I thought the reply was something that anyone can benefit from, regardless of age or occupation, so I’m posting it on my blog.  I suggest you share this- someone will appreciate it.

It’s a patented multi-step process that took me years to perfect, but I’ll share it with you, ’cause you seem cool.

Step 1: Wake up

Step 2: Stretch

Step 3: Look in the mirror (optional) – and ask yourself “What do I feel like doing today?”

Step 4: Do that

Step 5: Did you like it?

Step 6: If yes, figure out how to make money off of it.

The bottom line is that people are full of shit. The people that say you’re supposed to go to school, get a degree, then have a career for 40 years doing that… are all miserable. Most people hate their life. They go to work, go home, watch TV, go to sleep. *vomit*

You can make money doing ANYTHING. If you’ve studied marketing, then that’s wonderful… now apply it to something other than “how to make money online” — you can help a local business get traffic, help improve their copy and design, and voila… now they make more $ than before. Get testimonial & get percentages. Or take friends that make stuff, and help them sell it online. MLM’s a biatch… I despise it… but I know many multi-millionaires from it… I’m just pouty ’cause I didn’t make money when I tried it before knowing marketing.

Think about branding. Think about marketing. Think about PR. It’s all about spin. how do you position something.

Perfect example- http://www.littlemissmatched.com/

What happens?

Little girls start going to school and showing off their mismatched socks… it becomes cool. Now everyone wants mismatched socks. They have hundreds of prints. You buy… you get what they send you… you show it off to your friends, and y’all compare.

Show me someone else (other than Hanes or Gold-Toe) that’s made millions off of socks… and at $9 per sale.

Get it? THAT is marketing. Not just making sales letters.

Great skill to have… but it’s just a tool… like a pencil. You can do anything with it. You can draw, you can stab someone, you can keep a door open, you can use it as a hole-puncher, you can set it on fire, you can play pencil-peg (a game where you keep hitting each other’s pencil until one of them breaks — lame… but as more interesting than my 7th grade science teacher).

Using Copywriting you can increase someone’s sales, control people’s behavior, make yourself seem more personable, make someone’s day, make someone out to be the bad guy, help a cause… the possibilities are endless.

When people talk of “Hackers” they generally are misusing the term. I think a hacker is someone that understands how something- or pieces of something – works, and then find other uses for it. In this regard, I am a hacker. So… learn skills, combine them, and do what other people aren’t doing.

Might I point out something? You asked “how you knew what you wanted to do with your life?” and then went on to speak about having no idea what you want to do career wise. Are the two the same?

So often when I ask people about who they are, they tell me what they do.

Sad.

You are so much more. You are your hobbies, your passions, your interests, your friends, your experiences, your hopes, your dreams, your failures, your successes, and so much more.

If someone asks me what I do, I say that I travel the world completely based on who’s couch I’m crashing on next… meeting incredible people, seeing incredible sights, learning about myself and the world, taking great pictures, helping people, solving problems, and telling many bad jokes.

Their response is usually a small delay, followed by “Uhhh… how do you pay traveling like that?” “Oh.. that… well, it depends on what I’m in the mood for, but… I do business coaching, business consulting, life coaching, photography, videography, video editing, motion graphics, 3d animation, print design, copywriting, pay per click advertising, search engine optimization, and a bunch of other things… how much time do you have? Or… better yet, why don’t you tell me what the biggest challenge you have in your business or life is, and I’ll come up with the proper solution for you?” (For a few references check out http://CouchSurfingOri.com/services)

Did you notice the difference between who I am, and what I do?

The two overlap… sure… helping people requires skills… photography’s in both. Both depend on my creativity and voracious appetite for learning… but… we are so much more than our jobs!

Now then… As a child, what did you want to be when you grow up? What are the things that when you do them, the entire day flies by, and people have to remind you to take breaks and eat? What are the things that when you watch them on Television (or Youtube/Hulu / movies / etc) you are on the edge of your seat, and find your pupils slightly dilating, perhaps you are slightly licking your lips?

One last tip- meet as many people as you can. Ask them about what they are passionate about, and ask WHY they are interested in those things. What do they enjoy the most. What sucks. Why did they end up doing this, as compared to the things they’ve done before. What is involved in doing this thing? Can you watch? — Maybe Google / Youtube it when you get home…. You’ll quickly find out what fascinates you.

Remember… money is just a means to keep on living… the more you have, the more you can do, sure… but… people who work at McDonald’s are in it because they need money. I doubt they are really THAT passionate about feeding Type 2 Diabetes to the people, while inhaling grease particles, or that they love the uniform that much. Then you got your millionaires in high stress jobs that hate themselves, and have no time with their significant others.

Then… you got the people that don’t make that much money, but do what they love…let’s call them artists. Read the book Flow, and watch the movie or read the book The Peaceful Warrior.

I think I’m going to repurpose this answer into a blog post, because I think many people can benefit from the answer.

Hit play, sit back, enjoy, and of course, leave a comment to let me know what you thought.

