Sep
This Is How I’d Design My Ideal Lifestyle; Now How About Yours?
Image by h.koppdelaney
In light of the current economic situation around the globe, you might be thinking that now is not the time to sit down and do the lifestyle design thing. Better instead to keep your head down, lie low and ride out the storm.
But I’d argue that now is the *ideal* time to not only start designing your ideal lifestyle, but actually implementing it. If you don’t do it now, here’s what will happen…
- You’ll ride the storm this time, get back on an even keel and forget how stressed out you were throughout this period and how out of control you felt over your own destiny and life.
- You’ll go back to the relative comfort of job security, a regular salary and an economy on the up.
- At the same time, you’ll convince yourself that going after the lifestyle you dream of is just a pipe dream and that you were far more sensible to stay put and knuckle down.
- You might have a niggling feeling of “if not now, then when?” but you’ll put that out of your mind and promise yourself that some day you’ll just do it.
I know that’s what will happen because that’s just what happened to me when I dreamed of escaping the corporate rat race the first time round but could never quite bring myself to ditch the relatively high income salary.
Having just escaped from the corporate rat race all over again, I feel it’s about time to sit down and re-design my lifestyle. It won’t be such a big job this time round as we’re “there” on a lot of it, but it’s always a work in progress.
So here goes…
Personal network
I’d like to focus more on meeting up with friends around the world – the ones we already have and making new ones who live a similar lifestyle to ours. Meeting ‘virtual’ friends via this blog and Twitter etc. is great but there’s no substitute for a real, face-to-face chat with a group of good friends over a bottle of wine. I want to do more of that with some of our new-found friends around the world.
Professional network
This year, I’d like to extend our professional network and find more suppliers and partners we can work with; I’d like to start ‘playing with the big boys’ for some of our projects and definitely want to start leveraging our international travel and make more professional contacts in each location.
Earning money
In comparison with the horrendous temporary job I had with another company recently (never, ever again), I love earning money running our own current business. That’s not good enough though, if this is to be my ‘ideal’ lifestyle. So, here’s what I’d now like to focus on creating…
- More passive income streams from existing projects and new projects we’re planning to launch
- More business strategy & business streamlining consultancy projects for start-ups who’re ready to grow beyond the start up stage
- Growing the business employee-wise and having the revenue to readily support this growth
Interests & hobbies
I love learning new things but have to push myself to try new things and despite appearances am quite shy really . I’d love however to spend more time in each place we visit learning something local or completely new like Muy Thai in Thailand or rock climbing and surfing in South Africa (if only I could get over the shark thing).
Family & kids
Jonathan and I came to a bit of a realisation over the past couple of months; we’re pretty sure we don’t want to have children. At least not yet, and probably not our own when we do (i.e. we’ll adopt).
I’m adopted and I’ve always thought I’d adopt rather than have my own. Some people think it’s selfish (err hello, aren’t there too many kids in the world already who need a home and don’t have one? And isn’t wanting children inherently a selfish thing…I mean who has kids and thinks “I’m having this child to save humanity”?) – but it’s simply our choice and may not be what others choose which is fine by us.
Day-to-day life
On a day-to-day basis, I’m pretty happy with where we are: little bit of work, then going exploring for a while, followed by lazy lunch, coffee in the afternoon then more work before dinner.
If I’m absolutely honest, I’d probably do a bit less work (therefore need more passive income/more employees than currently), and have more money to try out completely new things 90% of the time, combined with cherry picking the best jobs and projects I want to work on. Working towards that, not quite there yet though.
But alternatively…
I have always, always, always thought I might one day end up setting up some sort of orphanage or childrens’ refuge in Asia (also another reason I’ve never been too crazy about having my own kids), so all the above will be a precursor to generating enough income, enough contacts and enough wherewithall to go ahead and do it!
So now I’ve done mine and shared, maybe you’ll do yours too..
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- Pingback by You Deserve An Explanation. | Lea Woodward on December 19, 2008 @ 1:48 am
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You should definitely get in the surf. The feeling when you catch your first wave is amazing and it’s very addictive. Seeing the Aussie surfers was an eye opener. 5 minutes after we all get out from a shark scare. They were all quite happy so why waste valuable surf time.
Really learn something from your words,independent professional is rather a good idea.
Another great post, Lea. I’m curious about the nightmare job (you alluded to it before). Feel free to vent privately if you wish… ;> There are a lot of things in this post I find interesting.
I appreciate your openness. And also, perhaps there’ll be a chance to work together on that orphanage!
Take care and keep at it.
Sean
I realized how important it is to build multiple streams of income after being unemployed a few years ago. Most people know they should diversify their investments, but don’t even think about trying to earn money outside of their regular job.
Hi Lea
Thank you for another inspiring post, and good luck with your plans. The orphanage sounds like an exciting an idea to work towards… good for you!!
Well – now that you’ve inspired me yet again – I’m off to take another look at my own lifestyle design… it certainly needs revisiting at the moment.
It’s important to revisit your lifestyle design in the same way as you would a business plan – so thanks for the reminder
Lea, thanks for sharing your plans so openly and honestly. I remember something you wrote about a while back – that lifestyle design means just that, designing it the way *you* want, not the way that other gurus seem to be doing it. That way you’ll only swap one set of unhappiness for another. The only way to do it is to find and follow… or create… your own path.
I’m still working mine out, but it includes wild, wet windy weather and beautiful rolling hills. So glad I’ moved there!
Much love, and thanks for your help with our project
Joanna
@Daniel – I can imagine surfing is addictive…waiting for the perfect wave and the exhilarating feeling when you finally “surf” for the first time.
@Sean – I’ll email you the details…you’ll be sorry you asked
@Tina – No problem…it’s easy not to revisit plans when you’re already having fun in the sun. Glad you’re back safely in Thailand. How’s the weather at this time of year?
@Joanna – Your new home sounds (and looks from your pics) beautiful and raw. Great inspiration for writing, I’m sure. Are you looking forward to the 1st Absorbing Writing workshop in Sardinia? Oh – just noticed you’re probably on it right now!! – how did it go?
Hi Lea
The weather is absolutely gorgeous, and has been nearly the entire low season… a few outbursts of rain, and a bit of a flood here in Koh Lanta… but it only ever lasted a few days…. the sun is blushing my skin already!
I am with you! I am done with the technology revolution. This “revolution” has run it’s course for me.
The Net is swamped with Corporate crap, not at all the information sharing “Host” it once was.
Other than checking my paltry Bank balance and the ability to order TALL sized clothing (available in Tall @ the online store only!) or looking for a job, the Net has nothing for me.
I guess that is to be expected after 13 years online.
I hope to get some financing to return to College and pursue something far more “organic”.