If you need time off the Easter universe...meet me in another one!

It really is.

And what's your favorite thing?

Happy Friday.

Mind-blowing video. You should check out the filmmaker's other stuff on vimeo as well. I'm really getting sucked into this whole filmmaking thing, with hundreds of ideas jumping out of my head - I plan to learn more about it (esp. documentaries) in 2012 and get started on my first project!

With regard to +Dan Johnson, who wrote the awesome blogpost "38 Amazing People Who Will Help You Quit Your Job and Follow Your Dreams" (and included me) and +Dean Ouellette, who encouraged me to create a G+ circle, here it is! Share and be happy!

Here is Dan's post on Right Brain Rockstar
http://rightbrainrockstar.com/inspiration/38-amazing-people-who-will-help-you-quit-your-job-and-follow-your-dreams/

Here we go, the official "Quit Your Job & Follow Your Dreams" Circle! (Add to your liking)

Oh no, I've done it. I counted and photographed my things. I'm one of those now. Shit.

I even made it all public.
http://www.alifeofblue.com/less-is-more-everything-i-own-in-march-2012

Much as everyone thinks they want financial security, the happiest people are not those who have it, but those who like what they do.

I'm learning a lot about branding right now, and the more I do, the more I see how so many businesses fail at it and bore the shit out of me.

One thing about branding that really lands with me is the idea to figure out your WHY and your values and beliefs. I feel like so many people out there have no idea what their brand stands for and if they do they totally suck at communicating it.

Whatever I buy or commit to financially, one thing I always need to know is this: How does the product or service impact my life? Why does it deserve to exist in this world, how does it make it a better place?

If you know of examples (apart from the boring usual such as Apple etc.), then pass them on to me!

I took the photo today walking home from the subway (Berlin). I find new street art every day. It's good to see that people are active when I'm not looking. It makes my day to see new stuff on the streets I walk every day. I'm thinking about doing a Berlin street art photography project before I leave.

I'm for the revolution of live. For 100 % self-determination.

The highest manifestation of life consists in this: that a being governs its own actions. A thing which is always subject to the direction of another is somewhat of a dead thing. ~Saint Thomas Aquinas

My work station at home today. Writing, reading, eating Nutella. Lovely.

What are you up to this weekend?

Have you checked out my free ebook "The Art of Being a World Nomad"?

What's everyone up to these days after xmas and before NYE? (I'm in the Bavarian Alps on a three-generation wellness marathon. It's snowing like crazy.)

By the way, you can call me a founder now. I just registered my first BUSINESS today! Was way easier than I thought!

Source http://goo.gl/bHyxq

What do you want less of in your life?

Which of these have you been on?

I'm massively in love with Pinterest. Check out how it works and then find me via http://pinterest.com/comabi/ (If you need an invite to sign up, let me know and I'll send you one --> provide email address)

Now that's a writer who rocks at being awesome and unconventional.

New haircut, new life.

What are you busy with today? Will this matter 1 year from now? 3 years? 5 years?

What a brilliant idea...

See the whole set here: http://www.behance.net/gallery/Grandmother-Tips/2392946

“In 20 Jahren wirst du mehr enttäuscht sein über die Dinge, die du nicht getan hast, als über die Dinge, die du getan hast.” – Mark Twain

I'm a different person compared to who I was this time last year. I learned, I experienced, I loved and I created. I'm glad I keep evolving. I wonder how I will be different this time next year.

Are you a different person compared to who you were this time last year?

Wow, this is Tim Ferriss' first official blog that he started in 2006 and abandoned in 2007... Please be aware: Massive eye cancer warning!!!!

You should watch this clip from the movie 'Up in the Air' ... (oh and happy holidays of course ;))

With some people I wonder: Is there life before death?

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Stunning photos. (check them out +Srinivas Rao !)

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11-11-11... 100 years ago.

(See: http://nyti.ms/s6Stl3 for the full article.)

Wow, Wow and Wow.

One incredible and unconventional film project - an interactive 360° documentary about exploring the state of our urban planet told by people who look out on the world from highrise towers.

Please do not miss.

