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Are we afraid to ‘do what we love’?

Posted on 2016-03-23 at 8:55 am.

There are two things that really stick out for me in people’s responses when I tell them that our company is called Do What You Love and then subsequently explain what we do.

Firstly, “Wow, that sounds cool… I need that” and secondly, only seconds later (often within the same breath) in complete contrast “But then, not many of us can… we all have jobs to do don’t we?”

I continually wonder why we, as human beings, are so quick to shy away from our dreams, shut down our options and turn away from opportunities. Usually I come to the conclusion that our feelings must be based in fear. I know this has been, and still is, true for myself. Growing up I was often scared to push myself and commit to things. The reason? Because I was afraid that my best would fall short; way short of my own expectations.

We are all unique and built in different ways, each with vastly different personality traits – so why does this ‘fear’ affect so many of us? Where does it come from? Society? Media? Family and friends? Ourselves?

Well if the ‘fear’ is significant enough to prevent you from doing what you love, then it needs dealing with. But how? The recipe for freeing yourself from the ‘fear’ is pretty straightforward in principle, but putting it into practice is another thing altogether. Women seem to be talking about their fears, and how they deal with them, more and more these days, but I still don’t hear us guys talking about it anywhere near as much as we really need to (not one of our strengths I know).

Here are a few simple tips that have worked for me, together with some FREE resources that will hopefully help inspire and motivate you to move forward towards realising some of your dreams:

Slow down and make time: if you’re always rushing from one thing to the next, trying to get through your neverending to-do list and outwardly multitask with confidence, whilst inside wondering when the spinning plates are going to come crashing down, maybe you need to pause, reflect and re-prioritise .

FREE resources – Zen for Ten and Making Time will encourage you to get back to basics, enjoy the simple things and think about what really matters to you.

Immerse yourself in the world you are interested in, and find, a community of like-minded people there. Their positivity and energy will boost you up and make you realise what is possible. You may also be amazed what you can accomplish when you are not surrounded by the naysayers.

FREE resources – Alchemy and L.E.A.P – two fantastic resources that will help show you what is possible when you change your mindset.

Plan! My God, if I didn’t plan my days I am not sure I would make it past breakfast, especially with two small daughters keeping me on my toes. Planning in time every day to do something – however small – in the direction of your dream, adds up to big strides over time. Trying to visualise every step can be daunting, but breaking it into smaller manageable steps allows us to find direction, movement and most importantly momentum.

FREE resource – New Year’s Revolution – a practical toolkit to help you spend more time doing what you love.

Let’s just consider those two very different responses I mentioned at the beginning of this post for a second…

“Wow, that sounds cool…I need that”

Yes it is cool to do what you love. For me, to have found something as rewarding as being able to help people improve their lives has been one of the highlights of the past five years. Life is short. How can doing what you don’t love be a better, happier choice than doing what you do love?And yet, this doesn’t mean it is an easier life. I can honestly say I have never worked so hard. But I certainly don’t mind, as the motivation behind my actions is in line with what I believe.

There is also a misconception that you should be ‘doing what you love’ at work. Not necessarily. If you have a job you love then great, but you might have a job that provides for you and your family and allows you time to follow your passions. It really is an equation that has to fit you and you alone.

2.“But then, not many of us can… We all have jobs to do, don’t we?”

Yes, the truth is most of us do need to earn money to pay the bills, but there are thousands of ways to do that. In today’s connected world there are more opportunities than ever to have a flexible lifestyle, such as negotiating some remote working time, starting your own business, learning something new or sharing your expertise with the world by teaching online. And if none of those suit your particular situation, there are always ways to free up more time and prioritise even a small amount of money to do what you love outside work too.

Sounds like it’s [Tweet “time for a lifestyle spring clean.”] Are you in?

Until next time,
Mr K.

Reasons to be happy

Posted on 2016-03-21 at 9:27 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

Did you know yesterday was the International Day of Happiness? Where does your happiness come from? What are your sources of joy? Do you actively think about it, and prioritise those things in your life?

Hanging out with my girls. This makes me happy.

Here are a few treasures from around the web to explore and ponder this week (After all, being happy is the whole point of doing what you love):

If you find any other great resources on happiness around the web please share them with us via Facebook or Twitter!

