BOLDNESS + BRAVERY Page 16 of 21

Life According To Mr.K – Love to Change (4)

Written by

Life According To Mr.K - Love to Change (4) lifeaccordingtomrk

“Things do not change; we change” – Henry David Thoreau

How times change! Do you ever find yourself sitting there asking “How did I end up here? When did this become my life? Where have these extra inches around the waist come from? How do you use this thing??”

Yeah, me too! Isn’t it also funny that these slightly depressing realisations are usually then followed by little to no action? Change before you have to!

Why is it we normally have to wait for a traumatic event or even a disaster to happen before we make significant changes? This is certainly true of our history and it is certainly the way society and governments often work. But what if we were proactive and made changes, rather than reactive, and let changes happen to us?

Of course we all get older, our bodies change, as do our plans, priorities and maybe most importantly of all our responsibilities. But does this mean we can’t be the person we want to be? Or live in the kind of world we want to be part of?

I have spent the last two decades cruising around in second gear. Doing just enough. I have found myself at times poles apart from where I dreamt I might once be. I have now been inspired to change. I have been inspired to live the fullest life I can.  And I am thrilled to be a part of Do What You Love helping other people to do the same.

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” – Margaret Mead

All I know is that I want to be the best person I can be. I want to be the person my parents raised. I want to be the husband my wife dreamt about and one day hopefully be a father that my children are proud of and inspired by. I want to live the life I used to dream of, and at last I feel like I am on my way. Only I can make it happen, and I have finally realised that.

How about you? Do you tend to complain about things? This week, when you feel like complaining about something, why not try changing something about the way you approach it? You must be the change you wish to see in the world!

Until next time,

Mr K

Life According To Mr. K – Love to Change (3)

Written by

Life According To Mr. K - Love to Change (3) lifeaccordingtomrk

In my last column I talked about the six month sabbatical Beth and I took last year. The change of location brought an obvious change in scenery, environment, food, culture, language, tempo and lifestyle. My physical surroundings had changed massively.

We had traded our considerably large and very comfortable 3 storey house for a postage stamp of a flat, – 12 square metres to be exact. We prepared food on top of the fridge and cooked on a single ring hob. The toilet design had been taken straight from a plane, it was three steps from the kitchen and the dining table was literally a foot from the bed. Compact to say the least (or cosy if you ask Beth).

We had no car, no phone and no TV. I had no idea how significant this was to become. These changes in circumstance prompted us to go out all the time. By going out I don’t mean going to the pub. I mean going outside and exploring. We cycled and walked everywhere. We spent time in coffee shops, by the river, at temples and shrines, in parks and public gardens. Okay and the odd bar!

I was reading, writing and drawing nearly every day. I felt alive. More importantly I felt that I was living every day.

There is no doubting that Kyoto is a magical place. It is so different it would capture anyone’s imagination for a while.

But I truly believe the most significant change for me was not the change in scenery, culture, people, language or food.

The most significant change was a shift to having less, doing less, rushing less. Less stuff, less technology and less noise led to more time, more laughs and certainly more adventures.

Maybe less is more! I never really appreciated this saying before my trip but it certainly do now. When you think about it in this way, it is actually possible to make small changes anytime, even starting right now. Small changes can have big results.

“True life is lived when tiny changes occur” – Leo Tolstoy

I remember sitting on the shinkansen (bullet train) and noticing that every single person was transfixed by their phone or tablet. I guess this is pretty much true of any commute, in nearly every industrialised society. And I used to be part of that. But not this time.

I spent the next couple of hours gazing out of the window, watching mountains and paddy fields pass by. My mind was free to wander aimlessly. I felt so relaxed, enjoying the details in the moment. Maybe if we try to be a little less obsessed with what is ahead, we can let ourselves enjoy the journey, and the view, a little more.

“True change takes place in the imagination” – Thomas Moore

I have made so many big changes recently, from changing career, to learning a brand new skill (Japanese) to getting married and now moving house.

I wonder why, after a decade of inactivity/ doing the same thing, there have suddenly been a flurry of changes? Is it my age? Is it the influence of my wife and the ethos of Do What You Love? Or is it that I changed one thing and that went well, so I had more confidence to change another, and another? Once I opened the floodgates I realised that there wasn’t that much to be fearful of, and a whole lot to be excited about. I suspect it is a combination of all the above.

