ENTERPRISE + INITIATIVE Page 3 of 22

How to make it in the world of… online marketing

Posted on 2017-01-25 at 8:55 am.

Drive traffic with these five killer social media hacks

As entrepreneurs we can often feel like the deck is stacked against us when it comes to the digital world. We don’t have the same budgets as our massive competitors, nor do we have the army of marketers that they can employ. So how can a small, or medium-sized business, drive traffic to its website or blog and carve out its piece of the market?

According to Payman Taei, an avid technologist and the founder of Visme and HindSite, the answer lies with social media. Here he shares a whole host of straight-to-the-point, actionable social media tips for marketers and business owners. While some of these strategies won’t be a quick fix, you may be surprised how quickly many of them start to generate results…

Image credit: Wilfred Iven | StockSnap.io

We use social media all the time; on our way to work, in our downtime, even early mornings. Naturally, businesses can take advantage of this; having your own Facebook page or Twitter feed can increase interest in your company and boost user interaction but as with all things, it’s not that simple. With all the different pages out there, it can be quite difficult to make yours stand out. These easy-to-follow social media hacks can help you gain — and keep — new followers, as well as spreading word about your product around the web.

Consistent Updates

Having high-quality updates is obviously a priority for any business. However, if those updates are few and far between, people will likely lose interest in the product.

Updating often is obviously a great way to generate interest and make sure your name and product is remembered, but you can easily go further than that.

Having specific days or times that you post content can help drive traffic, as well as giving potential customers something to look forward to. If posts are always made on a certain day or at a certain time, then followers will get into the habit of checking your social media to see if anything new has appeared, creating a more dedicated base.

What days and times you chose depends on your audience. If your audience is mostly made of standard shift workers, then try updating in the afternoon on weekdays, when they’ll just be getting home and wanting to spend more time on social media. Want to appeal to teenagers and young adults? Try mornings on the weekends, where they won’t have classes and will have more time to look at their feed upon waking up.

Scheduling when to post doesn’t have to be particularly rigid, either, as you can post a few random updates between the normal to surprise and delight your watchers.

Take it one step further: Using missinglettr

Ian Anderson Gray — as shared by Lisa D. Jenkins — provides a helpful tip for those who have trouble finding the time to schedule posts. “I used to create a series of tweets for each of my articles and schedule them in a scheduling tool,” he states. “This took a huge amount of time and to be honest, I rarely managed to get around to it.”

With the help of missingletr, Gray’s work is significantly decreased, while he still gets the benefits of consistent Twitter posts. Missinglettr creates several posts based on the content in an article connected to it. You can use the application to your advantage by allowing it to make several posts for you while you focus on other aspects of your work.

2. Maximize Your Use of Visual Content

It’s no secret that visual content attracts a potential follower’s attention quicker than text. While scrolling on Facebook, which are you more likely to scroll back to: a block of words, or a vibrant image?

Mastering visual content on social media can greatly increase traffic to your page, especially since users are significantly more likely to share pictures or videos.

A great way to use visuals in social media is to take a picture. Jay Baer points out that the use of photographs as visuals has greatly increased, and it provides a wonderful opportunity to show your product in action. Images of people using your product in real-life can increase viewers’ interest in the item. You can also create your own graphic for social media using an online visual tool such as Visme.

Take it Further: Link to Your Site

Since one of the purposes of adding images is to generate traffic, it’d be remiss not to leave a link with the image—or, if possible, make the image itself into a link.

Donna Moritz, in an article by Cindy King, points out how useful visual content can be as a “gateway” to the rest of your business world. Let the visual content catch interest, and leave longer posts to the site they lead to.

3. Master Hashtags

Hashtags first started with Twitter, and have quickly become one of the best ways to locate a specific sort of information. Businesses can benefit from this across social media by using them to their fullest extent.

Jumping on popular subjects to tag is a great way to attract outside attention. All the same, Peg Fitzpatrick warns that having a variety of random hashtags isn’t advisable, even if those tags are trending. “Use a good hashtag to tie all of the pieces of your campaign together,” she informs readers.

Using hashtags strategically — by tagging relevant popular items without random extraneous bits — can not only attract attention, but keep it.

Take it Further: Make Your Own

Having a unique hashtag can distinguish you from others who might have a similar product. Your audience will quickly be able to identify your brand from your tag, and will be able to tag experiences related to your company in turn.

One of the best ways to go about this is to create a short, easy-to-remember tag that sticks in people’s minds long after they log off. Clever use of alliteration or wordplay are great ways to go about this.

5. Engage Your Followers

Actively encouraging your audience to participate can not only help generate traffic, but can also be a way to endear you audience to you.

Showcasing the work of fans or followers automatically makes them more invested in talking about your product. For example, you might want to share posts you see when someone talks positively about your product.

Promoting contests is a great way to go about this. Offering a reward means that more individuals will be talking about your product and generally vying to get the prize. At visme we created a socially engaging contest called “Visualize Me” which was a perfect example of social engagement driven by an incentive.

Of course, taking the time to personally respond to those subscribed to your page can increase engagement, as well.

Take it one step further: Offer Private Streams

Many individuals would like to have personal relationships with the companies that provide for them. Having private boards or groups where you can converse with your customers is one way to provide that relationship.

Many Patreon users have taken this into account. The site has different reward tiers based on how much a patron pledges users each month. In turn, the owner of the individual campaign can offer specific incentives, one of which can be private streams where patrons can watch them work, or Q&As only available for pledges.

Of course, you don’t have to use Patreon to provide the same feature. Martin Shervington talks about having private hangouts on Google+, where you can talk individually to those invited to join. If you’re a Pinterest user, you can also use group boards to your advantage.