The thing is that the organizer doesn’t have the footage for the event for another week… and when she does get it, she’ll have to slice it up, and then upload it… Having worked with other events, I know that she’s probably going to get hammered with requests for “Can I get my video so I can put it on my public speaker page?”

Since I’m a fan of the 140Conf and everything they do (Google Jeff Pulver – the dude is amazing!), I made a tutorial on how to cut your individual clip out of the live-stream, so you can have it and use it right now… that’s where the above clip came from. You can also use this method to record a live-stream (this particular example is using a playback… but you can use this for a one-time event.. like you would use a VCR / DVR).

So, here’s the stream: http://www.livestream.com/dsmamplifiedevents

And here’s my tutorial:

Now.. just a side note– this stream was donated by the company… You should consider if the event you are capturing from is copyrighted… so.. just watch out with that.

I’ve been in South Florida now for almost 3 weeks. I’ve only left the house to go jogging daily (I have missed 2 days), and two times to go out to dinner with my folks.  Other than that, I have been in front of my computer day and night.

Over the last month, I’ve gotten my LLC, Merchant Account, Business Banking Account (got majorly disappointed with Bank of America, for the second time, so am never doing business with them again), Online Shopping Cart, and have set up numerous business relationships and creating a few products.

You see, I love helping people build and grow their businesses.  I’ve been doing this for ages, by providing people with high-end photography, videography, motion graphics, websites, marketing strategies and implementation, and even product design and creation.  I’m thrilled that I can help… But…. I can’t help enough people to feel like I’m making a difference when I’m doing it one on one.

Coming in April is my Big Ideas Workshops….Everyone spends their money and time on getting and learning the latest tool or tactic… but they don’t actually have a great idea to use it with.  People are running their businesses, but missing major opportunities.  So, I will be working with 20 people per weekend teaching high-end creative ideation, as well as doing many hotseats, so everyone gets to walk away with their own big idea:  a new product, or additional direction with their current product or service,the challenges you can expect to face, the resources you’ll need to charge through those challenges, and the tools to make sure that these ideas work with your market, as compared to just being nice ideas.

This week I am releasing a product that fills a major gap. It is a course on how to easily set up your own website, and fire that overpriced web designer that’s been holding your site hostage. Many people buy courses that tell them “ok.. just set up a WordPress site, and then do this this and this” — they don’t tell you how to customize it, or how to brand it.. I’m going step by step, and showing you exactly what to do, and… how to do it without having to know any of that geek-code… you don’t need CSS and HTML and PHP… although, I do teach that in case you do want it.

Ideas On Retainer, originally my coaching site, which I was adding a paid newsletter to, was getting great response… but as I said earlier in this post, I just don’t think I’m helping enough people if I put the information behind a wall.  I will be publishing those business articles on this site.  Ideas On Retainer will go back to being my coaching site.

So.. that’s some of what you can look forward to.

Sorry if I’ve been off the grid,

Ori

I guess my friends and family are used to hearing what new goal I am going to go after now, “I’m going to be a 3D animator!  I’m going to be a photographer!  Now I”m running a printshop!  I’m going to design jewelry!  I’m a marketer!  I’m a video editor!  I’m going to play the guitar! I’m writing a book!”  So… Breakdancing may not be a big stretch for them, especially after stunts like Bull Poker, or Cliff Jumping, or Skydiving, or all these other things that I’ve done.  But… this is different, and I’m telling you why so maybe you can find that thing that brings you alive.

My good buddy Craig Allen and I were on a Skype video call, and my good friend, his roommate at the time, Katie Brown jumped in as well.  Apparently, they had just seen a movie on NetFlix called LXD.  Here is part of the call (with some Tiesto music added by me for good measure)

Have I mentioned how much I love my friends

Ok… here’s the official trailer, now that you’ve seen Craig & Katie’s version:

I watched it, and I was on the edge of my seat with that “Holy shit! How do they do that?!” feeling. I watched it, and Jason Sherfey (whom I was couchsurfing with at the time) and I had break-danced our way to breakfast.

It’s not like every movie affects me like that. Sure, you watch Indiana Jones (the original ones) and you want to get a whip. You watch Superman, and you want to get a cape, and fly. But you forget about it after a while. I noticed that after watching that, despite usually being mild on the dance-floor, I would start improvising some breaks… and contrary to my expectations, nobody laughed — except that time in downtown San Diego with Mitch Sanders and Jaime Mintun, when I accidentally kicked some poor girl in the head… but that’s another blog post to be written, about mastery being built up over time… incrementally, and with practice.

I watched The LXD a few times, never tiring of it. But it wasn’t until 2 months ago, when I was in Austin, staying with Craig, and working on a project day and night that I realized I need to learn to breakdance.

Between writing, making the appropriate web design, creating mobile phone ads, facebook ads, and all those fun split testing thingies that we needed to do, we were up and working most of the day… and I would be up at night, since I’m nocturnal. Craig likes to have movies on, though, he’s not even paying attention to which one is on… just that they are on. My attention span is not as forgiving… I pay attention to what movie is on, and what’s going on, despite that I get the work done.

