Thoughts on Lifestyle Design

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?

jamesrobertson

When you first look at Gary Vaynerchuk & Tim Ferriss they do seem to have polar opposite opinions on business, however I think there is some overlap. I believe a lot of Gary's principals of hustle & being personal should be used in the beginning stages of starting a business. Where they differ is Gary beliefs that you should keep those principals going while Tim Ferriss says the reason you do all that work in beginning is to make your business automated and generate passive income.

Two brilliant men in business and I think it’s a great idea to cherry pick & combine ideas from both of them that work for you.

http://www.anniesorensen.com Annie Sorensen

Yup, and I think I know which side I'm leaning towards. :) Do you?

http://twitter.com/rjvillagomez Rod Villagomez

I know I am way behind on the whole “Crush It” thing, but since I first opened the book last week and read the part where Gary laid out his three rules, it was like someone took a huge guilty burden off my shoulders. He helped me to realize that the time I spend with my family while I was working at home was perfectly acceptable and that it was not wrong for me to want to choose to take an hour in the middle of the day to love my beautiful fiance and daughter, so long as I was crushing it in every aspect of my life. He helped me realize that time is MINE and that I can do with it how I see fit while still providing a stable home environment.

As for the Lifestyle Design you talk about, while it makes me think of someone coming in to Fung Shway your life, it also makes me realize that there is a struggle between what society thinks is success and what success really should be. If you have good friends,do your best at everything you do, are happy, love your family, and have the things you need and sometimes want, then as far as I am concerned, you are the most successful person in the world. Everyone else is just jealous that you found a way to be happy with what you have, and they haven't. It's nice to be able to fly around the world, drive expensive cars, or drink million dollar wines, but if you are conflicted everyday in the way you get those things, in the end, are they really worth it?

http://www.anniesorensen.com Annie Sorensen

Agree 1000%, Rod. There is a precedence in modern society right now that doing what you want when you want and always having the means to do it just isn't something that “normal” people do. Life isn't about doing what you want, it's about doing what you have to do.

Interesting how so many – the vast majority – aren't willing to even open themselves to the idea that they *could* design their own lifestyle.

Thanks, as always, for your insight!

Pingback: Tweets that mention Thoughts on Lifestyle Design | Annie Sorensen -- Topsy.com
jenorvis

I think the most important question here is…WHY? I think getting in the habit of asking 'Why' will serve in all aspects of our businesses. The BIG 'Why' will create the passion necessary and the “Why am I…”, “Why do we…” will keep us in line with our mission.

Simple way to check in and get where you want to go.
http://www.financialsamurai.com Financial Samurai

I love the concept, but I feel many folks jump head first without really understanding the pitfalls. I admire people who just go for it absolutely.

If you visit my site, and read posts such as “The Dark Side of Early Retirement” it addresses some things, and plays devil's advocate. My route is the opposite. Have a full time secure job. Save money and build my nut, while building my online business and my site as we go until it is big enough to be ready for me to take the leap.

Best,

Sam