You can even combine private conversations with contests. Whoever wins for the company will get a private audience with different members.

5. Make a Safe Space

If followers appreciate having their work and words shown off, then they’ll be equally appreciative of having a space where they don’t have to worry about being looked down on for their opinions. Keeping watch over your social media to make sure everyone’s getting along can not only foster trust and appreciation for your company, but also make others more likely to visit your page and be honest with you. With how aggressive parts of the internet can be, it can be an immense relief to find anywhere that’s decidedly not.

Speaking to individual on a personal basis — as mentioned above — and answering them politely and with general concern is one way to help users feel more welcome.

Another great way — for Facebook, at least — is to ban inflammatory words. Holly Homer describes how to do this: simply go to Page Settings, Page Moderation, and type in any words that could be used to insult or attack another user. Any comments with those words will be hidden, preventing arguments before they happen.

This can also work for provocative comments towards your product or service, as well, if you’re worried about the words blowing up into a full-blown fight.

Take it one step further: Hide the Trolls

Guy Kawasaki explains his trouble with trolls on his Facebook feed — deleting the comment simply resulted in the trolls commenting again to complain about it, while banning the user resulted in angry emails about being banned.

The solution to the problem was actually relatively simple: hide the comment.

When comments are hidden, the posting individual can still see their comment, but no other fans can. Kawasaki explains how this works to his favor; not only has he not received any more angry emails, but the comments, even though they’re hidden, actually help to boost his post, meaning the trolls actually end up helping.

While using the word ban hack (mentioned above) can help for specific words, it also helps to search through comments and check for any other sort of inflammatory remark.

You can take this ‘safe space’ even further by talking to the individual’s specifically and trying to allay any complaints or concerns, but simply moving the conversation to a more private medium. Of course, with spam comments, you’re probably better off just hiding the comment and leaving the conversation.

To Recap

There are many, many different tips and tricks you can use to help boost your social media success. Some of the best include:

Consistent Updates
Mastering Visual Content
Mastering Hashtags
Engaging Users
Making a Safe Space

Here’s a challenge: take these hacks (or others) and try and twist them into something unique. Then, post the results in our comments section, to let us (and others!) know how you’ve put these tricks into action.

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About Payman Taei
Payman is an avid technologist and the Founder of Visme, a Do It Yourself platform allowing everyone to easily create, manage professional presentations & infographics right in their browser. He’s also the Founder of HindSite Interactive an award winning web design and web development company.

‘Tis the season for a good book: what’s been your favourite read of 2016?

Posted on 2016-12-30 at 8:55 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

What better way to relax after all the excitement of Christmas than to light your wood burner, settle into a comfy armchair and get stuck into a good book. If you’re wondering what to read next, help is at hand! Here’s a round-up of the Do What You Love team’s favourite reads of 2016 – books that touched our hearts, made us think and inspired us on many different levels. Getting your read on never felt so good!

Image credit: Kelly Hoppen

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SHIFT: Manifest Your Dreams With Feng Shui

Posted on 2016-12-02 at 8:55 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

Do you feel tired, uninspired or overwhelmed? Have you lost direction in life or feel that you’re no longer in control of your own destiny? Is there something that you wish you could change – a relationship, your career, your financial situation, a health issue, or other issue? Do you have big dreams but have no idea how to make them a reality? Well you’re in the right place…

Today we speak to Feng Shui expert Salvatore Manzi who believes that by clearing away obstacles that weigh you down, and redesigning your space to align with your intentions, you will propel yourself towards your ideal life.

An author, speaker and teacher, Salvatore has been studying the way our environment impacts us for over 20 years. He has travelled the world living and working with teachers from the East, Native Tribes and spiritualist communities. His book, Feng Shui Life Mapping is a guide to turning your home in a 3D vision board, and his latest work, Desk for Success, is designed to help you energise your work area, get clear on your purpose and shift to a mindset that allows you achieve more with less effort.

“Feng Shui is the art and science of harmonising our personal energy with our environment,” Salvatore explains. “I view my space as a reflection of who I am, who I was when I bought certain items, choose colours, spent time with friends in my space, and as my space keeps reminding me of these stories I have about myself, my space essentially shows me who I am becoming. A seemingly plain lamp in my room, on some conscious or unconscious level, reminds me of my friend who gave it to me, and attached to that memory is my intention to have healthy, light-giving relationships. The lamp thus keeps my life on course to manifesting great relationships. If the light bulb goes out, or the lamp needs dusting, it’s an opportunity for me to revisit my intention.”

Here Salvatore shares more about how we can combine the powerful forces of Feng Shui an the Law of Attraction to take a new look at our world and redesign our reality.

Discovering Feng Shui completely changed my life. Feng Shui came into my life when I was at a real low point, I was in a job I hated, in an apartment that was a dump, and struggling through a relationship that was unhealthy at best. Someone gave me a book on Feng Shui. I tried out some of the things it suggested and my life turned around. My work relationships improved, my partner and I stopped fighting, and we moved into a beautiful new apartment, all within a few months.

My journey began in Paris. I was roaming the streets late one night when I stopped to see the full moon reflecting off the River Seine beneath the Notre Dame. Bearing witness to that beautiful reflection, I had an epiphany: I’d lived my life searching for beauty and perfection on the outside, and the world was really just reflecting what was on the inside. So began my inner journey, and it’s one I’m far from finishing!Over the last 20 years, I’ve studied with a Master Taoist and learned about energy systems, the flow of energy, and Feng Shui. I studied with a Native American Shaman, and learned about the plants and animals and the power of ritual, ceremony and intention. And for eight years I studied with a spiritual teacher who taught me unconditional love in personal relationships. At the moment I’m honoured to be studying with a Feng Shui Master from the East to learn more about Chinese mysticism. Feng Shui has become the foundation of my life’s work.

