24 May 11 Quick Actions You Can Do Today to Successfully Start Doing Work You Love (or Anything)
The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is right now. ~Chinese Proverb
On Building Dreams…
I spent a few weeks fly fishing through Patagonia with my father in February. For a week of my adventure I stayed in a small fishing lodge deep in the Chilean bush. And by deep, I mean deep.
I flew into Santiago in a big plane, then flew into Puerto Montt in a smaller plane, then flew into an airstrip along side a lake in a 12-person prop plane (the kind that has a per-passenger weight limit). There we were greeted by two guys in an off-road van who drove us another three hours into the wilderness on a dirt road. That’s where our lodge was.
The place was gorgeous. Everything perfect. So much so, you would forget you were 30 hours out of your comfort zone and probably at leaset a day from a hospital. There wasn’t a thing out of place.
On our drive out I asked Marcel, the owner, how he got into the business. Twelve years ago he left Holland to spend a year fly fishing around the world with nothing but a backpack, his wife and a fly rod (what else does a guy need??). As soon as he got to Chile he knew it was his next home. He spent four more months fishing every river, stream, lake and tributary within 100km until he found exactly where he wanted his lodge.
Then he started building. That was 10 years ago. He didn’t even speak Spanish when he started.
“But how’d you have a clue what was involved before you started” I asked as our van flew around a bend in a cloud of dust.
He giggled as he handed back some trail mix, “I didn’t,” he replied. “If I would have known what was involved, I never would have started in the first place. Do you have any idea how hard it is to build a full-service lodge with five-star food, with running hot water, 12 hours into the Chilean wilderness? I certainly didn’t. And I’m glad I didn’t.”
“I just decided to start small. Then came the rest,” he added.
Everything begins with the smallest start and the right reason.
I hear from people everyday who say “I’d like to travel here or start this or try that, but…”
There are a million and one reasons not to do something. There always will be. If you look for one, you’ll no doubt find it.
But one good reason can beat down a thousand bad ones in an instant. All you need is one – one that matters more to you than anything.
All you have to have is enough of a dream, a vision, a belief, so that you have the courage to take that first tiny step. Every step after that is easier. People start to get behind you. Things start to work and suddenly you’re rolling.
But you have to start!
I cannot express this enough. As important as it is to think big, nothing happens until you think small.
- Building a 10,000 reader blog is unimaginable when your only subscriber is your mom. But think how easy it will be to grow 100%.
- The iPhone started with tinkering in a garage with leftover circuit boards.
- Your new company can’t have 40 employees until it has one.
- You can’t find a wife until you go on a date.
- You can’t lose 100 lbs until you lose five.
I don’t care who you are or what you’re planning to do. Every beginning is a humble one.
Don’t over think it and don’t make the mistake of thinking the successful folks around you didn’t start from the same place. They did.
Starting is really the easiest part.
The first step always seems like the worst. It involves the most fear, the most unknown and the most energy. That’s why most people never take it.
But even though we build it up in our head to the size of an obese elephant, the actual first step, from a physical effort perspective, is probably the easiest part of the process. It might only take five or ten minutes to write the first email or have the first meeting.
What’s a few minutes?
Put enough of those together and all of a sudden the smallest of beginnings turns into something meaningful. That’s how a paragraph turns into the next best-seller. How a slab of concrete turns into a home. How a step turns into a marathon.
Just this weekend I started work on my first book. On Saturday morning I sat down to a completely blank page. Do you have any idea how daunting that was? But thanks to a good friend’s advice, I started with a few lines. Took a break. Then added a few more. By the end of the weekend I had over 60 pages.
Nothing happens until you start.
Every beginning needs momentum! Start as absolutely small as possible. Instead of searching for reasons to wait, make it too easy not to begin.