One night Craig was out, and I was in charge of movies for myself. I didn’t care for what Mr. Allen had lined up on the Netflix Que, so I started flipping through, and on a whim I found Planet B-Boy.

This time I noticed that I had dropped all the work I was doing, and watched intently.  I even felt that my pupils were focused, and my heart was beating faster. I was having an adrenaline rush without having to jump out of a plane, wait for a bull to hit me, or travel 140MPH on a motorcycle.  I was doing it out o the comfort of the living room, and the instigator was this movie.

I realized that I can watch this stuff all day long.  I used to study Capoeira (A Brazilian martial art that resembles dancing, with lots of flips, kicks, and is performed to music), but while I wasn’t that great at it, I loved to show up to class, because I could watch those that were great do their thing. Every place I’ve seen breakdancing or Capoeira demos, I’d stop to watch.

So… if just watching it gives me a rush, what would being good at it do?  What would it be like to clear out a swatch of dance floor, and do something like this with some friends:

Now, I have my little nagging voices in my head…. I mean, these guys that are competing are all younger than me, way more flexible, and it seems they all have a 6-pack… which I’m sure is a side-effect of dancing so damn much.  But, I’m not looking to compete, I’m looking to have fun, have a new way to play with others, challenge myself, express myself, and like drawing and telling jokes, this is something that comes from the inside… I just want to do it.  Reason need not apply.

So… what is it that when you watch it, you get amped up?  If there is such a thing, maybe you should get involved in it. Yes, people may judge you… but would you rather be unhappy and not judged, or would you rather be free, happy, and have some people think you’re an idiot because they are too scared to chase their own dreams?

Do it!

“Wake up”

“Huh?”

The small Australian five year old child moved his flashlight which was on, and leaning against my left eyeball to my right eyeball which was still closed.

“Wake up. It’s almost light out, you can see some of the clouds.”

Groan. Grumble. Explitive… no… he’s five years old, let’s not teach him new words, and let’s not throw him across the room. I slowly fell backwards, through the couch, and into dreamland. I have no idea how much time passed, but shortly after that, Fin, the young Australian child, was at it again, this time using good copywriting skills…. the art of ‘reason why advertising’ –”You have to get up!”

“No I don’t!”

“You have to get up and see this, or else….” I can’t actually recall what the reason was. I used a firmer tone to explain that I am in fact not getting up, and that I am going back to sleep, and staying there.

Yup. I was back in Austin all right, but things were different. The Levys were here from Australia, and couchsurfing at the Siegwalt’s place. My final alarm clock was the non-stop wailing of their 17 month old. Despite my brain being slow from the previous night’s use of Tito’s Vodka, and the lack of sleep, I quickly realized what a great piece of serendipity it was that I thought to stop by Perry’s yesterday!

Now I only get enough flashlights to my eyeball, and screaming infants to make for a funny story…. after breakfast, I’m going to Perry Belcher’s house, and getting to house-sit for a week. Let me rewind. There’s some serendipity at play again.

I just spent 5 weeks in Costa Rica, but right before leaving I said to Brandie over Skype “I’d like to spend some quality time with my parents.”

“I’ve already scheduled some time for you to visit them during February, before the roadtrip to South By South West.”

“Oh, you’re good! Let me let them know.” I called them up, and they said “It’s your house, you don’t need permission!” and they said they’d be thrilled to see me.

The next day I’m packing up for my flight, and decide it may finally be time to check out my flight information. I email mom and dad, “What are you doing for dinner tonight?”

It turns out that I had a 13 hour layover in Miami! I had no clue about this, and found it fascinating that I discover this right after saying I want more quality time with my folks. I landed at Miami International, took the bus to the Tri-Rail, and rode that to Deerfield Beach, where my parents had arrived at exactly the same time that I did.

On the Tri-Rail I befriended this guy on the train. He was fascinated with my story, and wanted to know how I travel AND make money.  I told him the different ways, and asked him what he does. He told me that he’s done sales, customer service, and much more… but he didn’t sound particularly excited ahout them. I kept probing, asking what makes the time go by, “What is it that when you do it, the entire day goes by and you didn’t even notice?” (Ask yourself that question too).

I stopped him when he said writing.  I informed him that he can make money doing that, and I Explained blogs, and the power of copywriting, and what Ghostwriting is, and I told him about Scribd.com, and that he can do all of this on a $200 netbook.  I gave him my card of course, if he’d like to know how to do some of this stuff, get resources, etc…  I hope he gets into it… anyone can live their dreams, but most people just talk the talk, and don’t want to actually do the work.  We’ll see.  If you want to print cash on demand, study copywriting.  It is the ultimate skill.  You can improve your communications, win more arguments, ,be persuasive, sell anything, make your websites or advertising convert better…. It’s all about good copywriting.

In the emails back and forth, dad said they’ll get me, and we can go to the Tokyo House. I had said that it sounds great, but please, no buffet. Dad said no problem. They picked me up, and sure enough, went to the buffet! It was a massive buffet, with all sorts of Chinese food, and Sushi, and a massive deserts section. I had 3 massive plates full, and a plate of desert. Argggh! I said no buffet!

Over dinner we had chatted about Costa Rica, and the usual subjects: When are you settling down (Which has become “Are you even interested in ever starting a family”)? What are you working on now? They said “We saw Lisa’s testimonial, and we thought, who is that guy that she’s talking about?” and then Dad said “You are living like a beggar.”

“No, I am not.  I am living like a millionaire, I just don’t keep my bank account as full as they do.  How long did you spend in Costa Rica last year?  A week? I just did 5 weeks, and got to experience a lot more of the country than you did.  I live what I consider to be the perfect life!  I’m surrounded by good friends, I hang out with people that are intelectually stimulating, and I get to learn from.  I get to travel, I get to have all these crazy adventures, and I don’t actually have to wait until I’m 60 or 70 to do it.”

We went home when food was oozing out of our eyeballs.  Waddling to the car, I realized that I was indeed back in America. Yes, I could’ve gorged myself in Costa, but that’s not so typical there. I chatted with my folks a bit more about my business, their business, family, and friends.  Then my dad asked “So what’s going on with your friends? You know… the cute couple that just got married?”

“Oh crap! I totally forgot that Johnny and Sarah live right next to you!” My buddy Johnny, who designed the CouchSurfingOri.com Logo in collaboration with me now lived 3 miles from my parents! I borrowed my folks’ car, and went over there to hang out until about 2:30AM. Right before I left, Johnny gave me a gift, a “Blade Runner tribute umbrella” – it’s an Umbrella that is made of a clear plastic, and it lights up.  I got home, and was feeling very creative, and then I passed out just in time to get up  again, and go to the airport. A tiny coincidence, the night I was back in Austin (technically the same day, since Johnny gave me the umbrella after midnight), there was a torrential downpour, but I stayed dry, having an umbrella.

My folks dropped me off, I put up with the usual airport  bullshit, and I got on the flight where I slept instantly. My row-mates complemented me on my ability to zonk out before the flight even took off, and without the use of drugs. The guy two seats away just got in from Uruguay, and I spoke to him, and gave him a lecture on camera getting, lens buying, etc… since he expressed wanting to get a new camera.  The cool thing is, his name was Johnny! Then it was my turn into the baggage claim.

Now, here’s another cool thing… my buddy Steve Siegwalt, was getting me from the airport… The Dallas airport, despite that he’s coming from Austin.  He was the one who dropped me off at the Greyhound station when I went to Costa Rica.  He was the one who watched my car (and all my belongings) for me when I was in Costa Rica.  So, when I was at dinner with my folks at the Tokyo House on my 13 hour layover, I told them that Steve is driving 3 hours to get me, and 3 hours back (and yes, I tried to dissuade him , but he said he likes road trips) to get me, so I don’t have to take the bus again… Dad said “Wow, you meet the nicer half of humanity.”

This led to a discussion about manifestation and beliefs.  I believe that people are not out to screw me, and that people are inherently nice, and friendly, and incredible.  Dad sort of raised me that people are out to screw me (in the bad way), so to be careful with whom I trust ,etc… When I said that if you believe that people will screw you, they will, and if you believe they won’t, they won’t, he said “What about that guy that used all your credit cards back when you were 19, and forced you to do a bankruptcy?” –  I said “That’s true… back back when I was 19, I believed you that people were out to screw me.”

So, yes, I do meet the nicer half of humanity. I have had the time to reflect on who I am, to grow, to discover who I am, and to let the world know. So now that people know I’m about help and growth and bad humor and adventure, I find like-minded people… and life rocks.

On our way back, we were almost to Steve’s ranch, when I realized we were near Perry Belcher’s place.  I said we should swing by.  ”Should you call first?”  ”Nah!”

I knock at Perry’s door, and he was happy to see me (as always.  I don’t think I’ve ever seen Perry not be happy).  I walked in, and he says “I was just thinking about you the other day… I just can’t remember what it was about….”

He told me what he’s working on these days, and we chit-chatted, and then as I was about to leave he says “Oh yeah! I remember what it was about!  You’ve stayed here before, you get along with Beefy…  I’m taking off, April’s taking off. We were gonna take him to the pound, but he’ll be happier at home.  Wanna house sit for a week?”

And thus, when a flashlight using five year old Australian woke me up, I knew that after my farm-fresh chili-eggs, and after the resurrection of the bon-fire, I’d have a place with peace and quiet, and a jaccuzzi, to keep working and writing.

So, yes, many people might notice that they have a 13 hour layover and get upset, I saw it as a gift, and it was!  It was a mini-vacation. In less than one day I got to see some wonderful friends, see my parents, and even party a little bit.

