1. Start a business.
2. WORK REALLY, REALLY, REALLY HARD.
3. Quit your job.
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Don’t kid yourself into thinking that you can skimp on – or skip over – Step 2.
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It’s true. I am proud of this industry. I’m proud that I’m a part of it, I’m proud that it offers people the chance to take control of their life, and I’m proud that I successfully built a business that allowed me to do that very thing.
Also, I like this guy. Eric Worre. He blogs regularly and passionately about the industry, completely separate from the company with which he’s specifically involved. (I actually don’t even know what company that is. Don’t really care.) Eric’s site and his useful and inspiring posts are one of the brightest spots on the web for those involved in the industry of network marketing. Go Eric, go.
Here is why he’s proud of the industry we share:
Thanks for this, Eric. You’re one of the few out there that are not ashamed to share their true opinions for – and support of – this industry.
High-five, friend. High-five.
Your thoughts on this video? Would love to hear ’em.
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[If you can’t see the video, click here.]
I read. A lot.
You knew this, right?
HA! Ha ha. Ha ha haa ha haa.
Ahem.
I get quite a few odd comments about my favorite hobby. Some share non-verbal opinions with their rolling eyes or pursed lips about how it must be nice to have so much cushy wushy free time to put my feet up with a paperback and eat bon bons. Others simply shrug it off, unable to even comprehend that someone could enjoy a hobby so much, when they can’t even make time to brush their teeth or call their mothers let alone develop a constructive hobby.
Long story short, most think it’s a purposeless hobby, an entertainment. And sometimes, when I’m deep in the throes of a heavy reading week, I believe them. Is this really all worthwhile? Should I tone things down a bit?
But then I walk into my office, or turn into my bathroom upstairs and catch a glance of the extra bedroom in my peripheral vision and the sprawling shelves of paperback overflow it houses, and I’m reminded. I remember. I see all of the books that I love so much, remember the memories they have created, and the doubt disappears.
I look at the Shack and remember how much it shifted my thinking about, and therefore my dedication to, my faith.
I remember how The Book of Awesome made me laugh. Over and over and over.
I remember what Born to Run taught me about real running, and convinced me I could actually do it. I didn’t realize that I needed that boost of confidence until I received it.
I remember how The Slight Edge opened up my eyes to different philosophies on productivity and effectiveness in business and in life, and How Starbucks Saved My Life introduced me to the company culture that the coffee giant has successfully implemented.
I have never not thought about that culture, and appreciating and noticing and admiring it, upon walking into any Starbucks since the day I finished that book.
I remember how Eat Pray Love helped me realize that you could go do something different with your life, and eventually led me to read more about lifestyle design. And it made me laugh. And hug my box of spaghetti.
The Glass Castle reminded me how awful some children have it, and how grateful I am that I had the upbringing that I did. I have never looked at my dog the same after reading The Art of Racing in the Rain, nor thought more about the spiritual aspect of our pets like I did after turning its final page.
I remember how Prep opened my thinking to teenage angst, and curiosly convinced me to evaluate my own experience during those years. It also makes me smile every time I run my fingers over the embossed grosgrain ribbon on its cover.
Textured book covers. Swoon.
I remember how Harry Potter convinced me that I do, in fact, enjoy some fantasy/science fiction-ish reads. And reminded me to daydream more often. And how powerful a human being’s imagination can truly be. Ms Rowling…I mean, wow.
I remember how The Business of the 21st Century monumentally shifted and strenghtened my belief in the network marketing industry. An industry I already loved before cracking its cover.
I remember how Twitter Power, now practically useless in its outdated advice, gave me the confidence that I could actually jump into this social media thing. Where all of my amazingly enjoyable and beneficial networking contacts would have come from without the launch that that book provided me, I have no idea.
I look at those books and I remember.
And then I never allow a reading naysayer to make me doubt my hobby ever, ever again.
Whether you read articles online, full books on your iPad, or the old fashioned paper and glue versions, or even if your hobby is something else entirely, it’s yours. Don’t forget it.
If it opens your eyes or expands your vision or makes you happy, then you know what? It’s worth it.
Because, honestly, is this not just the cutest thing you’ve seen all day?
In need of a bit of inspiration, I was flipping through the past few months of scribbles and scratches in my notebook a couple days ago when I ran into this:
“Some of us choose to work for a living, and some people choose to incorporate work into living.” -@petershankman
I’m not sure where I read the quote from Peter, the guy who founded HARO, an Ironman, and an all-around knowledgeable social media and PR guy, but I liked it enough back in June to grab a pen and record it for good. I liked it then, I like it now. And I think the reason for that is it truly touches upon what I feel like I’m doing with my life, in a way that I’ve never been quite able to describe.
Instead of trying to answer the age old, “So, what do you do?” question with an actual response about running a couple small businesses, blogging, traveling, etc, perhaps I’ll just answer with this quote in mind from here on out.
Q: What do you do, Annie?
A: Well, my job is to, umm, live my life! Oh, and I work a little bit on the side.