Have a happy week

Beth

Adventures in the Rainbow Nation

Posted on 2016-03-15 at 8:55 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

This is a guest post from Claire Le Hur who is cycling to China with her fiancé Stuart Block. The couple will start their journey in East Africa where they will follow new ‘silk roads’ charting the journey of key natural resources as part of an exciting new education project. Claire will be riding a bamboo bike, built by an African social enterprise and Stuart will ride a tandem, keeping the back seat free for those they meet en route. They will also be raising money and awareness for two great educational charities. Find out more about Claire’s big adventure here.

We spent six weeks in South Africa, or the “rainbow” nation, as Reverend Desmond Tutu liked to call it, and were amazed by its diversity and contrasts. It’s a place where wealthy cutting-edge cities stand next to primitive aborigines and wild animals, where natural beauty lies next to ugly scenes of human depravity, and where the kindest, most generous people live side-by-side with gun-brandishing criminals. Sadly modern South Africa is still carrying the legacy, and the scars, of more than 300 years of oppression and segregation and while some credit must go to the post-apartheid governments for improving roads, electricity, education, and housing, the country still faces huge political, social and economic challenges.

We crossed the border to South Africa at Beitbridge, the busiest border post in Africa, where we waited three hours in the midday sun. It was tough, but people were saying that it can take all day to get across, so in that respect we were lucky. Once over we headed straight to Johannesburg where we had a few days exploring the city and enjoyed a much-needed break from pedalling!

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Life really can be the greatest adventure you’ve ever dreamed of

Posted on 2016-03-09 at 8:25 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

As Eleanor Roosevelt once said: “The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.” In other words, when we live curiously and courageously, and embrace every new opportunity with an open mind and a loving heart, we allow ourselves to learn, grow and be the best we can be.

If that isn’t motivation enough to be more adventurous, check out this inspiring video from adventure.com:

Huge news! On becoming a Hay House author (somebody pinch me!)

Posted on 2016-03-03 at 10:07 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

Some days are really big days, and I just had one of them. It was the day I signed a deal with Hay House, for them to publish my first book! It is a book about freedom, written for anyone who feels trapped, stuck, hemmed in—not in control of their own time, money, or destiny. It is for people who are afraid that life is passing them by, but feel powerless to do anything about it. It is a timely self-empowerment manifesto: an inspiring and practical manual that will enable people to recognise that freedom is a choice. I am busy writing it now and cannot wait for it to be released worldwide in Spring 2017!

Hang on a minute. Let’s just rewind. Did someone just say I’m going to be a Hay House author? Am I dreaming? It certainly feels that way right now, because this is not just something on my ‘Do Before I’m 40 Bucket List’, but something I have been dreaming of for many years.

In case you’re curious about how it came about, I’ll share the story here. I warn you, this is going to be a long post, because I want to share all the pieces of how this particular dream has unfolded. So get yourself a nice cup of tea and we’ll begin… (Note: I would love for you to help me bring this book to life. Right at the end of this post there’s some info on how to get involved!)

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It’s here! ‘Reach. Teach. Profit. The E-course Creation Masterclass has launched!

Posted on 2016-02-29 at 10:53 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

It’s here! After many, many months of work putting our new course together, I am thrilled to announce that ‘Reach Teach Profit The E-course Creation Masterclass’ is open for registration.

Teach anything from anywhere, generate money 24/7 and build a legacy through teaching online to a global audience

This is a digital toolkit for making an e-course that sells and sells. It’s like having me as your virtual producer, and tapping into everything I have learned from creating, producing and delivering millions of dollars’ worth of e-courses over the past half decade. Our courses include the portfolios of courses from ‘Make Art That Sells’, ‘The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design’ and ‘Do What You Love’ and they have reached thousands of students in 100+ countries across the world.

Our extensive knowledge and experience is all wrapped up in one complete package waiting for you here now.

Don’t waste another minute. Your online teaching journey begins here! Register now.

Beth

PS I’ll be available to answer any questions you have during a series of Mastermind Weeks held online throughout the year. The first will take place in the week commencing March 28, so get started now and be ready with your questions!

You asked. We answered. Our responses to your burning Qs about teaching online…

Posted on 2016-02-23 at 12:08 pm.

Written by Beth Kempton

Thank you to everyone who completed our recent survey about what is stopping you teaching online. As the responses flooded in we were struck by how many of you see this as an exciting opportunity but have been held back by very similar obstacles. I thought I’d take a moment to tackle your questions, in the form of dealing with the top three major stumbling blocks standing in your way today.

(1) I don’t know how to turn my idea into a series of lessons. It’s just a jumble in my head.

Firstly you need to understand your idea as what I call a ‘Promise of Change’. How will your course transform the life/situation/knowledge/expertise/behaviour of your reader? Then you need to understand how you are going to bring about that change through a curriculum.

Your curriculum forms the bones of your course. It’s the skeleton that everything hangs off. It is the way you ensure your learners progress as the course goes on, and get the outcomes you want by the end. It is also your single most helpful tool for organising your ideas into manageable content chunks.

Demonstrating the Easy-as-pie Curriculum Builder in Reach Teach Profit (Yes, with all the technology available today, I still opt for good old sticky notes when planning a new curriculum!)

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Zimbabwe – is there hope for this wonderful country?

Posted on 2016-02-16 at 8:55 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

When Stu and I announced that we were going to spend a week cycling through Zimbabwe as part of the Beyond the bike challenge most people told us we were mad because it’s such a dangerous place. However of all the countries we’ve visited on our travels, I felt most safe here.

Zimbabwe has quite a history. It sunk to rock bottom a few years ago and it’s still trying to claw its way back. Eight years ago Mugabe had encouraged the invasions of white-run farms, which is how the catastrophic collapse of the Zimbabwean economy started. We met families – white and black – who are suffering after being thrown off their farms and a man who stood against Mugabe’s Zanu-PF in the recent elections and lost and had his business fined $500,000 to the detriment of everything. Many say he was lucky to get off this lightly.

During our visit we also visited some gold mines in Matebeleland, infamous in the early 1980s for becoming the dumping ground for thousands dissident Matabele, murdered by Mugabe’s 5th Brigade. Corpses are still being uncovered today. The big question is what will happen when Mugabe dies – which may not be that far off. Sadly most people we met – relatively well-educated adults – had given up hope of any positive change happening in the near future. For many Zimbabweans, the situation is so bad that they have left the country.

From Livingstone we got a lift to Bulawayo, Zimbabwe’s second city, brimming with beautiful colonial architecture, including the Bulawayo Club where we stayed for our first night. Despite breaking our budget for the week, it was well worth it. Stepping back into the bygone era of Rhodesia was a surreal experience.

Lobby with grand staircase in the Bulawayo Club

It is still run as a gentleman’s club, and although ladies are now welcomed throughout, the dress code meant we were not allowed in the bar and could only have food and drinks outside. The staff were so kind and helpful and the wonderfully eccentric manager, Audrey, took very good care of us – especially when we had to barter to stay an extra night as Stu wasn’t feeling well. “OK my little cockroaches” she said, “I can do you a deal”.

Following this we were lucky enough to have a drink with the Zimbabwe’s ex-cricket captain, Heath Streak, and a tour of his academy which encourages more boys and girls to get into cricket, and sport in general. Local businesses support the academy and are often partnered with state schools to ensure that as many local children as possible have the chance to take advantage of Heath’s initiative.

Heath Streak

Then it was time to start cycling properly again and we decided rather than head down the tar we should take a little detour through the Matopos. Heath put us in touch with Terrence, a mountain biker who gave us a very scenic route to what he described as the most beautiful camping spot he’s ever seen. According to Terrence the road to the camp at Mtshabezi dam was “a good 50km” and although google maps showed it to be more like 90km we thought we’d give it a go anyway.

Experiencing harsh cycling conditions

Two of the hardest days of cycling followed – days that make me think we really do deserve all the generous sponsorship! The dirt road started with miles of washboard, which is extremely painful to cycle over, then we progressed to sand. There were many moments when we had to get off and push the bikes because the track got too steep to cycle up and down. Luckily the scenery was stunning and boasted all the strange rock formations the Matopos is famous for. When we arrived at the Dam, 20 minutes before dark, there was just time to put up the tent and have a quick swim.

Cycling to camp at Mtshabezi dam

The next day we tried to find the quickest way back to the tar road. Stu picked up Fred along the way, a displaced farm worker, who directed us to the main road from the back of our tandem, Thandie. We finally made the tar and then had a relatively easy 40km to meet our next host, Duncan, a vegetable farmer, whose hospitality was amazing. We also met Peter (Bobo) Gibbons, a real character, who lost his family farm and now runs a small gold mine. Bobo took us down his mine the next day, which was a real eye-opening experience although not one I’d like to repeat!

