For the last year and a half I’ve been talking to you about everything from overcoming fear, business building, travel, you name it. You guys know a ton about my life story, my accomplishments and where I’m headed in the future.
But how much do you really know about me?
Some, but you could always stand to know more. What makes me tick? What are my biggest strengths, insecurities, hidden talents etc? Well now is the day I reveal some of those to you.
Here are 26 things you probably didn’t know about me, and maybe never wanted to.
- I can ride a unicycle. Not only can I ride a unicycle, but I can ride one that’s six feet tall. I used to do it in parades, sporting events, you name it (we’re talking like 3rd grade here). Next time you need a resource for your “How to Become a Circus Act” ebook– I’m your guy. Oh, and I can do it while juggling too. You don’t have to say it – I already know what you’re thinking.
- I went to every Oregon Duck football game for 8 years in a row. With the Ducks heading to the national championship I had to throw this out there. I ran the “fan-cam”, which essentially meant I just got paid to put all of my drunk friends on the jumbo-tron.
- I have a difficult time managing stress. While I have no problem taking action, overcoming fears, and doing cool stuff, that doesn’t always mean it’s easy. I tend to let myself build up more stress than necessary for seemingly minor things. I’ve done a variety of things to improve this, but it’s definitely a work in progress.
- I owned two “real” businesses before launching Location 180: T Shirts and House Painting. My buddy Ryan and I paid our way through school by painting houses and had an awesome time doing it (usually). And the high-end apparel company was an awesome experience that in the end became more time than it was worth.
I didn’t say we were the smartest house painters…
- I secretly want to be a bartender. I have no idea why but I’ve always had an interest in the art behind cocktail creation. I also think it’d be cool to hear all the various stories that people tell as they pass through.
- I have an affinity for nice watches. This seems like the most ridiculous hobby in the world I know –especially in this economy, in the niche I’m in, and the relative pointlessness of having a watch that’s worth the price of a car. But it’s captivating to me, and I find something very intriguing in the complexity and subtleties of a high end time piece.
- Along the same lines, I have a weird fascination with the super rich. I’m more than happy to sleep in the dirtiest hostel or bungalow imaginable, but when it comes to $2,000 hotel rooms, $500,000 cars, and a 40 year old bottle of Scotch, I can’t get enough of it. I think editor of Luxist, Deidre Woollard has one of the coolest jobs out there.
- I once wrote a song to get out of taking a final in college. When my 400 level strategic management professor told the class that the group with the most bonus points at the end of the term wouldn’t have to take the final, my mind started racing. With one day left and a distant second place ranking, I made a last ditch effort to get myself out of the test. To this day, my song is still used as an example for ingenuity and creative thinking as it relates to that aspect of the class.
- I’ve backpacked through Europe with no backpack. In my first ever trip abroad, I was forced to check my 55 liter backpack (which took me longer to plan for and pack than any other trip I’ve taken). It made it’s way back to my home two days before I did, and I never once saw it in Europe. That trip taught me a LOT of lessons, but most notably, you don’t need nearly as much as you think you do to succeed and have an awesome time while doing it.
- I have blogging insecurity issues. For absolutely no good or valid reason, my mind treats this whole blogging thing as a bit of a popularity contest. I find myself getting jealous of my peers with big product launches, epic guest posts, and rapidly increasing subscriber bases. Every rational and reasonable part of my body hates this and wishes I could stop, but the feeling is difficult to shake.
- Just about the only fiction books I read are by Clive Cussler. I only read them when traveling, and I always look forward to it. Nothing wrong with some good ol’ fashioned, completely implausible adventure from time to time.
- I used to be the most “anti-Mac” person ever. This weekend I just went out and bought one.
Making Tshirts
- If I had only one goal in life it would be to help everyone around me live the happiest lives possible. Myself included. I really don’t think happiness is that hard, sometimes you just have to make changes that can be difficult. It’s so cool to see so many people make changes based off some of the things I’ve done.
- I’m not afraid to say I’m sorry. If I do something wrong, I’ll be the first person to admit it and apologize. I’m usually not stubborn like that. Maybe stubborn in other ways, but not like that.
- I watch a lot of movies. I could probably recite from memory all the lines of Ferris Beauler’s Day Off, The Rock, and Wedding Crashers.
- I love roller coasters. When I was younger I could tell you the details of just about every roller coaster in the U.S. Still hope to make it to the world’s coaster mecca Cedar Point in the next year or two.
- Black olives are without a doubt my least favorite food.
- When I was 14 I had my left eardrum rebuilt. I never thought I’d be able to scuba dive until I dove in Ko Tao this summer.
- I got 3rd place at the state tennis tournament my junior year of high school. I played tennis non stop for about 10 years. However, after high school I got burnt out and have only played a few times over the last couple years. I’m looking forward to getting back into it though.
- I’m generally very frugal. I’ll analyze any big expenses to death before actually pulling the trigger. According to my girlfriend Tate I’m the hardest person ever to shop with – since she’s had to deal with me buying a car, camera, and the aforementioned new computer.
