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!