I almost forgot  to tell you…. this is huge… While Steve, Andrew, and I were heading back from Dallas to Austin, my parents called me.  Dad said “Your mother and I are sitting outside in the backyard, drinking our coffee, enjoying the perfect weather, and reading our books…” he paused “I looked at your mother and said ‘Honey, we’re millionaires.’”

Wow.

Who writes their happy new year post on January 7th?  I do! I’m on Tico Time ? Yeah… things in Costa Rica are pretty relaxed.  But.. it’s my last day! I leave today at 1PM, and I wanted to start my new year of blogging from another country. This blog post is very important to me.

Last year I started of writing about that new year’s resolutions are bullshit. I still think that.  Most people don’t even last 1 week! I do have a few declarations to make to you and the universe, but before I get into those, let me tell you something I’m really proud about.

January 1st was the anniversary of my Couchsurfing journeys starting!  I started on New Year’s day on 2007, which means I am now in my 5th year of couchsurfing! That’s also the reason that I wanted to send my blog post from here in Costa Rica… because that’s been a goal of mine which I finally accomplished: to couchsurf in another country.  I’ve been here for 5 weeks now on seven different beds.

As a kid I wanted to be an adventurer.  As a grown up (yeah, I know.. it’s debatable), I have “Adventurer” on my business card, and I’m actually doing it.  Here I am in a country where I don’t know the language, I did a shitty job preparing for the journey, the hotel room I got for the evening ($11) near the airport has what I think are bedbugs… so I helped myself to another room which seems to be bug free… we’ll see.  You might say “ugggh!” but.. it’s an adventure!

Adventure… new experiences.  While I was here I got up on some waves, I saw a dead guy, I stayed in a tree house 90 feet above the ground, I tried new foods, I pierced my foot with a branch… I took busses to get around.  I walked around a city where everything is vandalized and covered in razor wire, and security locks.

Know what?  It was a blast! The weather was great, the people were nice, I stayed optimistic, and I had friends along the way to help me make sure I wasn’t being too stupid.

Adventure.

I also got a lot farther on my book while I was here…. Which is a major step on my biggest adventure so far… getting a book out.  This is the hardest thing I’ve had to do to this day.  I enjoy the challenge, but it’s taken a lot of mental discipline. The book is coming out this year, and that’s a promise.

Speaking of this year, what else does 2011 hold?  Well, here’s those declarations to you and the Universe:

This year I am learning to pilot a small airplane to the point where I can take off, pilot it, and land.  I don’t really care about a pilot’s license… I just want to be able to do so.

This year I will do at least 10 public speeches in front of crowds of more than 300 people. I really enjoy being on stage, and I really love the feedback from people that the presentations helped them.

This year I am moving from consulting to coaching.  Rather than just taking on whatever projects come at me, I am taking on a select group of clients and working with them on a consistent basis for at minimum 6 months to make sure that their business grows, and they have more fun running their business.

In fact, I just started this recently, and here’s what’s being said already:

That’s Lisa from WorkingNaked.com – feel free to contact her and ask her about her experience.

This year I am sharing the vast knowledge that I’ve gained over the years from books, from consulting, from conferences, from couchsurfing with various experts on various topics, from everything…. I am extremely passionate about this.  I actually blew off partying in Jaco, Costa Rica for New Year’s just so I can launch http://IdeasOnRetainer.com on January 1st.  I wanted to start the year with this.  10 years from now, that site will still continue to offer incredibly useful interviews, and the best of all the resources that I know, and lessons that I’ve learned.

This year I will learn at least one song on the piano, and one song on the guitar well enough to play and sing them at a party or where ever… hopefully that means I’ll learn voice well enough to Karaoke those songs without peeing my pants or shattering nearby glass.

This is the year where I will listen more.  I will interrupt less.

The way I see it 2011 is the year of commitment.  These are not some bullshit resolutions, but are very specific goals that I am committed to, and am seeking help in staying the course.

I suspect that this will be the year of unbelievable serendipity. Just two days ago I said to Kathryn “I want to spend more  quality time with my parents”- so I called them up, and checked if they would be cool with a 2-3 week visit in February.  They said they’d be thrilled, and I never need permission.

The very next day I finally took the time to check out my flight schedule back to the USA – something I hadn’t done , not when I bought it, and not during my trip – and noticed that I land at 5PM in Miami, and fly from Miami to Dallas at 8AM the next day.  I am now going to visit my parents, today (a mere two days after saying I wanted to spend some quality time with them)!

Back to that whole five year of travels…. Charlie “Tremendous” Jones said

“You are the same today that you are going to be in five years from now except for two things: the people with whom you associate and the books you read.”

Well.. it’s been five years, and I’ve read a LOT of books!  I’ve met a lot of people, and I am beyond proud of the ones I associate with now.  I’m not the same person that I was five years ago.  I have had countless people mention this to me.

My writing style has changed. My priorities have changed. My life seems more meaningful.  I’ve become extremely helpful and positive, and life just seems to get better and better, and I keep whittling my belongings down to fewer and fewer.

