Santorini, Greek Islands
Been on 6 of the 7 Continents
Monday, December 27, 2010
DELETE the NEGATIVE People in your life...
After deleting the 2 most negative, controlling and unhealthy people in my life back in 2004...I was able to let go and become HAPPY & HEALTHY and attract new, better relationships into my life.
Try it for yourself ;-)
To the top...
Friday, December 24, 2010
New Year. New Adventure...
Join me on a Journey...An Asia Adventure...
Korean Streets. Can't Wait...
More updates on this Asian Adventure coming soon...
Korean Streets. Can't Wait...
More updates on this Asian Adventure coming soon...
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
*LMFAO*
This is BY FAR the *funniest* UTUBE bideo I have EVER seen...watch till the end...then watch it again in REMIX style:
Here is the Cali Sway REEEEEEEEMIX :)
Here is the Cali Sway REEEEEEEEMIX :)
Monday, December 6, 2010
60 Mintues Video Facebook New Profile...
60 Minute's Video
Part I
Part II
Stay Connected, Add me on FB @ www.facebook.com/quintoncarlin
Retweet & re-post below...
Part I
Part II
Stay Connected, Add me on FB @ www.facebook.com/quintoncarlin
Retweet & re-post below...
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Dear God...
Kids are so cute:
Please Retweet or Repost this link to share it with others: www.QuintonCarlin.com
Thanks & have a blessed day :)
Please Retweet or Repost this link to share it with others: www.QuintonCarlin.com
Thanks & have a blessed day :)
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Brazil. Models, Travel & Photography. A Story By Tim Ferris
I just read this article on Tim Ferris' Blog (www.fourhourworkweek.com) and was inspired to re post this story on my blog about a guy who moved to Brazil to travel and start his own photography business, shooting models on the beach.
Its a tough job, but somebodies gotta do it...right?
Why don't they teach you how to do that in university hmmmmm?
Before hiring one of my assistants, Charlie, I asked him where he wanted to be in 6 and 12 months.
I made him define what he wanted to have and what he wanted to do in both timeframes. At the top of the list was a mini-retirement to Thailand or South America.
Done and done.
Charlie just returned three weeks ago from Buenos Aires. It was there he developed a rather keen interest in Brazilian girls, who were visiting Argentina as tourists. Two weeks ago at around 2am, while preparing the new book launch at my house, he somehow accidentally (riiiiight) got stuck in a Flickr slideshow of Brazilian models.
The photos belonged to someone named Jeremiah Thompson.
Digging a little deeper, it turned out that Jeremiah had an incredible story. Two years ago, he decided he wanted to become a professional photographer of Brazilian bikini models. That, and he wanted to get married. Despite the fact that he was from Montana and had no training, he made both happen in record time.
This is his wife-hunting story…
An Interview with Jeremiah Thompson
What’s your background?
I was born in Missoula, Montana, a small college town in the heart of the Rocky Mountains. My Dad was a colonel in the Army so I grew up all over the place, including a couple of stints in Germany. I definitely have a strong entrepreneurial background and have been in business in one form or another all my life, starting at a very young age. The internet has helped me open up a number of businesses.
Did you have much experience as a photographer?
If I thought I could make it rich taking photos, I would have gone into this profession a long time ago. But really, photography has always just been a hobby.
How did you choose Brazil as your destination?
Learning how to surf was, believe it or not, a real stepping stone in my life. About four years ago, I learned how to surf behind an artificial wave put up by a wakeboarding boat. I really got into the sport and wanted to carry my surfing aspirations into the ocean. I narrowed my choices down to Australia and Brazil. A 15-minute phone call to Hans Keeling of Nexus Surf convinced me that Florianopolis, Brazil would be the perfect place for me to go.
[Editor: Some of you might recall that Hans, a recovered ex-lawyer, is a case study in The 4-Hour Workweek]
How did the calendar idea come about?
Arriving in Florianopolis in January of 2008, I was amazed by the sheer quantity of beautiful women — they were everywhere! I’d always had this dream of photographing models, so it was a perfect opportunity to make that dream come true. I coined the calendar name “Girls of Brazil” and so the adventure began. Then I just needed to find the models.
Photo: Jeremiah Thompson
So, how and where did you find the models?
The first model really set everything into motion.
I was hanging out with Hans Keeling (the owner of Nexus Surf) at Praia Mole Beach, when we passed a super sexy woman working at a fresco paddle rental stand. I had already mentioned my swimsuit calendar idea to Hans, and he happens to speak perfect Portuguese. I asked him if he would help me talk to her and pitch the idea. At this point, I had no product or business cards — just a pair of board shorts, my camera, and some photos of wildlife I had taken in Montana. But that was all I needed. It worked. She agreed to meet me the next day! She was even going to hitchhike to my house at 5:00 AM! I convinced her to let me pick her up, and we shot the next day from 5:30 AM till 8:30 PM. It was a great start to my project.
After that, I found most of the girls on my own, speaking to them in very basic (if not completely broken) Portuguese. I was able to find girls almost everywhere – at the beaches, clubs, supermarkets, walking down the street, and even online. It was too easy. Once I had a few great shots under my belt, I was able to show these same photos to other girls, and most wanted to participate just to get their own pictures taken.
Were they professional models?
The girls were, for the most part, your everyday gals. I did shoot one girl who was actually an international model. I found her while I was driving down the street. I jumped out of my car, chased after her, and asked if she wanted to participate. You would think someone like that would laugh at me, but she ended up making the photos:
Quite a few of the models had experience as event girls. I had the best luck finding those girls online.
But my best photos came from the girls with no professional experience. They always came to the shoots with the most energy. Their openness allowed me more freedom to infuse my own ideas into the photo shoot. This definitely made things more fun, and the results were always great.
Did you pay them for the shoots?
During the first year, I never paid any of the models. By the second year, I started paying a little. I had been dating one of the models and she helped me realize that many of the girls were actually using their own money just to prepare for the photos. They were paying to get their hair done, manicures/pedicures, new bikinis, etc. It was expensive. I started paying them 500 Brazilian reais, which amounted to approximately $250 US dollars. And because I shot many of the girls multiple times, it was a very small price to pay. However, I’m convinced that even if I didn’t pay anything, I would have just as much success or possibly even more. The girls, especially in the first year, really got excited about the opportunity, even though there was no money involved.
Critics might say you were taking advantage of them. What would you say to that?
One of the cool things about this project is the success they’ve had using my photos afterward.
Four of the girls went on to pose for Playboy Brasil. One of the girls got hired on as a dancer for the top television show in Brazil on Sunday afternoons. Many got modeling jobs. And they’ve all appreciated the opportunity, so that’s one of the best things about doing this.
Furthermore, it is not as if I was making money myself. The first few years of this project were big losses. Frankly I couldn’t afford to pay the girls to participate. This was a project I started more out of my desire to be a swimsuit photographer than to make another dollar. The girls loved the project and the photos. Many participated in multiple years. There weren’t any victims here.
For those who’ve dreamed about being a swimsuit photographer but have never had the chance, can you describe the atmosphere of a shoot?
The atmosphere is definitely one of the best things. It starts when the girls come to my house. I need to see them in their bikinis before we head out so I can prepare for the shoot. In the first year, all of the girls used their own bikinis and that worked great 90% of the time. But I started buying bikinis for the girls in year two. So the first step was always to pick out the best bikinis. We would usually find 2-4 bikinis that we would take to the shoot. After that, we either walked to a nearby local beach or took my car to a more private beach.
Usually, we would arrive before sunrise. This meant the girls had been up since 2:30 AM preparing! I typically rolled out of bed around 5:00 AM. Not an easy thing to do, but when the moment comes and those first rays of light hit a beautiful girl in a tiny bikini, it’s worth it.
Posing the girls was always the most difficult part. I wanted to bring out the best in each girl. I would put them through as many poses as possible, mentally noting how they looked best. Then when the best lighting conditions occurred, I would get the girls into what I already knew would be their best pose. This system worked great.
After the shoots, the first question from the girls was always: ”When will the photos be ready?”
They were thrilled to have shots for their portfolio that would otherwise have cost them at least a week’s pay.
Were there any methods you used to produce better results (i.e. humor to loosen up the model, etc.)?
I enjoyed bringing out the genuine smiles of each girl.
Most model photos always have that super serious look, which is supposed to be sexy. I don’t know if I’m different in this regard, but I always enjoy seeing a girl’s smile more. So for half the photos, I would get the girls smiling their biggest smiles possible, and the other half I would let them revert to that serious but “sexy” look you see in all the magazines. Getting the girls to smile was easy: I would just say “mais sexo!” For two years I thought that phrase meant “sexier!” but I guess it really means “more sex!” So it usually made the girls laugh before going into an even sexier pose. That’s how I discovered the girls’ natural smile and how great it looked in the photos.
What have been some of the more memorable moments from your shoots?
I’ve shot something like 30-40 girls now, and there are so many memories with each girl.
Fernanda was my first model and she will always be one of the best memories of this project. Actually, the first photo I took of her is, to this day, one of the best I have ever taken:
Then there was Iris, who showed up an hour and a half late to our shoot. We jumped in my car and she changed into her bikini as I sped off. When we arrived at the beach, I quickly put her into a pose, and we made this photo [below] in about 10 minutes. It was not a minute too soon, as the sun set right after.
When I think about how much preparation goes into a Sports Illustrated shoot and compare it to some of the photos I’ve taken, I’m amazed by the results I’ve had as a one-man operation. It really is a credit to the beauty of these girls and the environment I am working with down in Brazil.
Last but not least, there’s Dayana.
She and I ended up getting married, so how could I not mention this as one of my best memories?! We were really connected right from the beginning. It was a goal of mine to find a woman like Dayana to marry, so having this dream come true as a result of this project was incredible, to say the least.
What sales channels have you used for distribution of the calendar?
I’ve never had the opportunity of getting into the main calendar distribution channels, due to my lateness of releasing the calendars. I learned afterward that most calendars get released almost a year before the calendar year.
That meant the calendar had been shot as early as two years before. Since I was doing this more for fun than to make money, I decided to release the calendars as close to the calendar year as possible. The models were happy with this, as they didn’t have to wait two years to see their photos debut. It wasn’t smart business on my part, but again, I wasn’t doing the project to make the most money.