My current work is to energise people and their spaces. It is a culmination of my past 20 years experience and training. My days are extremely varied and in any given week, I’ll have a number of on-site consultations, both business and residences. I have follow up consultations via phone or on-site. The rest of my work time is filled in with my coaching practice.

My clients range from entrepreneurs who are expanding or launching businesses to new home owners to couples who are moving in together, to parents who want to ensure their child’s room is supporting him/her. Men often call me because they get complaints about their home/office space and want to know how to make others feel comfortable in it. Women often contact me because they feel stuck in a relationship cycle or they are desperate for a career change. Everyone wants to know how to increase the flow of abundance into their lives.

The most common issues that clients need help with are work, relationships and health. When these issues arise I always focus on the entrance to the home (career), the bedroom (relationships), and the kitchen (health). I tend to address issues like this, which can have a big impact on people’s lives:

Front door/entrance – be sure it’s free from clutter and debris, that the doorbell works and that the house name/number is visible.
Bedroom – nothing under the bed (stale energy), create as many natural “pairings” of things as possible (pictures, ornaments, pillows, etc. to symbolise your own balance and integration of your masculine and feminine nature), and no TV (unless it’s in a cabinet), desks or exercise equipment.
Kitchen – check the fridge and stove are clean and in good working condition (symbolises better health and wealth), and if you have your back to the rest of the kitchen when standing at the stove, install a reflective surface/mirror so you can see what’s going on.

To help create a success-enhancing space at home I also advise people to:

Create inspiration points: What is the first thing you see when you enter your home, room, or office? That “thing” is a visual cue to where your energy is going once you’re in there. Re-set the energy in the room by making something that inspires you the first thing you see.
Make space: Clear the clutter! Eliminate the excess! Anything that is unused, unfinished or unloved is dead weight on your path.
Wake up to something beautiful: let the first thing you see when you wake up be something that makes you feel grateful and hopeful.

‘What if my home or office is a mess?’ I hear you say… Everyone has a room in their home or space in their office that’s a big mess! Feng and Shui mean “wind” and “water” respectively and those are metaphors to help understand the natural flow of energy in a space. If there is too much resistance in the space (clutter), the flow is reduced. If there is too little resistance, the flow can be overwhelming. Balance is the goal. In other words, clutter slows down everything. If you feel stuck, or like things just aren’t working out the way you wanted, chances are you have some stuck energy in your psyche/emotion/mental world and it is being reflected by the clutter in your space. Reduce your excess physically, and the “weight” of those energetic blocks get lifted so you can make the changes you want.

The best way to begin is to START SMALL! Pick the smallest table top, the smallest drawer, the smallest cabinet and clear the clutter. The next day, do the next smallest, and so on. The energy begins as space is freed up and soon the momentum builds until you are ready to tackle what used to seem like the impossible clutter mountain in that room you try to ignore!

A principle of Feng Shui is that our lives are shaped by three things: Fate (things we can’t control like who are parents are); personal character (that which we can control and grow like our intellectually and self-awareness); and environment (the space which holds us and energetically and ideally supports us by reflecting the stories we have about ourselves, past, present and future).

When it comes to using Feng Shui to transform your life, the best advice is always to look at your environment and see how it reflects who you are right now, versus how you were and no longer want to be. Then, ask yourself what you can do to the space so that it reflects the you that you are becoming.

Set your intention by answering this powerfully clarifying question: “What do I value and want to have in my life?”
Create space by asking yourself: “What do I need to let go of in order to have that thing?”
Create a reflection by asking: “What feeling do I get when I think of having that thing?” Find something that captures that feeling for you and place it in your space as a focal point. It will act as a constant reminder of where your life is going.

A powerful technique for manifesting your dreams is to create a vision board. In 1992 I created a collage of images that inspired me. Immediately, things started shifting in my life that were inexplicably synched up to that collage, and the shifts continued unfolding for years. My accidental discovery of the art vision boarding sparked a thirst for just how it is that we can create and turn dreams into reality.

Creating a vision board on top of the Feng Shui bagua, the grid which depicts the nine life areas of life (below) act as visual reminders of what we want to be, do or have in our lives. They are powerful because they are visual representations of our intentions and can quickly align our mind with where we want to take our lives. That alignment may take a day, or 30 days or 6 months, but with our eye on where we are going, we cannot help but end up there!

Having taught, written, and practiced vision boarding over the decades, I’ve learned secrets that separate successful vision boards from those that are just pretty images. Everyone knows that having a goal is good. Writing a goal down, however, increases the chances of success exponentially. So imagine what having a visual representation of our goal that activates the visual cortex and reticular activating system portion of our brain can do! Shazam!

You can use the idea of a vision board to create a Feng Shui Life Map. This involves going around your living space or office to ensure what you have placed as your intention on your vision board is being reflected in every area of your space. Essentially, the aim of Feng Shui Life Mapping is to turn your entire home into a 3-D vision board, by placing, orienting and envisioning the various items in your home in such a way that they continuously remind you of your desires and intentions.

Layered vision boards takes intention to the next level. Imagine you’re having an off day and someone tells you to “cheer up”. Do you? Probably not! When it comes to vision boards, if you’ve make yours when you’re in a state of inspiration and hope, and make a point of looking at it when you’re feeling happy, it’s likely that your positive energy and momentum will accelerate the manifesting of your desires.

