How to Jailbreak Your Life So You Can Live the Way You WANT

PETER SHANKMAN

POSTED ON March 1st, 2011

99 COMMENTS

This is a part of a continuing series of posts on the topic of how to be taken seriously. And if you wonder why a post about how to live your life while having fun is part of a group of posts on being taken seriously, think about it – If you can be a professional, while having fun and enjoying your life, there’s nothing more respected than that.

Before you read this post, read this one first. Chances are, if you’re gonna leave a snarky comment, it’s already been left there. Now then:

I’m writing this blog post on a flight back from Frankfurt, a connection to end a trip that started four days ago at Newark Airport, led me to Cape Town, South Africa, to be someone’s date to a birthday party of someone I’d never met, and included hundreds of moments I’ll remember forever. I did it without ever being out of contact with my clients, and as I fly home, I’ll arrive at 2pm on Monday afternoon, get a good night’s sleep in my own bed, and be fresh for an 8am Keynote tomorrow morning.

Yes, it was an AWESOME trip. No doubt at all. It was amazing, I saw things I’d only dreamed about, I ate fish and chips on a beach, drank wine more expensive than my apartment, and even met another random friend at the airline lounge in Frankfurt on the way back. So no, there’s no question that the past four days have been freaking AWESOME.

BUT – Here’s the thing – While I was on the trip, I got a bunch of tweet responses to my photos and posts with the hashtag #jealous. No one meant it in a snarky way, it was all good, and that hashtag inspired this post.

I talked to a few people who tweeted, and asked what in fact were they jealous of. They were jealous that I took the trip. As if they couldn’t. Of course they could! They just didn’t know it. And that part slays me.

See, I don’t care what you do, I don’t care how much money you make. If you’re reading this blog, you have access to the Internet, and you have enough money to own a computer or mobile device. That said, YOU CAN DO THE SAME THING I DO.You can pack it all up and start somewhere else, you can work from amazing places, you can do whatever you want to do, without worrying about being different. Here’s how. In the blog below, I’m going to debunk the top six reasons that people use when they don’t do something they really want to do. My hope is that you’ll read this and do something totally outside your comfort zone, get addicted, do it again, and make it part of your life.

Top six reasons you think you can’t jailbreak your life, and the rebuttals to prove you can:

1) I can’t do what you do. I don’t have the money.

Bull to the shit. You think people who have money know how to live? Please. They’re even more clueless than we are. And let’s understand: “Money is only something you need in case you don’t die tomorrow.” –Martin Sheen in Wall Street. (Martin – not Charlie – the one who hasn’t imploded.)

The system is so screwed up right now, we can go anywhere for virtually nothing and live for even less. You can head to countless countries where the Internet is fast, and live in a gorgeous apartment for less than four hundred American per month. Want more? A thousand US a month will get you a three-bedroom in over 50 different countries where the governments are stable and a beach is close. Want to stay in America? For what you’re paying for your shitbox studio in NYC, Chicago, or LA, you could have a mortgage on a four-bedroom house in Iowa, Georgia, or Washington State, and still have money left over for a nice digital media room. If you’re really all about breaking free, the location shouldn’t matter. The end of the story is thus: ARE YOU HAPPY? Can you come to your home, sigh, and go “I belong here” If so, then screw what anyone else says, and live your freaking life. What do you care what other people think? Who cares where you are? One of the most successful clothing CEOs I know lives in freaking IDAHO. IDAHO! He lives there with his wife and multiple poodles, and while I’m bitching about the 1 train being delayed because of track work, he’s skiing down a mountain to his freaking office.

You don’t need money! Do you have any idea how many economy class “back of the bus” flights I’ve taken in my life? Enough to circle the globe and back. It’s not all about BusinessFirst and Champagne! I hate Champagne, anyway. It’s about getting from point A to point B to continue living your life. How you get here is bullshit, and doesn’t matter. The richest people I know have no problem whatsoever with flying in coach to get where they’re going. This is the one time where it’s not about the journey, it actually IS about the destination. Get there however you get there. Economy class. Hitchhiking – A damn floating car door from Cuba. It doesn’t matter. Just get there, and live your life once you arrive.

To take it a step further, think about it – Want to take a week and work from somewhere else, just to prove it can be done? What’s a flight to the other side of the country? A few hundred bucks? Give up Starbucks and dinners out for two weeks – Boom. There’s your few hundred bucks. Do it for two months, and you’ve got enough to head to Phuket, Thailand for a month. Check out Daily Worth for tons more tips like that, and soon, you’re on your way. Couchsurf or hang with friends once you get there, and spend the week working from the beach, or the woods, or the mountains. There. Simple enough for you? It’s really not harder than that! I have a few good friends who have made careers out of doing it.

2) I can’t do what you do because I have a 9-5 job where people pay me to be at an office.

This is hands down, the number one reason those who’ve tweeted “#jealous” give me when I ask them why they aren’t doing this. And I get it. You have a job. I understand. I have a job too. I’m not sitting here being a douche and saying “Well, just quit.” The majority of us can’t just quit their jobs. We have bills, we have families, we have lives that we can’t just uproot for the hell of it. Or at least, that’s how it seems. We might not just able to flat out “quit” – But we can make changes. Significant changes. Let’s break that down:

What’s the purpose of your job to you?

Is it to make money? Unless your job requires physical daily movement of things from point A to point B, you can make money from anywhere. Think about it – What do you do? PR? Marketing? Advertising? Banking? Consulting? Do you work for someone else? An agency? Chances are, where you work is at a company started by someone else. And chances are, you could do the same thing your boss does, perhaps on a smaller level at first. But you can. So what are you waiting for? Want to do it? Then do it. Stop complaining about it, and just do it! Hell, talk to your boss and see if you can open the new Phuket, Thailand office. When I started my first agency out of my apartment with one computer and one cat, I did so with the following tagline: If this fails, I’ll just go and get another job. And it’s still true. If this doesn’t work, I’ll simply go and do something else.

I'm king of the world! And thinner!

I mention “daily” above because part of my job (speaking) requires me being physically present for speeches and keynotes several times a month, if not a week. OK, great – That’s what airplanes are for. As I fly back to New York today, I know I have a keynote speech tomorrow morning. I’ll make it without a problem. Flight schedules are such nowadays that geography is a secondary concern. Could I live in South Africa and keep my schedule of speaking, which is 80% in the US? Probably, but it’d be a true pain in the ass. But it’s a big world. Who says you only have to do what you do in the US? Who says that over the course of two years, I couldn’t shift my focus to the EU, or South America, or even Asia, like my friend Jesse has done? He’s been in Asia for years, and thanks to the Internet, is one of the most PR/Marketing savvy people I’ve ever met. He’s at the forefront of PR and Internet Marketing and PR in Asia, and he hasn’t been to the US in years. Just because you live in the US now, doesn’t mean the US is the end all and be all of civilization.

I know people who live one place, usually a warm, tropical place, and come to NYC once a month for three days chock-full of face-to-face meetings. Then they go back to their paradise. What are they really giving up by doing that? No random Wednesday night networking events? Bummer. Life goes on. Nothing usually gets done with a martini in your hand at those events anyway. Networking is something you do 24/7 in your life. It’s not tied to one city or another.

I’ve said this tons of times: IT’S NOT ABOUT GEOGRAPHY ANYMORE.

Is your job to help people and make the world a better place? Great. Get a MacBook Air and an unlimited wireless plan. Then go continue to do that from anywhere. EMBRACE THE TECHNOLOGY! Go volunteer somewhere while servicing your clients for a few hours before you go to bed at night, which is their AM anyway. BTW – mobile communication works so much better overseas than it does in the states.

Everyone wins.

Is your job to be somewhere in a physical place, five out of seven days a week? If you love your job, I mean truly love your job, love the people with whom you work, love your office, love your commute, then hey, you know what? RESPECT. You’ve got it. Enjoy it, baby. You’re done with this blog post, and I give you mad, mad props. For real.

3) My friends would never understand.

Are you kidding me? That’s a reason? I’ll say what an old skydiver told me when I told him my friends didn’t understand why I skydived. He said simply “If you can’t change the people around you, it’s time to change the people around you.” End of story. If you’re being hindered from living the life you want because you’re afraid of what other people are going to say if you do, then you’ve got much bigger problems than achieving your goals.

4) I have a wife and kids.

So do lots of people who travel all around the world and change their lives. My good friend Leigh spent the past five years traveling around the world with her husband and newborn. Now that the kid is six or something, they’ve settled down in Salta, Argentina, where they’re buying a house. The kid goes to public school, and guess what – is already bilingual! How many of our kids are bilingual by six years old? In Europe, almost everyone you meet is bi or trilingual! The problem here is that English is spoken in all of America, and America is a damn big country. Overseas, you move thirty miles and it’s a different base language. And that’s cool.

5) I’m scared. I have direct deposit, and even though I hate my job, at least that’s something.

This is actually a valid reason. I will never, ever begrudge someone their fear. If what you’re doing works for you, that’s fine, but if you’re jealous, then you got a problem. See, being happy and being jealous don’t mesh. So it usually comes down to you being angry about your fear. But here’s the thing: Fear keeps us healthy. Fear keeps us alive. It’s what got us through the age of mountain lions and other big-ass animals that could have us for tea. But here’s the thing – Fear is built-in because we used to have no other options. Wanted to eat? You had to face your fear and kill something. Back in the age of the stone, Dean and Deluca didn’t exist. Fear now exists primarily to hold us back. There are still a few moments when fear is useful – “don’t walk down that dark alley, something doesn’t seem right.” Those are instincts we have for a reason. But nowadays, we confuse those life-saving instincts with the lack of fire under our ass all the time.

Fear is good. But never let it hold you back. Thrive on it. Worried that you won’t make as much money? Work harder. The fact that you’re doing it from a beach next to your home that costs 1/4th of what you were paying in the city should be helpful in getting over that initial fear.

6) I don’t have the time.

Yes you do. No matter from where you work, you have the time. Lots of presentations to give? Write them on the plane. Lots of emails to answer? Answer them on the plane. Gotta be on a call? Skype from your hotel room. Meetings to attend? Attend them virtually, from the beach.

Countless studies have shown that people are actually more productive when they’re allowed to work from where they want, as opposed to having to work in a confined space.

If you really want to make more time to do the things you “have” to do, thus allowing you to do more of the things you “want” to do, you need to do a few things differently. One of them has to be getting up earlier, but that’s a different post entirely, because in the end, if you want to change your life, you’re going to find the time.

End result: We all need to work. We all need to make money. With the exception of trust fund babies, we all gotta find a way to make some cash and live our lives. Some people just choose to do it a different way than others. Some of us choose to work for a living, and some people choose to incorporate work into living. For the past 16 years, I’ve worked harder than almost every person I know, yet I’ve never felt like I’ve worked a day in my life.

Thoughts? Comments? Agree? Disagree? I want to hear it below. And if you like what you read, or think I’m completely full of shit, click the FB and Twitter buttons below and let the world know.

http://positivethoughtbrand.com/ Casey Murray

Love this!!!
http://thebrandbuilder.wordpress.com Olivier Blanchard

Yep. Providence is nice. So is patience. But every time I find myself flying to Dubai, Sydney, London or wherever else, the thought that always pops into my head is “I should do this more.”

Lots of obstacles though, all of them valid, even if they are imagined. Finding time isn’t that hard if you MAKE time. Finding the money is harder, but it can be done if you are willing to give something up in exchange for it. In the end, most of it comes down to fear. There’s nothing wrong with it. Fear is real. Fear is our survival instincts kicking in. Fear keeps us grounded and safe. I like fear, actually. It serves a purpose and sometimes it can even be a catalyst for positive change. But fear as a paralyzing force is our single greatest enemy.

And what people who think they can’t do this have to understand is that although their fear is real, the obstacles it creates for them in their heads are not.

I enjoyed this.
angela hemans

Wow, that was truly inspiring. I need to make it happen! Thanks for the truth.
http://ad-ition.com Beverly Crandon

I agree wholeheartedly. I am going to share this with as many people as possible. Thanks for writing this and most of all thanks for sharing your views, openly. Many, once they’ve figured out a formula that gives them a lifestyle balance, want to keep it to themselves, for fear that the thought/lifestyle would soon be overrun. Really – thanks again!
http://www.contestqueen.com Carolyn Wilman

Have you read Wayne Dyer’s Excuses Begone? He sites 18 excuses people use to stay stuck & then banish them. I think you’ll like it.

Excuse 1: It will be difficult.
Affirmation: I have the ability to accomplish any task I set my mind to with ease and comfort.

Excuse 2: It’s going to be risky.
Affirmation: Being myself involves no risks. It is my ultimate truth and I live fearlessly.

Excuse 3: It will take a long time.
Affirmation: I have infinite patience when it comes to fulfilling my own destiny.

Excuse 4: There will be family drama.
Affirmation: I would rather be loathed for who I am then loved for who I am not.

Excuse 5: I don’t deserve it.
Affirmation: I am a divine creation, a piece of god. How could I be undeserving?

Excuse 6: It’s not my nature.
Affirmation: My essential nature is perfect and faultless. It is to this nature that I return.

Excuse 7: I cannot afford it.
Affirmation: I am connected to an unlimited source of abundance.

Excuse 8: No one will help me.
Affirmation: The right circumstances and the right people are already here and will show up on time.

Excuse 9: It’s never happened before.
Affirmation: I am open and willing to attract all I desire beginning here and now.

Excuse 10: I am not strong enough.
Affirmation: I have access to unlimited assistance. My strength comes from my connection to my source.

Excuse 11: I am not smart enough.
Affirmation: I am a creation of the divine mind, all is perfect and I am a genius in my own right.

Excuse 12: I am too old or I’m not old enough.
Affirmation: I am an infinite being. The age of my body has no bearing on what I do or who I am.

Excuse 13: The rules won’t let me.
Affirmation: I live my life according to divine rules.

Excuse 14: It’s too big.
Affirmation: I think only about what I can do now. By thinking small, I accomplish great things.

Excuse 15: I don’t have the energy.
Affirmation: I feel passionately about my life and this passion fills me with excitement and energy.

Excuse 16: It’s my personal family history.
Affirmation: I live in the present moment by being grateful for all of my life experiences as a child.

Excuse 17: I am too busy.
Affirmation: As I unclutter my life I free myself to answer the callings of my soul.

Excuse 18: I’m too scared.
Affirmation: I can accomplish anything I put my mind to because I know I am never alone.
http://www.sevendegreescommunications.com Jessica Levin

Oh how, I love this post. I’ve been working virtually full-time for three years. Two years ago I started my own company in addition to my “job.” I work strange hours and I get it done. People ask me how I manage both and I can’t really explain other than – I can work anywhere. Plus, I love what I do so it doesn’t seem like work (most of the time). I still reserve the right to bitch and complain once a month or so.

The next time someone asks me about how I do it, I’m just going to direct them here. This tells a great story. The world needs more of this freedom!
http://www.globalwealthprotection.com Bobby Casey

Awesome post Peter. I agree 100%. I tell people the biggest obstacle in making dramatic changes in your life is making the decision to do so. Once you make the decision, you will figure out the details. But you only get to ride this roller coaster once, enjoy every minute.
http://www.ConverseDigital.com tom martin

Peter,

I read the first post and then this one.

Quite possibly two of the finest posts I’ve read in a long time. None of that “you can do it if you just want it” bullshit. Instead, you’ve given a fair, balanced look at your life vs the safe life.

Good stuff man. Keep it coming. And I hope your travels result in our paths crossing again soon… preferably in a bar in that W hotel or another ;)

- Tom
Paul Mitchell

Peter I can honeslty say I am proud of you. Remember those that are jealous of you are not your friend. I will have to keep reading as the weeks progress. I don’t need alot of money to be happy. I have everything I need. I love helping people, and travelling with the military. I currently live in Sicily with an awesome view, I have good friends, and can travel now at will. However, I will always keep track of my friends. Keep it up Peter!
http://www.yourstorymatters.net Angela Schaefers

Love it Peter! Valid points and rebuttals.

I would say that valuing ourselves at our core, knowing and accepting who we are leads us to being able to have the courage to say out loud what we really want! And we all know it’s true, once we speak it it is pretty difficult to take it back!

We really do not value ourselves if we live life feeling like we have missed out, it’s too late and/or we have a feeling of conflict that simply resides in our soul when we see something we want and can only muster up an ‘if only’.

I say just do something, anything little thing to live authentically, and as you do, it will become easier and clearer on how to live the life you want and DESERVE!
http://www.hallmann.co.uk Carol Mann

It is awesome that you had an awesome time. Top of the mountain stuff! Everything is about ‘can do’ – you believed you ‘could do’ and you did… following the ‘law of attraction’ not the law of ‘detraction’. There are so many wonderful moments in life that have to be grasped with both hands. Find something you love doing and you’ll never have to work in your life.

Think of things you would just love to do if you only had 48 hours to live and then do them!
http://www.connectionagent.com Steve Woodruff

You’ve been a great example regarding this, Peter. My advice: begin taking the steps NOW to create your business that will allow that freedom and flexibility. It may take 5 years, it may take 10, it may take 1 – but you have to take the first steps. I’m almost 5 years into my plan for a fully portable business and it is WORTH the effort! Now, about that lakeside summer house somewhere in the Adirondacks…(still dreaming and pursuing!)
http://www.danaditomaso.ca Dana DiTomaso

Thanks Peter, for the great article! I just moved myself and my business from Hamilton, Ontario to Edmonton, Alberta because my partner is getting her PhD from the University here. My clients were a bit nervous in the beginning, but I fly back every few months to do a bunch of meetings, and otherwise, I’m available. Edmonton isn’t where we want to be long-term but when she’s done and we can make that choice, I know that I can pick up and move wherever and it’ll work. I keep telling her that all I need is high speed internet!
Lindsay

Thanks Peter for this post! It’s given me the inspiration to change my life and start living it how I want to. I’ve been conflicted for a couple of weeks on how to change things for the better – I haven’t figured it out yet but this post gives me the confidence that it can be done. Keep up the good work!
Jennifer Dimond

Wonderful, poignant, scary…and necessary. The only thing that holds most of us back is ourselves. I needed to read this today. Thank you.
http://www.findyourglow.com Julia Sarver

Love this post, Peter. I am so with you on this. I left my corporate job in my late 20s – yep, I was sick of the bullshit by then – and have run my own health coaching company since then. I have amazing clients, I love what I do, and I can do it from anywhere! My husband travels for his job, which he loves, and I get to go with him on most of his trips.

Nice photo on Table Mountain – it’s incredible up there!
http://www.twitter.com/sistermary Lourdes (@SisterMary)

This post is a huge welcome mat to my next adventure, which rather coincidentally begins at midnight tonight. Should have figured Shankman could read minds too. Sometimes you just have to ask (your boss; your wife; the universe…) You are one yes away from a dream put into action. I have crossed off all the myths and excuses above and am going for it. I am not running from anything or anyone. I am running TO the me I was meant to be. If anyone needs handholding through this process of breaking free, please catch me on Twitter. Likewise for those who have tips for me. “Runaways” like us thrive on the good thoughts and support of strangers as well as of friends. What I’m doing is not as important as the fact that I am. The turning point came when I looked at what was possible about my impossible, and at how much more valuable I could be to my “clients” by stepping out into my vision. This is your time. Go find your slice of awesome.
http://www.reyburnphotography.co.uk Karen Reyburn

I couldn’t agree more – with you Pete, and also with @tom martin – so tired of those people saying things like ‘you can do it if you believe you can’ – it doesn’t quite work that way. But it DOES work when you make huge efforts, try new things, and if you can’t leap out of the comfort zone, at least set a toe out and see how good it feels. It’s a journey – but man, can you enjoy that journey.
Linda Reyburn

Loved the ‘worldwide is at your fingertips’ approach. Though multiple poodles in Iowa don’t turn me on, fish & chips on a beach certainly do!!
http://www.JohnnyJet.com Johnny Jet

Amen, brother!
http://thefutureisred.com Leigh

Thanks for the mention, Peter. And as usual, great article.

I get prickly when people tell me they’re jealous of my life. I try not to, because, well, I am happy with my life, but as you say, it’s not like it’s all beaches with white sand and sunshine.

The choices we’ve made mean life is often unpredictable. That can be fun, like when we suddenly found ourselves a great cheap place to stay in the mountains north of the Cote D’Azure and stayed paddle boating and eating amazing cheese for a month. Or it can be unbelievably frustrating. Like when you hear from the Argentina equivalent of the Federal Reserve that you’re being investigated for money laundering. I swear, we didn’t do anything that even came close.

Everything has it’s plusses and minuses. It’s up to each of us to make a choice which ones fall as priority. Then go with it.
Maureen Kilgour

Inspiring post. One issue not addressed. Health insurance tied to large employer. Oh, and abject fear. I guess that’s what makes you Peter Shankman flying around the globe and me sitting at my kitchen table whining! (And spending the time to write this instead of doing something that changes the world!)
http://www.BurkertValuation.com Rod Burkert

Don’t think you left anything out. Well maybe this. In the 4HWW, Tim Ferriss said: “Given a choice between unhappiness and uncertainty, most people choose unhappiness.” How sad. How true. And probably THE reason why you need to write your post. And how do people figure that uncertainty = worse than status quo? Much good, happiness, and joy can come from uncertainty.

My wife and I each have our own business for which we are location independent. We don’t own a home. We travel the US and Canada in an RV with our two dogs. I am writing this comment from Golden, CO. Ten days ago we were in the Florida Keys. Next week, we’ll be in New Mexico.

PS – My wife and I are both CPAs. We call ourselves recovering accountants. If we can break out of our mold, so can many of your readers.
http://www.bleedingneon.com Pj Perez

I swear, Peter, you just posted this at the perfect time for me. I needed to read something like this. Thank you.
http://www.bleedingneon.com Pj Perez

@Maureen To be fair, Peter DID address fear (point 5, I believe).

As for insurance … I don’t think Peter was advocating anyone leave behind their jobs or security, but find a way to shift the parameters (assuming you’re unhappy with the current ones).

Of course, if you find yourself in most of Europe or Canada, insurance won’t be an issue. ;)
http://www.scottevest.com Scott Jordan

As the aforementioned CEO (hey – I *like* Idaho!), what I would like to add to the conversation is that your life is what you make it, and no one will make it for you. It takes good planning, working really hard and knowing what you want. We’re also hiring, btw… ;)
http://www.soultravelers3.com Jeanne @soultravelers3

So TRUE! Excellent! I so hear ya, we have been on an open ended world tour as a family non-stop since 2006 ( 39 countries on 5 continents so far on just 23 dollars a day per person) so we hear that “jealous” all the time.

You are so right, geography no longer matters. We’re monolinguals raising a fluent trilingual/triliterate in Mandarin/Spanish/English who speaks bits of many languages & has swam with sharks in Bora Bora, rode a camel and did a violin concert for Berber kids deep in the Sahara at 6, sailed the Turquoise Coast in Turkey, ate kangaroo in Sydney, reindeer in Sweden and birds nest in Singapore!

She was 5 when we began is 10 now and has gotten the best education, wonderful friends all over the world and we have had TIME together which is perhaps the best gift of all and true wealth. Right now we’re wintering in a luxurious 3 bedroom flat with spectacular ocean views from every room in tropical Asia while she immerses in a Mandarin school and my 83 year old mother is with us for 6 weeks, soon we head to India and back to Europe for the summer, road tripping the US for the fall.

We’re just an ordinary family so know that ANY one can do this and it has never been easier. We travel the world for MUCH less than living at home. Don’t be jealous folks, GO FOR IT!
http://thatimthing.com Dahlia Valentine

This post is the story of my life. My ex-husband and I are self-employed, so we traveled like a couple of vagabonds for years. Most people who’ve never done the “living-with-regular-people-in-another-country” – as opposed to living in the expensive expat area with all the English speakers – are surprised to learn that we paid less to live outside the States. And we lived well. We even had our daughter outside of the States.

When hubby and I decided to split (amicably), I continued on the neverending journey with baby in tow. (I am the definition of a no bullshit adventurer!) The only reason I came back was because kiddo started flipping out with the terrible 2′s thing.

Kiddo is now almost 9 and we’re planning our next adventure… a couple years in Hawaii. Entirely her choice – I swear!

My friends and family used to think I was ummm… crazy. After I had a baby they thought my days as an adventurer were over. Pulease!

Once you get a taste of this life… once you rent your first apartment and you get your cell phone and your electric turned on, and a futon for the livingroom, you realize that it’s not as bad as you imagine it to be. It’s not just a good life experience, it changes your life in ways you cannot possibly imagine.

I’m sorry for rambling. But man, this is my passion. Okay I’m off to study my Korean, because, well, ya never know.
Bea

I so agree. I have a law firm, and so many lawyers just love to talk about how much they work, how late they are at the office and how busy they are.

Screw that. I have my firm constructed so that I’m in the office 4 days a week. I have the support in place that I need so Fridays are mine. I need those 3 days to get out into the woods, up a mountain, down a bike path, swimming in the ocean, practicing my yoga or just doing any of the 800 things that I’m made of beside just “lawyer.”

The saddest people are the ones who pull the Kid Card, and claim they can’t do anything they want because they have kids. I’ve learned not to argue with those folks, they have made their minds up and think they are trapped.

They can be “yeah, but”ing back at the office while I’m 5000 on top of a mountain in the middle of winter and having the time of my life!
Deb Chromik

That you live this is amazing, that you share so generously and emphatically is inspiring. Thanks for the well-timed kick. Woodrow Wilson would be proud.

“You are not here merely to make a living. You are here in order to
enable the world to live more amply, with greater vision, with a finer spirit of hope and achievement. You are here to enrich the world….” Woodrow Wilson
Jennifer

This is an interesting post, as always. I don’t think that this lifestyle works for everyone, but for information workers who can work over the Internet certainly everything you say is true. If you are looking for future blog topics, I would love to learn more about your experience in building this life and practical tips for those of us aspiring for a similar lifestyle. I think a lot of the fear factor is from just not knowing how to create the conditions where you feel confident quitting the corporate world and going on your own – how to find health insurance, how to build clients, how to handle taxes, etc.
goldie

Where are you staying when you “fly into” New York for a few days? Doesn’t that cost a lot of money? Airline travel, hotel, cabs, food etc etc..all add up. But if you have inexpensive permanent abodes (home) elsewhere, I suppose it all balances out. It is certainly something to consider. Thanks!
Sharon Shaw

I think it is important to also direct this post to the people who do not ‘make’ the decision for themselves, but instead find themselves fired, downsized, or outdated from a job. You have a choice at that point; look for another job or try something new, and you know what they say about doing the same thing and expecting different results…(I think they say it is the definition of madness). A crisis could really be an opportunity waiting to happen. As an ‘accidental business-woman’ myself, I can say It was the best decision I didn’t get to make!
http://www.ericacampbellpr.com Erica Campbell

If you look for a reason to not do something you’re likely to find it. It just seems so easy to take a path that everyone claims is going to be best option for you, even though they know it’s most likely just the safest option. Fear really is paralyzing. I’ll be graduating this semester and starting my “job-search”- I hope I have the proverbial balls to take some chances, and live the life I know I deserve. Thank you for the post!
http://www.coachmunro.com Malcolm Munro

Totally agree with you Peter. Each day has many pockets of time. You just have to find them, create them, and then use them.
http://www.time4somethingelse.com kera

thank you. just thank you. I think you have the most awesome job on the planet, and tho i don’t know if i could keep up, I aspire to give it a shot. I SO appreciate your candor and openness… and how freely you share your life with us!
Joanna Belbey

My husband and I love SE Asia. After several vacations, we decided to test whether we’d want to live in Asia full time. At the moment, my husband (retired) is staying in a decent hotel room for $200 a month in Chiang Mai, Thailand for 3 months. I visited for 2 weeks with my laptop and was able to work when needed.
This is what we learned: for $1000 a month, you can live like a king in Thailand, Skype allows us to talk twice a day for free, internet is fast and cheap, admittance to a hospital for a one-day stay cost $100 (who needs health insurance?), and the food is amazing. We decided that Chiang Mai isn’t stimulating enough for us full time, so maybe next winter, we’ll try Hanoi … or Saigon… or…. until we find just the right place for us.
John

So I have a point to make about #5 – Fear. I read tons of blogs, articles, words of advice, etc. that say, “Just do it!” “What are you waiting for?” “Go after it now!” I read inspiring thoughts such as your post everyday that motivate me unbelievably to go after it. I think for a lot of people, though, fear is a severely limiting factor (myself included). I guess the point I’m trying to make is that for some, fear is an obstacle that is REALLY tough to get around. The “Just do it already” montra really isn’t enough to get us past that fear. I don’t have any answers, so the question still remains for me – how do you make it past that fear to the place where dreams lie??
http://www.aquent.us/go/marshabelinson Marsha Belinson

I loved this post!
I feel like you are my mentor and we barely know each other.
It takes a great deal of courage to make a change in your life, to insist on being great, on being happy, on being self-expressed.
There are lots of people who sleep walk through their lives, “same shit, and different day”. They are consumed by their job, their kids, and their obligations.
This past December, my husband and I rented out our house that we lived in for 10 years and moved to the beach. We rent a condo in beautiful Miami Beach, overlooking the water – our son goes to a new school, we walk everywhere and we have completely started over, with less “stuff.” Sure, my commute to work is a little longer –so now I work from home more! WHY did we do this? Because we felt like it. Because every ten years it’s time to up root and change. It’s a very powerful choice. Everyone has that choice.
Andrew

Just jump in! You’ll definitively change your life.
http://www.kennethyim.com Kenneth Yim

Thinner indeed. More muscle for sure :-).. That is why we train at 5:30am!
http://www.mybizperforms.com Bettina Horvath

Awesome post Peter!