Having said that, we’ve enjoyed being one of the top calendars through Amazon for a couple of years now. We’re giving “Sports Illustrated” a run for their money (at least with Amazon) and I feel a great amount of pride seeing that and knowing how small my operation is compared to them.
Have you done any unique promotions to get the word out?
In 2009, we sent 20,000 calendars to troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. In 2010, we sent approximately 3,000 (I was working with a bigger personal budget in 2009 than in 2010). I hope to get these numbers back up in future years if I stay involved in the project. I always get troop requests and have a list of soldiers who have already requested their copies for 2011. It feels great helping these guys out. Hopefully seeing the beautiful girls on their walls keeps them motivated to stay strong and finish out their missions safe.
What’s the “Girls of Brazil” contest you mentioned to me?
The idea behind the contest is to give someone the chance to live the dream of being a swimsuit photographer. There really is no better place than Brazil for this.
I’d help the lucky winner of this contest along with each step. First, we’ll recruit the girls and find the models he’ll be shooting. Then I’ll give him my camera equipment and teach him how to photograph the girls. The winner will be shooting the girls on his own, but I’ll be around if he needs my help. And afterward, we’ll celebrate the results “Brazilian style”!
The contest doesn’t exist yet, but I’m hoping to get sponsored by a magazine who can feature it. It would make a great story and fill several issues of their magazine with content guys will love.
That sounds like a once-in-a-lifetime experience. If a magazine doesn’t pick up the contest, perhaps we can make it happen :)
—
So, how did his calendars turn out? Take a look at Girls of Brazil website or visit Amazon. If you want a taste of his photos on Facebook, here’s your fix.
Question of the Day (QOD): If you’re happily married, how did you meet your husband or wife, and do you think someone could engineer the same? Share in the comments!"
Thanks for the great article interview Tim & Jeremy!
Its a tough job, but somebodies gotta do it...right?
Why don't they teach you how to do that in university hmmmmm?
Before hiring one of my assistants, Charlie, I asked him where he wanted to be in 6 and 12 months.
I made him define what he wanted to have and what he wanted to do in both timeframes. At the top of the list was a mini-retirement to Thailand or South America.
Done and done.
Charlie just returned three weeks ago from Buenos Aires. It was there he developed a rather keen interest in Brazilian girls, who were visiting Argentina as tourists. Two weeks ago at around 2am, while preparing the new book launch at my house, he somehow accidentally (riiiiight) got stuck in a Flickr slideshow of Brazilian models.
The photos belonged to someone named Jeremiah Thompson.
Digging a little deeper, it turned out that Jeremiah had an incredible story. Two years ago, he decided he wanted to become a professional photographer of Brazilian bikini models. That, and he wanted to get married. Despite the fact that he was from Montana and had no training, he made both happen in record time.
This is his wife-hunting story…
An Interview with Jeremiah Thompson
What’s your background?
I was born in Missoula, Montana, a small college town in the heart of the Rocky Mountains. My Dad was a colonel in the Army so I grew up all over the place, including a couple of stints in Germany. I definitely have a strong entrepreneurial background and have been in business in one form or another all my life, starting at a very young age. The internet has helped me open up a number of businesses.
Did you have much experience as a photographer?
If I thought I could make it rich taking photos, I would have gone into this profession a long time ago. But really, photography has always just been a hobby.
How did you choose Brazil as your destination?
Learning how to surf was, believe it or not, a real stepping stone in my life. About four years ago, I learned how to surf behind an artificial wave put up by a wakeboarding boat. I really got into the sport and wanted to carry my surfing aspirations into the ocean. I narrowed my choices down to Australia and Brazil. A 15-minute phone call to Hans Keeling of Nexus Surf convinced me that Florianopolis, Brazil would be the perfect place for me to go.
[Editor: Some of you might recall that Hans, a recovered ex-lawyer, is a case study in The 4-Hour Workweek]
How did the calendar idea come about?
Arriving in Florianopolis in January of 2008, I was amazed by the sheer quantity of beautiful women — they were everywhere! I’d always had this dream of photographing models, so it was a perfect opportunity to make that dream come true. I coined the calendar name “Girls of Brazil” and so the adventure began. Then I just needed to find the models.
Photo: Jeremiah Thompson
So, how and where did you find the models?
The first model really set everything into motion.
I was hanging out with Hans Keeling (the owner of Nexus Surf) at Praia Mole Beach, when we passed a super sexy woman working at a fresco paddle rental stand. I had already mentioned my swimsuit calendar idea to Hans, and he happens to speak perfect Portuguese. I asked him if he would help me talk to her and pitch the idea. At this point, I had no product or business cards — just a pair of board shorts, my camera, and some photos of wildlife I had taken in Montana. But that was all I needed. It worked. She agreed to meet me the next day! She was even going to hitchhike to my house at 5:00 AM! I convinced her to let me pick her up, and we shot the next day from 5:30 AM till 8:30 PM. It was a great start to my project.
After that, I found most of the girls on my own, speaking to them in very basic (if not completely broken) Portuguese. I was able to find girls almost everywhere – at the beaches, clubs, supermarkets, walking down the street, and even online. It was too easy. Once I had a few great shots under my belt, I was able to show these same photos to other girls, and most wanted to participate just to get their own pictures taken.
Were they professional models?
The girls were, for the most part, your everyday gals. I did shoot one girl who was actually an international model. I found her while I was driving down the street. I jumped out of my car, chased after her, and asked if she wanted to participate. You would think someone like that would laugh at me, but she ended up making the photos:
Quite a few of the models had experience as event girls. I had the best luck finding those girls online.
But my best photos came from the girls with no professional experience. They always came to the shoots with the most energy. Their openness allowed me more freedom to infuse my own ideas into the photo shoot. This definitely made things more fun, and the results were always great.
Did you pay them for the shoots?
During the first year, I never paid any of the models. By the second year, I started paying a little. I had been dating one of the models and she helped me realize that many of the girls were actually using their own money just to prepare for the photos. They were paying to get their hair done, manicures/pedicures, new bikinis, etc. It was expensive. I started paying them 500 Brazilian reais, which amounted to approximately $250 US dollars. And because I shot many of the girls multiple times, it was a very small price to pay. However, I’m convinced that even if I didn’t pay anything, I would have just as much success or possibly even more. The girls, especially in the first year, really got excited about the opportunity, even though there was no money involved.
Critics might say you were taking advantage of them. What would you say to that?
One of the cool things about this project is the success they’ve had using my photos afterward.
Four of the girls went on to pose for Playboy Brasil. One of the girls got hired on as a dancer for the top television show in Brazil on Sunday afternoons. Many got modeling jobs. And they’ve all appreciated the opportunity, so that’s one of the best things about doing this.
Furthermore, it is not as if I was making money myself. The first few years of this project were big losses. Frankly I couldn’t afford to pay the girls to participate. This was a project I started more out of my desire to be a swimsuit photographer than to make another dollar. The girls loved the project and the photos. Many participated in multiple years. There weren’t any victims here.
For those who’ve dreamed about being a swimsuit photographer but have never had the chance, can you describe the atmosphere of a shoot?
The atmosphere is definitely one of the best things. It starts when the girls come to my house. I need to see them in their bikinis before we head out so I can prepare for the shoot. In the first year, all of the girls used their own bikinis and that worked great 90% of the time. But I started buying bikinis for the girls in year two. So the first step was always to pick out the best bikinis. We would usually find 2-4 bikinis that we would take to the shoot. After that, we either walked to a nearby local beach or took my car to a more private beach.
Usually, we would arrive before sunrise. This meant the girls had been up since 2:30 AM preparing! I typically rolled out of bed around 5:00 AM. Not an easy thing to do, but when the moment comes and those first rays of light hit a beautiful girl in a tiny bikini, it’s worth it.
Posing the girls was always the most difficult part. I wanted to bring out the best in each girl. I would put them through as many poses as possible, mentally noting how they looked best. Then when the best lighting conditions occurred, I would get the girls into what I already knew would be their best pose. This system worked great.
After the shoots, the first question from the girls was always: ”When will the photos be ready?”
They were thrilled to have shots for their portfolio that would otherwise have cost them at least a week’s pay.
Were there any methods you used to produce better results (i.e. humor to loosen up the model, etc.)?
I enjoyed bringing out the genuine smiles of each girl.
Most model photos always have that super serious look, which is supposed to be sexy. I don’t know if I’m different in this regard, but I always enjoy seeing a girl’s smile more. So for half the photos, I would get the girls smiling their biggest smiles possible, and the other half I would let them revert to that serious but “sexy” look you see in all the magazines. Getting the girls to smile was easy: I would just say “mais sexo!” For two years I thought that phrase meant “sexier!” but I guess it really means “more sex!” So it usually made the girls laugh before going into an even sexier pose. That’s how I discovered the girls’ natural smile and how great it looked in the photos.
What have been some of the more memorable moments from your shoots?
I’ve shot something like 30-40 girls now, and there are so many memories with each girl.
Fernanda was my first model and she will always be one of the best memories of this project. Actually, the first photo I took of her is, to this day, one of the best I have ever taken:
Then there was Iris, who showed up an hour and a half late to our shoot. We jumped in my car and she changed into her bikini as I sped off. When we arrived at the beach, I quickly put her into a pose, and we made this photo [below] in about 10 minutes. It was not a minute too soon, as the sun set right after.
When I think about how much preparation goes into a Sports Illustrated shoot and compare it to some of the photos I’ve taken, I’m amazed by the results I’ve had as a one-man operation. It really is a credit to the beauty of these girls and the environment I am working with down in Brazil.
Last but not least, there’s Dayana.
She and I ended up getting married, so how could I not mention this as one of my best memories?! We were really connected right from the beginning. It was a goal of mine to find a woman like Dayana to marry, so having this dream come true as a result of this project was incredible, to say the least.
What sales channels have you used for distribution of the calendar?
I’ve never had the opportunity of getting into the main calendar distribution channels, due to my lateness of releasing the calendars. I learned afterward that most calendars get released almost a year before the calendar year.
That meant the calendar had been shot as early as two years before. Since I was doing this more for fun than to make money, I decided to release the calendars as close to the calendar year as possible. The models were happy with this, as they didn’t have to wait two years to see their photos debut. It wasn’t smart business on my part, but again, I wasn’t doing the project to make the most money.