“Quitting, for me, means not giving up, but moving on; changing direction not because something doesn’t agree with you, but because you don’t agree with something. It’s not a complaint, in other words, but a positive choice, and not a stop in one’s journey, but a step in a better direction. Quitting-whether a job or a habit-means taking a turn so as to be sure you’re still moving in the direction of your dreams.”
–Pico Iyer, “Quit Pro Quotes”, Utne Reader, Sept./Oct. 1996

Check out +Alejandro Reyes and his great blog Enso Journey! (Cheers again for the mention, Alex!!)

What’s something you know you do differently than most people?

Fascinating.

The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak. -Hans Hofmann

What can you eliminate today to make the necessary speak?

Source: http://goo.gl/PZJbf

Schon gelesen auf Planet Backpack?

The weather is starting to get colder here in Berlin.. I'm glad to be getting out in a few weeks time!

Let's stop complaining, shall we?

Goodbye my lovely white Macbook 13", had some great times with you...and welcome my little Air 11"...hm, you're so nice and skinny and light and pretty! (is it possible to be in love with a machine?)

What is the biggest motivator in your life right now?

Greetings from Koh Tao, Thailand... :)

I had a lovely little chat with +Everett Bogue from EvBogue.com & MinimalistBusiness.com the other day.
We talked about creating an online business with no overhead, as well as living and working anywhere.

Check it out and leave a comment if you have any more questions!

Decide what you want to do and go do it.

It's that freaking easy.

Any questions?

Check this out, guys. Wowsers.

Me and my friend in front of the Berghain last Sunday. Oh what crazy times! Some people go to the zoo or sledding on a Sunday afternoon - in Berlin, you go to the Berghain. And dance and party and have fun and feel free with lots of other unconventional crazy people.

For anyone with an eye for the beautiful and crazy...enjoy!

Do you enjoy your own story? (i.e. the one you are living?)

If not, do you have plans to write a new one? What would you want it to be like?
If yes, what do you enjoy about it most?

Yesterday around the corner from where we live, enjoying the lovely spring weather and some brilliant live street music. I just love Berlin, man.

My three words for 2012? Writing. Travel. Diving. What are yours?

Managed to get a few proper photos taken of me last weekend. This is one where we had some fun with a fish eye lens. More to come soon!

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Surfer Magazine's Photo of the Year: http://www.surfermag.com/photo-of-the-year-interview

Watch now.

What do you think about when you lie awake in bed?

What everyone should know about Non-Conformity and living unconventionally. Please share!

Which writer did it for you?

I've been getting into instagram a fair bit recently, and am now massively in love with this little app. You can follow me via @conniblue and check out my photos here:

So I've got my dive gear back all shiny and clean and serviced. Got my sun screen. Washed all my board shorts. Berlin: 10°. Bali: 31°. I think I'm preeeetty ready to get out of here! Can we fast forward 12 days please?

Wowsers, my blogpost from Tuesday on How to Live Anywhere has gone a bit viral...more than 1,000 visits today!

Also, my top three random search terms with which people found my blog today:
1. "stop complaining of the weather and learn to dance in it"
2. "lifes shitty why do we try to live"
3. "how to make a big dream a reality"

I also had two visitors from Norway today in my apartment: A lovely journalist and her photographer. I guess me and my 119 things are going to be featured in Norway's biggest business newspaper's weekend supplement soon.

All that's left to say I think is: WTF.

Well, I just did. I'm finally off back to Bali and Gili Trawangan via a few days in Singers on April 23rd. One sedentary year in Berlin is coming to an end...putting on my nomadic shoes again. No plans to return for a few years..I love one-way tickets..it's the best freedom ever.

Advice for modern consumers.

The start of a photo/word series.

“If you wake up in a different time, in a different place, could you wake up as a different person?”

{Tyler Durden/Fight Club}

This is me, left, guiding one of my open water students @ Gili T., Indonesia. I thought it would go well with my very last post for Reverb/Resound11 today. http://www.alifeofblue.com/more/

Have a happy and fun start into 2012, my dear people all around the world. I will see you in the new year! Thank you so much for reading and following my blog - it will get even better in the months to come!