I’m not perfect,, and crazy shit still happens.  There have been months where everything seemed to be going to shit, and I thought it was game over, and who cares…. But you know what, people do care, and that’s what pulled me through.  That, and I’ve become a firm believer in “Well, that sucked, but… it will make for a great blog post!”

I know that everything will turn out great, and I think that people see that in me… because on those days I doubt myself,, I now have close friends that believe in me more than I do.

Five years of driving is a lifetime…. In my travels I’ve had more experiences in such a little time, and so much time to reflect.  I’ve really had an opportunity to discover myself., and I’m still discovering…. Every day.

This is the year of gratitude.  2010 was incredible, and I think it was so incredible because I’ve become a lot more thankful for what I have, rather than thinking of what I don’t…  this year that trend will continue to grow.

I am truly grateful that you’ve taken your valuable time to visit my humble site, and share my experiences.  I am grateful that you’ve read this.

I’ve learned that everyone is incredible, once you get to know them., and discover their story, and what they are about.

Tell me yours!  I’d love to know who you are, and what you’re passionate about. You can leave it in a comment, or use the contact form, or find me on Facebook, or Twitter.

Either way, thank you… for everything.

Oh yeah!  December 31st, I was working on my new site, and was dragged away at 11:40 to watch the fireworks. It was a 10 foot walk to the beach, ’cause Billy lives on the beach. Me, Kathryn, and Billy watched from the beach as people launched fireworks from every direction for about an hour. It was pretty mindblowing.  I was – and still am- grateful to be starting the year off with such a crazy display of fireworks, friends, and being on the beach in another country.

Now I am going to have to deal with the fears that I’ve let push me over to not committing. Check out Ideas On Retainer– coming January 1, 2011 after the hangover wears off.

I even like my new logo that I designed

Celebrating 34 with friend and Patron

The brakes don’t work!  We were gliding forward, and I was certain that this is it…. I was going to run over my 1st person ever! Why were they riding their bicycle right there?  It was a good 34 years of being free.

To start off, I don’t know what my birthday surprise is, so don’t let the title fool you. It’s the night before we leave Tamarindo, and I’m in a writy mood (apparently, Writy is not a word, but it’s how I feel– so… screw you red-underliny thing (underliny is also not a word)). I have a funny story, and a good life lesson. If this gets too lengthy for you, at least scroll to the bottom to view my favorite birthday video that I received.

Let’s start with yesterday… my actual birthday. I did not learn to surf (I did that today)… I worked (even though it was by the pool, in the sun, to good techno music, it is called work… just remember that if what you do for work is what you do for play, then you’ll never actually work a day in your life ), then Kathryn came over, then I was given a birthday beer, then Brendan, his dad, Kathryn, and I walked to Witch’s Rock Surf Camp. Which was the farthest I’ve had to walk in Tamarindo so far.

Joe Walsh (not the singer from The Eagles) was written about as having the 2nd coolest job in the world. He just surfs all day.  I met Joe while at Awesomeness Fest, after he spoke about his business, and passion. “I’m not a speaker, I’m just a guy that really likes to surf!” He drove down to Costa Rica in a converted school bus with some friends and family to start a surf-school, and it’s been doing really well since.  Now he surfs all day, and also has a restaurant.  It’s a good life.  One of my favorite parts of his story is that so many people thought it was a terrible idea, but he did it anyways, and now he’s uber-happy.

It was happy hour, so we ordered happy hour food and drinks- I started with “The Witch’s Tit” and Bean Dip, and Wings (I haven’t had wings in quite a while!). We were to have company soon, Rebekah, Kevin, and Yogi were coming, and I also invited Chase.  These are all people (and a pug) that I met at Awesomeness Fest… some of them were still here in Costa Rica. They all have incredible stories, yes, even the pug.

Rebekah has already agreed to be one of my interviews for my business interviews site. She works with one of the best photographers in the world, David La Chapelle. More importantly though, she took an idea of hers to start a business up with no cost, and her idea now makes over $2,000 a day– not including internet sales, and supports over 30 local families, plus is 100% sustainable.

Brendan’s Dad bought us all shots of Tequila. Rebekah had a bottle of Whiskey from her travels. We got Sushi. Chase showed up. I was surprised with cake:

I was amongst good friends (even though I just met Brendan’s dad that day– we get along really really well! He, like me, is uber-fast with the puns, and makes jokes about everything! Gives me something to look forward to), I was in paradise, and I was happy.

Kevin agreed to drive us to where Kathryn was staying at Playa Grande Surf Camp.  He had also told me about The Fiesta in Villa Real, where I can try to do some Bull Riding… since I’ve already played Bull Poker, this seemed like the next evolution. Additionally, I got to pick his brain as to how he made Yogi The Pug into a worldwide phenomenon. I was blissful, as I love to hear success stories.  Additionally, Kevin also agreed to be one of my interviews for my business interviews site.

I know it might seem like I interview everyone I know, but that’s not the case. I interview people whose stories inspire, and tactics can be learned from.  The very 1st interview is Jason Harty from Pretzel Crisps. If you remember, they sent me a huge Pretzel Crisps gift bag, and so I had to know how they were able to pull it off. Jason was kind enough to share an hour of pure business-secrets gold!