11 Ways to Start Really Small:
1. Make a tiny list of tiny things. Think as small as possible. Look something up. Ask someone a question. Anything.
2. Talk to someone who’s done it. Find a model. It helps tremendously to see a similar path before you walk yours.
3. Read something about it. Find a blog post, news article or book chapter about someone who’s done it. Get the juices flowing.
4. Make it fun. Look at office space, throw around name ideas, or grab a bottle of wine and sit down with your husband or wife and check out other websites in the space.
5. Write about it. Expanding on a new invigorating idea is a ton of fun. Write a sentence. Then maybe another. Write for at least 10 minutes, but you don’t have to stop there. I keep an ongoing idea list in my journal – I love adding to it and makes for a great conversation piece at parties.
6. Buy a domain name. Five minutes and $9.95 – easy and cheap!
7. List out your reasons why it’s so important to you. What amazing things could happen if you do it? What will you miss out on if you don’t? Use the free Goal Setting or Find Your Why workbooks if you need to.
8. Find your support. A stiff dose of courage and accountability makes for strong beginnings. Think of 2-3 people who will stand behind your idea. Buy them coffee and divulge your plan.
9. Send a note to your boss (warning: this one’s extreme). How long does it take to write a two word email that says “I quit”? You might want to word it a little better but you get the idea. Or even better, if you have a good relationship (and you think your boss will be supportive), talk to them about your plan.
10. Help someone. If you plan to offer a service (like teaching, coaching, consulting or web design) then start offering it to those close to you. Find someone in need of something you’re good at. Start helping. Giver’s high is amazing.
11. Put a price on it. You’ll never get paid if you don’t ask for money. If you’ve already been helping people then at some point you gotta put a price on your goods. You’re worth something to someone, I guarantee it. It only takes an instant to change your price from $0 to something. Getting money for things you’re good at motivates. Simple as that.
There is never a good time.
And if you’re waiting for the right time to do one of the above, I suggest you stop. It won’t come. There’s never a good time to do any of the important things in life. I don’t care if you’re starting a business, having a baby, moving to a new town or trying to lose 100 lbs. Stop waiting. The right time won’t come. You have to start by starting.
Then again you could always do it later. But when was the last time that happened?
What have you been putting off?
What do you want to do but don’t know where to start?
Are you going to look back in five or ten years with 20 times more excuses and say you wish you would have started this or tried that? I hope not. And if you’re looking back now on a regret from years past, the good news is it’s never too late.
Ray Krok started McDonalds at 52 (I hope you do something more constructive and healthy than start a McDonalds, but most importantly do something).
There are no real excuses. Especially when you’re starting small.
Find Your Purpose, Live Your Legend.
One night I was out near the river reading The Alchemist. Marcel looked over and excitedly told me how powerful the book was. “I’ve read it four times” he nearly shouted.
I smiled. This was my fifth. I had to laugh but I can’t say I was so surprised.
After all, The Alchemist is a story of pursuing one’s Personal Legend. Your destiny. Your purpose as best as one can know it. What wakes you up excited and keeps you up at night. Marcel lives his legend everyday.
He should be the rule, not the exception.
Marcel and his wife Carolina have 4 cats, a kitten, a dog, a puppy, Lupina their baby lamb, about 8 pigs and an adorable two-year-old daughter, Elena. Everything they eat is local and organic and in season, grass fed. There is no other choice.
When the winter gets too cold for good fishing, they latch up the lodge and travel the world for a few months and spend the summer with family in Holland. Their lodge, The Patagonian BaseCamp, is now known worldwide. It started with a guy with a fishing pole wandering around the woods in Chile.
People called him crazy.
Now thousands would kill to have what he’s built. The problem is they were not willing to do something he was…Begin.
If you can start, I assure you, you can finish.
Each step makes you more committed to the last. You will find more and more reasons to make it epic as you go.
It all stats with starting.
Don’t intimidate yourself by the image of people living their dreams. Don’t focus on the huge gap you might have to cross to get to where they are. They had to cross it too. But they didn’t cross it in one day. It likely took a thousand little acts. Any one of which seemed insignificant at the time.