Having said that, we’ve enjoyed being one of the top calendars through Amazon for a couple of years now. We’re giving “Sports Illustrated” a run for their money (at least with Amazon) and I feel a great amount of pride seeing that and knowing how small my operation is compared to them.
Have you done any unique promotions to get the word out?
In 2009, we sent 20,000 calendars to troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. In 2010, we sent approximately 3,000 (I was working with a bigger personal budget in 2009 than in 2010). I hope to get these numbers back up in future years if I stay involved in the project. I always get troop requests and have a list of soldiers who have already requested their copies for 2011. It feels great helping these guys out. Hopefully seeing the beautiful girls on their walls keeps them motivated to stay strong and finish out their missions safe.
What’s the “Girls of Brazil” contest you mentioned to me?
The idea behind the contest is to give someone the chance to live the dream of being a swimsuit photographer. There really is no better place than Brazil for this.
I’d help the lucky winner of this contest along with each step. First, we’ll recruit the girls and find the models he’ll be shooting. Then I’ll give him my camera equipment and teach him how to photograph the girls. The winner will be shooting the girls on his own, but I’ll be around if he needs my help. And afterward, we’ll celebrate the results “Brazilian style”!
The contest doesn’t exist yet, but I’m hoping to get sponsored by a magazine who can feature it. It would make a great story and fill several issues of their magazine with content guys will love.
That sounds like a once-in-a-lifetime experience. If a magazine doesn’t pick up the contest, perhaps we can make it happen :)
—
So, how did his calendars turn out? Take a look at Girls of Brazil website or visit Amazon. If you want a taste of his photos on Facebook, here’s your fix.
Question of the Day (QOD): If you’re happily married, how did you meet your husband or wife, and do you think someone could engineer the same? Share in the comments!"
Thanks for the great article interview Tim & Jeremy!
Thursday, November 25, 2010
I don't know how I got here...but here I am...the clock is ticking...
"It was the best of times, if only someone told me. Mistakes were made, hearts were broken, harsh lessons were learned.
I don't know how I got here...but here I am...now the clock is ticking..." Hank Moody = My current reality.
This video is the story of my current reality @ the moment...
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Love Em or Hate Em, Eminem is an Inspiring Story...
CBS 60 Minutes Interview with white rapper Marshal Mathers - Eminem
"I'm not afraid, to take a stand. Everybody, come take my hand. We'll walk this road together, through the storm. Whatever weather, cold or warm. Just let you know that, you're not alone. Holla if you feel that you've been down the same road...."
"I'm not afraid, to take a stand. Everybody, come take my hand. We'll walk this road together, through the storm. Whatever weather, cold or warm. Just let you know that, you're not alone. Holla if you feel that you've been down the same road...."
Thursday, October 21, 2010
The American Diet = 2/3 Population Overwieght & Obese
TED TALK VIDEO about health, diet and what it takes to live a long, life...Enjoy
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Meet Facebook Creator & BILLIONAIRE
I just watched The Social Network this past weekend - LOVED IT!
check out Mark Z's interview
Watch live video from Startup School on Justin.tv
check out Mark Z's interview
Watch live video from Startup School on Justin.tv
Friday, October 8, 2010
Right Here....Right Now....
If you like stats, facts or anything else to do with people, technology or information and your interested in learning what the heck is happening in our world, you will enjoy this video...
Was I right?
Was I right?
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Ol' School Hip Hop Countdown
This post is to make up for all the new crappy new hip hop artists and to kick it old school ;)
#1 2Pac "Only God Can Judge Me"
"Pain" Above The Rim Soundtrack
#2 Snoop Doggy Dog
#3 Warren G & Nate Dogg - Regulate
#4 Biggie Smalls "Big Poppa"
#5 Easy E
#6 House Of Pain
#7 Naughty By Nature "Hip Hop Horray"
#1 2Pac "Only God Can Judge Me"
"Pain" Above The Rim Soundtrack
#2 Snoop Doggy Dog
#3 Warren G & Nate Dogg - Regulate
#4 Biggie Smalls "Big Poppa"
#5 Easy E
#6 House Of Pain
#7 Naughty By Nature "Hip Hop Horray"
Friday, September 24, 2010
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
#10 "Crossed Out"
"Kris Cross" I LOVED this group when I was like 13...I was even 'crossed out' (wearing my clothes backwards) for Halloween one year ;)
JUMP
JUMP
Monday, September 20, 2010
New Rap *SUCKS*
I admit it, I used to LOVE rap when I was in high school & playing b ball listening to it outside on the court was what we DID for fun growing up. But I have to admit something, I haven't listened to 'new school rap' for YEARS for one reason...it SUCKS!!
I was sitting at the gym the other day talking to my best childhood friend (and still best adult friend) Colin, and we were like, 'what happened to all the good rappers we grew up with? and who are these young punks rapping about all this 'bling'?!"
So, for the next 10 days, I agreed to upload a new 'ol school rap song' each day to this blog, so, stay tuned...in the meantime message me or comment what song YOU wanna hear and think is the best old school rap song ever. Here is a little somethin' somethin' for the hip hop heads! Haha, this is gonna be FUN
In my humble opinion this is the best rap song ever...you agree?
I was sitting at the gym the other day talking to my best childhood friend (and still best adult friend) Colin, and we were like, 'what happened to all the good rappers we grew up with? and who are these young punks rapping about all this 'bling'?!"
So, for the next 10 days, I agreed to upload a new 'ol school rap song' each day to this blog, so, stay tuned...in the meantime message me or comment what song YOU wanna hear and think is the best old school rap song ever. Here is a little somethin' somethin' for the hip hop heads! Haha, this is gonna be FUN
In my humble opinion this is the best rap song ever...you agree?
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Europe Travel = Music, Wine & Meeting New People
pic of me after 5 days STRAIGHT riding (and sleeping) on trains from Portugal to Greece!
I listened to this song the most traveling through Europe for 3 months while riding trains from country to country - city to city. Its a beauty; & so was Europe...
BTW I shared this bottle of wine on the roof of our bungalow we rented with a fellow traveler I met in the Greek islands while listening to this same song. Damn I loved Europe, and the people I met!
Greece
Italy
Venice (aka "City of Love")
Portugal (post-surf)
Spain
Good times & memories - I need to take another trip soon to experience more music, wine & people :)
And the beat goes on...
Onward & Upward
~Q~
I listened to this song the most traveling through Europe for 3 months while riding trains from country to country - city to city. Its a beauty; & so was Europe...
BTW I shared this bottle of wine on the roof of our bungalow we rented with a fellow traveler I met in the Greek islands while listening to this same song. Damn I loved Europe, and the people I met!
Greece
Italy
Venice (aka "City of Love")
Portugal (post-surf)
Spain
Good times & memories - I need to take another trip soon to experience more music, wine & people :)
And the beat goes on...
Onward & Upward
~Q~
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Facebook in REAL Life....Hillarious, but sadly true...
This is funny, and I think its a pretty accurate skit of how Facebook has overtaken out society and out relationships.
The 'Social Media Rap' --->> "New Dork" <---
ITs true, now Geeks and Dorks that rock skinny jeans are the rockin new biz leaders!
The 'Social Media Rap' --->> "New Dork" <---
ITs true, now Geeks and Dorks that rock skinny jeans are the rockin new biz leaders!
6 Month Surf Documentary Indonisia
"Sometimes When Your Most Alone...Your Not Alone At All" says my new travel / surfer hero; Rob Machado
Movie Trailer
Music Video
Interview
Part2
we dream of the perfect wave, the perfect job, the perfect house, the perfect partner but when we get it...we dream of something else...
Movie Trailer
Music Video
Interview
Part2
we dream of the perfect wave, the perfect job, the perfect house, the perfect partner but when we get it...we dream of something else...
Friday, August 27, 2010
"Surfveza" = More than sun & surf & beer...it's a LIFESTYLE
Press Play & listen to this wicked surf song
Ever since I was 10 y/o after my first trip to California with my parents I have been in awe and obsessed with surfing, and not just the sport, but the lifestyle and culture it exudes it aswell.
Sun, sand, surf pursued by sun bronzed bodies to me is the ultimate expression of fun and freedom. (Not to mention the surfer girls:)
That's why I guess when I was 19 years old after living in the prairies of Canada I put my life and school on hold to escape from the brutal winters and bought a one way around the wold ticket to visit and live a variety of surf mecca's such as Australia and Asia and return back to California were there was no such thing as snow, or frost bite, only waves, and sun all year round.
It was awesome!
my first business I ever started was leading surf trips to Tofino & Mexico for college students - I called it Surfveza Sessions
After one of the best trips and times of my life I got the above tattoo from a Mexican who didn't even speak English - it was interesting to say the least.
People always ask me what 'Surfveza' means, and to be honest, it doesn't 'mean' anything - but to me its a statement of freedom, inspired by following your passion and living your dreams, just as I did when I started that biz venture to not only give myself an opportunity to travel and surf, but to also expose others that were otherwise so consumed by work, school and stress to do anything fun. Those trips opened many peoples eyes that there is a really cool alternative lifestyle that anyone can choose to create and live for themselves if they have the balls to go against the norm and 'just do it' as Nike says.
Many travelers are surfers and many surfers are travelers, its a natural fit to explore cultures, beaches and surf breaks, in search of their own personal paradise.
I am TOTALLY inspired and addicted to this DVD series called Drive Thru, 5 pro surfers who travel and record each counrties surf trip into a DVD, check out this on in Japan:
There is something really soothing and hard to explain that being in the ocean provides when its just you and the sound of crashing waves watching the sun sink into the ocean, its almost a spiritual experience.
(Me Surfing In Mexico)
Obviously, I have been addicted to travel, and will continue to surf epic spots around the world...and hopefully run into the Drive Thru crew along the way!
My next goal is to go to either Bali or Brazil for a couple months of sun, surf and Surfveza's...
(this is the a really interesting & unique interview about a surfer 'drifter'
Go Find YOUR Freedom & Personal Paradise:
Your Surfing Beach Bum,
Quinton Carlin
I wish I knew about 'tarp surfing' when I was growing up in the prairies like these guys...
A WAY OF LIFE...
"Keep your thoughts positive because your thoughts become your words.
Keep your words positive because your words become your behaviors.
Keep your behaviors positive because your behaviors become your habits.
Keep your habits positive because your habits become your values.
Keep your values positive because your values become your destiny." - Gandhi
Keep your words positive because your words become your behaviors.
Keep your behaviors positive because your behaviors become your habits.
Keep your habits positive because your habits become your values.
Keep your values positive because your values become your destiny." - Gandhi
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Turning 30...(is it really all just "empty & meaningless"?)
Its 12:07am on August 17th, 2010...its official, I just turned 30...
I am sitting at my desk with the window open and I am looking out at the moon lit black ocean listening to waves crash 9 stories below me while drinking a very refreshing gin & tonic reminiscing on the past 30 years of my life, that have passed so incredibly quickly...
My parents just got in town today visiting for the week and are fast asleep next to my office so I turn down my stereo and put my headphones on as I blast my favorite song EVER, 'Bittersweet Symphony' by the Verve (press play now as you read this post, it will enhance your reading experience :)
Its funny, about 2 years ago I paid 1000$ to go to a 3 day workshop and all the Forum Leader / Speaker said for those 3 long days was 'life is empty & meaningless'.
To say the least I felt a little ripped off, both personally and financially to hear that there really is no 'meaning' to life at all. But the more I think about it I am starting to understand what that meant (more on that later).
Its bizzare, seeing my parents today and remembering how when I was alot younger, my dad would always say 'son, enjoy your youth and freedom because before you know it you will have a son and a career with bills and responsibilities because life moves so fast...so ENJOY IT!" Thanks for that great advise dad (and also thanks for your great genes too! you are 68 & you look just 50 and now that I am 30, I still even get ID'd at pubs!)
But at the time I was too consumed with Nintendo and basketball to pay it any attention, but here I am, a couple decades later, and now I know exactly what he meant. I am still in total awe that I have a son that is already 6 years old! I am sure that all you other parents out there know what I mean!?
It feels just like yesterday when I was changing his diapers and building his crib! Now he is obsessed with Star Wars video games on his laptop, playing tag with his friends and also practicing basketball just like his old man :)
I had a dejavu moment this weekend when I was telling my son Ethan the same thing my dad told me, 'son, enjoy being a little boy, life moves pretty fast so enjoy these care free years', but being just 6 years old, he didn't really grasp the message...yet.
Ethan at 6 Months
Ethan at 6 Years Old
.png)
Through out all of the trials and tribulations of 'growing up' I sometimes wonder if other people felt as overwhelmed, confused, uncertain and conflicted about certain aspects of both the past and future like I have during these times of change and development.
Sometimes I wonder what the meaning of all this 'stuff' really is and what the point & purpose of this thing called 'life' is all about?
Ask yourself, have you ever felt like that too...?
Then I started to ask, does any of it really matter?
Or is it like that speaker said, its all just 'empty and meaningless'?
I have come to this conclusion, that our lives mean whatever we MAKE them mean.
We have the 'choice' of how we want to perceive our existence & experiences.
For example, I can look back on the past 30 years one of 2 ways, in awe, inspiration and gratitude of all the great things I have gotten to experience and feel blessed with all the amazing people I have met and developed relationships with....
OR
I can feel unsatisfied, unfulfilled and disappointed with those exact same experiences that I have done so far.
Get it?
Here is the interesting part, nothing has changed; meaning that I have the same results, same experiences and same outcome, but depending on the perspective from which I perceive all these 'things' from, depends on what I make it all 'mean' and how I feel about them...pretty deep I know, but it makes sense and I feel a certian comfort knowing that we each are in complete control of our life experiences; the good, the bad and the ugly.
I guess it comes down to seeing the glass as half full or empty. I have always attempted to see the good side of things, but its not always easy.
For example I have been hit with a TON of adversity, especially in the past 5 years, but those challenges made me a better and stronger person. I could choose to let them affect my perspective in a negative way, but I CHOOSE not to allow them to.
Its just like when people say, 'oh man, turning 30 sucks' that may be true for them, but I am STOKED about it. I see it as a new beginning, a fresh start and a new chapter to create a new reality that I can design.
Am I were I thought I would be at the age of 30? Well, to be honest, not really. There are alot of things I wish I had or have accomplished, but from learning alot of my mentors and friends I see now that life is a journey, and not a destination.
I find we live in a society that focuses on the 'past' and 'the future' too much instead of enjoying the present 'now'.
Also, I have observed that as a population we focus on what we DON'T have instead of all the things we DO have.
And hey, I am as guilty of this as anyone. I remember being in 3rd world countries with families living in shacks on the street and they were SOOOOO HAPPY, expecially compared to the over worked, and over stressed corporate employee who has it all, money, cars, houses, investments but has no peace of mind and very little happiness...
All in all, I have to admit, its been one hell of a journey so far! And to be honest, my parents always joke that I have crammed more 'LIFE' into the last 10 years than most do in a entire lifespan -
22 countries traveled, hundreds of cities, (many near death experiences and adventures) met and developed relationships with thousands of people all over the world, then immersing myself in a business world I never knew existed while most importantly fighting for my fatherly rights even through a 5 year court custody case to obtain my rights to co-parent my son. This is by far my proudest accomplishment, especially when 97% of other guys my age would have all walked away from that responsibility after all the legal and emotional hoops & BS I had to go through to ensure that I would develop a strong relationship with my boy, as I finished what I started and those 5 long & hard years were well worth it to be able to have the rest of our lives together as father & son.
Its been an intense journey to say the least - but I wouldn't have changed it for the world!
Now entering this new decade of the 'dirty thirties', I see that a few things have and will continue to change. For example friends are getting married, having (more) children, getting fatter, going bald, and complaining about work more and more...all that good stuff that comes with age, hahaha!
It really is amazing that last weekend my old college roommate & b-ball teammate just got married! it still feels like just last month I moved away from home after high school to go away to college...and now here we are, 12 years later, married with children!
Remember, all you other 30 somethings out there who feel you are missing out on marriage or the whole 'dating scene', let me tell you this, there is no perfect partner 'out there' besides the perfect you already in you...
Since I have been single and dating alot, its kind of sad seeing how many people feel the need to 'be' with someone, almost anyone. I guess its because most people don't have a strong relationship with themselves and feel the need to fill that void elsewhere. I have a ring that a friend game me that says "Perfect, Whole & Complete' and that is each of us are as humans...
I will leave you with this 8 second clip from my hero, Ferris Bueller that says it all
All I have to say to wrap this decade up is that "20 is the new 30 and life is like wine, the older we get, the better we get."
Its true so far, for example today on my Bday I already did hot yoga, infrared sauna at the spa, played Bball, worked out, hit the hottub, had a great lunch and dinner with friends and family and ended the day with a great massage! I can't ask for a better day than that!
Now I am packing up to to go to Tofino on Vancouver Island to surf and camp for a week just me and my dad :)
Life is good!! (not 'empty and meaningless':)
Thanks to all my friends and family who called, texted, emailed and Facebooked me to wish me a happy 30th, thanks for your words, I really appreciate it and I really appreciate all of YOU!
Much LOVE from your '30 Something' year old blogger,
(a girlfriend of mine gave me that necklace & flower to take that picture - Good Times :)
Onward & Upward,
Quinton Carlin
I am sitting at my desk with the window open and I am looking out at the moon lit black ocean listening to waves crash 9 stories below me while drinking a very refreshing gin & tonic reminiscing on the past 30 years of my life, that have passed so incredibly quickly...
My parents just got in town today visiting for the week and are fast asleep next to my office so I turn down my stereo and put my headphones on as I blast my favorite song EVER, 'Bittersweet Symphony' by the Verve (press play now as you read this post, it will enhance your reading experience :)
Its funny, about 2 years ago I paid 1000$ to go to a 3 day workshop and all the Forum Leader / Speaker said for those 3 long days was 'life is empty & meaningless'.
To say the least I felt a little ripped off, both personally and financially to hear that there really is no 'meaning' to life at all. But the more I think about it I am starting to understand what that meant (more on that later).
Its bizzare, seeing my parents today and remembering how when I was alot younger, my dad would always say 'son, enjoy your youth and freedom because before you know it you will have a son and a career with bills and responsibilities because life moves so fast...so ENJOY IT!" Thanks for that great advise dad (and also thanks for your great genes too! you are 68 & you look just 50 and now that I am 30, I still even get ID'd at pubs!)
But at the time I was too consumed with Nintendo and basketball to pay it any attention, but here I am, a couple decades later, and now I know exactly what he meant. I am still in total awe that I have a son that is already 6 years old! I am sure that all you other parents out there know what I mean!?
It feels just like yesterday when I was changing his diapers and building his crib! Now he is obsessed with Star Wars video games on his laptop, playing tag with his friends and also practicing basketball just like his old man :)
I had a dejavu moment this weekend when I was telling my son Ethan the same thing my dad told me, 'son, enjoy being a little boy, life moves pretty fast so enjoy these care free years', but being just 6 years old, he didn't really grasp the message...yet.
Ethan at 6 Months
Ethan at 6 Years Old
.png)
Through out all of the trials and tribulations of 'growing up' I sometimes wonder if other people felt as overwhelmed, confused, uncertain and conflicted about certain aspects of both the past and future like I have during these times of change and development.
Sometimes I wonder what the meaning of all this 'stuff' really is and what the point & purpose of this thing called 'life' is all about?
Ask yourself, have you ever felt like that too...?
Then I started to ask, does any of it really matter?
Or is it like that speaker said, its all just 'empty and meaningless'?
I have come to this conclusion, that our lives mean whatever we MAKE them mean.
We have the 'choice' of how we want to perceive our existence & experiences.
For example, I can look back on the past 30 years one of 2 ways, in awe, inspiration and gratitude of all the great things I have gotten to experience and feel blessed with all the amazing people I have met and developed relationships with....
OR
I can feel unsatisfied, unfulfilled and disappointed with those exact same experiences that I have done so far.
Get it?
Here is the interesting part, nothing has changed; meaning that I have the same results, same experiences and same outcome, but depending on the perspective from which I perceive all these 'things' from, depends on what I make it all 'mean' and how I feel about them...pretty deep I know, but it makes sense and I feel a certian comfort knowing that we each are in complete control of our life experiences; the good, the bad and the ugly.
I guess it comes down to seeing the glass as half full or empty. I have always attempted to see the good side of things, but its not always easy.
For example I have been hit with a TON of adversity, especially in the past 5 years, but those challenges made me a better and stronger person. I could choose to let them affect my perspective in a negative way, but I CHOOSE not to allow them to.
