2013

Temples (Indonesia)

Here are highlights from my year. Enjoy!

Full Disclosure: This page contains links to affiliates, products I've created, and companies I'm invested in.

Overview

My theme for the 2013 year is “Love Thyself”. I would like to educate myself and work consciously to forgive myself, recognize my greatness, and attract the world’s gifts to me without self-sabotage, guilt, and doubt.  Many of my goals echo this mission. Being in the East will help bring a fresh perspective to how I interact with the people around me and how I reflect on myself.

Highlights

Here are the places I visited;

• Singapore  – December 1
  • Enjoy Amazing food from Malaysia, China, India, and more…
  • Work with an old friend
  • Meet Asia’s wildest foods (Chinese, Malaysia, Indian)
• Philippines– January 3
  • Dive with sharks
  • Search for stable internet amongst 7000 islands.
  • Explore islands
• Bali, Indonesia– March 1
  • Surf for 1 week
  • Yoga for 1 week
  • Volunteer for 1 month
• Singapore– April 27
  • Transit
• Malaysia– April 27
  • Tour the magical culinary treasures of Penang
  • Dive in Perhentians
  • Hike in Taman Nagara national forest & Cameron Highlands
• Vietnam – May 26
  • Fall in love with Vietnamese food – Among the worlds very very best
  • Stay a month in Danang, Central Vietnam’s fastest-growing city
  • Get lost in the streets of Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi
• Thailand – August 19
  • Explore Bangkok’s furnace and fashion
  • Hike and (motor)bike through the highlands of Chiang Mai & Pai
  • Eat, Eat, Eat
  • Scuba Dive in the Islands of Koh Tao
• Berlin – Nov 3
  • Visit ‘The Wall’
  • Interview with more companies for a full-time job.
  • Freeze due to the coldest weather in years
• USA  – Dec 22
  • See Family

For 2013, I have planned yet another year of full-time travel.

• ONE-TIME: Get a Visa in one foreign country for another foreign country. – Completed. While in Singapore I got a 60-day visa to the Philippines and 60-day Visa to Indonesia. Funny, that’s the first time I ever did that.
• ONE-TIME: Write a blog post (N&T) “The Importance of Travel – An AutoBio” and include a timeline of my life (big picture) and a list of travels. I’d like a dated recount of my travels too. Think about –  How am I different before/after long-term-travel.

Social

For a few years, I’ve had goals to meet new people and make friends. It’s easy and hard while traveling full-time – it’s different. I certainly say hi to more people than ever, but building relationships on-the-go is a challenge.

• ONE-TIME: Memorize 10 great jokes – At least one per language (English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, French).  Not Completed. I’m still interested in this goal for the future.
• ONE-TIME: Write Blog Post (N&T) – “Find The Ideal Travel Partner” (friend/ business partner/ mentor-mentee/romantic partner) and outline their qualities. Then search for that person (existing/new friends) and travel together.
• ONE-TIME: Write Blog Post (N&T) – “Find The Ideal Mate”.
• ONE-TIME: Host 1 friend.  Completed. Caroline, Stefanie, Elliot, & Raquel all visited
• ONE-TIME: Host 1 CouchSurfer.  Not Completed. I’m still interested in this goal for the future.
• ONE-TIME: Host 1 family member. Not Completed. I’m still interested in this goal for the future.

Fun!

Ironically, I’m planning for more whimsey.

I am very open to new experiences, and have nothing but time and flexibility. I want to have some more fun, again, in 2013!

• ONE-TIME: Write blog post (N&T) “Goose-Chase Goals” and then do them. These are activities that encourage me; a) to explore an area, b) to get out of my comfort zone, c) to be social, and d) to have a good story.
• ONE-TIME: Laugh aloud (More…)
• RESEARCH: Google ‘taking yourself less seriously’ and read about it. Learn the benefits and make a loose plan.
• BONUS: Hire a (unofficial) guide for a day.

Learning

I have always enjoyed the learning process. In recent years, I have increased my learning.

