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How
has your experience on Survivor changed how you look at life?
My time on survivor has not changed me or how I look at life at all.
Externally, things have been quite hectic since the show, but I believe
I'm still the well-grounded guy I was prior to landing on the island.
Are you enjoying your newfound fame?
Although I'm enjoying the opportunities associated with my newfound
"fame," I would be just as happy without it. Don't get me wrong - I'm
not complaining. People have been wonderful. It's just that I don't
"need" it.
What part of the different entertainment arenas would you say suits
your talents the best?
Well, so far, I've enjoyed most of what I've experienced with regard
to television. Guest appearances, hosting talk shows, etc. have all
been fun. I'd like to host a game show or participate somehow in theater.
Do you think of yourself as a role model? If so, for whom?
Role model isn't a label I'd give myself. However, if the way I live
my life helps anyone feel more comfortable being honest with who they
are, then so be it. I'm proud of who I am and how I choose to live,
so I don't shy away from being an example to others.
Was there any point in the competition that you thought you might not
win?
Although I approached the show and my winning confidently, I was never
really certain that I would be the winner. I just knew that I had at
least as good a shot at it as anyone else and continued to focus on
trying to win. So, yes, there were many times during the competition
that I thought I may not win.
What skill on the island was the hardest for you?
The hardest thing for me on the island was remaining continually focused
on these other people that I knew and cared little about. That's not
to say that they aren't good people. It's just that I didn't know them,
and hadn't gone to the island to make friends. So, it was tough for
me to try to constantly remain aware of how they were impacting me,
how I was impacting them, and to adjust as necessary.
What did you do to train for the show?
Although I didn't do anything specifically to train for the show, my
introspective nature and my background in psychology and corporate training
were perfectly suited to helping me win.
Do you still eat rice?
I still love rice and eat it often.
Is there a secret you can share with us about the show?
You know, what went on while we were filming the show was really portrayed
accurately. I thought the editors did a brilliant job selecting footage
that depicted exactly what happened. There are idiots out there who
will try to write books that divulge the "secrets" of our time on the
island, but they're just desperately trying to cash in on SURVIVOR.
If you watched the show, you really saw what
went on.
Who did you originally think would be your toughest competition on the
island?
Originally, I thought Greg (intelligent, introspective, reserved, and
resourceful) would be my toughest competition. Later, I came to worry
about Gretchen.
Who do you feel actually WAS your toughest competition?
It's hard to say who was actually my toughest competition. Different
people were challenging competition for different reasons. I don't know
if any one person was actually "toughest."
Although you weren't always the most-liked competitor on the island,
why do you think you weren't voted off?
I think there were many complicated reasons for my not having been voted
off. I was bright enough not to engender enough
animosity to cause enough people to want me off at any particular point
that I didn't have votes to counter.
Was the nudity a type of "psychological warfare" against the other competitors?
The nudity really wasn't psychological warfare. It was just very hot
on a deserted island in the middle of the South China Sea. Being nude
was simply very comfortable. It seemed to make the most sense to me.
Which served you best on the island...your military training or your
corporate training skills?
Oh, by far, my corporate training background was more helpful to me
than my military background. Although conditions were pretty tough,
winning the game had much more to do with social acumen the physical
survival.
Do you feel that your skill at supplying food better than other tribe
members (i.e., spearfishing) made you a bit "untouchable" when it came
to the votes?
Although catching all the fish didn't hurt, it certainly didn't make
me untouchable. Many of the people there would have voted me off regardless
of my having fed them if they thought I threatened their personal chances
of winning.
Why do you think that you and Rudy get along so well when you both seem
to be so different?
Rudy and I get along so well because we learned enough about each other
to respect each other. I believe differences are only enough to cause
problems for ignorant bigots. People who are open-minded enough to learn
about others typically don't fear the differences.
What was the first thing that you purchased (or did) with your winnings?
You know, I didn't run out and buy anything in particular - I invested
the money. I did take my sister and brothers on their first scuba diving
trip to Cozumel though.
Do you plan on continuing with your corporate training business or do
you want to get into the entertainment industry more?
My corporate training continues. I love what I do. I have also enjoyed
what I've done in the entertainment field. So, perhaps there will be
some overlap, but I expect both to continue.
Where
do you see yourself 10 years from now?
Ten years from now, I hope I'm still taking chances and learning and
growing as much as I've been doing in the past 10 years.
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