A journey of a thousand miles still begins with a single step. Nothing’s changed.
Don’t worry about not knowing about the future. No one does anyway.
If you don’t start, how can you ever finish?
“Making a decision is only the beginning of things. When someone makes a decision, he is really diving into a strong current that will carry him to places he had never dreamed of when he first made the decision.”
Start with a comment!
What can you do this week (or right now) to get you at least slightly closer to a dream? Share at least one sentence in the comments below. Let that be the beginning. We’ll hold you to it!
If you liked this, please share it using the links below. It might be all someone needs. Thanks!
Kira Withers-Jones
Posted at 07:23h, 25 MayI am going to take 2 aprons and an altered jacket to my friend’s gallery and get some feedback – that’s my action for this week 🙂
Scott
Posted at 09:07h, 27 MayLove it Kira! Sounds simple enough to get things rolling… Good luck.
John Greathouse
Posted at 10:20h, 25 MayGreat Post Scott!
I try to instill this mindset in my UCSB students. Even so, a number of them are just now starting to look for a job – and they graduate in two weeks. They should have ‘started’ months ago.
You have inspired me to write a complimentary blog entry – thanks for the ongoing wisdom and inspiration.
John
Scott
Posted at 09:10h, 27 MayThat says a lot John. Thanks! I hear you on the UCSB job procrastination. The funny thing is, if they started a bit earlier, there would be hardly any competition… Thanks for the related post by the way. I’m honored.
An awesome article on just what you mention was recently written by one of my favorite purpose guys for college students. Here it is: Letter to an MBA : http://julliengordon.com/letter-to-an-mba
Let’s keep inspiring each other!
Scott
Alex | Perfecting Dad
Posted at 10:27h, 25 MayI’ve been feeling the pressure lately, over the last months, to make moves. It’s a very cool feeling because often we are comfortable where we are so it’s exhilarating to allow discomfort to gently build until it reaches the point where you have to do something. Buy some real-estate, start a business, start a blog. I started my blog after having parenting idea after idea but doing nothing about it … then it overflew and I started the blog over Christmas. Then my traffic was small, but I persisted and now it’s around about 100+ visitors per day average three months later, up to almost 200 on days that I post. My most popular post All-In: How I Made $800,000 in a Lifetime and $15,000 Last Week received over 700 views in the last two weeks, which is huge for where I was. Try, then get feedback, then try some more. Baby steps are easy. Nice article, thanks!
And thanks for bringing up The Alchemist, it is Coelho’s best book.
Scott
Posted at 23:20h, 27 MayThat’s unreal progress Alex. I know exactly how it feels and it’s one of the best motivators too keep doing all you can to crank out epic content. With all those eyeballs, makes it even more exciting for each post! Hats off my man.
Brian
Posted at 10:43h, 25 MayThat was a really great article, and I got inspired when I lived vicariously for a moment through Marcel and just flyfished for a year around the world. What a concept, and thank you for your work.
Scott
Posted at 23:21h, 27 MayTell me about it! I felt the same as he told me eye to eye. What a way to learn about yourself, the world, what really matters. I think I might have one of those in my future…you?
T. Thorn Coyle
Posted at 11:00h, 25 MayThis is a very helpful article. I often ask my clients and students to “imagine the next step.” When we discuss this after the visualization, it turns out their next step is often still too large. Scaling down helps us to scale toward what we really want. The beauty of this is also that doing so often leads to something better than we first imagined. Each step has a chance to lead us in a slightly different way, as we feel our way toward the goal of happiness, effectiveness, and strength. If we tried to take bigger steps at first, serendipity would never have room to operate!
Scott
Posted at 23:24h, 27 MaySo awesome that you’re teaching this stuff. Thank you! Starting ridiculously small and can sometimes seem insignificant but before long you have a snowball that’s pretty unstoppable.