Peculiar Travel Suggestions are Dancing Lessons From God – Kurt Vonnegut

• ONE-TIME: Complete a paid, client-project in a project that is not based on the Adobe Flash Platform (which is my normal type of project).
• ONE-TIME: Record a video of me speaking 5 languages (English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, French).
• ONE-TIME: Study massage for non-professional use.
• ONE-TIME: Study piano.
• ONE-TIME: Study cooking (multi-day course).
• ONE-TIME: Take an online photography course.
• ONE-TIME: Draw a world map without practice. Practice, draw it again with 100 countries and accurate borders.

Life Assessment

This post illustrates that I am a goal-oriented person. Success, for some, is a process of a) where am I, b) where do I want to be, and c) how do I get to where I want to be. For me both a) and b) are really about self-awareness. I feel that I am afforded the time, energy, and interest for much introspection, but I’m still learning what makes me tick (think). I enjoy this search.

• ONE-TIME: Complete a Meyers-Briggs personality profile test.
• ONE-TIME: Visit a therapist.
• RESEARCH: Read about ‘contrarian personalities’ and what it means to be inspired by opposing others
• ONE-TIME: Write a blog post (N&T) – “My Greatest Fears” and include common fears (public speaking, death, etc…), my fears, and outline some activities to conquer those fears.
• ONE-TIME: Write a blog post (N&T) – “Creating Your 5 Year Plan” and include my plan, and discuss the pros/cons of such a plan.

During travel, I am intermittently active. When I hike and bike as part of a tour I am generally pleased with my abilities and level of fitness. However, from a general health perspective, I think I should include a more regular fitness plan.

I have no goals to change my diet or be ‘on a diet’. However I would like to alter my relationship with food. I feel that I often over eat and eat without being hungry. I think my current behavior is excessive.

I really miss snow-skiing. However I also dislike cold weather and avoid it. I’m not sure I will do any skiing in 2013, but I do miss it.

• RESEARCH: Read about ‘overeating’ and ‘eating when you are not hungry’ and learn how I can avoid these habits.
• ONE-TIME: Attend martial arts class.
• ONE-TIME: Run one (more) 5k or 10k.
• ONE-TIME: Do a multi-day hike/camp tour.
• ONE-TIME: Do a multi-day yoga/meditation retreat.
• ONGOING: Surf more

Favorites of the Year

• Books
  • Non-Fiction
    • The Divided Mind, by Dr. John E. Sarno. ⭐
    • A Short History of Nearly Everything, by Bryson, Bill
    • Why You’re Crazy Not to Live in Thailand, by Schwartz, Mike
    • Nonviolent Communication, by Rosenberg, Marshall B.
    • Curious?, by Kashdan, Todd B.
    • Tiny Beautiful Things, by Strayed, Cheryl
    • The Tao Of Health, Sex and Longevity, by Reid, Daniel
  • Fiction
    • Shantaram: A Novel, by Gregory David Roberts.
    • Catfish and Mandala, by Pham, Andrew X.
    • Jonathan Livingston Seagull, by Bach, Richard

Writing online is a good promotional tool for RMC and a good creative outlet.

• ONE-TIME: Make a PPT-type (Powerpoint) presentation about LIP.
• ONE-TIME: Publish (N&T) articles from 3 guest-authors.
• RESEARCH: How can I establish expertise in Location-Independence and leverage that to writing and presenting?

Art

I consider myself a creative person. I can put my stamp onto projects both small and large and feel I’m expressing myself through crafts and work. I’d like to learn more about creating more often this year – simply reading a bit and practicing creativity exercises more. I’d like to be able to articulate creative processes better and help others to be creative.

“We have to continually be jumping off cliffs and developing our wings on the way down.” – Kurt Vonnegut

• MONTHLY: Update art.RivelloMultimediaConsulting.com with annual photos and 6 non-photo artworks.
• ONE-TIME: Do a photo essay on location.
• ONE-TIME: Buy an interesting yet totally out-of-character magazine and read it cover to cover.
• ONE-TIME: Take a drawing / painting class.
• ONE-TIME: Write original, non-ironic, poetry.

I enjoy learning about meditation, mindfulness,  and life-balance.

“Make your own Bible. Select and collect all the words and sentences that in all your readings have been to you like the blast of a trumpet.”  – Ralph Waldo Emerson

• MONTHLY: Attend 6 yoga classes. Not Completed. I’m still interested in this goal for the future.
• ONE-TIME: Get Thai Massage in Thailand
• ONE-TIME: Unplug from all technology for 7 days.
• ONE-TIME: Visit multi-day retreat of yoga/spa/something.

