do what you love Page 30 of 81

My friend Jennifer Lee is hosting her 4th annual Right Brainers in Business Video Summit. This is a fantastic free event, packed with interviews with brilliant people, including our very own collaborator Lilla Rogers, one of the top art agents in the world. Lilla is one of the wisest women I have had the pleasure of working with, and she tells it how it is. Her interview goes live tomorrow (Tuesday) but the summit starts today.

Book your free place here for the summit and get some useful insight and advice to carve out your own path to sustainable success.

Sometimes life gets so hectic you hardly have time to think, let alone dream and plan the road towards doing what you love. We have had a crazy few months at DWYL HQ, so we are dedicating April to quiet, reflective time.

As we search for meaning in our busy lives it can be hard to tune out the noise and listen to what we really want to offer the world. You are invited to join us for ‘Zen for Ten’ – a simple ten day programme to help you slow down, tune in and light up.

This is based on our popular resource ‘Zen and the art of doing what you love’ and it is free to participate.

It will help you be more present, get quiet and focus.

It will help you see more beauty.

It will let you travel lighter.

And it will get you on the road to doing what you love, for life.

Just enter your details here and you will receive daily emails for ten days starting today, with beautiful imagery, short exercises and inspiring prompts.

We cannot wait to breathe more deeply, live more slowly and appreciate life more during this special ten days. See you there.

I can hardly believe a year has flown since I turned up at a tiny little chapel in Honiton, Devon, in a vintage VW Beetle, to marry the love of my life.

We have documented much of our first year together here on the blog, but there are so many tiny moments of laughter, care and thought that make me feel incredibly lucky to be married to Mr K, and to now have this very special bundle in our lives. Full hearts here.

[all images: navyblur]

 Need a break from your hectic life? Join ‘Zen for Ten’

Sometimes life gets so hectic we hardly have time to think, let alone dream and plan the road towards doing what you love. We have had a crazy few months at DWYL HQ, so we are dedicating April to quiet, reflective time.

As we search for meaning in our busy lives it can be hard to tune out the noise and listen to what we really want to offer the world. You are invited to join us for ‘Zen for Ten’ – a simple ten day programme to help you slow down, tune in and light up. This is based on our free resource ‘Zen and the art of doing what you love’ and it is free to participate. It will help you be more present, get quiet and focus. It will help you see more beauty. It will let you travel lighter. And it will get you on the road to doing what you love, for life.

Just enter your details here and you will receive daily emails for ten days starting on Monday 7 April 2014, with beautiful imagery, short exercises and inspiring prompts.

We cannot wait to breathe more deeply, live more slowly and appreciate life more during this special ten days. See you there.

 

Two years ago Mr K and I stumbled blurry eyed off the shinkansen (bullet train) in Kyoto, Japan, at the beginning of our six month sabbatical in Japan’s ancient capital. I will never forget the moment we walked through the door of our apartment, which was smaller than the kitchen we had left behind in England, dumped our rucksacks on the floor and looked at each other – we had done it! We had put a three storey house in storage, put the brakes on a few projects and taken this time for ourselves. Mr K then promptly fell asleep for the rest of the day, while I headed out to discover the delights of the local supermarket, filling our tiny fridge with unrecognisable vegetables, defamiliarising myself with the Kyoto dialect and trying not to skip along with an inane grin on my face.

That six months was a huge turning point for us. Apart from getting engaged on my birthday in a beautiful Japanese garden, it was the catalyst for Mr K to quit his 12 year career in engineering to come and work for Do What You Love, and it was a major factor in helping us get clearer on what we really wanted the business to become.

Now, two years on, having got married, had a baby and expanded the business somewhat, with an especially crazy March, it’s time for another mini break.

We aren’t taking a six month sabbatical this time, but we are dedicating the whole of April to calm, quiet reflection, taking it easy on the work front, and committing ourselves to getting out in the sunshine, in the woods, by the sea, getting healthier, and enjoying the moment even more.

Do you want to join us? Starting on Monday we are doing ‘Zen for Ten‘, a ten day mini chill, and you are invited!

Sometimes life gets so hectic we hardly have time to think, let alone dream and plan the road towards doing what you love. As we search for meaning in our busy lives it can be hard to tune out the noise and listen to what we really want to offer the world. You are invited to join us for ‘Zen for Ten’ – a simple ten day programme to help you slow down, tune in and light up. This is based on our free resource ‘Zen and the art of doing what you love’ (which I wrote whilst on that sabbatical in Japan) and it is free to participate. It will help you be more present, get quiet and focus. It will help you see more beauty. It will let you travel lighter. And it will get you on the road to doing what you love, for life.

