain (rather than call the web guy every time you want to update something) for $1997, instead of $4,000.  The most recent one I did is http://SustainableAction.org. The $1997 will include a design layout, a site, and training on how to update it.  The site will be completed within 3 weeks.  The site can include numerous features, such as photo galleries, contact, twitter updates, weather, reservation forms, and much more…. Another site I created: http://GroundIndustries.com

Blog sites are usually $1,500 to set up, but I will do them for $750.  Your blog will have a custom design, and be finished within a week.

I am only offering 10 blog sites, and 10 complete sites (such as the ones mentioned above), as I just want to fix my car, and I am working on my book, and am limited in time!

Contact me today to see what I can do for your site!

Phil & Kathy

It’s strange when someone you know dies. My grandfather died when I was young.  My grandmother died when I was younger- I don’t really remember her.  I’ve seen various people die on tv and movies… but I have yet to have someone that I’ve couchsurfed with die… until 2 days ago.  Couch #9 passed away. It -like most things – made me think.  The people we interact with have their own lives, but we can impact those lives.  Sometimes a smile at a stranger is enough– or a dirty look.  I tweeted this quote by Brandi Snyder the other day:

“To the world you may be just one person, but to one person you may be the world.”

Read the rest of this entry »

Why would I put a question mark as the picture to represent adventures, people, and photography?  I am announcing that I have just launched the Photography Page of my website!  In this section, I have over 1,000 photos (there will be many more added), and I couldn’t decide on what one image would represent all that.

In the last 3 years of couch surfing, I’ve photographed models, babies, animals, landscapes, parades, emotional moments (like when I bought Riplee & Brandee’s wedding, and they were crying), sports, and of course, my various adventures (such as rock climbing, hanging with the vigilantes, or training with cage fighters).

So… drumroll please:  I am pleased to announce that I have just set up the Photography Page of my website! The URL is http://www.CouchSurfingOri.com/Photography (or you can just click on it from the menu at the top of my blog).  Currently, I just put it up so you can see it.  I will work on sorting it into individual albums, and updating it (currently, it’s mostly 2007/2008 stuff).

Enjoy the images, tell a friend, tell me if you have anything that you really liked, and stay tuned for more exciting updates!

The very 1st

I’m so excited.  I got e-mailed this photo tonight from my 1st buyer of my BalloonBoyWear shirts.

Will is wearing this awesome design:

If it's on TV, it must be true!

What perfect timing! I heard Mom & Dad were coming to visit Barak (older bro) for Rosh Ha Shana (Jewish New Year– we have just entered the year 5770), and I thought it’d be the familial obligatory thing to do to drive across the country to join them.  Barak’s new house is gorgeous (I saw the before photos… unbelievable), got to spend a few days with the family, and… as soon as I completed my 30 days of raw food only, there was a feast to be had.  Literally!  I had mass quantities of brisket, some chicken, chopped liver, chalah bread with chopped liver, matzoh ball soup…. mmmm.. I’m drooling just typing this up!  You see, bread, pasteurized juice, pasta, hummus, cheese, milk, and of course brisket are all forbidden on a raw food diet. I ate everything but the salad! Read the rest of this entry »

Seriously! I got on the scale, and thought “This can’t be right!”  So I asked Suzanne, “Are you sure your scale is working properly? Maybe it’s not zero’ed properly?”  Walk to the  bathroom “Nope… works fine.  *sigh* looks like I gained two pounds.  Why do you ask?”  “Ummm… Can you read what it says?” I step on the scale, and Sue says “195 pounds.”  “Ummm… so.. you’re confirming that I lost 20 pounds in 7 days!”

Read the rest of this entry »

I’ve tried writing this post a few times… I keep getting distracted, as there’s so much to write- so.. let’s start with a big-chunk:

• Grateful for the amazing friends I’ve made all over, but had a going away shindig in Austin, and the people there are amazing!  Tons showed, and I felt real special.
• Had a road trip with Craig & Suzanne.  We drove 2.5 days from Austin -> Sacramento.  Stopped in Truth or Consequence, NM… hit up some mineral springs.
• Started a 30 day Raw Food Challenge (only fruits / veggies for 30 days, but even then.. .things can’t be cooked- so.. no pasteurized OJ or potato chips, or bread)
• Went to my 1st Raw/Healing expo.  Bartered photography for a 3 day pass.
• Going to Burning Man
• Staying at one of the best locations in Burning Man- Lego Land – 9 o’clock & Esplanade
• Worked 3 days on the ranch, building all sorts of stuff (wooden legos, a crazy truck, etc).

