Because there’s never been a better time than now.
Because you can.
Because it makes you happy.
Because you’re going to prove them wrong.
Because you’re going to prove them right.
Because it won’t kill you to try…and you won’t know until you try.
Because what if it works?
Because an expansion always follows a recession.
Because it makes you laugh.
Because you can break the mold.
Because you’re looking for the people that are looking for you.
Because if you can dream it, you can do it, and you can find people that won’t laugh at you for doing so.
Because you’re determined not to let someone else define your life.
Because you’re determined not to let someone else define you.
Because you’re not ashamed of what you believe.
Because failing is ok. Really.
Because success is too.
Because what if you didn’t ask them?
Because you’re responsible for you.
Because you decided it was going to happen.
Because he/she/they are simply not going the same direction you are.
Because you’re worth it.
Because you believe.
Because it’s possible.
Because I think you can.
Just…because.
So. You know how you hear people say that “stick with your gut” line? Sometimes that’s easy to do, right? But for some reason, there are also times where sticking with your gut is maddeningly difficult to do.
Argh.
I left my corporate job in January 2010, and shortly thereafter I applied to volunteer at a couple places around town. Giving my time to others was a big part of my excitement about finally being self-employed and having complete control over my schedule. Except, a few months into it, it wasn’t exciting.
I signed up for Habitat for Humanity, enrolled in several iterations of the volunteer orientation, and could never get myself to go.
I signed up at a local animal shelter, attended several of the orientations, scheduled myself to volunteer on several different occasions, and couldn’t get myself to go.
I was failing at volunteering. I mean, seriously, who fails at volunteering?!
For many weeks and months I thought something was wrong with me. None of it felt right. I doubted that I did, in fact, want to work in my community. I felt selfish. I felt lazy. And never once did it occur to me that maybe I should think about why I wasn’t interested, or that perhaps my lack of interest was a signal one part of my brain (wherever that “gut” thing is located?) was trying to send to another part of my brain.
It’s not a fit for you, Annie! It’s not a fit for you, Annie!
Then, while I was busy working on something completely unrelated the other day, it hit me out of the blue; it’s not that I don’t want to be volunteering, it’s just that I picked the wrong outlet for it. Duh duh DUH. So I stopped what I was doing, hopped into the car, and drove to the closest library.
The library! Of course! Do I need to say duh again?
I picked up and filled out an application. I returned a couple days later for an interview. Tomorrow I have a meeting with the specific department in which I will be spending my time. Later this week I will be a full-fledged volunteer for the first time. And I can’t WAIT.
I ignored my gut for months, I logic’d myself into something I didn’t feel was right, and even made myself feel guilty about it. I wish I would have listened to that little voice in my head much, much sooner.
Why is making the decision to ignore logic and go with your gut feeling sometimes require so much darn convincing? Shouldn’t it be, you know, a gut decision? Something done without thinking?
Beats me. I don’t know the answer. But what I do know is that I will be trying to listen to it more often.
You with me?
One of my goals for 2011 is to record more videos. If I actually picked up the camera every time the thought, Hey, I should record this!, crossed my mind, I would have five new videos a day. Bumping up my barely-one-vid-a-month average shouldn’t be difficult.
In the spirit of this goal, here is a round-up of past videos you might have missed. Enjoy!
The Importance of Connecting
(full blog post)
Fear? Ha! You’re Too Good For That
(full blog post)
Blog Comments? So Underrated
(full blog post)
Thought of the Day: Know Your Why
(full blog post)
I’m borrowing this quote from my current read, The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari, and it gets an entire post all on its own, it’s that good.
Trust yourself. Create the kind of life you will be happy to live with all your life. Make the most of yourself by fanning the tiny, inner sparks of possibility into the flames of achievement.
– Foster C McClellan
Each piece could be a quote all on its own. So today (not tomorrow or next week), take that step. A first step, perhaps. Create your ‘kind’ of life. Define your kind of life. Trust. Take that small idea and decide to act on it.
Trust. Act. Create.
Sounds like a good mantra for the week, yeah? Cheers to you!
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Here is the Monk Who Sold His Ferrari on Amazon. It’s one of the few personal development parables I have ever read that’s not painfully corny. Definitely worth a glance. Also, it has Ferrari in the title! BONUS.
![[anniesorensen.com] 2011 Reading List](https://anniesorensen.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/IMG_2433.JPG "[anniesorensen.com] 2011 Reading List")
There are fun things happening behind the scenes here at [ anniesorensen.com ], and I can’t wait to show you what we’re working on. Until then, I wanted to point out a small thing you might have already noticed – reading lists!
As you’ve probably realized from my extreme book geekery, reading and learning new things is my biggest passion. And inspiring someone else – namely, you – to learn something new? Or to pick up a book, perhaps? Even better.
I know it doesn’t include the blog articles or magazine features or ebooks that I read, but I did keep track of all of the ‘book’ books I read throughout 2010. It started as a way for me to remember and look back upon what I had read and learned, but as time went on it turned into more. It led to your suggestions of related books I might enjoy. It sparked discussions. It provided value to me, and provided me a way to give value to you. It built up relationships.
Basically, it rocked. Keeping track of and publicizing my reading list will now forever be something I take the time to do.
There is now a permanent link at the top of this site to my 2011 Reading List. At the bottom of that page is the archived 2010 Reading List, if you’re interested in taking a peek.