Just enter your details here and you will receive daily emails for ten days starting on Monday 7 April 2014, with beautiful imagery, short exercises and inspiring prompts.

We cannot wait to breathe more deeply, live more slowly and appreciate life more during this special ten days. See you there.

 

Sometimes life gets so hectic we hardly have time to think, let alone dream and plan the road towards doing what you love. We have had a crazy few months at DWYL HQ, so we are dedicating April to quiet, reflective time.

As we search for meaning in our busy lives it can be hard to tune out the noise and listen to what we really want to offer the world. You are invited to join us for ‘Zen for Ten’ – a simple ten day programme to help you slow down, tune in and light up. This is based on our free resource ‘Zen and the art of doing what you love’ and it is free to participate. It will help you be more present, get quiet and focus. It will help you see more beauty. It will let you travel lighter. And it will get you on the road to doing what you love, for life.

Just enter your details here and you will receive daily emails for ten days starting on Monday 7 April 2014, with beautiful imagery, short exercises and inspiring prompts.

We cannot wait to breathe more deeply, live more slowly and appreciate life more during this special ten days. See you there.

Mr K and I have just had some really fun photos done by the lovely folks at navyblur for the About section of our website, and thought we’d share them with you, along with a bit of insight into who is behind Do What You Love, for those of you who are new around here!

Do What You Love is a young, dynamic company which delivers innovative online courses to thousands of people all across the world, providing them tools, advice and inspiration to do what they love, for life.

BETH KEMPTON (Founder)

 

Image: navyblur

Beth Kempton is a wanderer, an adventurer and a seeker of beauty.

Her life story is a catalogue of wild and crazy experiences which she wouldn’t believe if she hadn’t been there herself — like earning a Masters degree in Japanese, hosting her own TV show, working with UN agencies, global brands and NGOs in Africa, Asia, South America and the Middle East, launching her own boutique consultancy devoted to social responsibility, and raising over $10 million for charity.

Beth believes that ‘waiting for the weekend’ is no way to live your life — or design your career. And she’s living proof that there’s another option — one where the way that you feel about your work is just as important as the salary you take home.

Not long ago, she was selected by Marie Claire magazine as one of the UK’s 16 most exciting young female entrepreneurs, and was recently selected as a finalist for the Digital Entrepreneur of the Year Awards in the Education Entrepreneur category in recognition of the company’s outstanding online courses.

Beth has a slight obsession with washi tape and beautiful paper, and harbours a secret dream to launch her own stationery line. She’s usually holding a cup of milky tea in one hand and a nibble of chocolate in the other. She’s also a wife. And brand-new mother.

The most important thing you need to know about Beth?

She’s very, very good at doing what she loves.

And more than anything else in the world, she wants to help you figure out what you love, commit to that love, and make it your life.

PS Beth Kempton used to be Beth Nicholls, before she got married. Just in case you’re Googling her new name and coming up empty-handed!

PAUL KEMPTON 

image: navyblur 

Paul Kempton is a sport-lover, a storyteller, a new father and Do What You Love‘s most recent recruit.

After spending 12 years working in civil engineering + construction, Paul realised that the path he was on was no longer a path that he loved.

Leaving behind his “stable job” to join his wife’s company wasn’t an easy decision, but he knows it was absolutely the right one.

These days, Paul runs the back-end operations here at Do What You Love — keeping the inboxes clear, keeping the website up + running, and keeping all our e-courses + projects ticking along smoothly.

When he’s not scanning a computer screen, Paul gets to enjoy his offline passions: making up stories for his baby daughter, Sienna May, ducking out for a midday run, or sketching out new architectural designs — he’s currently working on a “fantasy home” for his family and a Do What You Love retreat centre.

Paul’s idea of a “perfect day” would be “dreaming up new plans + figuring out how to make them come true.”

He hopes that Do What You Love gives YOU the tools, inspiration + courage to create thousands of your own “perfect days,” too.

He documents his journey and decision making process in our regular Tuesday blog column ‘Life from the perspective of Mr K – a guy’s view on doing what you love’.