So… that kind of says what’s up.  I’m excited about Burning Man… Going there is a  nice distraction from this planet.  I’ve been eating veggies, salads, dehydrated foods, and even surviving taunts by people cooking yummy egg/croissant sandwiches in front of me.  I can’t have coffee either.  I’m getting used to some of the tastes. Carrots still piss me off, as they require sooooo much chewing!  Oh well.  I’ve definitely cut down my caloric intake.  My diet “before” photo and weigh in, did not make me happy… I was at 215, and unlike when I weighed that in 2001, it’s not solid muscle.  Oh well.

Ok.. so now you have my latest “What’s new” – though this is the short version.  I’ll be gone to Burning Man on Sunday or Monday or Tuesday, so… now you know where I am   -

I drove 23.5 hours from Las Vegas, NV to Austin, TX. I discovered a few things in the process.
1)Pay attention to time zones when calculating a journey!  The 2 hours I thought I’d have to nap along the drive did not exist… as Vegas is 2 time-zones behind Austin. I made it right on time to go tubing, but had absolutely 0 sleep.
2)Caffeine Pills (from Walgreens) work better than coffee!  You don’t know how strong your coffee (at gas stations) will be, you don’t need to worry about burning yourself or making your car sticky with spilled caffeine pills, and… best of all… they seem to last longer without making you crash.  Why is that?  Because gas station cappuccinos are nothing more than a lot of sugar, and a splash of caffeine.  I love them, and there’s a new flavor even!! Bannana Foster…. mmmm… but… again, all sugar, so.. there’s a crash later.

So… what did I do in Vegas? Read the rest of this entry »

I watch my analytics (seeing how many people come to the site, from where, what content they look at, etc…. good business tip: If you have a business, then you are in the business of arithematic. If you know what’s working, and what’s not, you can invest more time/$ in what’s working), and I see that there’s been a lot of new people on my site.  So, here’s an update on what’s been going on, and a quick explanation of how my site works.  For example, you may notice that the posts are sometimes “out of sequence”.  I travel around, squeeze in my adventures, get client work done, process the photos (I shoot everything in RAW mode, so that I can get each photo looking exactly the way I want), edit the video, encode the video (which takes hours each time, since I shoot everything in High-Def, so you get to see crisp video), drive (often 10-20 hours in a single day).  So, you may get to see in June my Valentine’s Day video.

Recently, I went hiking in Camel Back mountain in Sedona, Glass Blowing in Austin, TX, consulted Tito’s Vodka & Zhi Tea in Austin, lectured at Dr. Ben Mack’s seminar, went to some kickball games, went to The Heart Attack Grill, did a few radio interviews, got invited to CouchSurf with the mayor of this city in Holland, and am actually driving to Oregon, where I’ll be flying out to meet my family in Florida for my little bro’s graduation.  Once in FL, we’ll be taking ac ruise to Jamaica & Cozumel, then it’s flight back to Coos Bay, OR where lots of adventures lay ahead.  Then in June, it’s Vegas… I’ll be CouchSurfing with Tony Hsieh – the CEO of Zappos.com – catching a show or 2, riding some motorcycles, and then going to Utah to snowboard, followed by some more California action…

So… while I do a lot of things, I don’t blog nearly as often.  The best way to keep up with all that’s going on is to read my twitter account: http://Twitter.com/CouchSurfingOri – I tweet often!  I say what’s on my mind, share useful links, funny links, what I’m doing, where I’m at, what’s happening at the moment, and even the occasional personal thought.  I’m very active on twitter… so make sure to follow me on there, and chat with me there.  I will reply.

Meanwhile, I’ve been adding a lot of videos…and am planning on uploading a lot of my old content that I still haven’t gotten to post.  I’m working on ways to organize my photos better.  So.. bear with me, and enjoy the content.  I take requests, I love to hear from you dear reader (see that contact form, or the social networking links on the right), or tel lme what’s on your mind.

Seth Godin - Most popular Marketing Blogger

People seem to think I party hard… while I seem to be goofy and unconventional, I enjoy conversations more than parties.  The human brain is the most exciting realm on the planet.  Everything that we have — all technology, art, rules, clothes, and much more than I care to waste your time listing…   was all created because someone had thought of it. Therefore, having conversations with people who really can call it like it is, and have a true understanding of people, society, and technology is the most enjoyable activity that I can participate in (especially if they have a sense of humor).

While many people call me smart, I am humbled to add another forthcoming meeting to my 2009 travels… Mr. Seth Godin himself.  Read the rest of this entry »