I’ve done it too.

14 years ago I quit a promising corporate career, sold all my belongings and put what was left in 5 boxes on a ship, destiny: Cape Town. My clothes fit into 2 suitcases and with my 2 cats went off to start fresh.
To a new continent where I didn’t know anybody, had only a tourist visa and a vague plan on what I would do. (That plan never turned into reality by the way.)
At the time I didn’t know I was jailbreaking my life, I just knew I needed to do it :)

The thing is, people only see the shiny exterior. Wow how cool you live in Cape Town, which has by now become the place to be. Rightly so of course, as you’ve discovered yourself.

People don’t see that it takes conquering the fear you speak about, stepping into it and dealing with it. It was incredibly hard at times to settle here.

It’s not that everybody should now pack up and go live elsewhere – like you say, that’s not the point. The point is, are you happy? If not then get the hell up your butt and so something, anything, about it. There are countless possibilities nowadays. I’ve realized that the first goal for us humans is to figure out what we really love doing and then go after that with a vengeance.
What happens then is magic, life isn’t necessarily any easier (the complexities grow), but it sure is a lot more fun. I always say I rather eat 3 months peanut butter sandwiches only than have to go work for somebody else. I’ve had those low moments but they served a purpose, they taught me with how little we actually get by.

On getting past the fear: my 2c on how to do this (so many people battle with this): Sit down and write out what will happen in the worst case scenario, in all the gory details. Then take each point and figure out what your next step would be if that actually happened to you. Don’t just do this in your head, write it down and what you could do next. You will find there’s always something you could do next and you will realise it’s not so bad after all. We always can deal with whatever happens.

I remember not so long ago I actually was in a situation where I had literally no money to buy food. I was horribly depressed, in no state to find new business and everything just looked gloomy and horrible. I sat down and wondered what would happen to me now? What happens to someone in Cape Town when they can’t pay the rent? Where do they end up? On the street? And how would that work? What would happen to my child? Would they take him away? I tried to figure it out and I couldn’t, so I said to myself, ok fine, I’ll find out and will deal with it. That was an act of surrender – which is how to get passed the fear and guess what, next thing I know I got invited to dinner by a friend, empty tummy sorted. Then someone bought some stuff I had advertised and before I knew it I was back on my feet. It’s never as bad as it looks, lesson learned for me.

Special tips for Peter regarding living in Cape Town:
Whoever said you have to be here permanently? :) There are many “swallows” that come live here a couple of months (usually in summer when it’s cold in the Northern Hemisphere) and then go back to Europe or US to make some $$. The thing is, living here costs FAR less than living in Manhatten (or anywhere else up north) and thus you wouldn’t need as many speaking engagements to afford living here. In Cape Town you can have SO much fun with so little money, you’ve tasted this already in the couple of hours you were here.
Even if you did a one month here, one month there kind of schedule it wouldn’t be so bad. 1 day a month to get anywhere is a price I’d be willing to pay to be able to live here. From my own experience living in Cape Town is living in paradise, worth a couple of sacrifices for sure.

To me it’s not about going anywhere else to live, it’s about freeing up some more cash because yeah, traveling anywhere from here involves more time and funds. But like you, I’ll only do it with what’s fun :) Onwards and upwards!
Nancy Davis

I have just started working with a few people starting our own company. I get snarky comments from my “friends” because I work from home and am starting to make a little more money. I tell them they could do this too, but they don’t want to wake up with that fear like I do. They want someone to pat them on the head. I would give them a swift kick in the ass if I could.

I get to do cool stuff and they get to bitch and complain. I set a goal for myself last year of being able to do this kind of work, and had no idea how I was going to get there. I have a young son and I am a single mom. I have that fear everyday. I have been working and it most days does not even feel like it because I am doing what I love.

Am I mobile? Not yet. My next big purchase will be a laptop. Then I will be. Even now, if I really need to get out, I take a legal pad and pen and get out of the house if I really need to. There are some valid reasons – like fear, but the real truth is that once you start to do it, the fear gets less and less. It comes only with doing the thing that gets you so afraid. I can’t explain it any other way.

Thanks for this post. I needed to be reminded of this.
Gigi Ramis

Peter,

After living with two men on the Autism spectrum for 21 years, I have forgotten how to “take a risk and fly”……I spent way too much time adjusting to their schedules, framing their world, keeping them in sensory comfort zones.

Your post was relevant and timely. So many feel “stuck” in this ecomony, and yes, there is much jealousy for those that are successful and FREE!

Thanks for humanizing the fact that mental freedom is happiness, and happiness has NEVER produced jealousy.
Marissa Sweazy

What an amazing and inspiring post. Thank you for pointing out so many things that are so important to being happy. I feel like if you are happy, you WILL be successful.

Thanks for sharing, Peter.
http://www.cavaroc.com Mike

I cannot thank you enough for drilling this into my head. Here I am doing freelance web design and photography for a living and I’m complaining that I don’t travel enough!

During the time I read this, I began looking around, realizing I can sell a lot of my stuff because I don’t NEED to be in any one place! (eventhough I do love living in Jackson Hole, WY)

But seriously. I have all the doors open for me and I’m just sitting here wishing I could travel more!

THANK YOU!!
Jennifer

So needed to read this post today! Definitely the only thing holding me back is myself. Gotta break out of that vicious cycle of fear and restraint.
http://upyourmarket.com Robin Gerhart

I did jailbreak my life, and it is the best thing I have ever done. I know I have only begun to enjoy the benefits. Thanks for posting this Peter!
http://www.pintofactory.com Stefan Pinto

Happiness is only possible when the desire for making money cannot lure you to travel on the wrong path – Paramhansa Yogananda
http://www.geekyexplorers.com Tricia

Fabulous post. My husband and I decided this year would be the year of stopping the excuses. He can give notice out of his contract Nov 2011 and a month later we will be in the RV we bought a month ago, with all of our stuff we didn’t need sold or donated, and our dog & 3 cats packed up ready to see the country. We both are in IT & have stupidly remained trapped in a ‘normal’ society. Time to be ourselves, travel & enjoy life a bit more! Glad to see you enjoy life as much as you do!
Jen

All awesome points, and dreams, but for many, it’s still simply not doable. When an economy round trip ticket in the continental US for one (not counting dragging family with vs traveling solo) is 20% of your monthly income, money is definitely a restriction. Sure – “get a better job that pays more” – maybe someday that might be possible too, “or cut out the restaurants and Starbucks” (the what? those are long gone!). Right now, I’d settle for a vacation of any kind, it’s been well over 4 years to have more than a 3 or 4 day holiday weekend, that of course we can’t afford to go anywhere over. I suppose we COULD skip the rent, sell the 2nd car and all our possessions, quit one of our jobs, and buy a used camper and RV it, but that’s not quite living the life IMO. Though actually, one income wouldn’t even cover that… It’s nice to dream about being able to do things like travel freely though. For now I dream about not having to 2nd guess my budget at the grocer store when I pick up something I don’t really need that costs $5. :)
http://www.travelingmom.com Cindy Richards

One of the (many) things I do to make money as a freelancer is teach in a graduate level journalism program at one of the finest universities in America. The students pay a lot to be there. They’re bright and motivated.

