As I write this I'm sitting in my local library.
It's in central Leeds and has an entire business centre with modern furnishings and fresh paint. For a library, that's pretty cool.
Earlier today I was in a coffee shop slugging a
Cortado; my new favourite drink and a recent addition to the hipster coffee scene here in Leeds. And tomorrow, I'll be in a co-working space where I hotdesk several days a month.
Why am I telling you this? Because I love my life!
Freedom and flexibility is what my freelance clients
tell me they value the highest. I've created this in my own life, and I wanted to share with you that it starts by deciding what you want.
It wasn't always so cushty for me. My first job required that I commute 1.5hrs over two trains each way. That was three hours travelling and four trains every day.
Another job was located out in the sticks, and I didn't drive, so I trekked through muddy fields to reach it. That might sound nice, but not in deep, dark January when the ground is frozen and you're being eyeballed suspiciously by a dozen cows.
And then there have been jobs which have been 90% great but 10% terrible, like the time I had nice colleagues,
good clients but a tyrannical boss.
So, what do you want from your life? If you're not where you want to be, but you aren't sure what you want, these questions can help:
- What hours would you work if you had full control of your time?
- How much money would you love to make each month?
- What problems would you enjoy getting stuck into?
- Who would you like to work with?
- What legacy would you like to leave?
Nobody has it all totally figured out. Myself included. And to be honest, that would be boring anyway. That's why I revisit these questions frequently to check that I'm in alignment with myself.
Most of the time we are in a
reactive state, being pushed and pulled by external forces. But getting ahead really does start by setting an intention and working towards it. That's how you create an amazing life.