Interviews aside, it was a great time- including the drive home (funny how every few nights, “home” is a different place).

I woke up late today, and took a surf lesson (Age 34, day 1: surf lesson– cool start), and it was a blast! I was able to stand up properly and ride my very 1st try!  In surfing, this is a good thing.  In day trading, this is a bad thing.  A bit of success from the start made me feel as if I can do this, and it’s not so difficult.  In day-trading, it’s a bad thing, because it makes you feel as if you’re good at it… and then you’re not as cautious, or you don’t listen to others… er… so I hear

My surf instructor was this tall, skinny, underwear-model looking guy with decent English. It gave me hope that if I get into surfing, I too can have a 6-packs, and that kind of a physique. I suspect I would have to surf more often than an hour every 34 years though.

Last time I tried surfing was with Jason Moffatt - the day immediately after my 1st ever 30 day raw diet… Jason had taken me out to Benihana’s the night before for some fried food, and beers, and the next morning – right before surfing – his girl made us eggs and spicy fried potatoes… I had indigestion from hell, and puked all over myself… twice.  In my defense, Jason likes to point out that I kept on riding the waves… or trying.

This time it was much easier.  No wet suit was needed, as it is tropical and warm here.  The waves break right at the shore, so I could literally walk the board out to a good distance, then jump on it, paddle, and ride the wave.  The only thing I had to be careful of is stingrays.  They like the warm weather, so you have to drag your feet instead of just stepping… that way, you won’t step on them… as Gerry, the Surf Camp owner did the other day.

All right– so… I promised a life lesson in this post, here it is:

Sometimes it’s better to buy something than to wait on it.

I’ll explain:

Jason Moffatt had introduced me to Billy when I was house-sitting in La Jolla, and said that Billy would teach me to surf… but I was training for a relay race, so never took him up on it. I’ll be visiting Billy shortly. I’ve been excited about Costa Rica, as Brendan and Billy both told me they would teach me to surf while I’m here.  I then injured my foot, so couldn’t even walk to the beach.

Then Brendan was going to teach me, but his family came into town, the laundry people took their time, and … to top it off, by the time the tide was good, there were no waves.

So… I’ve been saying I want to learn to surf while I’m in Costa Rica.  I have opportunities for friends to teach me, but… it was faster and easier to just pay someone to do it right here, right now.

How many times have you used “that hookup” as an excuse to keep waiting on something? I bet there’d been a time when you put off learning or doing something that you really wanted to, because a friend was going to do it for you.

Since one of my services is web design, I hear this often “Well.. my buddy’s going to do this for me… he/she is a designer…” — meanwhile their existing site looks like shit, and is hurting business.

In business we call this opportunity cost… and it’s something that applies to your life as well— you may take that really great paying job, but the opportunity cost may be your free time, or sanity.

So, yes, it may cost you a few dollars to do something, that you could’ve gotten for free… but how much is the time you spend not doing it costing you?  Having a website that is an eyesore and doesn’t use any marketing concepts in the design may cost you a lot more than what someone is going to charge for it.

Last night, when I realized that I’m not going to surf, I was slightly bummed… so I decided I would just pay.  How much did it cost me? $40, well spent.  I’ve spent a lot more for much less satisfaction.  Now I have the next 3 weeks to improve my surfing, and I’m likely going to visit Billy soon.

“How much pain they have cost us, the evils which have never happened.” – Thomas Jefferson

You’re probably wondering whatever the heck I was talking about at the start of this post, about brakes not working, and running someone over.  That was from today.

Kathryn and I went to rent a car for whatever surprise it is that she has lined up for me.  We have a 6 hour drive to get to the Panamanian border. So, after I dried off from surfing, we walked along the beach, took the boat across the river, grabbed a chocolate banana smoothie, and went to Alamo Rent-a-car.

I forgot to mention that my foot was really acting up during surfing, and I was in a lot of pain by this point.  My toe had swollen back up again, and I was having to focus really hard to ignore it.  This was taking a lot of energy out of me.

I passed out in a chair while we waited for our turn at Alamo.  I was awoken to being asked if I had a copy of my passport, since Kathryn doesn’t have her license with her… so I’m the one that’s driving.

Ummmm… no…

Well, we need it.  Where is it?  We can give you a ride.

This girl gave us a ride to Brendan’s, and I noticed that this is the first time I’ve seen someone wearing a seat belt in in Costa Rica.

Thankfully, Brendan was home. He just got back from surfing with his dad and sister, and they were all resting on the couch and relaxing.

I got my passport from the upstairs vault, and went back to the place. I slept again until it was time to sign documents. I did not think I’d be driving in Costa Rica… the roads are not what I’m used to in the USA with asphalt… they are gravel and dirt roads, and we’re going to be driving through mountains and other terrain.Whee! Adventure!