As they lurch toward graduation and begin to panic about getting a job they seek my help. I always start by asking them the same question: “What is your dream job?” It is heartbreaking to me that only a few have ever had an answer.

My next question is, “If you don’t know what your dream is, how can you achieve it?”
http://declandunn.com Declan Dunmn

Thanks for the jolt of inspiration sans any idea that this is a secret…as kids we mirror our parents, and as adults sometimes we forget that we are still mirroring what we are feeling inside, instead of seeing what is right in front of your eyes.

The word “jealous” in particular is just so negative to me, instead of enjoying what someone is doing. In relationships the word “compersion” was coined as the opposite of jealousy, finding joy in another’s happiness with another person. I think you can apply it here, getting juiced by someone else’s success instead of choosing it to remind you of what you lack.

You have everything you need in life, right now…and you are perfect as you are…thanks for the reminder Peter…
http://www.quezmedia.com Jose

Your post is spot on Peter! Thanks for Sharing!
http://www.ghidinelli.com Brian

Best thing I ever did was put all of my worldly possessions in a storage container and skip out to Europe for 4 months. Totally changed my perspective on life gave me the opportunity to rewrite my side project gig from a sunny park in Madrid.

It’s funny what just a tiny bit of personal momentum can do for you. I’ve since traveled around the world twice and turned my little side-gig into my full-time biz. Sometimes it just takes a little bit of proof that you CAN do something to break free to the next level.
http://www.spiritusfinancial.com Pat Chiappa

This is one of the most direct, honest and inspiring posts I’ve read in a long time. Don’t you just get sick of hearing all the excuses thrown out there? Especially when you know how lame they are?

Oprah recently had a contest on her new OWN network for someone to host their own show. She was basically giving them everything they needed to start their own show – as well as the opportunity.

The winner (she actually picked 2 winners – because she’s Oprah and she can) and one of the winners was a guy named Zak Anner who in addition to being really funny and clever, charming and sweet, and super bright and thoughtful – happens to have cerebral palsy and is in a wheelchair.

But that didn’t stop him from competing in a tough game and eventually winning the chance to OWN his own travel show called “Rollin Around the World”.

No limits, no bullshit, no excuses – this guy is a real winner.

Thanks Peter – for sharing your thoughts, experiences and wisdom.
http://www.robvandenbrand.nl Rob

HELL YEAH LET’S DO IT!!!
http://www.lifecyclestrategygroup.com kirstin falk

Awesome post. Thank you for sharing.
Steve G

I agree wholeheartedly with the basic principal that you can change what you do and where you do it, but let’s look at the reverse scenario.

Sometimes life changes what you do and where you do it, but not by choice.

Take cancer for instance and the dramatic impact it has on the one who has it and the family that bonds to accept it. This scenario dictates what you have to do and where and when you have to do it.

Oh wouldn’t it be so nice to change all that!
http://www.bhaskars.net Bhaskar Sarma | Pixels and Clicks

You totally read my mind regarding this entire topic. The present times are the first in the history of mankind where technology has enabled us to really do what we love doing and make a living out of it.

It would be a crying shame to get stuck in the societal frameworks of the past- 9 to 5 jobs, cubicle life and work-till-you-drop mentality. We might want to, but we also have choices,
http://gobackpacking.com/Blog Dave

Inspiring rant! After resigning from my insurance job 4 year ago to travel, I got a lot of comments from friends, coworkers and blog readers along the same lines.

I’ve come to the conclusion (because I still hear the “you’re lucky” comments now that I’ve turned travel blogging into a “job” and can live in one of those nice but cheap foreign apartments) that just because a person has a moment of envy about what you’re doing, and comments on it briefly, doesn’t mean they have a deep underlying desire (let alone need) to rearrange their entire life to do something similar.

At the same time, I still hope that by facing my own fears to live the life I want (and publicizing it via blogs), I can motivate and inspire a few people along the way who only need that extra nudge to go for it themselves.
http://www.arkessentialspublishing.com Vickie

Glad you enjoy the life you’ve got. I’m enjoying mine as an Idaho stay at home and work mom :) I’d hate the traveling but expect to do more of it when my hubby retires and all the kids are in school full time next year.

I love the opportunities that exist in this modern era for abundance and true freedom. If you can’t see it your eyes aren’t open. If you don’t like your situation there are folks who’ve got worse. Be grateful!
Megan

Love this post Peter! I’ve really been re-evaluating my 9-5 office life lately, so this couldn’t have come at a better time for me. I definitely have used all of these excuses and your post really inspired me to stop wishing and complaining rather than doing something about it. Thanks for this!
http://drewcdavid.com Drew C David

I moved to Germany (from middle of nowhere USA) 7 years ago to pursue a ministry that I love. It requires me to be present at least once a week, and pays next to nothing. This doesn’t stop my wife and I from seeing the world. We just spent several days last week in Barcelona, Spain.

Our list of destinations for 2011 would make rich & poor alike write #jealous. You don’t need a large income & you don’t need to occur debt.

Lockup your excuses where you have been hiding your passport, and start living!
http://www.samgolden.co.uk Sam Golden

Great article, lots of seemingly commonsense advice but I understand how a lot of people can get stuck in a rut. I’ve spent the last few summers working in Switzerland and always managed to come back better off than when I set off. Like you said working harder than most people do in their life doesn’t seem like hard work when you’re having fun.

Thanks
http://www.find-your-joy.com Jennifer Blair

My friend Julie says, “Do you want to be comfortable or do you want to be happy?”
The choice is ours to make. I broke out of my comfortable (and even exciting) life working in film production in LA for a quieter life in Nashville where I could concentrate on traveling and writing. I make less money but am much happier.

I work from a home office but look forward to working during trips because of fewer “life” distractions (trips to the post office, cleaning the litter box, my arch nemisis-TV). My productivity and creativity actually increase three fold while I am traveling.

Great post. Thanks to Chris Gillibeau for retweating…
http://www.abeautifulabode.com Shauntelle

You know, I read this, got all jazzed up about it… Heck yeah, we can live the dream, just gotta get off our duffs and do it… and then I get smacked in the head by certain realities:

* Health Insurance is a must! My youngest has asthma, my husband has asthma, there are food allergies and a missing kidney to think about too.