Eh? Eh? Think it could work? I mean, it’s a much more honest answer than the “running a couple small businesses” thing. Because…it’s true. After all, I do wake up in the morning, decide what I want to do that day, and incorporate any work responsibilities into that plan. The fact that this is how I have been able to approach my life since January 2010 is unbelievable to me sometimes. It feels like my normal and I already can’t imagine it any other way, yet I am aware and grateful of how blessed/lucky/fortunate I am to be living my life in this manner.
Which leads me to a question, a BIG question: how can I help more people achieve the same thing? Because it sure is fun to live this way, but it’s much more meaningful when you can join me.
How can I help YOU achieve the “incorporating your work into living” situation?
Let me know, and we can live it all together.
It’s easy to do, many things are.
It’s also easy not to do. That’s the tricky part. ‘It’ meaning, well…everything.
Which side will you choose?
Reasons for doing something are often identical to the excuses for not doing them.
Reasons versus excuses is really just a point of view. A choice.
I don’t have any time…
I have kids…
I don’t have enough money to…
How do you choose to finish the sentence? What point of view do you take?
Do you create an excuse out of it, or use it as your very reason for doing?
Starting a side business, going after a promotion at work, getting a part-time job, working on your personal development, taking a vacation, getting out of debt, volunteering in your community, staying at home with your children. The subject doesn’t matter, it all applies.
Not having any time – is that your excuse for not taking action or your very reason for prioritizing it?
Having kids that keep you busy – is that your excuse or the exact reason you should be doing it? Do you allow them to limit you, or are you sacrificing now to provide better for them later?
I don’t have enough money – what perspective will you take with that? I don’t have any money therefore there is no way I can earn more? Or, I don’t have any money therefore I must do whatever I can to earn more?
Little things or big things, identify one or two of your daily, simple excuses for not doing certain things. Turned around, could they provide the motivation and the precise reason that you should take action?
Rare are the accomplishments that result from complex tasks. Instead, they are achieved by choosing to complete the little, simple things, over and over and over, more often than the next person.
The little, simple things. Easy to do. Easy not to do.
That’s the tricky part.
Reasons for doing them.
Excuses for not doing them.
Which perspective will you choose?
I have enjoyed my summer. It’s been full of enjoyable work and enjoyable travel and enjoyable, well, everything. And it’s been chock full of light, entertaining, and enjoyable reading.
I don’t know what it is about summer, but I want to set aside the business non-fiction reads and pick up nothing but fiction bestsellers and girly chick lit. And that is exactly what I did with reads like Night, One Day and Have a Little Faith; Bel Canto, Heaven is For Real, and The Blind Side.
Now that fall has arrived and my work space is located more often on the back porch than my home office, I’m moving towards a few more businessy and serious reads. Of those, there are a handful that I am particularly excited about.
Here are three books that are top of my wish list this month:
1.
by Blake Mycoskie
Having purchased a couple pairs of TOMS shoes, I regularly receive emails from the company. New shoe styles, the release of their line of sunglasses, corporate updates – their marketing emails are timely and enjoyable. They sent an email several weeks ago about their founder, Blake Mycoskie, and the release of his first book. The email included an inspirational video trailer and the promise of donating one book to a child in need for every book sold and, well, let’s just say it was only a matter of minutes until Start Something That Matters was added to my wish list.
Can.Not.Wait.
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2.
by Tiny Fey
I love biographies. I love auto-biographies and business biographies and memoirs, the whole bit. Tina Fey’s Bossypants is one I have picked up half a dozen times during recent trips to Barnes & Noble. I held it in my hands, read and re-read the cover jacket, mulled it over for a moment, and then inevitably placed it back on the shelf. I wanted to read it but for some reason I just couldn’t pull the trigger.
Then I read a review somewhere. It might have been the KC Star or a Goodreads email, I’m not sure. But I read it and I loved it and all of a sudden I was ready to pull the trigger on Tina’s memoir, prepared to laugh with and be inspired by her success.
Really excited about enjoying this book this fall.
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3.
by Jonathan Fields
I first heard Jonathan Fields speak in Portland earlier this summer at the World Domination Summit. He was inspiring, his personal story was unique and interesting, and his rise to success was easy to see.
What really got me about his soon-to-be-released book, although, was the trailer. I mean, honestly, what is it with video book trailers these days? They’re such a joy. If this is a trend, count me in as part of the bandwagon of fans.
I saw Jonathan’s trailer for Uncertainty and it was a done deal. The book is released September 29th and I can’t wait to hear about the Aha! moments and life changes that result from his legion inspired, successful, openminded, book-reading followers.
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So there you have it. Those are three of the many books I’m excited about picking up and reading through this fall. What about you? What should I add to my wish list? What’s on yours?
What are you reading and loving this week that you would recommend? Do share!
Your Friend in Book Geekiness,
AS
I'm an author, marketer, and mommy who loves to read, write, and drink coffee. My husband and I live in suburban Kansas City with our two little girls. This site chronicles my world. Thanks for stopping by!
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