How to Retire in 12 Months

We are nearly at the 9 month mark, and I thought I would share with you some things I have learned in this business adventure so far.

1.       The experience of time seems to expand with your requirements

I have always been a busy person, but year on year I seem to take on more and more and achieve more and more. If I wrote a weekly action list now and gave it to myself 5 years ago I would have deemed it impossible, or at least crazy… hmmmm!

2.       It is OK to be fallible

I have found that my most honest and vulnerable posts are the ones that seem to be the most popular. We live in a world of keeping up appearances and looking good and for a perfectionist like me, it is still very scary to present myself warts n all to the general public. I really push myself to be brutally honest about the journey but I still notice my hesitation in posting certain blogs.

3.       You get what you are looking for

Whether you like it or not, you attract the results, relationships and situations that you find yourself in. Even if you hate a situation, the familiarity of that situation will have you seek it out over and over again. So, take a look at those recurring arguments you have with your partner/s, the annoying problems you have with your kids/family/boss/bank account/utilities companies/bus drivers and the things that really bite that seem to happen over and over and see if you can spot how you are causing it to happen. Check out what it is about you that attracts that and see if you can get a different result.

4.       It is the level to which you are willing to be uncomfortable that will determine the size of the goals you dare to chase

This is only something I have distinguished recently. Basically it can feel very uncomfortable to have a big goal with no idea how to achieve it. This is the feeling that accompanies any major challenge, adventure or mission in life and I realise it is what puts off many people from declaring what they really want from their existence. The more willing you are to be uncomfortable the bigger you will allow your goals become.

Although I tend to focus on the positive aspects of everything, I still experience that rollercoaster feeling of adrenalin, excitement and fear with every new part to the adventure of life. This week with some of my new course participants I got to experience what that looks like from the outside.

It is absolutely ok to feel like you have no idea how to achieve what you want to achieve. In fact I think this is a pre requisite for entrepreneurship.

5.       A little love and support goes a long way

The day I shared the idea for this blog with my husband John, I got to experience a moment when someone believed in me so much that all I could do was stand tall and get into action. We had only been together 6 months and I was still getting used to this level of support and encouragement! From day one, he saw a vision for this that was bigger than my own, (being a consummate dreamer this doesn’t often happen!) and I got to appreciate how friggin nice it was to have someone believe in me with all their heart.

If you can spare someone’s mad cap ideas some belief and encouragement, I say be generous and lavish them with it. You have the ability to changes someone’s experience of life in the most exquisite way and you never know; they might just achieve something awesome!

6.       Be open to miracles and celebrate them all

I think that miracles happen more when you really believe them possible and when you recognise them for what they are. Whether you call it synchronicity, fate or just plain luck – be someone who is open to the opportunities and who celebrates the good bits.

7.       The happier you are the less you care about stuff

The life flashing before you as you take your last breath will no doubt consist of both warm and regretful memories of love, relationships and adventures had or not had, that’s it. I doubt very much if you will be mourning your shoes the dog ate, or that time when you missed out on getting a new version of the iPhone on launch day. I still like to dress to kill from time to time and make the most of technological advances; it is just the sheer quantity of so called needs that has seemed to diminish significantly as my journey progresses.

8.       Be creative in having what you want

I believe that if you get a no, you either haven’t asked in the right way, or you haven’t asked enough times (sorry Mum!) or you haven’t asked the right person.  What this means is that I have a very uncanny knack (some would say luck) of finding the opportunities I need to make things work.

If something is worth having or is essential to the success of your project, business or goal, then you need to treat the process with respect, creativity and confidence. It helps also if you are open to miracles.

9.       The destination is only a place to get, it is the journey that counts – enjoy the moment

This makes sense to me every time I realise that I have forgotten it! I spend so much time worrying about the goal and the result and the success that I can lose sight of the fact that every moment is the bit that actually matters.

If you don’t spend some time each day appreciating what you have, then it may be time to shift the focus. Because all you have is what you have right now… and now… and now.

There you have it… 9 things I have learnt in business in the last 9 months. What do you think? Any comments? I would love to hear from you!!