* We’re struggling on one main income now– in a fairly cheap rental in Georgia. There aren’t lattes to cut out, we drive one vehicle, and on any given day I probably have some small stress about a bill that needs to be paid and I’m not quit sure how it will happen… and I don’t mean misc. bills… I mean water/lights/rent

* I have three kids. sure, it’s easy for single folks to say don’t let that hold you back but just moving kids around from here to there– if they aren’t really signed on to the concept– well it’s not cool. I moved a bunch as a kid and I DID NOT like it. I know a lot of service brats who also didn’t like the continually sense of rootlessness. Sure, if your kids are up for adventure, then it’s all cool… but what if they aren’t?

And maybe those are all unfounded fears… no one might ever get sick, it might be a hoot to live in a hotel as a family and the kids may not care about not having a stable place… but that’s a huge fear for me as a mom to conquer. And it’s not a matter of not being willing to work hard enough because I work a full time job, write freelance, and blog to earn enough income… I love most of what I do and would love to transition to doing just the work I really love… but not being able to take care of my kids… even the possibility of that stops dreaming in it’s tracks!
http://www.lundy5.com Margie

Love it! And we finally did it, with our THREE young children in tow. We’re RVing whenever, wherever, and love it! If we can, anyone can.
http://smartfulcoaching.com Bob Wilson

You are 100% on target. We all have more skills and choices than we often realize. Thanks for writing this wonderful post. Definitely something a lot of people need to hear…
Bob
http://www.CouchSurfingOri.com Couch Surfing Ori

Well, I gotta say that I agree with this wholeheartedly… but then again, I”m used as an example, so you already knew that.

I think you summarized it really well. I really dig that old skydiver saying… I’ve always said it as “cut out the negative people in your life” – but it’s nowhere near as catchy.

What I wanted to share with your readers though is that while I’m in my 5th year of Couchsurfing around the world, it has turned into a lot more than just travel.

My most profitable skills…. learned on the road…. because I was on the road.
My best friends that are like family… met on the road…. because I was on the road.

Life is like an open book, but if you’re not traveling, and going outside your “normal” you’re not turning the pages.

So, yes, working from the beach is more fun, and more cost effective than an office downtown (And now with Pad technologies, you don’t have to worry about sand in the keyboard)…. but… who are you going to meet at the beach?

As far as networking being 24/7- absolutely! Although…I do like hors’d'ouvres, and they do serve those at networking events. Rather than networking events, I like to go to learning events… and network there, while expanding my horizons.

Because I have a goofy business card, and an interesting answer to “So what do you do?” or “Where do you live?” I network much better… People let their guard down, or want to hear the story about the time I played Bull Poker, or the time I stayed with Tony Hsieh, or the time I stayed at an all girls’ college…..

If you define yourself by your job, and your life is your office… you’ll get/give cards… but will you be truly memorable? At the end of a weeklong event where people get and give thousands of cards (take SXSW for example), they’ll remember which card is mine, and who I am.

Heck, even (the now uber-thin) Peter Shankman said I can crash his couch while in NYC. Seth Godin said they have a strict no-couchsurfer rule, but he will meet me for 30 minutes of coffee.

I’m in South Florida today…. working my ass off from morning to night, but spending some quality time with my folks. I haven’t seen them in a while. Next week I’m in Austin for SXSW, then there’s a few friends masterminding in Breckenridge over snowmobiling and ski…. then New York, then Scotland, then… I don’t know. But even if I did, it wouldn’t matter, because awesome opportunities come every day.

If you live your life, you automatically have an audience– all your friends on Twitter and Facebook who wish they were traveling.

It takes some work… but I couldn’t imagine living any other way.
http://Www.prostyleimage.com Kimberly Bordonaro

Well said, Peter. This post reminds me of Oprah’s tagline: live your best life. I’ve learned that tomorrow’s not promised so, if there’s something you want out of life, you better start living it now. And while you’re at it, minus well give it all you got!
http://jeremytanner.com Jeremy Tanner

My stock response? “Excuses are easy, I can give you 3 more reasons why you can’t. Tell me why you can.” I fear that those asleep in the Matrix will always outnumber those of us in the “real” world.

Jeremy
http://www.alanweinkrantz.com Alan Weinkrantz

Last week I was in Israel for 8 days. I have been going back and forth for 17 years on business. I am going back on March 27 for 2 weeks.

I work. I hang out. I visit friends. I visit family.

I do the same thing I do here (PR) but I do it over there. I have business there and here. I get up, sit in a cafe, just as I would here, but the coffee is better. WiFi is everywhere. Renting a local cell phone is cheap. I check in on Foursquare. Load photos to my Facebook page. And the really good ones, I load to Flickr.

When I have conference calls, I do them on Skype. I am 8 hours ahead of my home base in Texas.

I am also far more intellectually stimulated and my brain recharges there. I had a very productive and effective week for clients in the U.S. and felt refreshed when I came home. My head is clear and I’m juice even more to help clients reach higher, get more coverage and break through.

Travel to me is therapy. Israel is my other home. My longer term goal is to remain here in San Antonio, looking at my home as partial real estate investment, a place to land for my 2 children (19 and 24) and where I can turn up my music and play the shit out of my drums when I come home. I want to spend at least 3 months a year being based in Israel and then travel to other parts of the Middle East, Europe and eventually Asia. South America is still on my mind, but one at a time.

My clients don’t give a shit where I am. My email works here as it does there and there and there. Phone calls are cheap or free on Skype.

I have been doing this for umpteen years, and now it’s easier than ever because of the ubiquity of broadband and cheap infrastructure. I save everything at MobileMe.

Yes, you can do this. It’s not without risks and it can wear on your body. What offsets the potential downside is that by opening yourself up to meeting new people and having new experiences out of your comfort zone of home, you hold yourself to a higher standard, because once you realize how good this can be, you don’t want to fuck this up.

Oh…. I sold two stories on HARO when I was Israel. So, yes, it really does work.

I’m back March 27 – April 8.
mark

I disagree. I like you and everything – if I drank I’d probably enjoy a beer together but I don’t get why you assume we’re all blessed with same equipment – talent, discipline, smarts, energy, are not the same for all of us. Its that “if I can do it you can too” mentality. How in the world would you know that?
http://www.markjacobsen.net Mark

I agree Peter and thought the article was great. The hardest thing I think most married with children people have (at least I know they’re my biggest obstacles) is getting them on board, not having them feel like you don’t pay any attention to them when you are working “virtually”, and not feeling guilty for the time spent away. When working your day job and building your business, until you hit the inflection point where your significant other can see how the business could one day be sustaining their view is often that each minute you spend on the business is another not spent on them. Guess that’s why I’ve pretty much given up TV, started waking up earlier, and trying to be more efficient in the things I can be efficient in.

Thanks for the articles.
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http://www.technomadia.com Cherie @Technomadia

Well said!! And echos so many of the posts we’ve made on our blog answering all the excuses people give us for why they’re not living the life they want. We’re up to addressing 16 of them now (money, jobs, family, pets, community, safety, being a homebody, etc.)

My sweetie and I have been traveling full time without a fixed homebase for 5 years now while running our software development and technology consulting firm remotely. It was really no different than previously running the same business from my home for a decade prior.

We get the jealous/envy comment so often too. And I love that there are now so many of us out here living our lives and sharing, and showing that it is possible in such a variety of styles and budgets.

We also get the ‘you’re so lucky’ comment. Ugh. Luck really has little to do with it. When you make intentions and consciously make decisions that revolve around those decisions – it’s ain’t luck. Like anyone else earning a living – we work for life too. We’ve just made sure that what we’re working for provides the life we want.