We get in our Toyota Rav 4, I turn the key, release the parking brake, and…. the car starts gliding forward.  Right towards some guy crossing on a bicycle.  I pumped and slammed the brake, and no luck!  This guy was going to get it…

“Hey, maybe this car is stick-shift?” I said, and looked down, and sure enough…. there were 3 pedals! We stopped real quickly as I slammed the middle pedal, which is the brake, unlike it’s neighbor, the clutch. *phew* disaster averted.

“Good thing I sort of know how to drive stick, eh?”

“Yeah! Real good thing, ’cause I don’t know how to drive stick at all!”

It’s been forever since I’ve driven stick, but I did well enough to get us to Brendan’s, followed by a 40 minute drive to Playa Grande. While at Brendan’s we had a discussion about whether or not leaving my passport in his safe is a good idea or not.  I thought so, because it is safe there (no pun intended).

Kathryn and Brendan mentioned that there were stories of federal officers trying to extort money from people for not carrying legal identification (passport) on them at all times.

Ok… screw it.  I’ll take it with me. If that’s the case, I might as well take my suitcase with me, as we have a nice big car, and Kathryn’s checking out of Playa Grande Surf Camp, and taking all her stuff.

Now I was out of my comfort zone…. adventure!

I’m driving stick  - which I am very unused to – through a country with roads unlike what I’m used to, and terrain unlike I’m used to, I am carrying my passport with me, and all my belongings.  There is no safety blanket… you know.. that feeling of “well… at least if the car blows up, I’ll still have my stuff over at Brendan’s, and can get out of the country with no problem.”

But, that’s what I want.  That’s what I thrive on.  Being out of my comfort zone is how I grow.  If I wanted security, I wouldn’t be couchsurfing for 5 years.

“You must give up the life you planned in order to have the life that is waiting for you.” – Joseph Campbell

“Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” ~ Theodore Roosevelt

“The man who never makes mistakes loses a great many chances to learn something.” ~ Thomas Edison

“Criticism is something we can avoid easily by saying nothing, doing nothing, and being nothing” ~Aristotle

So… screw knowing that my bag is somewhere. In the morning I will be leaving on a 6 hour drive to something amazing with a good friend.  I’m probably going to be off line until the 23rd. I think I’ll be working on my book some as well, but I can’t say, since I don’t know where I’m going, or what I’m doing there.

Brendan’s dad pointed something out… I’m slightly flustered because I need to give up control.  I have a hard time giving it up, and someone else telling me where to go, without me knowing… that’s a loss of control. Reflect upon that in your life. Are you just fine with someone else being in control, or does that drive you nuts as well?

Well… it’s 1:30AM, and we’re leaving in 6 hours, so.. I should get some sleep.  But, I did promise you a funny story (no, it wasn’t one of the ones told so far)-

How did I learn to drive stick shift in the first place?

It was during 11th grade! I was 16 years old, and working at a movie theatre.  There was a new guy that started going to our school. Chris and I got along, though he quickly became one of the cool kids.  His sister, Rachel, started working at the theatre with me. She was hot! Despite that our theatre uniforms were very unflattering, her smile could always brighten my day.

She knew I liked her, but she had started dating Jordan… who was kind of a prick. Jordan always acted high-and-mighty, as if his shit didn’t stink… but, he had to wear those hideous uniforms like the rest of us: black pants, white-plaid shirt, maroon vest, and I think we had bow-ties too.. I can’t remember.

We’d all party together, the whole theatre crew. We’d close up the theatre around midnight-1am, and then go drinking. Sometimes at someone’s house, sometimes at a hotel.  *shrug* there’s a lot of stories about this time of my life, but this one is about driving stick.

Rachel knew I wanted to drive stick.. I don’t remember how.  Maybe I was talking about getting a sports car?  Who knows… anyways, one night she forces Jordan to teach me to drive stick… using his car!

This was awesome.  I could feel his anxiety as his precious car was being driven by a complete amateur.  And yet, if he wanted to get any action afterwards, he had to play nice.

My goal was not to destroy his car… I really did just want to learn, and I did.  But watching your arch nemesis squirm is always fun.  Having someone be nice to you, even if they are forced to, is also nice.

I thought that it brought us (Jordan and I) a bit closer together, as now he had afforded me some trust that he wouldn’t've otherwise offered.

I did stall out a few times, but I’m also a fast learner.

I kind of wish that I could find Rachel, and reminisce about this story, but I can’t remember her last name.  Oh well.

So… there’s the story, there’s the life lesson, there’s some quotes… good stuff!  So, I’m off to adventure-  I”ll let you know what it is that I’m doing when I get on the web next!

On a separate note- I had over 200 birthday wishes on my facebook wall.  It was nice, and beat out last year’s 140.  Last year it took me 3 days to personally respond to each and every one, and send a personal note.  This year, I just pressed the “like” button on each one.  However, there was one video that was so great, I have to share it with you:

Celebrating my 34th b-day
By Couch Surfing Ori - Couch Surfer, Adventurer, Marketer, Photographer, & Fun  |  View on Facebook