About Me (Stefano Hourmouzis)

This page has personal information about me (Stefano). If you're here wanting to know more about the business side of me, you are better off to visit one of my other sites.

- Return Home -

As I'm a bit of a wine lover, my wife and I live in Australia's Yarra Valley wine region. Our property is literally surrounded by world-class wineries. My wife has her own jewellery company, and I have a few companies I operate including venture capital, casino-gambling enterprises, property investing and internet based promotions.

Before anything, I (Stefano Hourmouzis) am an energy researcher. I also use the name Steve, but Stefano is what most of my family call me. I operate a non-profit organisation for which the web site is being developed at www.universalsymbiosis.org. The aim of my organisation is primarily to educate, but also to perpetuate affirmative action to improve overall living conditions on this planet. If you get to know me, you'll find at my core I'm a spiritual and very caring person. I care very much for where we live.

But what can one person do? . . . Contribute. And contribute as much as they can.

For some time I've been an internet and marketing consultant, and I know exactly how to get a message out. I've been nominated for grants in recognition for my efforts, although my funding primarily comes from my own pocket. One thing that's amazed me is there's an enormous amount of resistance to change.

Why do I want to spend my own time, effort and money when I may not even make a difference?

Ok, I heard a story once that will help explain:

A bunch of starfish were washed up on a beach - there were thousands and they were going to die. Then a little girl came along and threw one back. Then I asked her why would she bother when she can't make a difference. She replied, "To THAT one it did . . ."

It's the same kind of thing. No-one that does the same kind of thing as me can realistically single-handedly make a huge change. Doesn't mean it's not possible, but just not likely. And you can't expect to change the world overnight, but you CAN make a difference to at more than enough people to make it worthwhile. Then those people inevitably pass what they've learned to others, even if done so subconsciously. Also consider that change usually takes a long time and a lot of effort over the long term, but change in our everyday lives can be done right now.

No matter where I (Stefano Hourmouzis) travel, by far the most enjoyable thing I ever do is so basic. For example I love snorkelling. It's another world down there. Even above the water, have you ever stopped and just carefully examined something so simple as a tree? If it were a computer animation or rendered image, you may think "yeah wow", but have you ever stopped to think about real and "every-day" things, and how beautiful they are? Have you sat out on a clear night and just pondered at the stars? I know, it sounds hippie-like, but do it regularly as I do and you can't not develop a deeper sense of yourself, and therefore a deeper respect for life and where you live.

I know so many people that waste their lives on petty things. It's as if they don't get outside and look around. I absolutely love my life and intend to make the most of it. While sometimes, like anyone, I can get caught up in the rat race and forget what's important. That's why my computer desktop has a few very simple points abut life to remember. It is easy to forget what counts.

Every time I hear someone say "life isn't meant to be easy" I scratch my balding head . . . Life IS meant to be easy. How can anyone say it's not supposed to be easy? Life is exactly as easy and enjoyable as YOU make it. You are your own creator or destroyer. You ALWAYS have choice and freedom.

While it's better to be unhappy and wealthy than to be unhappy and poor, money itself and what it can buy you does not make you happy. Sure you've heard that before. When I was about 21, I became very wealthy especially for my age. I had earned an irregular but rather large income from my promotional companies. At this stage I was earning about $50,000 per month from offshore investments - one in particular was being conducted from Lloyds Bank in the UK. I had all but retired although still took on various promotions via my company. I travelled to tropical island in northern Australia - as all my friends were either in college or they needed to work, I travelled alone. It did not take me long to realise what made anyone happy is their personal relationships - you need someone to share it with.

Soon after, one promotion I did actually landed me in trouble with the authorities (www.genuinewinner.com/rentech.htm). If you've ever ran into the authorities, you'd know they can cripple you, and your life is on hold until it's all over. Part of what I'd done was wrong and I knew it at the time, although I was only around 20 years old and barely out of my teens - young & dumb. Part of what I'd done was NOT intentionally wrong - it was an honest misunderstanding of information, and because I published my misunderstanding, that's what I was charged with. Quite ironic that I'm not charged for something I am guilty of, but charged for something I'm innocent of.