However if you made it when you were in a negative frame of mind or subconsciously you had a strong negative momentum going even if you were trying to be positive, you might react to it as if it were that annoying person telling you to “cheer up!” we you’re in no mood to hear it. And this can elicit a knee-jerk rejection to the very things you were trying to manifest.

Placing a neutral picture over the vision board guarantees that we look at our vision board from a neutral energetic state. From that place, if we’re in a good mood, we can peel back the picture and reveal the full expression of our Vision Board as we align with the positive momentum it brings. If not, we can just enjoy the neutral picture. It’s not necessary for everyone to cover their vision board with an image. If the board is in a place where there is a lot of stress (like an office), having the image to cover the board is helpful.

Life mapping can take us all closer to doing what we love. It can help us find greater fulfillment in the professional world by helping us get clear first on what it is that we wish to create in our life and in the world. From that clear place, it helps us set SMART goals to get there, and the big impact is that it teaches us how to use objects in our environment to help us remain focused on creating that reality.

Transforming our workspace or desk can help us do this too. Everything about my office is reflecting some aspect of my professional life. If I consciously create an intentional space that inspired and uplifts my energy, I will definitely launch my career to great heights! I’ve just created a self-guided, 4-week course called Desk for Success that will help anyone create an office that will launch their career.

Applying the principles of Feng Shui in the work place can can be hugely beneficial to entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurs have the benefit of complete control over their environment and from that place can curate a work environment that supports their mission, and their team. Whenever I want to “energise” a space or team, I turn to any number of tools that “add” energy to a space: lighting that is balanced and uplifting, aromas that spark creativity and joy, plants that give off positive ions/oxygen, moving objects such as water features or desk toys or mobiles that keep energy moving healthfully, and sounds that are pleasing such as water fountains or music or even chimes.

My big dream now is to create a conscious awareness of our space. The current trend of meditation and mindfulness leads naturally to such consciousness. As we build appreciation, we can create spaces that reflect the very best of who we are and flow effortlessly towards our collective highest good.

For more information about Salvatore, visit his website. You can also check out his desk for success course here and order a copy of his book: Feng Shui Life Mapping Master the Art of Designing your Future here.

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SHIFT: Manifest Your Dreams With Feng Shui DWYL FREEDOMSEEKER OUTNOW 2 650X300PX LR

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How to make it in the world of… travel writing

Posted on 2016-11-30 at 8:55 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

Today we speak to Laura Knight, a lady who has combined her three biggest loves – travel, motorbikes and writing – to make the world her office. Laura has been riding motorbikes for over 10 years, a passion which has opened her up to many life-changing experiences and inspired her to give something back to the travel industry. Here she shares her story and top tips for making it as travel writer…

A few months into a great job at a hedge fund, I decided to pack up my New York City life into a tiny orange R.E.I. backpack, sublet my cosy bedroom, and hit the road. I didn’t know where I was going or what I’d end up doing to stay fed and sheltered, but I knew that working a desk job just wasn’t for me.

Fast-forward three months and here I am: writing this from a vegan coffee shop near my new digs for the week – my travel friend’s apartment in Siem Reap, Cambodia.

Working from coffee shops around the world – that’s what’s in store for you as a travel writer. And, to be honest, the Wi-Fi in Cambodia is spot on!

So… how did I get here?

I love to travel. Meeting people from cool places, sampling new cuisines, and experiencing some of the most beautiful places in the world are all things that I want to do. Every. Single. Day.

As a motorcycle travel writer, I get to ride roads like this, then write about them. Then I get paid. Why would anyone want to work in an office again?! But the starting wasn’t all rainbows and butterflies…

Until I found myself in Bangalore, India, I hadn’t really given the money issue much thought. I have a brain and can string coherent sentences together, so I figured (all too nonchalantly) that I’d just be a freelance writer.

One slight problem – you need contracts if you want to get paid for writing freelance. And those contracts don’t just materialise the instant you decide you want to write for money. Only now, after working my butt off, I’m finally earning enough to support myself (albeit in Southeast Asia, which is an incredibly affordable place to live).

Here are a few things I wish I’d known before I launched my new writing career…

Starting out

There are two ways you can slice this pie. You can:

go full out sink-or-swim, quit your day-job and book a flight (like I did). The advantage here is that you are really putting yourself in a situation where you MUST succeed. No ifs, buts or maybes. No procrastinating. For those of you who are motivated by pressure like this, take the leap!
keep your job and slowly start to build out a portfolio of work and develop a few long-term clients that will sustain you once you finally get to the flight-booking stage.

Either way, you’re going to have to do step number two, it just depends on how much pressure you want to throw into the mix.

Plan… a bit

When I left the States, I had about $1,000 in my savings and checkings combined, as well as a credit line of about $4,000 left for emergencies only.

The money disappeared fast and looking back, I wish I’d concentrated on building up my client base and generating an income before making any big travel moves. I should have made time to actually sit down and look at the daily cost of living in the places I wanted to go, and then doubled it (or at least added on a few bucks) to come up with my daily budget.

If you are ever in a situation where you are running out of money, my advice is to be an adult about it and don’t bury your head in the sand. Find a cheap hostel (or better yet, someone to host you on their couch via CouchSurfing), then put on some tunes and rock out those job applications.

Decide on your niche

As a travel writer, you still need to come up with a more defined notion of who you are in terms of your voice and target audience. This is the topic you’ll be writing about day in and day out, and you’ll have to adjust your content to match.

