Live Your Dreams Do What You Love
Dear Business Builder,
In a previous life at a company I used to work for, there was a consultant who lived so far off the beaten path FedEx wouldn’t guarantee next-day delivery to his house.
He used to be a highly successful executive at our company, then one day he just up and quit.
Why? In his words, “I always told myself I’d never stay at a job I hated for more than a week straight. And I’ve already broken that rule because, as of today, I’ve hated working here for two weeks straight.”
And with that, he packed up and moved to his vacation home in the Rocky Mountains.
He started a consultancy and never looked back.
I was thinking about him the other day and remembered this one-question quiz. It’s a fairly easy way to see if you’re really living life on your own terms:
If today were the last day of your life, would you really want to be doing what you’re doing today?
And if you answer no to that question too many days in a row – you’ve got some thinking to do. It’s certainly something I think about.
Do what you love to do
Back in 2005, Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple Computer, gave students graduating from Stanford some of the best advice I’ve read anywhere:
“Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work.
“And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle.
“As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it. So keep looking until you find it. Don’t settle.”
Copywriting and direct marketing give you the ability to work in almost any market you want. Whether it’s writing for those markets or building your own business in a field you love – you’ve got the tools.
Maybe you’re not sure what you love to do yet. That’s okay, but set aside some time to figure it out. Simply chasing income will only get you so far and won’t guarantee you happiness.
There are plenty of rich, miserable people. Fortunately, with your skills you can find a way to be a rich person who’s doing what you love to do.
And, besides doing what you love to do, why not …
Choose to live your dream lifestyle?
Several years ago, before becoming a copywriter, I was hanging out with a buddy on a beach in the Pelion region of Greece where I have a lot of family.
He was asking me about where I lived in the U.S. How much I paid for my apartment. And how much money I made. This was back before the Euro was adopted and the Drachma was still coin of the realm in Greece.
When I told him, he converted the dollars into Drachma and his jaw dropped. I tried to explain to him that it wasn’t a one to one comparison because the cost of living was so high in the U.S. relative to Greece.
He didn’t buy it and you could see the envy in his eyes. Then something dawned on his face and he smiled, pointed to the beach and said, “Yes, but in Greece, we have good food, beautiful women and the sea. What more do you need?”
To which I replied, “Not a thing.”
In truth, he lives a lifestyle most copywriters I know would kill to have. And he doesn’t make a lot of money. He’s a mid-level government bureaucrat, but man does he know how to live.
He rides his bike ten minutes to work. Works four hours a day. Lives in a great city right on the water, nestled against the mountains. In the winter, he’s 30 minutes from the ski slopes – where he skis for free because he knows people (in Greece, “knowing people” is a way of life).
In the summer, he spends the weekends at his family’s place on the other side of the mountain. It’s on one of the most beautiful stretches of sand in Greece. Quiet, family-oriented and lot of fun.
He plays soccer or volleyball most afternoons. Takes his small fishing boat out some days. And, to my knowledge, has never rushed to anything a day in his life.
Oh, and he’s got a beautiful wife and gorgeous kids.
He’s no copywriter or entrepreneur, but life is good. Besides, he’s got a beautiful woman, good food and the sea – he’s living his dream lifestyle.
What’s yours?
My personal master plan …
My beautiful, fantastic wife and I love Europe, love to travel and love the Mediterranean. So much that we want to live there at least part of the year.
So, while I’m currently tied to Western North Carolina while helping Clayton build his businesses, my plan is to get a house in Greece where we can spend our summers at least.
Actually, I have an old family house in Greece right now, the real question is – do we want to sell it and get a new one, or tear it down and build a dream villa on the property.
We’ve crunched the numbers, are doing our homework, have set a deadline and have a plan to be living there.
Because it’s what we want for ourselves so we’re committed to making it happen. Otherwise, years would go by and we’d always regret NOT doing it.
Because you know what happens if you never chase your dreams? Nothing, really. You just go on with life focusing on day-to-day survival.
You’ll still have good times and high points.
But some of the brightness fades from your life a little bit more every year. Looking back, you feel a sense of smallness about your life.
Henry David Thoreau was so right, “Most men live lives of quiet desperation and go to the grave with the song still in them.”
Direct marketing and copywriting is a vehicle you can use to get wherever you want to go.
Why not sing your song? What’s holding you back?
You read The Total Package and have access to our free archives so I know it’s not the lack of information.
Do you know what you want? And is it really something so simple as taking action? If so, what is going to motivate you to do the things you need to do to get what you want? If your dreams, your hopes, and your life aren’t enough to motivate you – do you think any thing else ever will?
I hope you’re choosing not to settle. Lord knows I’m not.
To your faster success,
John Newtson
Editor, Life in the Fast Lane
THE TOTAL PACKAGE
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4 Comments »
Join the Discussion!
Let us know what you think. Or ask us anything. Or offer your own sage advice.
The only rule: RESPECT THIS HOUSE! Postings that contain abusive language and/or personal attacks will be cheerfully VAPORIZED. One cross word and – POOF! – your well-thought-out post will be gone in a puff of smoke.
– Clayton
Comment by lilly redmer — September 15, 2007 @ 7:29 am
Hi Clayton,
Yes I am living the lifestyle I want to live. I thought I\’d come to my country of choice to write, instead I found a niche in real estate where I have had a phenomenal batting average of five showings to four purchases. Why??? Because my writing is still the focus of my work. Before my clients arrive, I know them, I have \’talked\’ to them via descriptions, letters, etc. I have always had great respect for the written word and copywriting seemed a natural avenue for me. In essence I do what you promote, albeit on an individual level. It is fun, it is profitable and sometimes, if I don\’t feel like working–Hey, I don\’t have to!
Your quote from Thoreau is one I often cite. It is an astounding truth.
All the best,
Lilly
Comment by MRZ — September 15, 2007 @ 7:57 am
John,
Great post and ohh soo true!
MRZ
Comment by Greg J. — September 15, 2007 @ 12:20 pm
John-great article.Your last paragraph says it all.Each of us must decide what we really want in life and go for it.Our future depends on it.
Comment by Emette — September 17, 2007 @ 6:20 pm
John, your post makes me think of Ozzy and Black Sabbath. They put out an album called Master of Reality. I believe it is our purpose to \”master our reality\” our song if you will, and discover our song then sing it out loud. We all have the ability to discover and choose the work that makes us happy. Great post! And send a big ol THANKS to Clayton, Wendy and the gang for giving us so much valuable information!
Warmly,
Emette