The age old question that makes me cringe every time I hear it; sending my brain into a whirlwind of confusion searching for the correct response … at least it used to.

I could never find a single word that encapsulated me as a human being.  But then I thought to myself, “why am I trying to?”

I was convinced I needed to buckle down and find a real job.  After all, it had been 5 years since I graduated from college, wasn’t it time to become an adult?  I needed to find what it is I want to do with the rest of my life – now.

Then it hit me like a sack of hammers.  The realization wasn’t anything new; it just became clearer given my current situation.

People can’t be categorized by a single word or phrase like a stack of business cards can be stuffed into a rolodex (we’re stepping back in time for that analogy).  Neither you, me, the weird guy next door, nor the old woman at the liquor store can be described by using one adjective.  We are complex creatures.

Even more importantly, I wasn’t about to let the job I happened to hold at the time define me either.  I understand, “what do you do?” is a starting point, a simple question to get the conversation rolling.  But we have a tendency to stuff people into a neat little class or group every time they tell us what it is they do for a living.  There is more to me than merely what I do.

“Who you become is infinitely more important than what you do or what you have.”
- Matthew Kelly, author of The Rhythm of Life

Who am I?  Who do I want to be?

Those are the questions I began asking myself.  The answers would simultaneously create my response to “what do you do?”  I searched long and hard, far and wide.  I buried my head in self-improvement books, talked with psychologists, chatted with friends, and began aimlessly writing down every measly thought that popped into my head.

It was only when I stopped for a moment, pulled back from the intrapersonal search and rescue mission, and began looking at the big picture that the answer presented itself.  I knew who I had become, and who I wanted to be; I just wasn’t embracing the transformation…

One Word to Rule Them All

“Hi, my name is Steve, and I’m a HoboDrifter.”

I felt like I was at an AA meeting.

The eyebrows of all 35 individuals at the entrepreneurial seminar I was attending immediately clenched in a downward adjoining motion.  I like to think it was bewilderment.  You know that look when you’re pseudo intrigued yet asking yourself “what the fuck did he just say?”

Success.

I had just told everyone I was a homeless bum who aimlessly wanders… wait, no, that’s not right.  I defined HoboDrifter on paper, but failed to get the memo out to everyone else.  A short explanation of the underlying passions that fuel my desire to frequently change occupations helped the brief moment of terror quickly dissipate.  I proceeded to describe a little bit about who I am and what I do.

I was overjoyed; not by the fact I had created a single word to describe myself to others, it was because I had discovered, defined and embraced who I am.

I came to realize that it’s okay to spend your life doing a myriad of things.

It’s Not a Job, It’s a Lifestyle. 

Being a HoboDifter is a way of life that allows you to choose whatever job your heart desires, or one that will simply pay the bills.  It’s okay not knowing the one thing you want to do for the rest of your life.  There’s no harm in pursuing all of your interests; you never know which ones could ignite your passion…

“All that is gold does not glitter, not all those who wander are lost.”
- J.R.R. Tolkien

It’s a style of living that embraces simplicity…

“One does not accumulate but eliminate. It is not daily increase but daily decrease. The height of cultivation always runs to simplicity.”
- Bruce Lee

It’s a lifestyle that welcomes the rich and the poor.  For money does not define you as an individual; it is merely a tool, a means of compensation…

“Money will not buy intelligence for the fool, or admiration for the coward, or respect for the incompetent… only the man who does not need, is fit to inherit wealth.”
- Franciso d’Anconia (from Ayn Rand’s Atlas Shrugged)

It’s a sense of comfort in being a goofy bastard.  There are times to be serious, and times to be funny.  Laughter and a smile have a strange way of affecting your mood.  Enjoy the ride…

“Life is too important to be taken seriously.”
- Oscar Wilde

But most of all, it’s a choice made by those who are capable of thinking for themselves.  The unique individuals that understand they have the ability to change their lives however they see fit.

A Stage For Change

HoboDrifter.com is all about one simple concept: enjoy the journey.  Not in a hedonistic fashion, but a radical appreciation for your life – one that is based on principles.  It’s a forum that provides support, motivation, and entertainment to those who are more intrigued about finding out who they are, rather than discovering what they want to do.  I believe the former will guide the latter.

I will do a million things in my lifetime, but who I am will never be defined by the means in which I generate income; that is only a fraction of my true character.

Want to get to know yourself a little better?  Me too.

 

The Man Behind The Bindle

 I’m a goofy, often times inappropriate, and occasionally lucid individual.  I LOVE to sit by myself and just think; diving deep into the scary recesses of my brain.  But I can only handle so much of that before I need to break out on the dance floor with my friends and get my jive on (my moves somewhat resemble a full-body dry heave set to music).  If you can’t be an idiot with your friends then who can you be an idiot with?

I love movies, music, reading, writing, fitness (triathlons & basketball), any type of adventure, and pushing my limits.  The desire for adventure and my passion for writing is what spawned the creation of HoboDrifter.

I set off for Europe with a one-way ticket in January 2010.  A few months prior to my departure I wanted to create a means of staying in touch with friends and family.  Hobodrifter.com was born.  I geared the majority of my writing toward travel reviews and updates with a massive collection of photos.

While the spirit remains the same, both HoboDrifter.com and Steve O’Neill have changed.  I thrive on social interaction and have a passion to understand what makes others tick.  I wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for the phenomenal people that surround me.  I value those relationships more than anything else.  Though I love learning about others, I constantly strive to understand what motivates and inspires me.  That’s where true power lies.

“He who controls others may be powerful, but he who has mastered himself is mightier still.”
- Lao Tzu

If you want to know a little bit more about me professionally, check out my credentials.  If you want to understand the real Steve, you’ll have to meet me in person for that one.  But, I’ll give you this tasty appetizer to tickle your taste buds:

If you want to learn the true character of any human being on this planet uncover their passion; what are their goals, dreams and aspirations.  Here are a few of mine:

1)  Complete an Ironman (2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run)
2)  Publish a New York Times bestselling book
3)  Run Across The United States (~3,000 miles)
4)  Live the rest of my life with the woman of my dreams
5)  Raise a family
6) Create my own business (working for others straight up sucks)
7) Focus on the quality of my relationships, not the quantity

Well, that’s just the tip… of who I am.  The more you read my posts the more you’ll learn about me, but most importantly, the more you’ll discover about YOU.

My goal is not for you to understand me better, it’s for you to understand yourself better.

I offer to you my insights, personal experiences and a little research to back it up.  Do with them what you choose.  I hope you will continue to enjoy following my adventures as much as I enjoy living them.  Use them, not solely for entertainment, but to fuel your own adventures.  After all, that’s what being a HoboDrifter is all about.

So sit back and enjoy the ride.

Keep drifting.

 

 

Are you a member of the Hobodrifting nation yet?