Its just like when people say, 'oh man, turning 30 sucks' that may be true for them, but I am STOKED about it. I see it as a new beginning, a fresh start and a new chapter to create a new reality that I can design.
Am I were I thought I would be at the age of 30? Well, to be honest, not really. There are alot of things I wish I had or have accomplished, but from learning alot of my mentors and friends I see now that life is a journey, and not a destination.
I find we live in a society that focuses on the 'past' and 'the future' too much instead of enjoying the present 'now'.
Also, I have observed that as a population we focus on what we DON'T have instead of all the things we DO have.
And hey, I am as guilty of this as anyone. I remember being in 3rd world countries with families living in shacks on the street and they were SOOOOO HAPPY, expecially compared to the over worked, and over stressed corporate employee who has it all, money, cars, houses, investments but has no peace of mind and very little happiness...
All in all, I have to admit, its been one hell of a journey so far! And to be honest, my parents always joke that I have crammed more 'LIFE' into the last 10 years than most do in a entire lifespan -
22 countries traveled, hundreds of cities, (many near death experiences and adventures) met and developed relationships with thousands of people all over the world, then immersing myself in a business world I never knew existed while most importantly fighting for my fatherly rights even through a 5 year court custody case to obtain my rights to co-parent my son. This is by far my proudest accomplishment, especially when 97% of other guys my age would have all walked away from that responsibility after all the legal and emotional hoops & BS I had to go through to ensure that I would develop a strong relationship with my boy, as I finished what I started and those 5 long & hard years were well worth it to be able to have the rest of our lives together as father & son.
Its been an intense journey to say the least - but I wouldn't have changed it for the world!
Now entering this new decade of the 'dirty thirties', I see that a few things have and will continue to change. For example friends are getting married, having (more) children, getting fatter, going bald, and complaining about work more and more...all that good stuff that comes with age, hahaha!
It really is amazing that last weekend my old college roommate & b-ball teammate just got married! it still feels like just last month I moved away from home after high school to go away to college...and now here we are, 12 years later, married with children!
Remember, all you other 30 somethings out there who feel you are missing out on marriage or the whole 'dating scene', let me tell you this, there is no perfect partner 'out there' besides the perfect you already in you...
Since I have been single and dating alot, its kind of sad seeing how many people feel the need to 'be' with someone, almost anyone. I guess its because most people don't have a strong relationship with themselves and feel the need to fill that void elsewhere. I have a ring that a friend game me that says "Perfect, Whole & Complete' and that is each of us are as humans...
I will leave you with this 8 second clip from my hero, Ferris Bueller that says it all
All I have to say to wrap this decade up is that "20 is the new 30 and life is like wine, the older we get, the better we get."
Its true so far, for example today on my Bday I already did hot yoga, infrared sauna at the spa, played Bball, worked out, hit the hottub, had a great lunch and dinner with friends and family and ended the day with a great massage! I can't ask for a better day than that!
Now I am packing up to to go to Tofino on Vancouver Island to surf and camp for a week just me and my dad :)
Life is good!! (not 'empty and meaningless':)
Thanks to all my friends and family who called, texted, emailed and Facebooked me to wish me a happy 30th, thanks for your words, I really appreciate it and I really appreciate all of YOU!
Much LOVE from your '30 Something' year old blogger,
(a girlfriend of mine gave me that necklace & flower to take that picture - Good Times :)
Onward & Upward,
Quinton Carlin
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Electric Feel...
For some reason this song & video makes me wanna run through the jungle naked in the middle of the night...
Your thoughts?
Your thoughts?
Sunday, August 1, 2010
When Life "Sucks"...Read This...
Do you ever have one of those days (or weeks - or even perhaps months) when things just seem to 'suck'?
If your human, of course you have! We all do at some point....
Sometimes it gets to that point when you want to pack it all up, by a one way ticket like John Reese did (article I wrote below) and just check out of regular society for a while and travel to free from the stresses and restraints of every day life.
The other week I posted this 'tweet' on my twitter account after I got 'tripled teamed' & slammed by tons of different people and situations of pure dramatic insanity that made want to delete & forget each of them from my life and crawl back into bed.
Know the feeling? I shared that thought on Facebook saying:
"we should create an island & ship all the f*cked up people to go live on it to create drama with their own lives and other drama queens & leave us normal people alone". Harsh. I know, but if you went through what I experienced last week, you'd agree.
Want a glimpse of my week last week and why I said that?
Well, first of all, if you missed my post below called 'Scar Tissue Stag' were I relay my near death experience were I crashed a 4 Wheeler ATV by driving it off a cliff in Whistler & landing on my head during a friends bachelor party and ending up in the hospital via a stretcher and neck brace with whiplash, just lucky not to be paralyzed or dead, that is how my week started off...
-then I somehow lost my digital camera / video recorder in Whistler that was a special gift from a special someone...
-When I got back to Vancouver, I got a call from my tenant that I am renting my Yaletown condo to, and was told that it got broken into because they left balcony door open! I had to buy a new door lock & security system. Brilliant.
-Then when I was leaving the building to bike back home, my bike (that was locked up) was stolen....Sweet!
-Then as I was walking home, I get a call from my lawyer and was advised that the 4000$ retainer I agreed to needed an extra $1800 dollars due asap due to other 'incurred costs'. Scandalous.
- At this point, I was about to snap - but that's not all...
All I wanted to do is go home and connect with my son Ethan as I was supposed to see him tonight. He & his mom are in the middle of moving to California next month (long story), but I wasn't able to see that night him because his mom's phone is turned off and I am couldn't get a hold of them both for 2 days. Then when I did get a call back from her apologizing, she tells me that she is getting engaged & married to the guy she has been dating for the last few years. Terrific.
One simple smile from this little guy and all my worries always disappear :)
- The next day I check my email and bank account, I see that a 2500$ check I was supposed to get from a teaching contract never came, I make a phone call and they refused to pay me what I was owed - That's why I hate ever being an 'employee', even if its for a good reason.
- Then, on top of that I see that for the past 24 months I have been registered & billed on some kind of monthly auto payment plan by the Bank Of Montreal Mastercard were I have been getting charged 97$ / month for 'credit insurance'. That's 2400$ I have basically given away in the past 2 years for something I didn't want, need or even knew existed. Unreal!
I called Mastercard customer service and spoke to a supervisor named 'Paul' who played back the tape of when a telemarketer called me and talked me into this 'great deal'. Brutal customer service & I had to fight like crazy to get a small portion back refunded!
-Talking about terrible customer service, I realized that I have been living at my new place for 6 weeks and Telus has still not come to connect my phone & buzzer after 4 phone calls to request them to do so - I pick of the phone again and talk to an automated operator before I get transferred to someone who doesn't even speak comprehendable English. I hate you Telus!
-Then I get a call from a new customer / partner were I was supposed to make a 900$ commission and was told that his order was declined and now his payment and funds were missing (we got that sorted out the next day, but it was just a hassle).
- Then on my way out to meet up with friends for a much needed drink, I ran into my new landlord (who's actually a great guy) at the new building I have been living at for the past 6 weeks, he advised me that I already have 4 random complaints from the people who live below me about things as trivial as dripping water down onto their balcony when I water my plants ummmm - "HELLO" - people, it rains all the time in BC and its just freaking WATER! Get over it & get a life.
For the past 12 years since I have been living away from home, I had NEVER had ONE complaint - but in just six weeks, I have 4 complaints about random BS from this one neighbor!
To top it off, I wake up early this morning (after being up till 3am) to blasting techno music, screaming and horns are blasting for the Gay Pride Parade right outside my building on Beach Ave. The headache begins.
I go to get groceries and I am stuck in a 2 hour street parade surrounded by 1000's of naked dudes in speedos trying to grab and grind up on me as I walk through downtown Vancouver carrying bags of groceries (btw: I am straight) then of course one of the bags break and there is my food rolling everywhere....
At this point, all I could think was 'FML'...
All that drama happened in the last few days and it made me feel like Kurt Douglas in the movie "Falling Down" about a normal, reasonable good guy who just kept on getting screwed over by 'the system'. I think its things like this that either make or break people. Watch this video of him --->
But wait, there is alot of good that comes from these bad experiences.
I like to consider myself an optimist. I try to look at the good in everything, like instead of being angry & pissed of for getting hurt in my ATV accident, I was thankful and so grateful that I was not paralyzed or anything worse...
Today, I clearly needed a break, and in the past I enjoy attending church on Sunday, its like my quite meditation time to just go and unplug and be active in my community but to be honest I have never read the bible, which is like the ultimate Personal Development book. Today the pastor talked about this guy named Job. Apparently Job had it all: family, land, riches, tons of animals and slaves.
The saying "The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away" comes from The Book of Job and anytime you are ever feeling like life 'sucks' I suggest to put things in perspective...read Job. This guy lost EVERYTHING, his family was all slayed and killed and he was even cursed with burns an boils all over his body but he was thankful for all his hard lessons and life's experiences. I copy & pasted the messages that Job got and all the crazy stuff that happened to him that makes anything that happened to me pail in comparison...
"And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them:
15: And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
16: While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
17: While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
18: While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house:
19: And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
20: Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,
21: And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.
22: In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.
I think that its truly admirable how people can just get broken down, and then they can pick up the pieces and re build.
I was listening to a recorded coaching call from CarbonCopyPROs founder and my mentor Jay Kubassek and he talks about just keep 'showing up' in life and in business REGARDLESS - and during that week of wares, I led a workshop that I really didn't want to lead at the time, but it turned out to be one of the best so far and made some of that money I lost back, just by simply showing up :)
So, thanks for reading my random rant and hopefully all the BS I went through last week will make you feel better that you didn't have to deal with it - but know that if you DID have to deal with it, you'd overcome it and get over it and nothing is as bad as Job's story.
I know that this week is gonna be great :)
If your human, of course you have! We all do at some point....
Sometimes it gets to that point when you want to pack it all up, by a one way ticket like John Reese did (article I wrote below) and just check out of regular society for a while and travel to free from the stresses and restraints of every day life.
The other week I posted this 'tweet' on my twitter account after I got 'tripled teamed' & slammed by tons of different people and situations of pure dramatic insanity that made want to delete & forget each of them from my life and crawl back into bed.