“I really believe the world would be a better place if more of us were doing what we love. I hope the work we do here at “Do What You Love ” will help inspire you to make changes to fulfil your dreams. I am sure a little bit of courage will be required along the way but we are here to help and with a growing movement forming worldwide you will find the support you need, even if it is in the most unlikely of places.”

Read about the rest of the team here

On my happy list today – daffodils sent in the post(!) from a lovely friend in Cornwall,welcoming the Spring

Can you believe we are in April already? Where is the year going? Here is Brighton, UK, the sun is shining and it feels like Spring is just around the corner. After a mammoth month of work, we are slowing down in April and I will be sure to take more time to notice all the good things in my life (there are many, and I am grateful).

Each month we share a free downloadable ‘Happy List’ as a place for you to capture the things – small and big – that have made you happy and inspired you each day. Get yours here.

Wishing you a very happy April

Beth

Hi. I feel like it has been an eternity since I last wrote a blog post. It certainly does feel like a lifetime ago, a different chapter of my life anyway.

The past couple of months have seen Beth and I slowly find our feet as parents. The fact that we have been trying to run a business from home has been completely lost on our daughter, who has now even taken the role as sleeping partner and boss.

Sienna, who entered this world with nothing, in the broadest sense of the word, is certainly growing and learning at a much greater pace than we are. I am dumbfounded at the speed of her development. Those big blue eyes are certainly processing a lot of information every moment, never mind melting her Dad’s heart.

The relentless nature of being a parent is an experience that can only be experienced to be appreciated. The dependency that your child has on you can be a little overwhelming but is also truly inspiring.

Our baby is not concerned about the politics, economics or the religions of this world. She is not concerned about money, deadlines or shopping. All she asks is that I look back into her eyes and let her know I am there and that she is OK, and that I make her laugh.

I took a very conscious decision to design my life in such a way that I could spend every day with her. This decision required considerable change and upheaval, but has been vindicated every moment that she smiles or discovers something new.

However, I didn’t realise just how little time I would have for myself, and how little my wife and I would have together. This was highlighted when a good friend of mine signed me up for a CTS half marathon trail run recently. The prospect of running further than I had ever done before over rough terrain didn’t worry me too much. I was more concerned about not having enough time to sleep, never mind train.

In perfect DWYL fashion I sat down and decided I needed to find a solution to this ‘lack of time’. What I discovered was there were solutions staring me in the face and I would only have to make very small changes, although they would be solutions that would test my character and commitment.

Firstly I decided to make the most of the time between 6.00-7:30 am when both wife and daughter would be sleeping and/or feeding. I now wake up at 05:55 and do all my exercise for the day. Yes it is early and yes I don’t always feel like doing it at that time, but that is my best and only real opportunity so I have taken it. Running down by the sea during sunrise is something I would highly recommend. Not only does it blow away the cobwebs, but knowing you have done your exercise for the day is comforting and eliminates any frustration later on when the day takes an unplanned twist (which happens a lot with a child).

Without my friend applying a little bit of pressure on me to participate in the event I am not sure I would have initially had the motivation to train. I also know if I am not finding time to exercise I am not happy in myself. The message is clear. You will never have a perfect time to do anything. If you want to do it find a way to make it happen. Then……

’Just Do It!’

This is true whether you are changing career, wanting to try a new sport or activity, learn a new skill or even meeting new friends. You are the only person preventing yourself moving forward.

We completed the half marathon last weekend and I enjoyed every moment. I felt like I was doing something for me. I was introduced to an event and a sport which I thoroughly enjoyed and will definitely do again.

When we become parents we step into a whole new adventure, but I feel it is important that we don’t stop being the people we were beforehand. I want Sienna to get to know me as her Dad – a man with a full life, not a pale shadow of the man who used to do things!

Until next time,

Here in the UK it is Mother’s Day, and today was my first experience of Mother’s Day as a mother. Mr K and Sienna took me down to the beach for breakfast, gave me a lovely present and then we went for a long walk. Sienna was all smiles (even in her dreams when she fell asleep) and I think I love her even more than yesterday. I feel like the luckiest person ever to share my life with them.

And a huge thank you to my Mum, who is a superstar. I’m not sure how we would have coped without her help with Sienna, and having my own baby has made me realise what a fantastic job she (and my Dad) did with us when we were young.

Happy Mother’s Day to all mamas out there – you are doing the most important job in the world.