I’ve recently caught-up with all of the back episodes of The Ren Men Show, and that, coupled with my having just read the updated and expanded edition of Tim Ferriss’s 4-Hour Workweek, has really got me thinking a lot more about lifestyle design.

I started my journey towards time and financial freedom when I was 18, but until recently I never really considered calling it lifestyle design. But that’s what it is, right? I mean, when you develop businesses that, once established, provide residual, passive income, you then have the time and financial freedom to do as you please. Once you have that freedom, you can design your life in whatever ways you choose.

Two questions have been bothering me the most: one, why aren’t I focusing on designing and achieving my ideal lifestyle directly, instead of focusing on achieving the dream-like and generic “time freedom?” and two, what am I doing to ensure that all of my business ventures are set-up from the beginning to provide passive income?

Big questions.

Additionally, how does lifestyle design mesh with the work-your-tail-off mantra of online media celebrities like Gary Vaynerchuk? Maybe this is what Brian Clark and Chris Brogan and Darren Rowse really had in mind when they said, you know what, we’re no more part of one tribe than the other. We sit somewhere in the middle, so consider us part of the Third Tribe.

Hmm.

I’ve thought so much about this the past couple days that I’m pretty sure it will result in not only a meticulous review of all of our ventures, but a discussion about the overarching goals and intentions of our business. Why – truly, really why – are we doing all of this? Where is it leading us? Where do we WANT it to lead us? What do we need to change in order to ensure we are, in fact, moving in that direction?

And when it’s all said and done, what does our ideal lifestyle look like? I know many of the individual pieces of that picture, but could definitely work on clarifying what the painting looks like in its entirety. Exciting – and scary – stuff.

Updates to come! In the mean time, what say you? Thoughts on lifestyle design?

…I want to be like Gary Vaynerchuk, because he cares. Period.

…I want to be like Jon Wheatley, because he launched a start-up and is having an absolute blast with it.

…I want to be like Malcolm Gladwell, because he produced media that changed our outlook on the world, one thought at a time.

Who do you want to be?

For inspiration on finding, expanding, and acting upon your passion, dedicate the 50 minutes and watch it here.

I’ve thought a lot about what I believe my purpose is – to encourage as many people as I possibly can that yes, they can live a better life – but does every detail of what I do on a daily basis support that legacy? Good question! I hope it does, but will definitely be meditating on the topic in the days and weeks to come.

Exciting stuff.

Gary recently posted a keynote on his blog from a talk he gave at the BookExpo America 2009 event a couple weeks ago. Applicable to anyone and everyone, way beyond those in the book or publishing industries, I think this keynote is the VERY BEST definition of what Gary’s message is all about and why’s it’s so darn inspiring. It also perfectly appeals to the side of me that wants to simplify things in every possible way. His point is, simply, to find your true passion. Is it golf? Is it legos? Is it photography or the A-team or upside-down knitting? Whatever it is, focus on it. Stop doing the crap that you hate. Leverage your passion to define your personal brand and use internet marketing and social media to turn that passion into a paycheck. Find that passion, work hard, build relationships, and make your life your own. Oh, and do it NOW!

Watch Gary’s talk here: Gary Vaynerchuk at BEA 2009