- Someday I want to write a book. But I have no idea if I’d have the focus to follow through with it.
- I almost went to school to be a hotel manager. Most kids wanted to be astronauts or firemen, I wanted to run a big Las Vegas hotel. Then I realized I’d have to live in Vegas to do that and I decided finance would be the better option.
- I totally believe in karma.
- My mom and dad are two of my best friends. Without their support I’m not sure this lifestyle would be possible.
- Some winter I’m going to be a ski bum. I’m a huge skier, yet have only been once in the past two years. Sometime soon I plan on spending a winter in Whistler, Tahoe, Park City or any number of other kick-ass mountain towns – oh the joys of location independence.
- I think the best is yet to come with Location 180. Obviously everyone believes in the potential of their blogs and businesses – but I really think there will be some good things to come in the future. 2011 is going to be one hell of a year.
Did I miss something that you wanted to know? I’m a pretty open book – shoot me an email.
Enjoy this post? Then you’ll love my new location independent email series – check it out in the sidebar. If that isn’t enough for you, then take a look at the Twitter and Facebook pages.
Sean Ogle
Sean Ogle is the Founder of Location Rebel where he has spent the last 12+ years teaching people how to build online businesses that give them the freedom to do more of the things they like to do in life. When he's not in the coffee shops of Portland, or the beaches of Bali, he's probably sneaking into some other high-class establishment where he most certainly doesn't belong.Learn How to Make Your First $1,000 Freelance Writing (in 30 Days or Less)
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34 comments on "26 Things You Never Knew About Me – and Maybe Never Wanted To"
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Re # 16
I grew up all of two miles away from Cedar Point. Seriously, let me know when you want to go, I’ll teach you how to “hack” The Cedar Point experience.
Sean- Thanks for sharing this list and being transparent… That’s a great story about not having your backpack in Europe. What a great way to learn to adapt! And also I’m really glad to hear you’ve joined us in the wonderful world of Mac.
I have to admit, I found myself shaking my head in agreement on so many of these. Total blogging insecurity. Completely believe in karma. Stress? Also not so much with the management.
I also think it’s beyond great that you can ride a unicycle. And I’m happy you were able to dive. It’s one of the most amazingly, peaceful, beautiful things to do on this planet, and the only thing I don’t like about where I currently live is that there’s no where nearby to dive.
2010 was a rather challenging year for me. Yep, 2011 will be one hell of a year, too.
#17 – Black olives are without a doubt my least favorite food.
Thank you. Finally someone else who feels the same way I do =) [there are so many olive lovers out there and I don’t know why]!
What uuuup Sean.
Great post buddy, I like what you are about. One word of advice, dont look to compete with your peers, but compete with yourself.
Cool dude. Then you’ll appreciate the Stainless Steel Daytona, Panerai Submersible, and IWC Big Pilot I’ve collected! Love watches! But, they are a total waste of money lol.
Karma is good.
Cheers
@FS That’s a hell of a collection 🙂 And yes, complete waste of money…
@Ryan Believe me, I tell myself everyday not to compete with anyone but myself – and usually do a pretty good job with it. But sometimes my competitive nature gets the best of me!
@Joel I knew we were soulmates…
@Leigh Thanks for the thoughts! I have no doubt big things will come your way in 2011 – let me know if there’s anything I can do to help further your goals.
@The Other Ryan Yeah so far life is pretty good on the Mac side of things, but definitely a huge adjustment. I’m trying not to think about all of the things I could have bought if I’d just burnt down my old PC instead…but I’m confident it was a good investment. And yeah that was an awesome trip. Always did like the blog post too…
@Alex I’ll DEFINITELY let you know. In an ideal world I’d head out there this summer, but we’ll see how the first half of the year shakes out.
Sean and Joel – Black olive haters, unite!
Great list, Sean. It’s fun to learn more about a friend and it’s also awesome that you’re doing this almost two years into the blog and hadn’t as the very first post. Leaves a little something to the imagination! Ha.
Hope you have a great Christmas. We must catch up soon!
Hey Sean,
Cool post. I really love the personal style-posts, they are always the most interesting to read:)
I can relate to much of what you’re saying. I have a constant battle in my mind…
on the one hand I want to be filthy rich, drive around in Ferraris and Porsche 911 turbos, jet set the world and spend money like there’s no tomorrow.
on the other hand I like a minimalist lifestyle too, a bit removed from all the modern hype and closer to nature, with friends and good food.
Have a kickass holiday and an even better 2011!
Cheers
Diggy
Totally a fan of #25. I’ll tell you how it is. 😉 Better yet, stop by and shred with us in Japan for a week or so. 🙂
I love this. I’m a big fan of anyone who can be vulnerable to the masses. #18 struck a nerve, reminded me of when I almost had my foot amputated at age 10. #9 sounded amazingly fun and #10 was very much appreciated. Glad to know I’m not the only one…
Nice post! I think we should be friends.