Wow, I'm in creative wonderland... Lots of amazing ressources. My weekend is sorted I think.

Staying on topic today: "Considering the alternatives, I prefer self-employment to employment. After all, you usually make a lot more when you work for yourself and have much more independence. But my real choice is comfortable and creative unemployment."
- Steve Solomon

Corbett is speaking my heart and mind with this one. I'm about to leave my last conventional job ever (I've left quite a few before). No more compromises. (More about all this soon on my blog.)

It's here, it's free, it's yours if you want it.

Come and join me in world nomad's land. It's pretty freakin awesome here.

And remember, no matter where you go, there you are. – Confucius

With this: Happy weekend - stay rude, stay rebel!!

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Learning languages is important and fun. I'm glad someone like Benny is taking it to the next level and showing people how to do it. What languages do you speak? (Me? German, English, Spanish, basic Bahasa Indonesian)

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Would REALLY appreciate if you shared this video around :) It's my official TEDx talk packed with all my best techniques and an intro explaining who/what inspired me to get into language learning!

"If you had a year off—with pay—how would you spend your time?"

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Anyone who lives in the Baltimore area?? Please help or share.

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I spotted this poor lady initially on Thanksgiving Day looking for work as I was leaving the York Road Shopping Center in Baltimore (http://g.co/maps/2ymdz). I felt so helpless and guilty because she wasn’t asking for money, but for a steady job. It was beyond me. It was especially sad because this was someone who should be enjoying retirement, but can’t.

The next day, I thought to take a picture of her and her sign to post it online to have her exposed to more people. When I went to find her though, she wasn’t there.

I was in the area today, and coincidentally, there she was: Still asking for help as cars were exiting the plaza. I finally approached her and asked if I could snap a picture so I can put her ad online in the hopes that someone out there would be able to find something for her.

So, here it is.

If you know someone looking for a seamstress, will you please tell that person about Gail? If you yourself can help, please reach out to her. Gail can be contacted at 443-810-0561. If you can't help, at least share this post so that someone following you can.

Thank you.

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The most brilliant idea.

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I thought I'd post this before, I shut down to go be productive :)

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This artist rocks: He takes over billboards and puts up beautiful messages. Check out his website too. Less advertising is what we need!!

This male world bores me to death...are we in 2012 or have I missed something?? This is the third article I come across in a week that deals with employment and gender inequalities.. This sucks THIS bad. Sorry boys, but I think a female dominated world would be bloody freakin awesome. (oh and did I mention much more peaceful?)

"A 'Normal' person is the sort of person that might be designed by a committee. You know, each person puts in a pretty color and it comes out gray." ~Alan Sherman

Read.

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Once you connect with your mind, you are who you are and you’re free.

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Rinse and repeat... :)

Majority opinion is a safe haven. It requires more courage, a thicker skin, to step into those outer regions where affirmations are so scarce. But this is where the payoffs are greatest.

>>If "well-read" means "not missing anything," then nobody has a chance. If "well-read" means "making a genuine effort to explore thoughtfully," then yes, we can all be well-read. But what we've seen is always going to be a very small cup dipped out of a very big ocean, and turning your back on the ocean to stare into the cup can't change that.<<

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Check out my guestpost on +James Wong's blog over at evolyfe.com! Lots of other great posts in the latest issue that came out yesterday!

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YES, this. I'm all about a work/play balance. I hovered around 30 hour work weeks often last year, but have found that it's typically people who are self-employed that are finding any success in having a shorter work week.

Ok, my friends, can we agree to not have any of these regrets on our deathbeds? If I catch anyone of you guys, I swear I will... call all +Chris Guillebeau 's in the world to come and get you. Hm, or: just don't do it. Let's have awesome lives with no regrets.

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Best reasoning pro un-copyright. I wish more people would stop obsessing about protecting their creations.

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Five Reasons Why I Don't Care if My Stuff is Pirated - A New Way of Thinking

An article just came out in Wired (http://goo.gl/Nyaf9) and it featured many of my quotes. I have approached copyright, products, and business models in a very non-traditional way. I'm sure that I'm doing it the right way -- most others disagree. The article is about how I have chosen to share my photography from http://www.StuckInCustoms.com with a Creative Commons Noncommercial license, but it falls into an overall digital online strategy.