I hope you enjoy it. I hope you find, upon glancing through it, at least a smidgen of something that helps.
And then I hope you come back here and let me know what I am always interested to know – what are YOU reading?
_____
Stay tuned for updates on the soon-to-come plans for your favorite blog. Subscribe, even, if you don’t want to miss anything. I think you’re gonna like the changes. :)
![Gift-Giving and Success - [anniesorensen.com]](https://anniesorensen.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Photo-on-2011-01-31-at-10.11-5.jpg "Gift-Giving and Success - [anniesorensen.com]")
In the spirit of the upcoming (silly, unnecessary, celebrated by some?) Valentine’s Day holiday, I thought I’d share my opinion on gift-giving.
Ok, no laughing about this, but I am convinced that good gift-givers and success go hand-in-hand.
Giving an amazing gift, and I’m not just talking about buying something fancy that the giftee specifically asked for, requires several things. It requires you to pay attention, to be perceptive to likes, dislikes, comments, and reactions of those around you. It requires you to care, truly care, about the people with whom you share your day, work, live, and love. It requires you to organize and prepare, maybe even research. Sometimes it requires a little surprise, a uniqueness or an unpredictability. Also, it requires a little precision – too small of a gesture goes unnoticed, too over-the-top causes embarrassment or even guilt.
And on top of all of that, it requires execution. After all, the most amazing gift idea never given has no chance of being aww’ed over or remembered or changing relationships.
So, that’s my thought on gift-giving.
Pay attention, listen, keep your eyes open. Care care care.
Prepare. Be surprising and unique. Be precise. Execute.
Giving gifts & success. Do you see it?
Lifestyle Design seems to be a term that’s thrown around a lot, especially online. It’s kind of become a cool and hip thing to say, something that makes anyone you meet go Ohhhh when you mention it.
And then they walk away wondering what the heck you’re talking about.
As popular of a term it seems to be lately, I wish more people would throw it around a little less and think about it’s real meaning a little more.
Call it lifestyle design, time freedom, work-life balance, whatever you’d like. What does it mean to you? If someone asked you what you would do if time and money were no option, what comes to mind first? How would you define it for yourself?
–> Perhaps it’s time, you’re attracted to the idea of having all the time in the world to do what you want. Travel or family or community service or your dream job.
–> Maybe the first thing you think of is happiness. Having more of it, more often.
–> Or maybe it reminds you of remaking and restructuring your life, changing everything around. Maybe it would include the guidance of a professional.
–> Thinking lifestyle design could even bring up images of your perfect self – the happiest, healthiest, most successful and educated and productive ‘you’ you could be.
Your list of definitions or even how to define could go on forever. The point here? Just think about it. Don’t worry about the term, don’t worry about the hubbub around the topic, just decide to store the question in the back of your mind as you move about living your life. Decide to define it for yourself. Prioritize figuring out what designing your life means to you.
What first comes to mind when you hear the term Lifestyle Design?
“Living life the way you want to.” – Tim Jahn
“Experiencing The Life You Want. Major assumption: you’ve taken the time to know what you want w/ 100% certainty” – Kevin M Roy
“To have the time & money to not compromise how you live your life.” – Mike Clouse
“Tim Ferriss! Also, anything from someone making suggestions as to how you can improve your life, all the way to some sort of desired bullying to make you change your habits for the better.” – Lukas Bott
“Choice. Independence.” – Grant Peelle
Promise me you’ll at least think about it, if you haven’t already. Consider the fancy terms and catchy definitions of others, but define it for yourself. Be ok with modifying the definition as your life changes and evolves. Be ok with defining it in a way that no one else ever has.
Just…define it.
Remember that you can’t take action toward a trendy-phrased something if you haven’t specifically defined that something for yourself.
You with me?
Last weekend I sat down to read the free ebook from Chris Guillebeau, 279 Days to Overnight Success, and it didn’t disappoint. Chris is a blogger, bestselling author, travel junkie, and all-around inspiring guy. His main passion is spreading his message of non-conformity, that “you don’t have to live your life the way other people expect you to.”
See why I like this guy?
The ebook is free and doesn’t require you to fill out a long form with all of your contact information or anything. Its 79 pages are full of inspiring stories and facts about how Chris built his blog, strengthened his brand, avoided the negative “vampires” who told him he couldn’t do it, and developed a full-time income stream in the process.
If you’re a blogger or have ever wanted to be a blogger, and wouldn’t mind making more money, you might want to check it out. Even if blogging isn’t your thing, check out Chris’s site. I think you’ll find it fascinating and well worth your time.
279 Days to Overnight Success, free ebook: Details | Download
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Also, I recently read Chris’s published, full-length book The Art of Non-Conformity: Set Your Own Rules, Live the Life You Want, Change the World (affiliate link) and would highly recommend it. It’s a short and sweet read full of actionable recommendations.
I learned how to further define the terms of what I want my unconventional life to be (more emphasis on community service, family, maybe book publishing, less emphasis on where I’m living and travel), was inspired by the stories of how Chris has built his business around his life (instead of the other way around), and wrote down a dozen ideas for how to grow my blog, strengthen my networking contacts, and get more done in less time.
Also, Chris’s plan for the One-Year, Self-Directed, Alternative Graduate School Experience is worth the cost of the book alone.
Happy reading.
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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