3. I hear you on that one buddy.
11. Dirk Pitt is my favorite character ever and I secretly want to be him.
12. The hardware is nice. If I could just install Windows on their hardware and get rid of Mac OS I might buy one.
17. Olives are definitely the only thing that I will not eat. I try to eat them but I just can’t.
25. I was skiing friday and telling my friends that I was going to live on a mountain for a season and ski every day. Let’s set that up. And I’m across the water from Whistler so let’s go sometime.
#5 – I’ve tended bar a bit in my day. It’s fun, but if you get stuck at the wrong bar, you are working until 5am for very little pay (my last bartending gig). I worked nearly 12 hours one night during IrishFest in Wisconsin, so I dealt with drunken Irishmen all night long and barely could get them out. After cleanup, I didn’t get to leave until about 5:30am.
So yeah, there’s fun and great social activity, but boy, the hours can suck.
Fun list, Sean! Maybe you can show me how to finally master this unicycle I’ve had for years . . .
Love #24. And I LOVE black olives. Where did I go wrong?
Cool, a fellow screenprinter and a frugal luxury freak! Great post for this season of the year! All the best for Christmas and 2011, Sean!
Thanks for sharing this Sean! Totally reminds me of your quest to find the right watch in Ko Phi Phi!! Took us ages to get to that party with you stopping in each place on the way and scrutinising everything the owner had! 😀
Yes, you did miss something.
You’re terrible at giving directions.
TERRIBLE!!!!!!!!!
No, I’m not bitter or anything.
😉
@Ash It’s not my fault that you couldn’t find the very obvious landmark in your own city that I’d been in for a grand total of an hour and a half!
@Benny And I finally did find the one I was looking for 🙂
@Fabian Might be on the best descriptions I’ve ever been given before!
@Mom Good question 🙂
@Mark haha bring it on over!
@Tom Yeah thats the side of it that doesn’t interest me so much 🙂 I think a high end hotel bar might be a good option for me!
@Ross Dirk Pitt is the man!
@Susan Thanks for the kind words -I always try to be as transparent as possible on here.
@G Totally jealous!
@Diggy There’s no doubt that 2011 is gonna be a hell of a year for you as well!
@Sarah I’m the one that sucks and doesn’t call you back. I’ll fix that soon!
No. That is not an excuse. You gave me the WRONG LANDMARK. #notlettingthisonegoever
You guys know there is the thing they call the interwebs? You tell it where you want to go and it tells you exactly how to get there? 😛
Mushrooms are my least favorite food… so much that I tell everyone I know I’m allergic to them. (It even says it on my about page on my blog) el oh el.
Oh… and I can also ride a unicycle. Maybe not a 6-foot one, but a unicycle nonetheless.
2011 is going to be a hell of a year! That’s for sure.
Mate, a future post on the practicalities of making the switch from pc to mac (how it changed your workflow, software substitutions, pros/cons, gotchas etc) would be very useful as I’m thinking of doing the same but find the swop over period daunting
Also the watches thing – that sounds a little like the problem I have with camera gear 🙂
Another great post, been really enjoying them and the comments over the last couple months
#17: Agreed! Olives are disgusting!! I’ve tried to like them, but just not happening. (Loved the rest of the list too man.)
People always talk about finding your tribe. I think I found my tribe of people who hate olives. Thank God.
I adore posts like these, and reading this couldn’t have come at a better time, as I’m crafting my own list of stuff nobody knows about me this week on my blog.
That wasn’t a plug by the way, honestly! I’m citing the ‘great minds’ defense.
I remember reading a couple of posts on your blog months ago, and then picking up Guillebeau’s book, reading your profile in it, and realize that the Sean featured was the same Sean that ran Location 180. So now I’m reading this on the regular now. Funny how that works out.
PS: Gonna start reading Luxist now because of this.
PS: I always wanted to start my own t-shirt company.
so happy you’re a duck fan! 😀 for some reason i thought you were a beaver. not that i care all that much..
Number 10 all the way! Even though I see my sites growing but I really look up to/envy other travel bloggers.
Great post!
Great post. Its great to see the different sides of blog personalities we follow. I happen to know how to juggle too. I had to learn how to in order to get an “A” in 6th grade P.E. class. Blogger circus he we come.
Cheers,
Hansen
You’re not the only one, brother. I’m always battling with the “you’re not good enough” mentality.
What keeps me going is knowing that even though I’m not as popular, “cool,” or “successful” as everyone else, it doesn’t really matter. I’m here to do one thing: MY thing. As long as I keep working at it, that’s all that matters.
I believe that sticking to your purpose and being confident that you’re on the right track–despite what everyone else is doing–is a great way to stay sane in any industry.
Nice list!
Can you still unicycle? It’s been awhile since you’ve dusted it off. I do remember those assemblies, though. You with that bowl cut.
I’ve been following your blog for a while Sean, really great stuff here.
If you want to be a bartender you might want to check out audio mixologist: http://audiomixology.com/
I have never used it myself, but the site was given as an example of a successful 4hww muse.
I learned a ton from their sales page and implemented a similar format for my own 4hww muse sales page which has become quite successful.
Looking forward to what 2011 brings!