Like Tony Robbins says, “Never leave the sight of a goal or idea without taking a step towards it’s accomplishment” No matter how small!
Barron
Posted at 11:05h, 25 MayBrilliant, my man. This right here:
“Don’t intimidate yourself by the image of people living their dreams. Don’t focus on the huge gap you might have to cross to get to where they are.”
is something I think most people do, myself included. It’s so daunting thinking about how so-and-so is ten thousand steps ahead of you. I learned that if you just focus on your own steps, soon enough others will be looking to you with the same thoughts.
Great article!
Scott
Posted at 23:27h, 27 MayGlad you stopped by Barron!
Isn’t it wild how those steps can add up?? I was at the Giant’s game with Leo yesterday and he was telling me how Zen Habits came to be and I found myself in that very place thinking I have some insane ground to cover…but then I caught myself, looked back at what’s gone on in the past year, got ridiculously grateful and went back to work… Big successes are meant to inspire, not intimidate. We can’t forget that they are exactly what shed light on the path we’re about to head down.
Hope we can connect in SF again soon.
-Scott
Alyzande Renard
Posted at 11:15h, 25 MayReally ringing true on a day where I didn’t take any little steps. Resolved to write 100 words this evening, then keep going.
Scott
Posted at 23:28h, 27 MayAwesome! So how’d the 100 words go?! I bet you ended up writing a few more than that, eh? Fill us in!
?
Posted at 12:10h, 25 Mayfunny, I started “meditating” today by just taking 10 slow breaths with my eyes closed this morning, and I got the first mail since I subscribed with this!
And I’ve read the Alchemist three times!
Scott
Posted at 23:30h, 27 MaySounds like a perfect start to me. Welcome to the adventure by the way! Always fun to cross paths with another Alchemist fan after his own Legend…
sue ritchie
Posted at 12:12h, 25 MayAnother great post 🙂
I find your writing very inspiring Scott, and you have such a clarity of thought on many things. The idea of starting small is something I have been embracing ; the only way to get something to happen is to DO something. It’s easy to beat yourself up over not doing enough, something that I am very good at. But taking the time to look back and count the small steps you have taken already is a great way to see them as the bigger footsteps they are, and that can spur you onwards and upwards 🙂
This week I am going to my first breakfast club meeting; one small step for me, one giant step for my business…
I look forward to reading more of your fab posts 🙂
Thank you
Sue.
Scott
Posted at 23:35h, 27 MayExcellent Sue. I hope the breakfast was a blast. Very good point about looking back on all the little steps from the past. They serve as the perfect motivation to take the next one and proof of what’s possible. I actually start each of my Monday morning weekly planning sessions with spending a few minutes writing down at least 10 things I’m proud of that I accomplished from the week before. At first I can only list a few but as soon as I give it some thought, maybe look back at my calendar and list, it’s amazing how many things end up on that list! And I know I’m not unique. The only reason I have so many to list out is because I take the time to actually list them. Everyone has their own list of kick ass things they make happen each week. They just need to take the time and give themselves more credit!
I highly suggest the list of 10 accomplishments as a way to kick start any week!
Thanks so much Sue.
sue ritchie
Posted at 04:33h, 28 MayThanks for your comment Scott 🙂
One thing caught my eye; Monday morning planning sessions. Is this how you approach your weekly tasks? The reason I ask is that I am finding myself taking a bit of a scattergun approach at the moment, and know that I need to be more organised. Do you have a weekly list of tasks that get done at certain times, for example, sheduled twitter posts, blog commenting, and so on. I am developing a marketing plan that includes social media but I am finding myself tied up for hours with certain tasks!
Thanks
Sue
Scott
Posted at 18:08h, 30 MayDefinitely Sue. The few biggest goals/tasks for the week get priority both early in the day and early in the week. I block time on the calendar for those. Then the other things fit where appropriate. Each Monday I do my best to find a spot for everything I want to get done, actually on my calendar. Now that you mention it, i should do a short post on simple weekly planning. It’s so crucial to staying focused on the important. The key is scheduling the important first. Good luck!
kirri
Posted at 13:37h, 25 MayEverytime I read one of your posts, it is like you are speaking just to me lol! Your words give me the courage to move me forward and are just so damned feel good – I love that! Thank you so much…..