Our visit to Bobo’s mine

We then travelled to Mazunga, home to Blondie Leathem, famous for his anti-poaching work over the years, who manages the Bubye Valley Wildlife Conservancy, one the most successful parks in the country. Blondie was out trying to catch some rhino poachers but his wife, Katrina, gave us a really warm welcome.

Stu and Blondie riding Thandie

Later that afternoon we were lucky enough to go out for a drive in the park with Byron, a lion researcher, who had just finished his PhD at Oxford. As some of the lions are tagged it we were able to find them easily and even saw a newborn cub.

Watching lions

We caught up with Blondie later that evening who was frustrated that the poachers had got away. He said: “maybe they’d been warned about us, maybe they just lost their nerve, but at least they didn’t get anything”. After our time at Kafue (back in Zambia) it was very interesting to talk more about poaching and hunting… one of the strange paradoxes is that these conservancies need the hunters as they bring in all the money which keeps the animals alive and thriving. Without rich people who want to hunt this conservancy would not exist and so the hundreds of elephants, black rhinos and lions wouldn’t be protected.

Our final morning in Zimbabwe started wonderfully as we had breakfast with two baby black rhinos. Katrina looks after orphaned animals before releasing them back into the conservancy.
Feeding time for the baby rhinos

Zimbabwe is a beautiful country and home to so many lovely people – hard working, intelligent and friendly. It is tragic that this country is still the way it is. There is a shred of hope that things may get better but only if there are dramatic changes – and of course this will depend on how long Mugabe remains in power and what happens next…

Is there an e-course in you? A sneak peek into our new course ‘Reach. Teach. Profit. The E-Course Creation Masterclass’ (coming soon!)

Posted on 2016-02-01 at 5:41 pm.

Written by Beth Kempton

On set recording our new course, ‘Reach. Teach. Profit. The E-Course Creation Masterclass’ last week

Just a few days ago I got an email from someone who has taken five of our online courses, which made me proud and happy… and angry. It went like this:

“This is a slightly random email, I just wanted to contact you after recently signing up to take part in an online course for start up businesses. I have previously completed (five of your courses) so I felt like I knew what I was doing with ecourse studying. Anyway, after starting and not completing this ‘start-up’ course with another provider I felt like I just had to tell you how amazing your courses really are. You have set the bar extremely high. I can only say I was disappointed at the way I have found this other ecourse was set up and run. In retrospect it is because of how well you have developed your courses, the content, management and interaction with your online community is second to none. Keep up the good work, you are helping people reflect on their lives and grow in their personal and professional lives. I will always be incredibly grateful I found your website and took part in your courses.”

On one hand, these kind words make me proud of our team, and the effort we put in to make our online courses powerful and effective. But these words also make me mad. I get cross and frustrated when I see that there are so many people out there teaching online courses that don’t work, are poorly or hastily put together, or are created with the sole intention of making some fast money.

Apart from being unfair on their students, those teachers are being unfair on themselves. Because teaching online is a brilliant opportunity to build your authority and reputation, to reach a global audience, and to make a real impact in people’s lives, while creating a flexible worklife and potentially hugely lucrative income stream for yourself, IF you do it right. Teaching the right course in the right way makes all the difference.

Pretty much every week, someone approaches us to produce an e-course for them. Much as we love collaborating, we have some really exciting things on the horizon, so the answer these days is very often “Sorry, but no.” Pretty much every day we get questions about how to create online courses that sell, with people wanting to pick our brains about their latest idea. In an ideal world I’d love to sit down with each and every one of them and chat through their ideas. But the reality is, these days I work about 20-25 hours a week, so it’s just not possible.

Interviewing the hugely talented Craig McDougall of Broken Physics for tips on video content

However, I do have a burning desire to help more people get their ideas, knowledge and expertise out into the world by teaching online. WHY?

Because it is a brilliant way to do what you love
Because it allows you to inspire others to do what they love
Because it can generate significant income, allowing you to live a more flexible lifestyle and be master of your own time, so you can do more of what is important to you
Because every single one of us has something to offer and share, and the world needs more alternative learning opportunities outside of the formal systems

So what is a girl to do? My solution is to put everything I know about creating online courses (which, after over five years in the game, is a fair bit), and put it into a masterclass so you can do it too.

‘Reach. Teach. Profit. The E-Course Creation Masterclass’ will be released on February 29.