How about you? What small steps could you take right now, to simplify your life and make changes today that will get you closer to feeling how you want to feel?

Until next time…

Mr K

Do What You Love interview – Jennifer Lee

Written by

Do What You Love interview - Jennifer Lee thebiginterview

Today I am thrilled to share this interview with Jennifer Lee, author of The Right Brain Business Plan, and a successful businesswoman in her own right who has helped hundreds of creative entrepreneurs grow their businesses through her coaching, mentoring and other programmes. I first met Jennifer at the Squam retreat back in 2011, and always love talking to her. She brings a really fresh, and very real view to any conversation, and has brilliantly translated everything she learned from more than a decade in corporate America, to help ‘solopreneurs’ find their way. This special video edition of the Do What You Love interview focuses on change within business and within the lives of people who run businesses. I hope you find it as interesting as I did! – Beth

Just click below to watch (15 minutes). If you cannot view the video below, please click on this link to view it on Vimeo.com.

If you cannot view the video above please click on this link to view it on Vimeo.com.

Which part of this interview resonated most with you? What was helpful? We’d love to know – please share in the comments below.

And don’t miss out on our amazing giveaway with Jenn – see below. (PLEASE NOTE THIS GIVEAWAY HAS NOW CLOSED)

GIVEAWAY!

THE PRIZE: The Right-Brain Entrepreneur Mentorship Program, which starts on June 10th, is an intensive 8-month programme led by The Right-Brain Business Plan bestselling author Jennifer Lee. You have a chance to win a seat at the Cohort Circle level (valued at $997) where you’ll learn how to develop new moola making methods, package your gifts and craft your offers, build your list so you can authentically attract and connect with your right peeps, create a successful plan to launch your offers, and more through right-brain interactive video chats, group coaching calls, and a private Facebook group. Any questions? Check out the programme’s FAQ here (includes dates for calls).

 

Do What You Love interview - Jennifer Lee rbbp mentorship program plus yellow banner

 

Thought for the Week (15)

Written by

Thought of the week

It may seem very obvious, right?  But how many of us can honestly say that where we are heading is where we hope to end up?

When was the last time you really thought about the path you find yourself on and where is it going to take you?

And is it time to change that path?

IF YOU WANT THINGS TO CHANGE, YOU HAVE TO TAKE ACTION. GET READY TO L.E.A.P.!

 

L.E.A.P

Do What You Love interview: Paul Kempton (aka Mr K!)

Written by

Do What You Love interview: Paul Kempton (aka Mr K!) thebiginterview13

Today I am thrilled to share an interview with someone who is incredibly special to me… my husband! Paul (or Mr K as he will be known on this blog!) has just taken a massive leap of faith, quitting his stable, sensible career in civil engineering to come and work with me at Do What You Love! He will be writing a regular column here on DWYL giving ‘the guy’s view’, but first I wanted you to get to know a little more about him…

Paul describes himself as “a newly married man in his mid thirties who, after years of coasting and watching life pass him by, has finally woken up!“

Paul Kempton

1. How are you leading a life ‘doing what you love’?

An interesting question! Ask me again in a year, as I am only in my first month on the job at Do What You Love! However what I am sure of is that is that after quitting my career of 12 years I have now given myself an opportunity to do what I love. I certainly feel as if I am on the right path to find fulfillment, pride and happiness in my work. At this moment in time I am fully focused and enjoying helping secure the future for my family.

2. What did you do before this?

I spent my childhood growing up all over the world, as my father worked overseas. I went to 12 different schools in Hong Kong, Iraq, Trinidad & Tobago, the Seychelles and beyond, before coming back to the UK for my GCSEs. Having spent so many years away, I then studied Civil Engineering and Construction Management at Leeds University and settled in Leeds where I have been ever since. I have spent the past 12 years building a career as a Civil Engineer.

3. What was you a-ha moment that pushed you to change your passion in life?

I don’t think there has been a particular a-ha or eureka moment, but there have been a couple of key episodes in my life which have subsequently prompted big decisions.

The first episode was when Beth (Founder of Do What You Love) walked into my life six years ago. Up to that point I had been cruising around in second gear, just doing enough. Watching and supporting Beth’s career changes, particularly the creation and building of Do What You Love, provided me with a reminder about what life should be about.