Today I am going to call two potential clients…the ones who kinda landed in my lap but I failed to follow up due to my dislike of “selling” myself.
Thanks again Scott….I dont know how you do it but you just….do it!
Scott
Posted at 23:38h, 27 MayThank you Kirri. Your kind words go a long way. I really mean that.
Awesome that they seem written straight to you. Must mean we think a like because a lot of these posts come from things I want to remind myself of 😉
Hope the client calls went well. I know how easy it is to put that stuff off. Just remember that you’re doing something good for them, and that at the end of a sale the buyer says thank you–that always helps me pick up the phone.
Benny
Posted at 14:46h, 25 MayLove the message. It’s so easy to forget it starts with a step. Sometimes I’ll think about how much I’ll have to do and get overwhelmed. Sometimes it’ll paralyze me to not even take action!
Scott
Posted at 23:39h, 27 MayI hear ya. But hopefully you didn’t get paralyzed this time right?! Let us know what small step you decided to take after reading. Would love to hear it.
Kristin
Posted at 17:57h, 25 MayScott – completely perfect post. It’s so easy to get caught up with being busy that starting something else seems really hard. And once you start, it gets harder.
But then you look back at some point and realise that the ‘new’ thing has become your new normal. Or you look back and wish you’d just kept going. Nike got it right – just do it!
PS: Put me down for a copy of the book when you’ve finished. If it’s anything like your posts, it will be fantastic.
Scott
Posted at 23:42h, 27 MayWow, is that a presale?! Haha. you got it. You give me a serious standard to live up to. Can’t wait for it to come out. Going to need another few weeks at least though. I’ll be sure to keep you all posted.
Reaching the new normal is so powerful. It’s like when you accomplish something you thought was impossible, all of a sudden your mindset completely shifts and you could do it again no problem. It’s one of the most powerful concepts I’ve found.
Marya | Blog Therapy
Posted at 19:53h, 25 MayWhat a gorgeous article. Just the best example of what I wrote today, about bloggers who are so positive and such a joy to read to. Well done!
Scott
Posted at 23:43h, 27 MayHaha! Perfect timing Marya. Glad you enjoyed it.
Elizabeth
Posted at 20:54h, 25 MayWonderful post Scott! You have inspired me for several months. I wrote to you awhile back telling you I was going back to school at the age of 51 as a single parent of a nine-year-old. My husband’s sudden death was devastating but also spurred me on to decide what I really wanted out of my life. Well, fast forward and I’ve just completed my first semester at seminary with a 4.0 GPA and my nine-year-old has adjusted beautifully. It all started with an email to get more info about the seminary I’ve wanted to attend for over 28 years. One step led to another and before I knew it, I was enrolled and attending my first class. It continues to be an awesome journey. You are so right, just start. One step. Then another. I appreciate your wisdom and love of adventure and living life to the fullest. You are truly an inspiration.
Elizabeth
Scott
Posted at 23:46h, 27 MayYeah Elizabeth! I remember you writing in a while back. So often I have an exchange with a reader but never end up hearing back from them to see how things came along. So awesome to get an update on your story! And a 4.0?? You are on fire! My heart goes out to you and believe me when I say that this update of yours has indeed inspired me. Thank you.
Will
Posted at 21:56h, 25 MayScott,
Again awesome post. I wish I could do #9 (again). Last October after going to Hawaii for the first time I fell in love with the island life. My first day at work the next day I fired my boss that I work for one day a week. I don’t know why I didn’t do it sooner because I was miserable there. Hawaii taught me that life is meant to be enjoyed and loved – so I quit what was causing me the most misery in my life.