My investments were frozen, and on the advice of my lawyers I suspended my business activity. The judge was not even notified that my funds were frozen until AFTER I had served my prison sentence - I told him myself at a post-sentence hearing. It was gratifying to represent myself that time instead of pain in the butt lawyers. On this note, the judge seemed quite surprised to hear about the frozen funds, especially as prosecution failed to inform him about it. If they weren't frozen, I would have at least had the funds to defend myself. I don't doubt this was the aim of prosecution. My remaining liquid funds were eaten up by lawyers, and because of my recorded income, I could not possibly get legal aid from the government. So I went from a high level of wealth to absolutely nothing in a short amount of time - virtually a matter of weeks. Although the whole case against me was a complete load of rubbish, and was largely a "test case" (first person ever to be convicted of spamming), this is not the point. My point is I've been without a cent before. I know how it feels. While soon after I was released from prison, I was back on top. I partially funded my lifestyle with various gambling systems, but at this stage I did not yet have "reliable" long term winning systems (mainly roulette). I do now, but that's a different story. I did not develop my wealth with gambling systems though, although even after my wealth had been built again, I continued to develop various gambling systems - for many reasons, but mainly because it became a very strong interest - perhaps somewhat an obsession because I never doubted it was possible, so I was determined to find a way (which I have).

It's actually quite liberating to have been through that whole legal process, and I came out a better person on the other end. Because of the prison correctional system? Hell no. You don't "correct" someone by sticking them with rapists and murderers, especially when it's unjustified. I'm talking about general experience. Before I (Stefano Hourmouzis) served a 3 month sentence, I had a very different view of the prison system. My word do I now know how disgusting it is. It is without a doubt and unreservedly counter-productive. If you want to make criminals, send them to prison.

Was it all doom and gloom in prison? No, I quite enjoyed myself, most of the time. At first it's scary, but soon after it becomes home, in an odd kind of way. The worst part is having freedom taken away. Otherwise it can be likened to a rough school. Whether or not you "cope" very much depends on WHO you know and WHO you associate with. For sure, choose your associates wisely. While some of the prison officers were beyond complete "pricks", most were decent people just doing their job. The guards themselves knew I wasn't supposed to be there - one in particular, an ex British SAS officer looked out for me very closely. As he's quite fond of the Internet, he knew all about me and my case, even once commenting to my family that I shouldn't be where I was.

Anyhow, it was certainly a life-changing experience that I'm thankful for. I've been high and mighty, and then low as you can get - in my relatively short life, I've done and seen quite a bit. I'm a wiser person. I can't possibly be bitter about that - not a chance. The day I was released was certainly a highlight. Did it have anything to do with the freedom I'd missed? Yes, but that's not what hit me most. What did it was the strong sense of a new beginning. You don't know what you have until you lose it - that is just so very, very true. Well I had lost everything, and it was a wake up call. And now I had a life in front of me to do anything I want, to make any decision I want, no fear and nothing to lose - just whatever I "created" for myself. My word I've certainly recovered. I now earn more than I ever have, and I'm doing exactly what I want to do - mainly energy research. The bottom line and my point is YOU are the creator of your own life. I hit rock bottom, and well and truly came back. So please never complain about how bad your life is, because only YOU can control your own life.

It still amazes me when some people worry about small things like a phone bill they can't pay etc. Is it really that bad? Look up at the stars and consider where you live and what you are. You could be dead in an hour, and assuming you knew about it, how would you feel about your life? Are you really going to ponder over such small and insignificant things? Consider what you may be thinking if you stood on another planet looking back towards Earth. Still care about that phone bill? Consider what matters. You make your life the way it is. Do not blame external influences or be bitter - life is way too short for it - way, way too short.