Escape the Mundane + Experience the Remarkable

Three Reasons Why the CouchSurfingCEO had to Die

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Perspective

Free Happy Rainbow Water Droplet on Green Creative Commons

As of today, I will no longer continue the CouchSurfingCEO brand.

In July of 2011, I had ventured out in the world to search for meaning. And it’s been an eye opening experience.

In that time, a few things became apparent that I did not, nor could not have foreseen. So I have decided to kill the “personal brand” for the following reasons:

1. Legacy

The spectrum of leaving a legacy in the 21st Century is complicated.

I once heard Google’s Eric Schmidt mention that there is more content created in two days, than the sum of all content created from the dawn of man up to the year 2002. So needless to say, there is a lot of noise out there. And remarkable contributions to society can easily be lost in the mix.

In the days of early humans, content was the drawings on the walls of the cave. As papyrus took hold in Egypt, that content was transfered to sheets. With the advent of the printing press, content became duplicatable. And with the rise of the social web, content has taken on many forms.

From the time of hieroglyphs & pottery art to today’s videos, posts, & status updates, content creation is evolving.

Ok, back to the legacy spectrum. On one end of the spectrum we have accessibility. If no one knows you exist, your contributions are meaningless. Think of a monk in a monastery high in the mountains. This man may have the answers to all of life’s problems. Yet, he has no means to spread this message beyond the temple walls.
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The 5 Steps for Achieving Your Goals in 2012

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Mentality

We all have hopes and desires for this upcoming year. It may be paying off a credit card, traveling somewhere exotic, or in my case, get published.

But having goals and achieving goals could not be more different. Anyone can say they want to do something. Actually doing it, on the other hand, is the true sign of success. We all know big talkers in life that brag about their plans, yet mysteriously as time goes by, those plans never come to fruition.

I hope this post helps you prevent the “I would have, but…” syndrome. And instead help you crush your goals. So without further ado, five things to consider for goal success:

1. Make Them Attainable

Samar superyacht

The first step in achieving our goals is being honest. Most people would love a private island and yacht, but if you’re struggling to make rent, is it reasonable to believe those are – at least in the short-run – attainable goals? Probably not. But creating enough extra cash flow to pay off a credit card or to visit one new country is well within anyone’s reach.

And just to be clear, I’m a huge proponent of shooting for the moon with goals. However, this article is “how-to achieve your goals,” not “hopefully, maybe, possibly one-day capture your goals.”

When setting goals we must look at what we can truthfully achieve. Shooting for the moon will not always land you amongst the stars.
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How to Use Gmail to Pretend You’re Working 9-5

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Digital Nomad

Surf Boards on the beach

Unfortunately, most clients, bosses, and associates have this weird assumption that we should work during the day.

I don’t share this view.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m a hard worker. But my productive hours aren’t during the industrial-aged idea of a 9-5, Monday-Friday workweek.

I’m at my best during the later hours of the day and into the night.

Since most of the time I’m working on my own projects, no one is the wiser of when I’m working, when I’m sleeping, and when I’m playing. However, the secret is out when I send emails.

It’s hard to be perceived as normal when people see an email timestamp of 4:07am.

Until now…
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The Realities of Living Your Life

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Mentality

I 'm starting to crack

Most people don’t understand me. My friends no longer get me. And my extended family often believes that by me not “working,” I’m wasting my life away.

Ah, if you’ve chosen an alternative path for your life, those statements probably ring all too close to home. But who cares? It’s your life.

But unfortunately, our society has adopted preconceived notions of a normal life. And the crippling assumptions continue to snowball amongst most circles.

Built on false pretenses, their advice on what life entails falls short of what’s possible.
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Is Camping Out for Black Friday Worth It?

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Minimalism

As Thanksgiving meals end and turkey-filled relatives & friends say goodbye, many Americans will be headed to crowded, cold concrete sidewalks outside their favorite stores. A long, frigid night is ahead for these smart shoppers, huddled under blankets waiting for the Black Friday sales to commence.

But is it worth it?

When I was in college I had a part-time gig at the local Best Buy. And my first official day was the Friday after Thanksgiving. It was intense and a bit nerve-racking walking into work for the first time at midnight and being greeted by a line of eager customers lined around the building – when just hours before I had been with my family celebrating a day of thanks.

As the GM handed me my shirt and badge all I could think about was how crazy these people were for sacrificing get-togetherness time for a $300 computer and a $40 dvd player. It didn’t make sense to me. And it still doesn’t.

The question I pose: Why would anyone in their right mind go through the agony of crowded, frantic shopping conditions after waiting in the cold for hours?

The answer of most: The deals are too good to pass up.

While yes, a new flat-screen TV for half-off is an attractive offer, it isn’t a deal. Not at all. Here’s why:
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