(Current Location: US Virgin Islands)
http://www.thewealthyworker.com Will

I recently moved out of a large city and into the country, a few acres surrounded my trees, don’t see my neighbours and the house was way lower in price. I do large enterprise IT integration projects and clients usually want to see my face for some reason. So being out here in the middle of nowhere I decided I would only accept remote contracts. Flying is a pain, between connecting flights, US security restrictions, staying in hotels away from my wife and pets, working in cubicles and dressing in business attire it all became so annoying.

After enjoying the summer off, when recruiters and consulting firms would call I would basically say ‘here I am in you need me’. I landed a contract with Staples out of Boston and they even sent me a laptop (and VPN token). I just landed another contract with the government, completely from home with 4 hour time difference.

Some of the key factors that allow me to do this – I found a niche market and charge high rates, then I paid off mortgage and got out of debt. Financial issues disempower you and keep you frozen, unable to negotiate due to fear. Due to the niche market, many consulting firms need to subcontract to me. I never take employment positions since it’s not as lucrative and they won’t have as much incentive to let you do what you want (eg. work remotely).

Once you are able to work remotely you could work anywhere pretty much. The world becomes your oyster.

So it can be done. No excuses!
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http://tacticalmarketinglabs.com/blogger-opps Brett Relander

Great stuff! I’m in. It’s time to start living.
http://www.heatherwellness.com/blog Heather

Love this! It makes me cringe when someone uses the “I don’t have time” excuse for not doing something that they absolutely love and are gifted at. Thank you for such an inspiring post.
http://theSingleNester.com Carmie of the Single Nester

A friend, knowing I am looking for my spot in the world, emailed me this post. You inspire me. I am going to read this again and again as I try to get my own foot out of my A$$ !
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http://www.prtini.com Heather Whaling

I had the opportunity to go to Haiti recently to learn about the Heart of Haiti program. Johnica Reed was one of the other travelers in our little group, and she introduced me to the term “location-independent entrepreneur.” She loves to travel so she created this amazing job where she travels ALL over the world. It was amazing to hear her stories and how she carved out a niche for her services. She’s like a poster-child for this post. She travels and earns a living, doing what she wants where she wants.

Peter, you’re totally right in that people make up excuses. But, they’re just that — excuses. If you want to do something — travel or something else — just do it. Figure out what it takes to make it happen, and then make it happen. Good reminder. :)

Heather
@prTini
Maranda Haluska

I absolutely LOVE this post!! Bob Marely once said “Wake up and live.” Just think if we all did what we loved- work and otherwise.
http://www.fortunatefools.wordpress.com Anna

I looved this blog post. i quit my job when I was 24 years old along with my fiance and spent 2 months backpacking Europe. We stopped going out as much, packed lunches, sold all our furniture, and more to save money for the trip. We didn’t have money given to us or any extra money from our jobs to help us out. (I actually ended up having a furlough week at my job and losing a week’s pay). My point is you are 100% right in saying anybody can do anything and you don’t have to be rich to do it. I did it. I moved across the country when I came back from Europe, to a city I’d never been to and struggled to find a job I liked. But in the end it all worked out and I wouldn’t trade that experience for anything. My website URL I provided is the blog we kept while traveling.
I’ve always been a fan of the phrase: “Anything is Possible”
because it’s true. :)
http://www.thejuliagroup.com/blog/ AnnMaria

In the last few years I have worked from Tunisia (before the revolution), a hotel next to the rain forest in Costa Rica, a resort in the Bahamas, a Dakota Sioux reservation in North Dakota, and most of all my house in Santa Monica. I had a nine to five job where they did not want me to be able to telecommute because that’s not our policy. So, I quit.

I don’t telecommute from a beach on a tropical island (although I have done that). I telecommute from my house 10 miles from downtown Los Angeles because I hate traffic.

It is HARD to give up a guaranteed salary and have to make payroll every month. As you say, though, I always tell myself if it doesn’t work out I can always go get another job.

Yes, some people don’t understand. Neither my husband nor I have made making money our number one priority, so, although we live comfortably, we don’t have the biggest house, newest car or fly first class most of the time. People who are impressed by that sort of thing aren’t impressed by us. Oh well.
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April

Nope, not gonna happen. There are some of us out here who have already cut out the lattes and fancy dinners. And just because we can read this doesn’t mean we have the money for a computer or mobile device….we’re borrowing computers and Internet access from roommates or relatives or the library. And not everyone who has kids is part of a couple so there are things like custody and visitation orders that keep you from just packing up the family and moving to another country. I’d either have to leave my child behind (no way!) or kidnap her and end up in jail.

Believe me, it sounds great and I’ve been lucky enough to live in some cool places thanks to my military parents and I would love to go back, I would love to have my kids experience that, and I would love to be able to just drop everything and go parasailing or build houses in a third world country…but I have a different reality.
http://www.arkessentials.com Vickie Smith The Quiet Doll Queen

It Couldn’t Be Done
Edgar Guest

Somebody said that it couldn’t be done,
But he with a chuckle replied
That “maybe it couldn’t,” but he would be one
Who wouldn’t say so till he’d tried.
So he buckled right in with the trace of a grin
On his face. If he worried he hid it.
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
That couldn’t be done, and he did it.
Somebody scoffed: “Oh, you’ll never do that;
At least no one ever has done it”;
But he took off his coat and he took off his hat,
And the first thing we knew he’d begun it.
With a lift of his chin and a bit of a grin,
Without any doubting or quiddit,
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
That couldn’t be done, and he did it.
There are thousands to tell you it cannot be done,
There are thousands to prophesy failure;
There are thousands to point out to you, one by one,
The dangers that wait to assail you.
But just buckle in with a bit of a grin,
Just take off your coat and go to it;
Just start to sing as you tackle the thing
That “cannot be done,” and you’ll do it.

( April hang in there! Make plans. Your children will not always be young- enjoy them while you can. Split parenting is not easy but he might be convinced to trips, etc. if he feels he can trust you or maybe he’ll get hit by a truck…. I’ll pray for you- in a good way :)
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http://websiteurl Gina Gotthilf

Just sent you a response to this in your LinkedIN but got an error notification! Let me know if you didn’t get it. Hope you’re doing well Peter!
Jacqui

Hi there!
Wow. WOW! Woow!!!!!

I LOVE what you have to say, how you said it, the content- every bit of it! Very encouraging. Most motivational speaker & speech I’ve ever heard/read! Thank you! Thank you for showing me the light. You got me moving. I want to change – right now, right here, right away! This is how much I’m pumped up after reading your blog.

Ok. At first, I am down because – like you said:
I wanted to change, so I left my job, house, car, friends, family, money etc and left Canada and started anew alone in China.

But now that I am here, I feel so lost, so alone, so stuck. Until I read your article, I decided to start again, and anew in this new place. But I need some direction. Any suggestions? Please email me.
Murry

Very nice, but obviously written by someone without children, never mind a single parent. Luckily I can’t say there’s a lot I didn’t do in my youth and have seen or lived in many places, and my kids are bilingual. But as far as breaking away from the hum-drum, as it surely is right now…. that will have to wait.
shankman

Incorrect. That’s a very short-sighted view. I can introduce you to tons of parents who’ve done it, are still doing it, and continue to do it. And we’ve already booked our first family trip for when my child is born in April.

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