If you want to start teaching online, hop on the waiting list to get an early bird discount when it is released.

YOUR CHANCE TO WIN A FREE PLACE

While you are waiting for the course to be released, I’d love to know what has so far stopped you from teaching online. Or if you are already teaching online, what do you think is missing from your current offerings? Please take our very short survey HERE to help us make sure we cover EVERYTHING you need in this upcoming masterclass.

THE GIVEAWAY PRIZE: One person who responds to the survey by Friday 5 February will win a free place on the course when it is released at the end of the month*.

If you want to know why I’m in the kitchen whipping up a sponge cake, you’ll just have to join us to find out!

Teaching is an honour, and guiding people through personal growth, creative exploration and career development is an incredibly rewarding thing to do. I hope you will take the leap to share your gifts with the world this year, and allow us to hold your hand as you make the jump. Get yourself on that list now, and take the first step.

Beth

*Prize non-transferable, no cash alternative available.

Why reading is making me happy + download your own Happy List for FREE

Posted on 2016-01-29 at 8:55 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

This is a post by our Senior Editor, Rachel Kempton

One of the (many!) great things I’ve resolved to do in 2016 is to spend more time doing things that make me happy – like reading. I love reading and my shelves are overflowing with books that are all begging to be read. So I’ve set myself a challenge: to read a book a week, every week, for a year. As well as increasing my knowledge, giving my brain a good daily work out and opening my mind to new thoughts and ideas, I hope that priorising my passion for books will inspire me to work on improving all aspects of my life. What’s more by 31 December I’ll have read 52 books – what a great feeling that will be!

I’m only a few weeks in and I’m already reaping the benefits of burying my head in a good book for half an hour a day:

I look forward to that little bit of me-time I carve out for myself each day
It feels like a really productive use of my time – unlike watching TV or surfing online
It helps me to switch off
Reading before bed is helping me to sleep better
Finishing a book is satisfying and that feeling of finishing things is motivating me to develop a habit of completion – in all other areas of my life
Deciding what to read next is fun
It’s a great way to learn more about my hobbies, interests, and passions
Now I’m in the flow of reading, I’m excited about stepping out of my comfort zone and trying other genres/styles

I love this image about the benefits of reading by designer Raphael Lysander which includes some fascinating statistics on how reading can help with stress relief, mental skill development, and forming relationships, etc.

During January I was reading:

Finding Your Element by Ken Robinson: a great source of help, advice and motivation if you’re pushing through the daily grind, lack passion for what you do, or are wondering how you can start doing what you love.
Walking on Sunshine. 52 small steps to happiness by Rachel Kelly: inspired by Rachel’s own life experiences this little book is bursting with tips, tools and positive thoughts to help you better manage the pressures of everyday life.
The Artist’s Way for Parents: Raising Creative Children by Julia Cameron: this book is packed with practical advice and is a great reminder that by taking time (even little moments) to nurture our own creativity we cultivate joy in our own lives, which we can then share with, and model for, our children.
F**k It: The Ultimate Spiritual Way by John C. Parkin, who suggests that saying F**k It is the perfect Western expression of the Eastern spiritual concept of letting go, giving up, and finding real freedom by realising that things don’t matter so much (if at all).

What’s next? The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod, which promises that I’m “about to discover how I can create the most extraordinary life I’ve ever imagined… right now.” Watch this space!

This month I’m especially grateful for these fascinating books which have taught me so much, and to the inspiring authors who wrote them. I’m also grateful to my husband who’s doing the book challenge too – keeping us both motivated – and to my sister, Lisa, who, on hearing about my challenge, sent me dozens of pictures of her bookcase and suggested we swap some books. All these things are on my Happy List.

“Be grateful for what you have now. As you begin to think about all the things in your life you are grateful for, you will be amazed at the never ending thoughts that come back to you of more things to be grateful for. You have to make a start, and then the law of attraction will receive those grateful thoughts and give you more just like them.” ~ Rhonda Byrne, The Secret

What is on your Happy List this year?

If you want to take more notice of the things that make you happy in the months ahead, download our Happy List – it’s completely free, and it’s a simple interactive PDF which allows you to note one thing every day that you are grateful for. Thousands of people used it last year and really enjoyed noticing the small and big things, and having a record to look back on. You can get yours here.

Download a low res version of The Happy List here.

Download a high res version of The Happy List here.