Know the feeling? I shared that thought on Facebook saying:
"we should create an island & ship all the f*cked up people to go live on it to create drama with their own lives and other drama queens & leave us normal people alone". Harsh. I know, but if you went through what I experienced last week, you'd agree.
Want a glimpse of my week last week and why I said that?
Well, first of all, if you missed my post below called 'Scar Tissue Stag' were I relay my near death experience were I crashed a 4 Wheeler ATV by driving it off a cliff in Whistler & landing on my head during a friends bachelor party and ending up in the hospital via a stretcher and neck brace with whiplash, just lucky not to be paralyzed or dead, that is how my week started off...
-then I somehow lost my digital camera / video recorder in Whistler that was a special gift from a special someone...
-When I got back to Vancouver, I got a call from my tenant that I am renting my Yaletown condo to, and was told that it got broken into because they left balcony door open! I had to buy a new door lock & security system. Brilliant.
-Then when I was leaving the building to bike back home, my bike (that was locked up) was stolen....Sweet!
-Then as I was walking home, I get a call from my lawyer and was advised that the 4000$ retainer I agreed to needed an extra $1800 dollars due asap due to other 'incurred costs'. Scandalous.
- At this point, I was about to snap - but that's not all...
All I wanted to do is go home and connect with my son Ethan as I was supposed to see him tonight. He & his mom are in the middle of moving to California next month (long story), but I wasn't able to see that night him because his mom's phone is turned off and I am couldn't get a hold of them both for 2 days. Then when I did get a call back from her apologizing, she tells me that she is getting engaged & married to the guy she has been dating for the last few years. Terrific.
One simple smile from this little guy and all my worries always disappear :)
- The next day I check my email and bank account, I see that a 2500$ check I was supposed to get from a teaching contract never came, I make a phone call and they refused to pay me what I was owed - That's why I hate ever being an 'employee', even if its for a good reason.
- Then, on top of that I see that for the past 24 months I have been registered & billed on some kind of monthly auto payment plan by the Bank Of Montreal Mastercard were I have been getting charged 97$ / month for 'credit insurance'. That's 2400$ I have basically given away in the past 2 years for something I didn't want, need or even knew existed. Unreal!
I called Mastercard customer service and spoke to a supervisor named 'Paul' who played back the tape of when a telemarketer called me and talked me into this 'great deal'. Brutal customer service & I had to fight like crazy to get a small portion back refunded!
-Talking about terrible customer service, I realized that I have been living at my new place for 6 weeks and Telus has still not come to connect my phone & buzzer after 4 phone calls to request them to do so - I pick of the phone again and talk to an automated operator before I get transferred to someone who doesn't even speak comprehendable English. I hate you Telus!
-Then I get a call from a new customer / partner were I was supposed to make a 900$ commission and was told that his order was declined and now his payment and funds were missing (we got that sorted out the next day, but it was just a hassle).
- Then on my way out to meet up with friends for a much needed drink, I ran into my new landlord (who's actually a great guy) at the new building I have been living at for the past 6 weeks, he advised me that I already have 4 random complaints from the people who live below me about things as trivial as dripping water down onto their balcony when I water my plants ummmm - "HELLO" - people, it rains all the time in BC and its just freaking WATER! Get over it & get a life.
For the past 12 years since I have been living away from home, I had NEVER had ONE complaint - but in just six weeks, I have 4 complaints about random BS from this one neighbor!
To top it off, I wake up early this morning (after being up till 3am) to blasting techno music, screaming and horns are blasting for the Gay Pride Parade right outside my building on Beach Ave. The headache begins.
I go to get groceries and I am stuck in a 2 hour street parade surrounded by 1000's of naked dudes in speedos trying to grab and grind up on me as I walk through downtown Vancouver carrying bags of groceries (btw: I am straight) then of course one of the bags break and there is my food rolling everywhere....
At this point, all I could think was 'FML'...
All that drama happened in the last few days and it made me feel like Kurt Douglas in the movie "Falling Down" about a normal, reasonable good guy who just kept on getting screwed over by 'the system'. I think its things like this that either make or break people. Watch this video of him --->
But wait, there is alot of good that comes from these bad experiences.
I like to consider myself an optimist. I try to look at the good in everything, like instead of being angry & pissed of for getting hurt in my ATV accident, I was thankful and so grateful that I was not paralyzed or anything worse...
Today, I clearly needed a break, and in the past I enjoy attending church on Sunday, its like my quite meditation time to just go and unplug and be active in my community but to be honest I have never read the bible, which is like the ultimate Personal Development book. Today the pastor talked about this guy named Job. Apparently Job had it all: family, land, riches, tons of animals and slaves.
The saying "The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away" comes from The Book of Job and anytime you are ever feeling like life 'sucks' I suggest to put things in perspective...read Job. This guy lost EVERYTHING, his family was all slayed and killed and he was even cursed with burns an boils all over his body but he was thankful for all his hard lessons and life's experiences. I copy & pasted the messages that Job got and all the crazy stuff that happened to him that makes anything that happened to me pail in comparison...
"And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them:
15: And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
16: While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
17: While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
18: While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house:
19: And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
20: Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,
21: And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.
22: In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.
I think that its truly admirable how people can just get broken down, and then they can pick up the pieces and re build.
I was listening to a recorded coaching call from CarbonCopyPROs founder and my mentor Jay Kubassek and he talks about just keep 'showing up' in life and in business REGARDLESS - and during that week of wares, I led a workshop that I really didn't want to lead at the time, but it turned out to be one of the best so far and made some of that money I lost back, just by simply showing up :)
So, thanks for reading my random rant and hopefully all the BS I went through last week will make you feel better that you didn't have to deal with it - but know that if you DID have to deal with it, you'd overcome it and get over it and nothing is as bad as Job's story.
I know that this week is gonna be great :)
Friday, July 23, 2010
My New Hero: A "Minimalist" Enters The Wild
I just got this email from one of the most successful online entrepreneurs EVER: John Reese (if you don't know him, Google his name to learn about some of the insane results he has produced).
He has now, out of the blue, sold EVERYTHING he owns and is now living life as a 'minimalist' & will be traveling the world with only a backpack and a laptop and a passport, possibly forever...
I think its super cool for him to take this new challenge & experience on, when I was 19 years old I sold everything I owned, quit my basketball scholarship and took a year off school bought a one way ticket overseas and put all my belongings into one single backpack and traveled around the world for 1 year all by myself! It was epic.
Here is a picture of the backpack that has been my travel partner to over 22 countries and hundreds of cities over the past few years - this old mountain equipment co-op pack is probably my most cherished possession that I own & the one thing that I have had the most extreme experiences with.
It was easily by FAR the best year of my life! Period.
I learned about new cultures and customs, met tons of people, learned how to surf, scuba dive, camp in the desert and on the beach while sleeping in strange places with alot of strange (but cool) people.
Here is a beach that I camped on in Thailand on a Tropical Island with some other random travelers (yes, I used to have long surfer / hippy hair during my travels - so much so that my parents didn't even recognize me at the airport when I returned home to Canada after a year of traveling, they walked right by me! Yes, it was very weird to have your own parents not even recognize you :)
.jpg)
Most importantly, I learned how to SURVIVE & OVERCOME any situation or circumstance that came my way - and trust me, many did.
Here is a pic of my waking across the Egyptian Border with all my worldly possessions on my back in plus 40 degree weather! Incredible.
I wish John and all those adventure minded lone rangers / solo travelers all the best as they embark on their own epic journey - wow - I just suddenly got the travel but BIG time after reading his email that I copy & pasted below - leave a comment below the post and let me know your thoughts :)
John, if you read this, here is a song dedicated to your journey "Into the Wild"
John's Email ---> "I'll admit it. I'm a bit weird. I always have been.
And maybe you are too, and that's what makes us
"special." Or at least that's what our moms always
told us.
I like doing "experiments" on myself. I think it's
a great way to grow as a person and to learn more
about yourself -- which can help in one's personal
or business life.
I once read how Leonardo Da Vinci slept only
about 3-4 hours a day by taking short 20-45 minute
naps throughout a 24 hour cycle.
Many years ago, I tried my own sleep experiment
after I found myself pulling a lot of "all nighters."
I decided to go every other night without sleep.
So I would stay awake for stretches of 30-35 hours
straight and then crash for 9-12 hours. I got a lot
of work done by doing this.
And I was able to do this for about 3 months straight -
sleeping only every other night.
There was only one problem... it put me in the hospital.
It had weakened my immune system and I ended up
with a bad case of vertigo. Horrible, horrible stuff.
I was basically DIZZY all day, everyday, for about
2 weeks until it finally went away.
So I, obviously, went back to a normal sleep schedule
and refused to pull "all nighters" anymore. I had bad
insomnia for a long time but eventually got over it.
If you're pulling all nighters and going without sleep,
I recommend you don't. It's just not worth the damage
it can do to your health.
But I've done many other "full immersion" types of
experiments on myself over the years, and most of
them didn't have bad health results - thankfully.
My point is... you can learn a lot about yourself if
you take yourself out of your normal comfort zone
and really 'challenge' yourself by trying little experiments
and personal challenges.
AND I'M DOING IT AGAIN.
Check this out...
I just finished selling (or giving away) all of my personal
possessions.
Not too long ago my life consisted of a massive 6-bedroom
house (with many rooms I never even went into!) and
5 cars. Yes, FIVE cars. I'm a car guy, what can I say.
I had accomplished what many consider to be the
"American Dream." I had the huge house and all the
toys. The Lamborghini, Ferrari, BMWs, a Rolex
collection, an expensive wardrobe, amazing furniture,
a massive home theater, a 1,000 gallon saltwater
aquarium, the works.
And now I have NONE of it. And I'll explain why in
a moment...
Here are some "quick facts"...
For the first time in over 20 YEARS...
- I don't own a car.
- I don't own any furniture.
- I don't own a TV.
- I don't own any books.
- I don't own a huge closet full of clothes.
AND...
- I don't have a HOME. Not a house,
or apartment, or anything.
By now you're probably thinking...
"John, what the hell are you doing!?"
I decided to do all of this because I wanted
to do a new experiment on myself...
It's a challenge of MINIMALISM.
If you haven't yet heard about minimalism,
or read anything about it, you should. Not
only can it (I believe) improve the quality
of your life but it can also make your business
a lot more profitable.