I write about two things, both of which I have firsthand experience – motorcycle travel and cycling travel. The motorcycle travelling pieces are easy and fun, I just tell my cycling adventures in written form and throw in a few buzzwords and the writing is good to go.

Using your own travels as inspiration and getting paid for it is one of the coolest parts about travel writing!

But, at the end of the day, if you are travelling and writing, you need money to continue to travel and write about your travels. So, I also write some career consulting and resume advice columns. While not travel-related, these are my chance to maintain well-paid and consistent contracts which allow me to fund more travels and write more about the topic I love… travel!

Do some research and figure out what options exist for you

Look into websites like Upwork, Freelancer, Fiverr, and even Craigslist for job opportunities. I rely entirely on contract work through Upwork, and it’s enough to keep me going from Vietnam to Cambodia to Thailand, and beyond!

There will be highs and lows

Don’t get me wrong, there have been lows. My biggest was the day I realised I had only $15 cash left in my pocket and nowhere to stay. I had spent the week before lounging around on a beach hammock in Koh Rong, an island off the coast of Cambodia, blissfully unaware of the financial impact taking a week off work before developing a steady flow of writing jobs would have.

By the time I realised it, I had only enough (almost to the cent) for a night bus to Siem Reap, where old travel friends were willing to host me until I could earn enough to keep moving. Fortunately in this instance, good luck and timing were on my side but I won’t make this mistake again in a hurry.

At the same time, being a digital nomad can bring the highest of highs, especially when you aren’t expecting them. My biggest high came out of the blue one morning when I was scheduling my full day’s work as a “professional” person. I suddenly realized that I’d actually done it: I’d created a life where I could be self-sufficient, save a little, and travel around some incredible places. This was the moment I knew I’d done the right thing by taking a risk and quitting my life in NYC. My new life was totally worth it.

Don’t give up.

Yes, I know it’s the most clichéd advice anyone could give someone making a bold career move or a life change, but SERIOUSLY, do not give up. All too often I meet folks who tried their hand at freelancing and travelling only to not make it in the first few months, pack up their backpack, and return to their cubicle.

Working from the beach is so much nicer than being stuck in a cubicle all day. Stay focused and this could be your workplace, too

If that’s what truly makes you happy, by all means, work from cubicle to corner office. But if it isn’t, and for many of you reading this, it probably isn’t, stick tight to your dream.

Over the course of a couple weeks, when I was living entirely off my dwindling savings, I applied to 10 jobs per day. At certain points, I was sending out nearly 50 applications every two days only to hear back from two potential clients.

In my experience, Upwork is brilliant for allowing you to work when you want, where you want, and it offers any type of job you can think of. I enjoy writing about things that interest me, so I use it to apply for travel and career-related writing gigs.

My only advice is to do a bit of background research before sending out your first job proposal as a cover letter on Upwork is a little different to a full-on professional cover letter.

Beginning to land contracts on Upwork is interesting. My first day I landed a $35 contract writing a travel guide on an island in the Philippines that I had never been to.

It wasn’t until I started receiving more regular contracts, where I could be certain of additional work coming in after I turned in each article, that I started to really feel a bit of financial security and even excitement about the work! Instead of spending all day proposing to new jobs, I was able to just continue on, writing about topics I found interesting. But as I learned, you won’t get there overnight (or even in a few weeks). Patience, grasshoppers!

You’re your own boss now!

Don’t make excuses. The thing that nobody realises when they are getting into freelance, especially when you are transitioning from a 9-to-5 office environment, is that you are your own boss. You need to stay motivated, apply to jobs, meet your deadlines, and turn in high-quality work. Being the very best you can be is the key to gaining more contracts (especially the challenging ones that you’ll learn and grow most from!).

Dream on…

Whether this travelling, writing and wandering lasts or not, there have been a few things that I’ve learned about myself from diving right in to a new life as a freelance travel writer.

First and foremost, that balancing savings and spending (that’s getting to a point where I earn more than I spend) takes a huge amount of dedication, discipline, and willpower.
That you do have to plan ahead, be organised and work really hard.
Ultimately, that whatever I end up doing in the future, whether it’s continuing to travel the world, or settling down with a hoard of cats, I know that I have the brainpower and the chutzpah to make it.

Good luck fellow wanderlusters, may the Wi-Fi be speedy and the coffee be plentiful and locally ground, wherever in the world you are!

In addition to her work as a freelance writer, Laura has also created MotorManner.com, in which she shares the best information about motorcycling and travelling to help people get the most from their adventures. Visit her blog for useful motorcycle travelling gear reviews and helpful travel tips.

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Are you ready to make a big change in 2017? Are you curious to find out if digital nomadism is for you? Download Do What You Love’s free resource and unleash the remote worker in you!

3 things to do TODAY to make next year different

Posted on 2016-11-29 at 8:55 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

As we come to the end of the year, it’s only natural to reflect on what has gone before. Did 2016 turn out how you wanted? Did you get closer to your dreams? As the founder of a company called Do What You Love, I am often asked what is the single most important factor in doing what you love. And you know what? I think it’s commitment. Perhaps not the sexiest answer, but it’s the truth.

But what if I don’t know what I want to commit to? You might ask… I hear you. That’s a tough one, right? Well, actually, early on simply committing to stepping forward in the direction of your dreams, is as important as committing to one specific idea. Because those early steps are where the dreams are shaped.

So if your 2016 was frustrating, or depressing, or simply another year of not very much, seeing your friends have the things you want for yourself, then I invite you to join me in committing to making 2017 different. And here are three simple steps you can take to do that:

Commit to doing things differently
Download the (free) New Year’s Revolution toolkit here, and actually fill it in
Tell someone what you are planning. Choose them carefully, and then say it out loud

Are you with me?

