Random Stuff About Me
Just got thru reading a post on Michel Fortin’s blog “25 Random Things About Me” which I really enjoyed, so I decided I’d take up the challenge and do something similar…
Here are the rules.
Once you’ve been tagged, you are supposed to write a post with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose five more people to be tagged. You also have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it’s because I want to know more about you. To do this, you simply link to their blogs so that they know you responded to their tag.
(You may include the above rules in your post so that the person being tagged knows them, too. You may also want to tweet your post to notify them on Twitter, too.)
Let’s start with things you may already know…
1) I’m a Search Engine Marketing consultant at WCR Internet Marketing – one of Australia’s top SEO firms. Been there since mid-2005. Currently doing the sales for the firm, but my major specialty is running Google AdWords campaigns.
2) Speaking of Google AdWords, I passed the Adwords exam a few years ago with a score (from memory) of about 92%. That makes me “officially” a Google Qualifed Adwords Specialist.
3) I upgraded my car recently to a nice silver Ford Falcon station wagon. I added a sexy set of rims & new low profile tyres to it and now call it the “Sportwagon” 
4) My previous car was a piece of crap 1986 Volvo 740GL – what a heap of junk! When I last saw it, it was sitting on top of a pile of cars waiting to be crushed! I got a whole $80 for it, as scrap metal value! LOL
5) I am a twin. My twin is my sister Dani. And no, we are NOT identical lol not even close…
6) Like Michel, I own a musical instrument (an ESP M-10 electric guitar). Unlike him, I have ZERO ability to play it or any other instrument 
Just a frustrated wannabe lead guitarist I guess
7) I don’t know my father. He & Mum split up when I was about 18 months old, and I have never heard from him, seen a picture of him or even know if he is still alive… Would love to meet him, so if anyone knows a Michael Ashkenazi who married an Australian woman & had 3 kids with her before breaking up with her, let me know 
8 ) I have been married once before to Lina. We were together for nearly 10 years, but it just didn’t work out. Our breakup was tough (no doubt for her as well as me) but I don’t hate her or hold any grudges against her. I hope she has a fabulous life…
9) No children and I can’t have any (snip snip)
10) I am a published author (not quite as impressive as it sounds…). I co-authored a book for the Rolemaster FRG titled “Mentalism Companion.” Nicholas (the main writer) and I did NOT make a fortune from this (!!!) but it was cool to see our names in print. He’s gone on to write & publish quite a few more books – good for him.
11) Back in 1998 & 1999 I got HEAVILY into consulting about the Y2K bug. Did some work for businesses helping them track down & fix their issues, plus I wrote & developed a kit for small businesses to help them do their own y2k project. It was called DIY2K. Unfortunately, due to unforeseen delays in publication, it came out too late to sell so was “officially” a flop! My first info product I learned HEAPS doing it which has stood me in good stead years later.
12) Bit of a photography lover, but nothing too serious. I just love capturing memories on film (and memory card these days). Did a 4 week trip around Europe back in 2005 & took over 2000 pics! Pleasantly surprised that MOST of them were really good (I put it down to a good camera – Canon Powershot A70). Into video these days, but need a lot more practise. You can see some of my photos on my London England website.
13) I consider myself an entrepreneur at heart, but I got my start in Amway! Yes, like so many others, I drank the pink koolaid (as Perry Marshall calls it) and was an ambot for over 10 years. Spent SHIT LOADS of money on their tools (tapes, books, functions) but made naff all from the actual business. However, what I did get out of it all eventually was infinitely more valuable (self confidence, public speaking skills, business thinking/entrepreneurial mindset, increased income and better employment prospects, and so forth). Would never recommend it to someone now, but it did help in a strange way for me…
14) One job I had was working nightshift doing telesales from Australia into the USA. Was … interesting. Amazing how uneducated and unworldly many americans are! Good luck President Obama, if they’re typical of what you’ve got to work with. Mind you, others were fabulous!
15) My youngest brother lives in Germany in Munich. He is doing research at a University there. He has a PhD in Ancient History (from Cambridge University in England) and is moving back to the UK later this year, when he takes up a full time position at Nottingham University. I miss him – I only get to see him once every 2-3 years at best (perhaps I should move to Europe… see below ).
16) In a relationship with Michelle. We’ve been dating on & off for probably 3+ years now and moved in together last Sept (from memory). She’s a country gal – from the wheatbelt of WA – and works locally for a health care manufacturer. She also runs a business designing budget websites for people in the crafts/cottage industry – you can check her website out here: craft2web. Like most relationships, we have our down moments as well as our up moments, but she’s got a heart of gold and would give u the shirt off her back if you truly needed it.
17) One of my friends has a famous son (on national tv, known all over Australia), but I’ll keep the rest of that quiet for his privacy.
18) I am a member of a Mastermind group. We’re a bunch of internet marketers who all live in Perth, and we get together once a fortnight to share & help each other. We met from Ed Dale’s 30 Day Challenge 2 years ago & have stayed in contact since then. Hi Bruce, Andrew, Lex, Joyce & Paul. Occasionally Peter pops in. Good friends – I value their opinion. BTW, if you live in Perth & have an interest in IM and would like to join us, we’re open to meeting new people. Just email or ring me and we can tee things up.
19) Plenty of health issues, all tied into obesity. Yes, there u go, I have said the word!!! I don’t like it, but that’s where I am at, at the moment. I have started walking on my treadmill for 30 mins each day after I come home from work (and before dinner) as a way to start working on this issue. I was diagnosed with Crohns Disease a few years ago & one of the medications they put me on made me put on about 15 kgs in 2-3 months! I want to get rid of that first, and then work on the rest.
20) Since Michel Fortin made several references to women & what’s sexy about them, I shall endeavour to be discrete but honest about that myself. U know how some guys describe themselves as leg men or bum men? Well, I am a boob man… enough said about that lol HOWEVER, something Michelle realised about me long before I did was that I love dark haired women. Not that there’s anything wrong with blondes (I dated one once who was gorgeous looking & a sweetie into the bargain), but I just seem to be drawn to women with dark hair (long dark hair!)…
21) I’d love to move to Europe and live in Switzerland. I visited it in 2005 and fell in love with the place. It’s just magnificent looking – scenery the likes of which you could never see in Australia, and aside from it being very expensive to live in, it’s straight out of a fairy tale…
22) My least favourite food is celery! I absolutely loath & despise the smell & taste of it. Unlike Michel with turnips, I don’t mind looking at it.
23) Love ancient history – that’s why travelling around Europe was such a thrill. Australia is so young that we have no ancient historical monuments. Would love to spend a year travelling Europe and visiting all the cool old buildings, castles, townships, cities and so forth.
24) Much to Michelle’s disgust, I’m not very romantic… although I can be extremely caring & sympathetic when required!
25) My favourite food is probably roast lamb, but good sushi & steak comes close behind. I practically never drink alcohol (I have only been drunk once in my life, but that’s a story for another day), so my fav drinks are: water (yes, h20), iced coffee & cold cold diet coke.
OK, well that’s my list of random items about urs truly. So, now it’s my turn to tag others for this, so here goes: