I'm a well read, well traveled, well meaning guy that's able to be completely there when I am with people, don't sweat the small stuff, and am generally very easy going. Paradoxically, I think and plan way ahead on long term goals and am very focused and driven when it comes to my larger objectives.

A recent incident might highlight my personality better than anything I say: On a 15 hour flight to the other side of the world, where I had three weeks to read some of the 500 books on my Kindle, the dude on the seat next to mine accidentally put his entire weight on his knee on my seat bottom cushion where my Kindle was quite visibly placed. The screen cracked and the e-ink leaked out. I did not say a word about it to him even though I was a little pissed. Instead I just bought a punch of hardcovers and paperbacks at various local bookshops and was glad to bump into books I might otherwise not have seen or prioritized reading. I also surreptiously snapped pictures of the various best seller lists at the stores so I could buy those books when I got home.

Work: I'm the head of a small tech company so I do a bit of sales, engineering and management.

Spare time: Hiking, running, kayaking, traveling to places of great natural beauty or culture.

Passion: Mentoring. Although, I have never met or helped someone that has not also changed me. Light a candle, there will be more light created in the world for you too.

Helping and connecting deeply with people, making people feel very comfortable and not judged- I'm happy to report that > 10 people consider me their best friend in the deepest sense of the word, and even new acquaintances open up to me since they think I'm safe harbor.

Business plans, synthesizing the big picture from tons and tons of information - I once measured how many blog posts I could read in a day on topics from tech, econ, architecture, current events, neuroscience, physics, etc for the sake of quantitative self-assessment!

Also, navigating in places I know nothing about. I swear I'd do really well on The Amazing Race.

Negotiation: I must report I recently settled an extortionate demand at a family event for 4% of the demand.

I'm going to have to ask around!

Books: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, biographies of Mandela, Gandhi, Dr King, Fooled By Randomness, The Tao, The Gita, The Idea of Justice, High Output Management, anything by Peter Drucker, any textbook on neuroscience or economics, Sci Fi. I own over a thousand books. Conversations with me will not be sterile and platonified :)

Movies: Braveheart, Chariots of Fire, Cry Freedom. I also love stupid frat and stoner comedies, I guess because I never got a chance to have fun like that!

Music: Anything with lyrical and melodic complexity. I like analyzing stuff.

Shows: How I Met Your Mother, 30 Rock, Big Bang Theory, South Park, Family Guy, Science, Discovery, Nat Geo, Military, Dr Who, Battlestar Galactica, Top Gear, World Poker Tour (jk)

Food: Pretty much everything. I've been a world traveler since I was a month old, and having tried so many things, I'm hungry for new culinary adventures

- A clear conscience and a mind at peace
- Nature, and dwelling in it. Gold to me is not just a precious metal, its something created in the explosions of stars. Oceans are water from comets that have traveled billions of miles to deposit themselves on Earth.
- Knowledge, and the means to acquire it
- A sense of purpose and (almost) missionary zeal
- Clarity, wisdom, judiciousness
- Great mentors and friends

business strategy, customer acquisition, making my mentorees whole and successful, poverty and suffering in the world, science, technology, family, planning my workouts

At a business dinner or in bed, re-charging from the week and getting ready for my Saturday morning run

I almost let high tide float my parents car away once, and had to hire a bunch of street thugs to manually pull the car out on an isolated beach in the middle of the night.

You are intelligent, compassionate, live for something larger than your own self, love the outdoors and travel, and are looking for a fun, supportive, intelligent friend in your adventures...

Bonus points if you can do 'jo mama' jokes or accents / impressions.