Minimalism is essentially focusing only on
the 3-4 most important things in your life
(or business) and ELIMINATING THE REST.
There many opinions on minimalism and how
to apply it, and some approach it differently.
Do some Google searches for "minimalism"
and you'll find lots of great blogs about it.
It's really a growing 'revolution' of sorts.
I don't agree with everything he teaches, but a
decent book you can read is "The Power Of Less"
by Leo Babauta; and he's someone with 6 kids.
That will get you started.
Everyone will have their own take on minimalism.
But I'm willing to bet you can benefit from it.
WHAT I HAVE LEFT...
So you're probably wondering, if I got rid of
all that stuff, what the heck do I actually have
left? And how will I live?
Here's a full list of the only things I now own...
- A small 28L backpack (that holds everything below)
- 5 t-shirts (4 short sleeve, 1 long sleeve)
- 1 pair of jeans
- 1 light jacket
- 2 pairs of shorts
- 1 pair of running/trek shoes
- 5 pairs of boxer briefs
- Assorted toiletries
- Clothesline & large ziplock bag (for washing clothes)
- 1 MacBook Pro 15"
- 1 64GB Wifi iPad
- 1 iPhone 4
- 1 Livescribe Pen & small notebook
- My passport & credit cards
THAT'S IT. That's all the 'stuff' I own. ALL OF IT.
Here's a photo of my backpack (with everything in it)
except for my 15" MacBook Pro which is in the photo next to it:
But it's also important to note...
I still have all of my money and investments. I didn't pull
a Christopher McCandless ("Into The Wild") and burn all
of my money. This experiment isn't about that. So I still
have all of my businessess (and their assets) as well as
a valuable .COM collection, etc. etc.
But as far as personal "things" go, I currently only have
what I listed above. I'll explain more as to the "WHY"
in a just a second...
WHERE ON EARTH WILL I LIVE?
The answer is... Everywhere.
I am just going to travel the world non-stop for awhile.
It may be for a year or for 10+ years. I don't know yet
and that's part of the adventure. I have structured
things so I can travel the world INDEFINITELY and plan
to do so for a very long time.
As many of my long-time subscribers know, I love to
travel. I've been to every continent in the world except
for Antarctica. (And hope to visit their soon.) But even
as much as I love to travel, I was only taking a few
trips a year. So now that's all going to change.
BUT TRAVEL ISN'T THE ONLY REASON I'M DOING THIS...
Here's what I've discovered about myself...
My level of happiness all comes down to my level of STRESS.
And my stress level is mostly due to having the feeling
of being OVERWHELMED. I had so many possessions
to manage and so many things going on in my life that it
was making me a bit crazy. (More than I already am.)
I found that my CREATIVITY has really suffered because
of this. It's like the brain only has so much available RAM
like a computer, and everything we own and do and manage
takes up that space. It doesn't leave a lot of room left for
creativity.
So essentially, I wanted my brain back.
I wanted to have what I call "Freedom Of Thought." I want to
have so few distractions and things taking up space in my
brain that I'm free to use as much of my brain as possible to
think of exciting new ideas and fully appreciate new
experiences.
* I did also realize that all of that "stuff" that I thought was
the "American Dream" was mostly based on EGO. But
that's a discussion for another day.
As many of my customers already know, late last year I
started a new company to develop Video Games. It's been
a dream of mine for many years and I finally decided to
pursue it. Well, this new business (along with other projects)
really demands maximum creativity from me. So I wanted
to try this new 'experiment' to give myself the best chance
at being able to come up with amazing new ideas.
AND IT'S ALREADY WORKING.
I'm currently on Day 3 of my journey. I moved out of
California about a week ago, then spent a few days visiting
my family in Florida, and then 3 days ago I 'officially' set
out on this "Minimalism Adventure" and flew up to
Toronto, Canada (where I am now) to visit my good friend,
Dean Jackson.
In the first 3 days, I've already come up with some
unbelievable new ideas for my businesses. And this
is only just the beginning.
I would like to challenge you to look at your business (and life)
and see how you can apply the Pareto Principle (80/20 Rule)
and eliminate the things that aren't essential to your goals --
or things that take away from the more important parts of
reaching your goals.
I recently deleted my personal Facebook account (that had
5,000 'friends') and it was one of the best things I ever did.
I was finding that Facebook was one big waste of my time.
I was logging in multiple times a day and it was robbing me
of time I should have been spending on more important
things.
Don't get me wrong, I think Facebook has decent marketing
uses, but I think for most entrepreneurs it's better used
for brands (with Business Page accounts) than as a personal
account. For me and all of the businesses I am involved
with, Facebook does not fall into the "20" part of the 80/20
rule. PPC, SEO, buying media (which includes Facebook Ads),
and other strategies out-produce it by a massive amount.
But that's a rant for another day. ;-)
After recently telling someone about what I am doing
they said...
"But, John, I gotta tell you... it really sounds like you're
just running from life."
To which I replied...
"No, you don't understand, I'm running TO life."
Okay it's time for me to go and pack up my stuff -- even,
though, it only takes me about 5 minutes. ;-)
I'm heading to Europe for a few months tomorrow as I continue
on my journey.
I'll be in touch soon.
Yours For Online Profits,
John Reese"
Soooooo, whats your thoughts on his new lifestyle choice?
My next post will be about what might drive / motivate people to pick up and pack up their lives to leave their comfort zones...should be a good one.
He has now, out of the blue, sold EVERYTHING he owns and is now living life as a 'minimalist' & will be traveling the world with only a backpack and a laptop and a passport, possibly forever...
I think its super cool for him to take this new challenge & experience on, when I was 19 years old I sold everything I owned, quit my basketball scholarship and took a year off school bought a one way ticket overseas and put all my belongings into one single backpack and traveled around the world for 1 year all by myself! It was epic.
Here is a picture of the backpack that has been my travel partner to over 22 countries and hundreds of cities over the past few years - this old mountain equipment co-op pack is probably my most cherished possession that I own & the one thing that I have had the most extreme experiences with.
It was easily by FAR the best year of my life! Period.
I learned about new cultures and customs, met tons of people, learned how to surf, scuba dive, camp in the desert and on the beach while sleeping in strange places with alot of strange (but cool) people.
Here is a beach that I camped on in Thailand on a Tropical Island with some other random travelers (yes, I used to have long surfer / hippy hair during my travels - so much so that my parents didn't even recognize me at the airport when I returned home to Canada after a year of traveling, they walked right by me! Yes, it was very weird to have your own parents not even recognize you :)
.jpg)
Most importantly, I learned how to SURVIVE & OVERCOME any situation or circumstance that came my way - and trust me, many did.
Here is a pic of my waking across the Egyptian Border with all my worldly possessions on my back in plus 40 degree weather! Incredible.
I wish John and all those adventure minded lone rangers / solo travelers all the best as they embark on their own epic journey - wow - I just suddenly got the travel but BIG time after reading his email that I copy & pasted below - leave a comment below the post and let me know your thoughts :)
John, if you read this, here is a song dedicated to your journey "Into the Wild"
John's Email ---> "I'll admit it. I'm a bit weird. I always have been.
And maybe you are too, and that's what makes us
"special." Or at least that's what our moms always
told us.
I like doing "experiments" on myself. I think it's
a great way to grow as a person and to learn more
about yourself -- which can help in one's personal
or business life.
I once read how Leonardo Da Vinci slept only
about 3-4 hours a day by taking short 20-45 minute
naps throughout a 24 hour cycle.
Many years ago, I tried my own sleep experiment
after I found myself pulling a lot of "all nighters."
I decided to go every other night without sleep.
So I would stay awake for stretches of 30-35 hours
straight and then crash for 9-12 hours. I got a lot
of work done by doing this.
And I was able to do this for about 3 months straight -
sleeping only every other night.
There was only one problem... it put me in the hospital.
It had weakened my immune system and I ended up
with a bad case of vertigo. Horrible, horrible stuff.
I was basically DIZZY all day, everyday, for about
2 weeks until it finally went away.
So I, obviously, went back to a normal sleep schedule
and refused to pull "all nighters" anymore. I had bad
insomnia for a long time but eventually got over it.
If you're pulling all nighters and going without sleep,
I recommend you don't. It's just not worth the damage
it can do to your health.
But I've done many other "full immersion" types of
experiments on myself over the years, and most of
them didn't have bad health results - thankfully.
My point is... you can learn a lot about yourself if
you take yourself out of your normal comfort zone
and really 'challenge' yourself by trying little experiments
and personal challenges.
AND I'M DOING IT AGAIN.
Check this out...
I just finished selling (or giving away) all of my personal
possessions.
Not too long ago my life consisted of a massive 6-bedroom
house (with many rooms I never even went into!) and
5 cars. Yes, FIVE cars. I'm a car guy, what can I say.
I had accomplished what many consider to be the
"American Dream." I had the huge house and all the
toys. The Lamborghini, Ferrari, BMWs, a Rolex
collection, an expensive wardrobe, amazing furniture,
a massive home theater, a 1,000 gallon saltwater
aquarium, the works.
And now I have NONE of it. And I'll explain why in
a moment...
Here are some "quick facts"...
For the first time in over 20 YEARS...
- I don't own a car.
- I don't own any furniture.
- I don't own a TV.
- I don't own any books.
- I don't own a huge closet full of clothes.
AND...
- I don't have a HOME. Not a house,
or apartment, or anything.
By now you're probably thinking...
"John, what the hell are you doing!?"
I decided to do all of this because I wanted
to do a new experiment on myself...
It's a challenge of MINIMALISM.
If you haven't yet heard about minimalism,
or read anything about it, you should. Not
only can it (I believe) improve the quality
of your life but it can also make your business
a lot more profitable.
Minimalism is essentially focusing only on
the 3-4 most important things in your life
(or business) and ELIMINATING THE REST.
There many opinions on minimalism and how
to apply it, and some approach it differently.
Do some Google searches for "minimalism"
and you'll find lots of great blogs about it.
It's really a growing 'revolution' of sorts.
I don't agree with everything he teaches, but a
decent book you can read is "The Power Of Less"
by Leo Babauta; and he's someone with 6 kids.
That will get you started.
Everyone will have their own take on minimalism.
But I'm willing to bet you can benefit from it.
WHAT I HAVE LEFT...
So you're probably wondering, if I got rid of
all that stuff, what the heck do I actually have
left? And how will I live?