Let’s do this!
Beth

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12 tips for escaping the career you don’t want into the one you do

Posted on 2016-11-15 at 8:55 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

This is a guest post by Ben Keene. You can find out more about Ben here.

At the Escape School this is the question we ask more than any other.

Here are a a dozen insights that have helped me over the years stick to work I want to be doing (almost) everyday. Let us know what else guides you.

1. Think in 3 Horizons — but only execute on 1st and 3rd.

Horizon 1: What are you doing now / this week / month to set you on the path you want to go on? Act. Do. Make something happen.

Horizon 2: What’s going to happen between now and the long-term? You don’t know. Things change. A lot. So, don’t waste time planning too much.

Horizon 3: Where do you want to be in 5 years? What values will underpin this lifestyle? Who will you be working with? Always keep this in mind.

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2. Write a letter to yourself from the future

It’s 2019. Write a letter to yourself saying what you’ve achieved over the last 5 years and how you’ve done it. This may sound stupid but it’s a great way to visualize where you want to go and what really matters. Exchange letters with a friend or mentor if it seems weird doing it by yourself.

Ben Keene - escape career 2 3. Less is More.

Simplify everything. This isn’t just about great UX. It can be about a lot of your life. This year I ‘pruned’ 15% of my life — clothes, kitchen cabinet tins, playlists, books, social network ‘friends’. This stuff works.

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4. Master the most important venn diagram in the world

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5. Write an Escape List and pin it on your wall (fridge. facebook. bathroom)

Make yourself accountable to a friend to do this.

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6. Don’t let being comfortable kill your ambition, because it will.

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7. Bin the CV. Build a Story.

I might be wrong but I think CVs won’t be around forever. What matters when I meet someone is whether they’re doing something they really want to be doing and have gone out and built the skills and experience necessary to do that thing better. There are SO many good web tools for sharing your story, there’s no excuse.

8. Do one thing exceptionally well rather than everything just well.

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9. Always try and escape the ‘vicious circle of badness’ @davecorn

These are excuses. Try not to use them.

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10. Use stimulants! Coffee for productivity. Beer for creativity. Water for life.

Ben Keene Escape

11. Read books that challenge you as well as blogs that distract you!

We agree with Zuck on this one. Sometimes you need to go deep to go far. That’s why we started Rebel Book Club.

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12. Above everything — surround yourself with people who are doing work they love.

Positive mindsets equal productive, happy lives. Simples.

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The cost of opportunity

Posted on 2016-11-08 at 12:53 pm.

Written by Beth Kempton

How are you experiencing the change of the seasons? Everyone seems to be going down with something – I hope you are staying well and enjoying the best that the seasonal shift has to offer.

Over here November has, as always, brought thoughts of clearing out the old and planning for the new. I spent most of Sunday setting up and running a stall at a nearly new baby stuff sale. It wasn’t quite what I expected.

Well the event itself was pretty much as I expected – lots of new parents and pregnant women jostling for bargains, and lots of other parents standing behind piles of clothes and toys.

But what I took away from the event was not what I expected at all. I expected to come away with a fair bit of cash, feeling good about passing on my children’s outgrown items to others, and inspired by all the mothers (and a few fathers) being enterprising with their Sunday afternoon. But actually I came away with about £50 (around $60) after expenses, and a niggling feeling that we too often misjudge (or don’t consider) the opportunity cost of the things we commit to, and I had done just that.

Let me rewind…

I love a good enterprise scheme. As a child I used to sell cakes out the front of my house to passing football supporters. One time I even dressed up as a little match girl, and walked around in Victorian costume selling matches to grown ups. So I was actually looking forward to having my own little shop at the baby fair. I did my research, and found out that people seemed to have the most success when small items when babygros etc were packaged up and labelled by size, and the stall had good signage. So, you guessed it, I spent few hours sorting all the bags of clothes in our attic, going through every drawer and cupboard in the house, followed by a couple of evenings surrounded by tiny clothes, sandwich bags, sticky labels and coloured pens.

Part of me loved doing this. But it was a slow process, because Mr K and I would keep holding up favourite cute outfits and reminisce about where our girls were, or what they were doing, when we last saw them wearing each one.

Then the day of the sale came, and I spent most of the day packing everything up, taking it to the sale, running the stall and then packing up again. My strategy worked – my ‘3 for 2’ on packaged items went like a dream and clothes were flying off my sale table.

I actually had one of the busiest stalls there, but even so, after expenses I only made a total of £50, not counting the cost of the table I bought to put the stuff on, my mum’s time ironing all the dresses, or fuel for my dad’s van to get us there. Not to mention the fact that by the time I got home I was absolutely shattered.

And guess what? While I was selling my wares, Mr K was in town with the girls and picked up a parking ticket. So actually, after about three days’ work, I had earned just about enough to pay for the coffee I’m drinking as I type this, and reflect on the real lesson.

The sale was not a good use of my time. In an attempt to pull back some of the ‘sunk cost‘ of money spent on all those baby clothes in times gone by, and to generate some ‘free money’ to go towards Christmas, what I actually did was knacker myself out and sacrifice precious family time.

It struck me how often we do this, especially when starting out with a creative venture. I think with most passions, there comes a point when we feel obliged to make some money out of it, in order to justify the time we are spending. And so we create a micro-venture, don’t really do the numbers, and end up investing a huge amount of time and energy into something that doesn’t really reap the reward we were expecting.