I would like to do more to give back. Donating in ‘Financial (Giving)’ is a nice start, but I like the social aspects of giving my time to a cause too. I have not done much of this in the past and would like to find more opportunities to help. I’m interested to help in many areas, but especially related to art/teaching/computers.

• ONE-TIME: Complete a long-term (2-4 weeks) volunteering.
• ONE-TIME: Volunteer to teach English
• ONE-TIME: Volunteer at a child-aid / orphanage location.

I am the Principal of Rivello Multimedia Consulting. Offer four core services in software development; Architecture, Development, Consulting, and Training.

• ONGOING: Continue to offer my four core services: architecture, consulting, development, and training for Adobe-centric software.
• ONGOING: To rebrand my four core services from Adobe-centric software to the competitive Unity3D platform. This includes new marketing and restructuring for my business and new education for me. Unity3D has a bright future and I will reinvent myself to establish expertise.
• ONE-TIME: To rebrand web-presence to be technology agnostic, with new, prominent presence of Unity3D.
• BONUS: To investigate learning and working in technologies outside my core competency I researched, coded, and wrote blogs for several platforms.

Marketing

Many of my RMC professional goals are predicated by getting more offers for work. Marketing myself more (RMC) is one way to attract more offers. Marketing N&T will help me build more reputation for Location-Independence expertise.

RMC

• ONE-TIME: Triple the amount of viable contract-work opportunities I’m offered.
• ONE-TIME: Increase RMC (@srivello) twitter followers from (378 Followers as of 12/23/2012) to (500 Followers). We’ll assume this also helps the RMC (SITE) traffic. 
• ONE-TIME: Increase RMC (Site) unique visitors from 34,822 January Through October 2012 by 30% for 2013.
• MONTHLY:Write 12+ new posts (6 editorial, 6 technical). Think fast and simple. 
• QUARTERLY: Create a free RMC newsletter. Simply point to recent posts and send to all members (RMC includes free sign-up already). Include website link (obviously) and Facebook link.
• ONE-TIME: Increase my Facebook page (RMC) from (53 likes March 2013) to 100 likes. You can Like RMC on Facebook now!

N&T

• ONE-TIME: Fix ad-banners. They work on some browsers but not others.
• ONE-TIME: Increase N&T (@nowandtherefeed) twitter followers from (62 Followers, March 2012 ) to (300 Followers). 
• QUARTERLY: Create a free N&T newsletter. Simply point to recent posts and send to all members (RMC includes free sign-up already). Include website link (obviously) and Facebook link.
• ONE-TIME: Incease Facebook page (N&T) from (12 likes March 2012) to 50 likes. You can Like N&T on Facebook now!
• ONE-TIME: Increase N&T (Blog) annual visits from 747 visits January Through October 2012 by 50% for 2013.
• MONTHLY: Write 12+ new posts (6 original, 6 reviews or editorial commentary). Think fast and simple.

Consulting

Last year in 2012, my projects were really great. I was excited by the projects, enjoyed working with the people, and provided a great value for great compensation. In 2013, I would like to book more of my time for client work and spend less time between projects and less marketing time.

The services I offer are good and my pay-rate range is both competitive and profitable.

• ANNUAL: Book 25 weeks of client-work. Jan 1 through Feb 1 completed already.
• ONE-TIME: Launch a free app/game for mobile. Use as promotion / portfolio
• ONE-TIME: Launch a monetized app/game for mobile.

• MONTHLY: Fill existing emergency and residential funds. Build savings towards the purchase of a home.
• ONE-TIME: Ship my new, travel-friendly Citibank card to me and use it as primary credit.

I am a monthly sponsor at Children.org and a sponsor at Kiva.org. Here are more goals…

“We only have what we give” – Isabel Allende

Highlights

1. QUARTERLY: Donate 5% monthly income to one charity in each country I visit for 1+ months. I prefer this to donate ‘on the street’.
2. ONE-TIME: Financially help a local in need.
3. ONE-TIME: Volunteer my time.

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What's Next, Sam?

Stay tuned for more!