The second episode was when Beth and I took a sabbatical and lived in Kyoto (Japan) for six months last year. This ‘time out’ allowed me to readdress who I was and what I wanted. 

Paul drinking tea in Japan

Taking tea in a Japanese garden in Kyoto during my sabbatical there

4. How did you make it happen?

Once I had made my decision I took a deep breath and discussed the situation with Beth. The decision was obviously going to affect both of us. The support I received was nothing but positive and I will never underestimate the importance of this. We (this is important) decided and agreed on an escape plan.

Interestingly I still found it hugely difficult to hand in my notice. I am not sure whether it was male pride, stubbornness or fear of the unknown, but the thought of starting something completely new in my mid 30s was proving difficult to compute. I was considering giving up a good career and relatively secure income in a recession, just before I was due to get married! In the end I asked myself the question “Do I love or even like what I am currently doing?” The answer was a resounding “no”. The next day I informed my Director. A few months on I now know that without a shadow of a doubt it was the one of the best decisions I have ever made.

5. What has been your biggest challenge and how did you overcome it?

I actually think my biggest challenge has been changing my career. Many close family and friends were not convinced that it was either sensible or correct. Maybe it wasn’t a sensible decision but every part of it felt so right. Interestingly, lots of my old colleagues reacted to my news of quitting with “Wow, I am so jealous!”

How did I overcome it? Knowing I had Beth’s unwavering support and blessing was huge. I was also pleasantly surprised to have complete support from my dad. I have to stress that my parents have been very supportive in everything I have done, but my dad is a Civil Engineer himself, and it is a career that he dearly loves. So to give it all up to pursue something I wasn’t 100% clear on certainly had an element of risk, and I wasn’t expecting him to be so behind me on my decision. Whose parents would not be concerned?

Since then I have taken everything step by step and I can honestly say that life seems extremely exciting again.

6. What is the best advice you have received?

Treat other people, as you would like to be treated yourself.  (my Dad).

Paul & Beth on honeymoon, Tuscany

With my new wife (Beth, founder of Do What You Love) on our recent honeymoon in Tuscany

7. What keeps you awake at night?

Hoping that I can be a good husband and hopefully one day a good father.

8. And what gets you up in the morning?

To see what the day has in store for us and what exciting plans/decisions we will make.

9. What is next for you?  

I have a few goals which I would like to pursue but I guess what I can say it feels like I have an exciting and full life ahead and I cannot wait to see how it unfolds.

Do What You Love interview: Paul Kempton (aka Mr K!) IMG 4224

 Stay tuned for Mr K’s brand new weekly column, Life According to Mr K, coming soon to Do What You Love!

Click here for more interviews with inspiring people doing what they love.

Celebrating women

Written by

Celebrating women DWYL BLOG SHIFT 650X250PX LR

As I am sure you know, today is International Women’s Day, a day to celebrate what women bring to the world, and highlight the challenges faced by women in all walks of life.

When I worked at UNICEF this was a day to bring attention to the important role of women in society, and to highlight the fact that women all over the world are still abused, denied education and other human rights, and held back from their true potential.

Young girls Beth met on a UNICEF field visit to Azerbaijan back in 2007

Young girls I met on a UNICEF field visit to Azerbaijan back in 2007. By now they may be mothers themselves, or have left school to work. I wonder what their lives are like these days?

 

It is often said in the developing world that “If you educate a man you educate a man. If you educate a woman, you educate a family.” I love men, but women definitely do have a very special way to form bonds with others, nurture those around them and to tap into their intuition and use it as a tool for good. At UNICEF, and in many other organisations and communities all over the world, women are helping women build (or rebuild) lives, families and societies. And that is something to celebrate.

Today I also want to take a moment to celebrate YOU – each one of you…

… who plays so many roles in so many people’s lives

… who loves and nutures those around you

…who offers a shoulder to cry on, or a warm hug just when it is needed

…who encourages others to dream by chasing your own dreams

…who digs deep and shows courage, bravely carving new paths

…who recognises that IT IS UP TO EACH OF US

…who shows your daughters, granddaughters, mothers, sisters, friends that it is OK to create the life you want

…who chooses, every day, how to be in this world, with kindness, laughter and light

Why not reach out to a special woman in your life and tell her what she means to you today?