Of course, if it works, it’s wonderful, and this ‘trial’ micro-venture can become the seed of a valid long term business. But too often we deny the real ‘cost‘ of the ‘opportunity‘ at hand, and keep on pushing when actually we would be better of earning money elsewhere, and just relaxing into our passions without a concern for the financial return.

In my case, because the baby sale was outside of work and childcare and I did it mostly alone, it seemed to count as ‘me time’ when actually it felt very far from ‘me time’, and instead of being rejuvenating, was actually exhausting. I would have been better off spending an hour going through my bank account to find somewhere I could save £50, then spend a lovely weekend with my family, or doing something else I love, purely for fun. Please note: This is not me disapproving of second hand sales – if they work for you then go for it! Just be sure you are being honest about the real cost.

This week I challenge you to look at how you are spending your precious time and ask yourself whether you are being honest with yourself about the opportunity cost.

With each project, ask yourself what else you could be doing if you weren’t doing that. And map out the real time and money it is costing you, to see if that really is the best use of your resources. You might be surprised by the result!

When I did this, the decision was a no-brainer. All the leftover clothes went straight to charity and I’m planning to spend the whole of next weekend with my little family. What might you end up doing differently?

Have a good week!

Beth x

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Great escape: What’s going on?

Posted on 2016-11-07 at 8:55 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

With 2017 on horizon, now is the perfect time to invest in yourself. Whether it’s learning a new skill, developing yourself personally or professionally, tapping into your creativity, hiring a coach, or taking a break before the Christmas festivities start, making time for yourself is a powerful thing to do.

Nurturing yourself and your dreams sends a strong message into the world: I’m listening to the voice of my soul. I’m willing to give myself the time, energy, and space I need to develop and grow. I want to be the best possible version of myself.

When you say yes to exciting new opportunities, doors start to open as if by magic. Just try it and see!

Whether your inner voice is calling you to start that business, take up yoga, write a book, or do a digital detox, here’s our pick of the best upcoming festivals, retreats, and events across the globe to take you a step closer to your dreams.

A BIT ON THE SIDE: START A BUSINESS AND KEEP YOUR JOB

When: TONIGHT! November 7, 2016 @ 6.30pm – 9.30pm

Where: Frederick’s Place, London, UK

Cost: £60

Organiser: Escape The City

More info & to book: https://blog.escapethecity.org/event/a-bit-on-the-side-start-a-business-and-keep-your-job-3/

Are you sitting on a business idea but don’t have the time, money or resources to start it? Are you curious about the new world of startups and freelance careers? You’re not alone in wanting to branch out and create something on your own. This workshop will give you tools, tricks and inspiration from those that have set up businesses whilst remaining in employment. It’s ideal for: anyone who wants to learn what small steps can help them to explore their business idea alongside their day job; community lovers who want to build a network; advice hunters and doers who want practical tips to help them get started. You’ll hear from people that have done it – both those that have transitioned into their startup full-time, and those still in full-time employment but running a business on the side. Most excitingly – you’ll get started on your business, right in the room, surrounded and encouraged by your fellow attendees!

THE WRITER’S WORKSHOP 2016

When: November 19 – 20, 2016

Where: The Royal College of Surgeons of England, London, UK

Price: £279

Organiser: Hay House Publishing

More info & to book: https://www.hayhouse.co.uk/lectures-events/writers-workshop-london-2016

Are you a writer with a great book idea and a strong desire to be published? Do you just need the inside scoop on how to perfect and publish your book? Then this is the workshop for you! This is your chance to publish a book with Hay House UK and become a bestselling author – one participant will be awarded a publishing contract with Hay House and a £5,000 advance! Join this special two-day workshop with some of Hay House’s finest speakers and authors – many of whom have firsthand knowledge of creating and writing bestselling books. Learn from Michelle Pilley, the Publisher and Managing Director of Hay House UK. She will offer key advice learned from her 30 years of successful publishing experience and expert knowledge of how to nail a publishing deal.

THE HAPPY START UP SCHOOL CANVAS

When: November 22, 2016 @ 5pm – 7.30pm

Where: Wagner Hall, Brighton, UK

Price: £22 (+ £2.07 booking fee)

Organiser: Brighton & Hove Social Enterprise Network in partnership with The Happy Startup School

More info & to book: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/startup-the-happy-startup-canvas-tickets-26284104464

This inspiring workshop will help you to clarify if your idea is a social enterprise and support you, as budding social entrepreneur, to go from idea to action fast, and learn techniques for validating your idea with customers without the need for big budgets. It will give you the knowledge and tools to help you to tap into the growing trends that will affect how your business operates and start to bake happiness into your DNA.

DIGITAL DETOX WEEKEND

When: December 8 – 11, 2016

Where: Finland

Cost: £1,159

Organiser: The Flash Pack

More info & to book: https://flashpack.com/adventure-trips/finland-digital-detox/

If you’d love to swap your mobile for a snowmobile and indulge yourself with a short and energising recharge ahead of the Christmas festivities, this digital detox weekend in Finland delivers. Designed for solo travellers or small groups of friends, it a chance to unwind by immersing yourself in Finnish culture, cuisine and adventure. For four days you can switch off from modern life and sink into the wonderful Finnish snowscape. Go trekking, skiing, husky sledding, ride a reindeer sleigh, relax in the sauna and spend evenings watching the Northern Lights or warming yourself by the fire in a cosy inn straight out of a Christmas card.

