Earlier this month we spent a week or so in the Arctic Circle, North Finland. The trip was amazing on so many levels and even more special as we got to experience all its wonders as a family.
It was during the first evening in our traditional (and very impressive) pine cabin that it really dawned on me just how much my life has changed over the past year or so. As I studied the items on the little wooden table in our living room I realised that they provided a great snapshot of what my current life looks like.
A snapshot of my life
Laptop: I can honestly say that I take my laptop everywhere these days. It is my main working tool. It gives me the flexibility and freedom that I crave. Being a slave to time and a place was a huge reason behind my career change.
To know that I can work pretty much anywhere (the Arctic Circle included) and connect with the rest of the world at any time gives me the security that I know I personally require. Understanding myself is something I learnt all about during my sabbatical in Japan.
GoPro camera: As you can imagine the Arctic is a visually stunning place with dramatic landscapes and breathtaking scenery. It needed to be captured and what better way to do so than on film. This nifty little camera is just fantastic; it’s robust, flexible, compact and the quality of the footage is amazing.
I confess that I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with the camera because I love what it can do, but I’m not so keen on being in front of it! This year however, I have promised myself that I will practice what I preach and do more things that take me out of my comfort zone. Therefore (and apologies in advance!) you will be seeing a lot more of me on camera this year as I convey my thoughts via video. The ‘Snowmobile Diaries’ will be coming very soon…
Run or Die by Kilian Jornet: As a man well into my late thirties I’d been looking for something to fill the void left since the end of my footballing years. In my teens and twenties I played football five or six times a week without any hesitation. But after a few frustrating years which saw the contact element of the sport take its toll I came to accept that times change, so do we, and so do our bodies. In a bid to stay in active, fit and in good shape I explored other options and realised that I am now much more interested in the mental challenges that come with doing sport, as well as the physical.
A good friend of my got me into trail running last year and I find it brings so many benefits. In addition to the precious ‘me time’ we all need on a regular basis, it keeps me fit, stimulates my mind and enables me to take in some fantastic views.
This year I have decided to build on my initial runs and do my first ever marathon. I have always been much more suited to sprint events so the idea of running 26 miles does not sit well with me. Just as the thought of appearing on film unnerves me, so does this. But I want to run one whilst I still can, so I am all signed up and am going to start training…. soon.
Run or Die by Kilian Jornet
Run or Die is the autobiography of the world’s most dominating athlete in ultra running, Kilian Jornet. It’s given me that little extra push to ensure I don’t back out. If you need a little inspiration and motivation too, this book will certainly do the trick. You will be running up your closest mountain before you know it, or at the very least, questioning just how far you can push yourself to see what you are capable of.
The 4-Hour Work Week by Timothy Ferris: “Forget the old concept of retirement and the rest of the deferred-life plan – there is no need to wait and every reason not to, especially in unpredictable economic times. Whether your dream is escaping the rat race, experiencing high-end world travel, earning a monthly five-figure income with zero management, or just living more and working less, The 4-Hour Workweek is the blueprint.” – Amazon review
Now 10 years since its publication, this book has become something of a classic. However, the time hasn’t been right for me to read it until now. From the moment I started reading every page resonated with me. The time, place, and my current situation created the perfect storm for it to have most impact.
The 4-Hour Work Week by Timothy Ferris
Our work at Do What You Love is massively rewarding but running your own company/business can become overwhelming if you let it. The book gave me a plethora of options we could implement immediately, with potentially huge effects. I’ll let you know how that goes. Anything that will help us, and our team, to enjoy our work even more is well worth pursuing.
If you want to join the ‘New Rich’ then I would strongly recommend reading or re-reading this book. By virtue of you being on our website and reading this post you probably know that something is not sitting quite right with you. What are you looking for? What needs to change? This book might just help you find the answer.
Sienna with her bottle (on the eve her 1st birthday)
Sienna’s bottle: My little girl. By designing your life you take into account all the things that make you happy and that are important to you. Well Sienna (and of course, Mrs. K) fall into both those categories.
The fact that Sienna’s bottle is on the table is an indication that she is right here with us. The fact that we want to share as much of her life as possible has been pivotal in all our decisions ever since we found out that we were going to be parents. The remote working flexibility of our set up allows us to enjoy her every day, something I know will be unquantifiable later in life.
Cup of coffee: Just as I am rarely separated from my laptop, the same can be said about my relationship with coffee. My lifestyle, and the fact I currently live in Brighton (which has the highest per capita coffee consumption in the country) means I spend a lot of time in coffee shops. The café culture is here to stay and I love it.
Fruit: Well there was just fruit on the table.
What’s on your table/desk today, and what does it say about you and your life right now?
Until next time,
Mr K
