Where do you get your inspiration from?

Where do you get your inspiration from? I knew a long time ago that I wanted to get out of employment, and move to a self-employed role. I just had a nagging feeling that I couldn’t ignore. Call it instinct, or a gut feeling. Every time I got a promotion I was happy for a while, but the excitement I felt became more and more short-lived on each subsequent occasion. I knew I had to make a fundamental shift. I just didn’t know how to go about it.

Reading

I find my main sources of inspiration comes from my own research. Reading is my main hobby, and I read a lot, both fiction and non-fiction. I do a lot of internet research, and I find people whose websites and posts strike a chord with me. I have just finished a fantastic book called F**k Work , Let’s Play, which has given me a lot of food for thought about how to tackle my move to a self-employed lifestyle. It is by John Williams, and you can find him at https://theideaslab.org if you want to investigate for yourself.

Recommendations

I first heard about John’s work from one of my Linked In contacts. I believe strongly that networking can help us all to find our niche in life. During a networking meeting I had shared my plans with lots of people, and one of my contacts followed up by suggesting I contact John. I did, and I read all about his work with The Ideas Lab, and discovered the concept of Scanners. Again, this struck an instant chord with me. I signed up for John’s free 5 Day Business Boost Challenge, and loved every minute of it. Afterwards, I bought his most recent book, and I will go on to read his other books too. I highly recommend you check out John’s work if you want some inspiration.

Role models

I gain a lot of inspiration from the role models in my life. When I sat down to try to work out what they all have in common, it came down to one simple thing. Ethics. They, like me, put their ethical beliefs above everything else, and they stick to their beliefs. I can trust them implicitly.

One of my best friends emigrated to Spain in 2011. We have remained close, and I can trust her with absolutely anything. She is my rock, and my sounding board for all my crazy ideas. She is also the first person I know who decided to quit their job (and country) for a better lifestyle. I don’t know anyone else who would up sticks and move to a country where they don’t speak the language. On top of this she set up a meet up group which now has over 1,500 members. You can find it at https://www.meetup.com/Fuengirola-Dining-Out-Meetup if you are interested. Leigh, you are a true inspiration to me.

My advice to you

If you are looking for your own inspiration, I suggest you look inward. Your own gut feelings and instincts will give you a lot of clues. Researching your ideas will give you more suggestions. Trusting those who know you best will also open up a lot of useful avenues. Use your role models for advice and recommendations. The world is yours to explore. Be brave. As Mark Twain said – Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So, throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.

Project 365

Do you often wonder to yourself “How can I give up my job?”

I do, and I have put into action a project to do just that. Project 365 has begun. The countdown to freedom has started. 364 days to go!

#Project365