I also just happend to watch the new TWIT about copyright with +Leo Laporte , +Nilay Patel , +Andy Ihnatko , and +Harry McCracken. I'm 100% in Leo's camp -- but with a slightly different flavor, one I am sure Leo would appreciate.

All of my stuff is pirated. Everything from my HDR Video Tutorial to eBooks to Apps. Fine. It's all there on PirateBay and MegaUpload and all that stuff. Here are the reasons why I don't mind:

1) Theft of bits are like the Tic Tacs that get stolen from the 7-11. It's the cost of doing business on the Internet.

2) It is a LONG life. Many people that pirate stuff now from me just don't have any money. But, they like me and want my stuff. Some day, when they have money and get their financial act under control - maybe even in five years - I'll still be around. And then, they'll think, "You know what? I like that Trey guy... he put out stuff in the past that I like, and now I will start buying his new stuff."

3) The "pirates" are part of my community. Not everyone in the community has equal means. Pirates are not cretins riddled with immoral behavior in every part of their life. These are all generally good people who would gladly support me, their friendly local neighborhood artist, if they could easily afford it. They can't now, but they will be able to some day... I give them something now, and they will give me something later. For example, 24 years ago in high school, I used to pirate Sid Meier games on my Amiga (including a game called Pirates). Now that I have money, I buy every single game that Sid Meier puts out.

4) Pirates have friends that have money. It's still word-of-mouth, the most effective friend-to-friend marketing in the world. If pirates like what you do, they'll tell their friends. Not everyone is so handy with bittorrent and this sort of thing. Since I make purchases simple on my website at http://www.StuckInCustoms.com , many will come make the purchase because it is easier than pirating.

5) Last, and most important, as soon as I opened everything up, our business has grown and grown. Our team now of about 10 people are happy and everything is profitable. It is strange to see a chart over time that shows an increase in revenues and an increase in piracy. Now, piracy is not the reason that revenues are increasing, but they are not hurting revenues.

I'm proud of my artistic work and the creations that I have put on the internet, and for every thousand pirated downloads, I plant a thousand seeds.

"I treat every blog I read as if I have a lot to learn from the author, as if the writer is my teacher. It’s a high standard, but it needs to be. My time and attention are my most valuable possessions. I have a limited supply and can’t buy more. " Wise words by CJ Chilvers http://www.alesserphotographer.com/post/14179251752/know-your-teacher

You don't necessarily need one big revolution, sometimes a few tiny revolutions can pave the way for you... (Thanks to +Thom Chambers for some great personal words)

What are you passionate about?

When I’m old an dying, I plan to look back on my life and say “Wow, that was an adventure”, not “Wow, it sure felt safe”.

Spend time alone in nature. If your ideas still seem worthwhile in the presence of natural solitude, then they are probably worth pursuing. ~Jonathan Harris

My new blogpost. If you ever had an idea or two, this is for you ;)

I thought I'd open up a bit and tell a little about myself and where my nomadic life has taken me. Enjoy.

You cannot not watch this. Mindblowing. Can you feel the freedom watching this? I can.

Wow, this is so brilliant. A series of photos of couples wearing each others' clothes. Check out her other photography too, it's super-duper beautiful.

“Travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living.”
Miriam Beard

Hope you enjoy my new post. {By the way, I took all the photos myself! :) }

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Fun with +Colin Grey Clearing up 10 Misconceptions:

10. The Great Wall of China is visible from Space
9. Cracking your knuckles gives you arthritis
8. People only use 10% of their brains
7. Eskimos have 100s of words for snow
6. You need 8 glasses of water a day
5. Tap water is bad and bottled water is good.
4. Gum takes 7 years to pass through your digestive system

I will save the top 3 for the video.. Watch :-)

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Thanks +Benjamin Spall Well said.

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Every Friday I look at my friends Facebook updates and think...

"If you're all SO EXCITED this day each week, maybe you should evaluate your career choice."