After a long while of connecting with people, and traveling to random things, I got decent at figuring out how things happened… i.e. what happened that made me meet whom, and what happened because of that.
So, I’m writing this from Los Angeles. If I wasn’t here this weekend, I’d be in Alabama, driving a stock car at 200mph with Matt Bacak and his top affiliates. I wanted to go, but funds are tight, and many amazing projects came up. This morning’s breakfast conversation led to a trip to Baja, Mexico this Monday. Dinner’s conversation led to us searching for places we can try to either ride an Ostrich, or… I’d also be willing to wear Kevlar vest, and a helmet, and piss one off… I hear those things are brutal, but that sounds like it’d make a fun video.
Back to LA though– I’m staying with this girl Espree. She’s gorgeous, loves to smile, has a snowboard and 4 skateboards of different types right by the door. I met her last week when watching Jason Moffatt perform his first stand up comedy routine at the Comedy Store. He was awesome. Jason was couchsurfing with Espree at the time, and Espree is also a friend of Rob & Kathi’s — whom I was couchsurfing with for the last week, and whom I’m going to Baja with, and trying to ride an ostritch with.
I’m also working on marketing some of Kathi’s projects, and Rob and I have been helping each other solve all of our business problems. It’s been really sweet. Additionally, this drive to LA has been the first time I’ve ever used a garment bag! Kathi is a professional organizer, and an image consultant/stylist. I’m documenting the process. She pre-shopped for me, then I went to Macys, had my own private dressing room (the size of a large conference room), tried all this amazing stuff on… and then took various things for alterations. I have a whole new wardrobe, and a new haircut— yea… I know… you want pics… next week– I’m working with Rob to do a photoshoot.
So, Rob knows Espree, but I was talking about Serendipity…. so… what’s the deal with that?
Ok.. I’ll break it down for you:
In May I went on that road trip with the girl. I had all that yummy but horrible Taco Bell, which led me to feel awful, which led me to go back on raw food and a 30 day cleanse, which led me to detox and bring up all sorts of emotions, which made me pretty depressed for a few days, which made it pretty damn easy to say “YES!” to Moffatt’s random text about if I wanted to watch his surf spot & dog in La Jolla for 6 weeks while he RVs with his girl, which led Rob Burns to reach out because he saw that I was watching JMo’s dog…. and because I was in La Jolla, I worked on my book a bunch, met some more awesome people, and now Espree….
Espree I find ultra inspiring. I hope she’s not pissed at me for writing this, but I really wish more people followed in her example. Why? ’cause more people would be happy and successful. She has a vision board– but more specifically, she has her goals broken down by amounts, dates, etc… very specific. Do you know what YOU want? Only 3 percent of Americans set goals. Do you? If you could do anything what would you do? How would you do it?
Read, network, mastermind, engage, learn, take action, learn from your mistakes, take further action.
She seemed surprised at the conclusions I inferred so quickly. Over the years I’ve just learned to trust my gut feeling, and listen to it. Proof that it’s working? I haven’t had a gun pulled on me since 2001! Must be doing something right, right?
Since I’ve couch surfed, I’ve learned a lot about people. I spend an awful lot about them, and I study many books on psychology, marketing, and people in general… biographies and quote books rock.
My point is that she told me that she’s just lucky. I say people make their own luck, and having studied (and couchsurfed with) many successful people, she’s taking all the right steps.
Anyways- back to serendipity- I’m definitely going to Baja on Monday… that’s why I drive with my Passport… “Just in case” something incredible happens that requires me to leave the country. It would not surprise me if someone said “Hey, let’s go to Thailand, and stay on this island there for 6 months” – and I’d say “Sounds great!” (in fact, that’s kind of on my agenda… if you’d like to get in on that, you can join me in Thailand where I’ll be renting a house on an island, and doing consulting from there).
I haven’t been to the dentist in years… like…. mid 90′s or so. I don’t like getting my teeth scraped. I’ve busted a tooth in a wakeboarding accident. When I drove to Austin from Atlanta, my tongue got cut up on one of my teeth— is my filling falling apart? Is my tooth? I don’t know, but US Dentistry rates are outrageous. So, I hear the dentistry costs about 1/10th over there, and the Fish Tacos are amazing. I’m going for some fish tacos, a donkey show, and a checkup. Just kidding about the Donkey Show. That sounds pretty gross.
After connecting with Dori Friend and being her poolboy for the weekend while her 8 friends from high school visited her, I got invited to her birthday bash on the 27-29th. Lots of floating around on the lake, and having fun. I’m totally down, Dori rocks!
I also found out last time I was in San Fran that my parents are coming out to visit my older bro — we went indoor skydiving, and I’m going to show up when my folks are visiting, and we’ll all do that together. I didn’t even know my folks were going to go visit before the other week!
What else?
Well… actually… it’s 1:30am, and I’m waking up at 6am to beat out the LA traffic, and get to Raymond Aaron’s event. I’m getting coaching on my consulting. Masters hire masters.
So… sweet dreams, good morning— whatever’s going on while you read this. But the world keeps getting more and more exciting… are you taking advantage of that?
Dude! I'm down for the Thailand trip. My friend in Chicago has two homes in Thailand. He has a truck, motorcycle, etc. He's been importing from Asia for over 10 years. Let's talk about it sometime soon! Something else to consider, my cousin lives in Japan. He has a two bedroom apartment. Would be cool too.
Cheers!
Jeremy
Jeremy- Both sound awesome..... Japan is definitely on my hit list, but I think I would want to actually live there for a while.... try to learn the culture a bit. There's just too much there to take in just a quick trip. Working on some things right now- Should bring in some international travel funds.
"I haven't had a gun pulled on me since 2001!"!?!?!! HA! Sounds like another story for another time. Thanks for posting and keeping us updated. You are always encouraging. Take care good sir, and I'll keep you updated if we make extra room on all of our travels for a certain couch surfer. :)
@Addison - I"ve had guns pulled on me twice. One a 22 Caliber, one a 45 caliber. Neither time did I take it seriously, 'cause I had the passwords for their websites, they didn't. Advice for blossoming web designers: Don't work with shady people.... if they're trying to set up an escort agency, and all the girls look like crack-whores... might want to go after another business. Just sayin :)
I'm a FIRM believer in Serendipity... everything is connected and EVERYTHING happens for a reason. It's really kind of cool to take a step back from our lives and to think back how one decision led to one path which was led to by another path and so on and so on. Glad to hear things are continuing to go well for you Ori! :-) Looking forward to reading more of your adventures. :-)
Ori, that post was totally random and din't make sense, but to be honest was still a great read. A glimpse into the organised chaos of a couchsurfer's life I guess :)
Thailand sounds great but I doubt my wife would approve... you've always got a couch here in the UK if you're swinging by Manchester.
Cheers!
Hey Tony :) Thanks for the comment. This was certainly freestyle writing on my way to the realm of dreams, as compared to a planned post. But, I hadn't written in a little while- this was "what I'm up to" "What I've been up to" - and then Espree just inspired me... by being herself... so I thought I'd write before I go in for a conference. It was for me fun to trace back all the events that led to how I met her... when you really track it, quite bizarre and complex. I'm thrilled to hear that despite not making sense it's still a great read :) Think that made my day :D
I will definitely make it to the UK. That's definitely one place I haven't been that I'd love to. Really, my goal's just to travel the world. So... yeah... tell the wifey you guys may get a visiting couchsurfer soon enough :)


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