Torassieppi Wooden Cabins, Muonio

OSHO WINTER FESTIVAL: LIVING FROM THE HEART

When: December 8 – 11, 2016

Where: Osho Leela, Dorset, UK

Cost: from £129

Organiser: Osho Leela Community

More info & to book: https://osholeela.uk/events/osho-winter-festival-2016/

Dive deep into the roots of your being and fly high on the wings of love and connection. This festival will warm your heart, heal you from the inside and expand your vision. It is a fun and nourishing celebration in beautiful countryside setting – perfect for winter rambles. Innovative and playful workshops include things like Shiatsu, singing, tantra, art, Biodanza, ageless vitality, discovering your inner child, self-enquiry and comedy. There’s also a full meditation programme including satsang with live music from band Satvaa, evening meetings, dance and live performances followed by an Osho video discourse.

THE INSTANT PAUSE

When: January 14, 2017

Where: Berlin, Germany

Cost: £140

Organiser: Life by Danielle

More info & to book: https://www.lifebydanielle.com/retreats/instant-pause/

In this one-day workshop, led by Nicola Moss, you’ll get time and space to think about you and your life and bring yourself back into balance. The Instant Pause workshop helps you look back to move forwards. You may be at a point of transition in your life; considering where to go next in your career, feeling burnt out from corporate life, or you may run your own business and are in need of some time and space to ensure you’re focusing on the right things. Your focus might be personal – life may be nudging you right now to stop and take a pause. Whether personal or career, this day away will create space for you to slow down, reflect and focus on what’s important.

WANDERLUST GREAT LAKE TAUPO

When: February 2-5, 2017

Where: Wairakei Geothermal Valley, Great Lake Taupo, New Zealand

Cost: $70 to $480

Organiser: Wanderlust

More info & to book: https://www.wanderlust.com

Unplug from the ordinary. Adventure awaits. Wanderlust Great Lake Taupo is an all-out celebration of mindful living. Bringing together a remarkable group of yoga and meditation instructors, musical performers, speakers, artists and chefs for a transformational retreat this is an experience that will get into your mind, body and soul. Regardless of what starts you on your path, Wanderlust is an experience that will leave you different than when you came – with new ideas, new friends, newly-discovered abilities, and greater peace. Find your true north.

ENVISION

When: February 23 – 26, 2017

Where: Uvita, Costa Rica

Cost: $298.00

Organiser:

More info & to book: https://www.envisionfestival.com

Want to venture to new lands of self-discovery? This festival has one of the biggest line up lists, and a mixed bag of eco, spiritual, yoga and development courses and classes on its menu. A celebration dedicated to awakening our human potential, Envision provides a platform for different cultures to co-exist in sustainable community, and inspire one another through art, spirituality, yoga, music, dance, performance, education, sustainability and acknowledge our fundamental connection with nature. Definitely worthy of a trip!

BALI SPIRIT FESTIVAL

When: Mar 19 – Mar 26, 2017

Where: Ubud, Bali

Cost: Early Bird full pass: $575 until February 1, 2017

Organiser: Co-Founders Megan Pappenheim, Kadek Gunarta, and Robert Weber

More info & to book: https://balispiritfestival.com

Seated in the spot of Elizabeth’s Gilbert reinvention from Eat, Pray, Love, the Bali Spirit Festival is an energy-charged event that will be sure to spark your soul. From music, yoga, health and wellbeing to eco and social change it has all the elements you need to learn, grow and develop a holistic lifestyle. You’ll spend the days on lush terraced lawns with open pavilions, and at night the party moves to an outdoor stage for a world music concert like no other on Earth.

Disclaimer: We are not affiliates of or involved in the running of any of the suggested events. Please contact the organisers directly with any questions or queries.

Wednesday Wellbeing

Posted on 2016-11-02 at 8:55 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

“May the space between where I am and where I want to be inspire me.” ~ Tracee Ellis Ross

Yes… it’s that time of the week again – Happy Wednesday!

Friday is fast approaching but if you’re feeling the midweek blues you’re in the right place to be inspired!

Every Wednesday for the next few weeks, a member of the Do What You Love team will be sharing what they’re up to and what is motivating them at the moment. We hope their thoughts get you thinking about what lights you up and how you can make get more of this into your life…

Today founder Beth Kempton talks about making dreams happen…

I have just got back from the USA where I spoke at ‘I Am… Courage – New York City’. I shared the stage with five amazing women who lit up the room with their tales of brave and truthful living.

The six of us actually created that event from nothing – we met at a workshop several months before and decided we had a common message, which we wanted to spread widely. When the event was over, and we had been showered with incredible feedback from the audience, we went to dinner and just sat there looking at each other, grinning. In that moment we realised that we just made something awesome happen, simply by committing to it, setting a date, and then doing the work needed to pull it off. And then we all showed up and spoke honestly and openly, and it resonated deeply with those in attendance.

It taught me that we don’t need other people’s permission to do amazing things. We can make them happen ourselves, especially when we have the support of others like us, committed to a common goal.

My thought of the week: When you’re stuck in a mid-week slump, remind yourself that you have all the power you need to lift yourself out. You just need to commit, and then follow through. You are the owner of your dreams and you can make them real!

How to make it in the world of… food

Posted on 2016-10-19 at 8:55 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

Ever dream of bottling and selling your grandma’s legendary hot and spicy sauce or mass-producing your own Mexican burritos? Well food is big business and one man who has first-hand experience of turning his passion for food into a career is Patrick Drake, Co-Founder and Head Chef of HelloFresh, the UK’s largest recipe box delivery service.

Patrick’s greatest passions are food, teaching and helping people get the most out of life which is why he also presents on Discovery, National Geographic and Fox TV and has created the world’s fastest cooking course www.the60secondchef.com.

Having carved out a colourful culinary career that allows him to do all the things he loves on a daily basis we asked hime to dish up the secrets of his success…

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