Here's a full list of the only things I now own...
- A small 28L backpack (that holds everything below)
- 5 t-shirts (4 short sleeve, 1 long sleeve)
- 1 pair of jeans
- 1 light jacket
- 2 pairs of shorts
- 1 pair of running/trek shoes
- 5 pairs of boxer briefs
- Assorted toiletries
- Clothesline & large ziplock bag (for washing clothes)
- 1 MacBook Pro 15"
- 1 64GB Wifi iPad
- 1 iPhone 4
- 1 Livescribe Pen & small notebook
- My passport & credit cards
THAT'S IT. That's all the 'stuff' I own. ALL OF IT.
Here's a photo of my backpack (with everything in it)
except for my 15" MacBook Pro which is in the photo next to it:
But it's also important to note...
I still have all of my money and investments. I didn't pull
a Christopher McCandless ("Into The Wild") and burn all
of my money. This experiment isn't about that. So I still
have all of my businessess (and their assets) as well as
a valuable .COM collection, etc. etc.
But as far as personal "things" go, I currently only have
what I listed above. I'll explain more as to the "WHY"
in a just a second...
WHERE ON EARTH WILL I LIVE?
The answer is... Everywhere.
I am just going to travel the world non-stop for awhile.
It may be for a year or for 10+ years. I don't know yet
and that's part of the adventure. I have structured
things so I can travel the world INDEFINITELY and plan
to do so for a very long time.
As many of my long-time subscribers know, I love to
travel. I've been to every continent in the world except
for Antarctica. (And hope to visit their soon.) But even
as much as I love to travel, I was only taking a few
trips a year. So now that's all going to change.
BUT TRAVEL ISN'T THE ONLY REASON I'M DOING THIS...
Here's what I've discovered about myself...
My level of happiness all comes down to my level of STRESS.
And my stress level is mostly due to having the feeling
of being OVERWHELMED. I had so many possessions
to manage and so many things going on in my life that it
was making me a bit crazy. (More than I already am.)
I found that my CREATIVITY has really suffered because
of this. It's like the brain only has so much available RAM
like a computer, and everything we own and do and manage
takes up that space. It doesn't leave a lot of room left for
creativity.
So essentially, I wanted my brain back.
I wanted to have what I call "Freedom Of Thought." I want to
have so few distractions and things taking up space in my
brain that I'm free to use as much of my brain as possible to
think of exciting new ideas and fully appreciate new
experiences.
* I did also realize that all of that "stuff" that I thought was
the "American Dream" was mostly based on EGO. But
that's a discussion for another day.
As many of my customers already know, late last year I
started a new company to develop Video Games. It's been
a dream of mine for many years and I finally decided to
pursue it. Well, this new business (along with other projects)
really demands maximum creativity from me. So I wanted
to try this new 'experiment' to give myself the best chance
at being able to come up with amazing new ideas.
AND IT'S ALREADY WORKING.
I'm currently on Day 3 of my journey. I moved out of
California about a week ago, then spent a few days visiting
my family in Florida, and then 3 days ago I 'officially' set
out on this "Minimalism Adventure" and flew up to
Toronto, Canada (where I am now) to visit my good friend,
Dean Jackson.
In the first 3 days, I've already come up with some
unbelievable new ideas for my businesses. And this
is only just the beginning.
I would like to challenge you to look at your business (and life)
and see how you can apply the Pareto Principle (80/20 Rule)
and eliminate the things that aren't essential to your goals --
or things that take away from the more important parts of
reaching your goals.
I recently deleted my personal Facebook account (that had
5,000 'friends') and it was one of the best things I ever did.
I was finding that Facebook was one big waste of my time.
I was logging in multiple times a day and it was robbing me
of time I should have been spending on more important
things.
Don't get me wrong, I think Facebook has decent marketing
uses, but I think for most entrepreneurs it's better used
for brands (with Business Page accounts) than as a personal
account. For me and all of the businesses I am involved
with, Facebook does not fall into the "20" part of the 80/20
rule. PPC, SEO, buying media (which includes Facebook Ads),
and other strategies out-produce it by a massive amount.
But that's a rant for another day. ;-)
After recently telling someone about what I am doing
they said...
"But, John, I gotta tell you... it really sounds like you're
just running from life."
To which I replied...
"No, you don't understand, I'm running TO life."
Okay it's time for me to go and pack up my stuff -- even,
though, it only takes me about 5 minutes. ;-)
I'm heading to Europe for a few months tomorrow as I continue
on my journey.
I'll be in touch soon.
Yours For Online Profits,
John Reese"
Soooooo, whats your thoughts on his new lifestyle choice?
My next post will be about what might drive / motivate people to pick up and pack up their lives to leave their comfort zones...should be a good one.
Sunday, July 18, 2010
The - Scar Tissue - Stag
Play this video now.
This pic /song & video sums up our weekend as a group of 14 guys were staggering, stumbling, limping and passing out in a ditch next to our cabin (the groom) & even being carried out of this mountain town on a stretcher (yours truly) after a 3 day bachelor party for my buddy Chris Peerless' stag in Whistler BC - at least we dressed him up and made him the Pretty Princess Peerless that he is :) Just joking buddy.
It was truly a weekend I will never forget.
To be honest, I have had my share of 'near death experiences', that 'could' have happened, however this is one that actually DID happen: less than 3 hours into the weekend on Friday, I went flying off the side of a mountain cliff landing head first on a huge boulder rock (thank God I was wearing a helmet) and then having my 900 pound ATV 4 wheeler machine tumble right next to me spraying gasoline everywhere as I slid down the face of the cliff tearing my back open with scratches, now that is what I call 'Scare Tissue".
The guide that saw the whole thing said that if I was not wearing a helmet, I would be dead - period.
He also added that I was lucky that I did not break my neck from the compression of the fall or be paralyzed for life - and that it was amazing that the ATV didn't land right on me.
All in all, my guardian angel was working overtime fore sure & I am truly feel blessed to be alive and relatively uninjured! As the first aid guys were strapping me into a stretcher it made me really think how precious this life and body of ours is and how fast it can be lost & or destroyed...
Since this was my first bachelor party, my thoughts now are that if a groom can survive his stag, surviving a marriage is a piece of cake :)
Until next time, be happy to be alive everyone & live life to the fullest!
Friday, July 16, 2010
Road Trippin' Bachelor Party --> Whistler
I am so stoked! I'm about to head on my first road trip of the summer!
(yes, I LOVE road trips - seriously, love them) AND even better bonus, the destination this weekend is to Whistler BC for my first bachelor / stag party of my life!
On top of that its with my old university roommate's that I used to play college basketball with back in the day :)
It already feels like we jumped in Doc's Back to The Future Delroean time machine and went back 10 years - from 29 to 19 years old. Its gonna be Scary.
I will post another session next week - if we survive Whistler in the summer time...
This is the ultimate summer road trip song we are blasting on the sea to sky highway...
Remember, what happens in Whistler - stays in Whistler :)
Have an awesome weekend!
I will post a 'post bachelor party' video on Sunday - I already know what its gonna be :)
(yes, I LOVE road trips - seriously, love them) AND even better bonus, the destination this weekend is to Whistler BC for my first bachelor / stag party of my life!
On top of that its with my old university roommate's that I used to play college basketball with back in the day :)
It already feels like we jumped in Doc's Back to The Future Delroean time machine and went back 10 years - from 29 to 19 years old. Its gonna be Scary.
I will post another session next week - if we survive Whistler in the summer time...
This is the ultimate summer road trip song we are blasting on the sea to sky highway...
Remember, what happens in Whistler - stays in Whistler :)
Have an awesome weekend!
I will post a 'post bachelor party' video on Sunday - I already know what its gonna be :)
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Jack Johnson & Ben Harper = An Epic Song...
Enjoy today's summer surfveza chillin out session...
What song / video do you want me to post next?
What song / video do you want me to post next?
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Surfveza = 'Sublime' Summer Music Sessions
I don't know about you, but I LOVE summer!
A couple years ago I started my first business called "Surfveza Sessions" doing surf safaris & travel adventure trips to Mexico & Tofino for college students - it was insanely fun!
This past weekend I was chillin' out on the beach alllllll weekend with some good ol' buddies surrounded by lots of cold beers, tasty BBQ's and many of other great things that start with the letter 'B'...
Anyway, for the last couple weeks I have been wanting to put together a Surfveza Session summer music video play list, and at some point along this sun drenched weekend my main music man Joe G, introduces me to some new hits and I committed to him that I am gonna start putting out a few new videos each week and posting them on my good ol blog here for YOUR listening and chilling out entertainment pleasure to kick off this summer season-
There will be some oldie's & goodies along with some new beats to bump in this hot summer season...so stay tuned and keep checking out this website for each daily or weekly updated songs or basically whenever I feel like it ;)
Crank up your speakers, grab your favorite drink and soak up the sun and enjoy...
Surfveza's "Summer Time"
"What I Got" - (this was my grade 12 classic camping / road trip song - great memories)
Please leave comments below and or and special requests in the comment box below...
Until next time, keep rockin' out!
Your Surfveza Summer DJ ~Q~
LOL!
A couple years ago I started my first business called "Surfveza Sessions" doing surf safaris & travel adventure trips to Mexico & Tofino for college students - it was insanely fun!
This past weekend I was chillin' out on the beach alllllll weekend with some good ol' buddies surrounded by lots of cold beers, tasty BBQ's and many of other great things that start with the letter 'B'...
Anyway, for the last couple weeks I have been wanting to put together a Surfveza Session summer music video play list, and at some point along this sun drenched weekend my main music man Joe G, introduces me to some new hits and I committed to him that I am gonna start putting out a few new videos each week and posting them on my good ol blog here for YOUR listening and chilling out entertainment pleasure to kick off this summer season-
There will be some oldie's & goodies along with some new beats to bump in this hot summer season...so stay tuned and keep checking out this website for each daily or weekly updated songs or basically whenever I feel like it ;)
Crank up your speakers, grab your favorite drink and soak up the sun and enjoy...
Surfveza's "Summer Time"
"What I Got" - (this was my grade 12 classic camping / road trip song - great memories)
Please leave comments below and or and special requests in the comment box below...
Until next time, keep rockin' out!
Your Surfveza Summer DJ ~Q~
LOL!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Liberty League Founder Brent Payne
L.A. Coaching Conference
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