Now I am working towards enjoying life every single day and being passionate about my life and how I can serve others. Your blog has helped as there have been times your writing has hit the nail on the head for me. A coincidence? Maybe. Life changing? Definitely. Keep up the good work!
Scott
Posted at 23:48h, 27 MayWhat a story Will! These comments are seriously making my night. I’m so proud and excited for you. I get out to Hawaii once every year or so and I certainly know the therapeutic effect the island life can have…so important! Same goes for most any world travel or just getting out of your daily routine. Glad it seems to have cured you!
Now Is Never Too Early For An Entrepreneur
Posted at 09:28h, 26 May[…] was inspired to write this entry after reading Scott Dinsmore’s 11 Quick Actions […]
Bianca @ Italian Fix
Posted at 11:20h, 26 MayThis week I will be launching my website, and it was comprised of a hundred small steps. Scary, ugly, hard, wonderful, exciting, inspiring steps.
It is my first website so it is really tricky to surpass the roadblocks of where the knowledge ends, never mind all the life stuff that makes stealing a few hours a week seem really tough.
I posted an article a couple weeks ago on STARTING. It was about learning a new language, after I kept hearing “I want to speak a second language”. When I learned Italian a few years ago it scared the daylights out of me. But I STARTED and that is why I can now speak it. You gotta take baby steps!
To nail the small steps you have to turn off the noise and get FOCUSED. Have 3 mantras in your head when you feel unsure. I’m gonna share my 3 most useful mantras via twitter the day I launch my site. They have been so helpful to me.
Hey, loved your post. Keep it up. I found it via twitter from Corbett. Gotta love the twitter!
Bianca
Scott
Posted at 23:50h, 27 MayCorbett’s a good friend and so glad you made it this way! Awesome news about your site. Trust me I can relate to those thousand little steps. I am deep in the middle of cranking out all the little steps for the rebrand of this site and it’s been a lot to say the least…
Can’t wait to hear how the big launch goes. Come back and fill us in on the details!
Scott
Posted at 23:51h, 27 MayBtw, I’m headed to Italy in September for a few weeks. One of my favorite places in the world. I’ll have to check out your site a bit more!
Bianca @ Italian Fix
Posted at 15:59h, 28 MayHi Scott. I would absolutely love to have you over on my site. I hope it will be as useful as your is! I invented it exactly for people like you who say “It is one of my favorite places”. I have yet to meet a person who has zero interest in visiting Italy. Crazy but true.
For anyone trying to think of an idea for an endeavor this was something I read that really resonated: Do what people already ask you to do. As in- follow something that others find difficult but you find easy to accomplish. My example is I used to live in Italy, and so I had regular requests to answer Italian getaway tips from friends of friends. But it took me 2 years to realize the market for it.
I say, plant a seed 9an idea) ans water it daily with tiny steps until it grows to something. Then hold it in your hand and throw it into the wind, like a bird.
Thanks for your feedback Scott! All the best!
Scott
Posted at 18:05h, 30 MayYou are right on with this Bianca. That’s probably the easiest (and usually most effective) way to discover a passion right in front of you. And then you already have the audience!
Amanda Cabe
Posted at 11:24h, 26 MayI am going to start running. I have arthritis…it is under control and I can run. I have choosen to not run for many years. I want to run a marathon. I can’t start if I will never finish. Great post, as always!! You help me see so much clearer – things can change, only I have the power to make that change happen.
Scott
Posted at 23:54h, 27 MayNow we are talking Amanda! That first step is going to be so huge–and in this case it’s literally a step. I love when people take on physical feats because they are perfect for breaking down into the smallest of steps. I have a feeling you are are going to have a lot of fun crossing that finish line. It’s only just a few steps back to back right? 😉 Good luck (as if you need it).
11 Things You Can Do to Start a Business Today | Bisirk
Posted at 11:47h, 26 May[…] Dinsmore wrote a great article on Reading for Your Success that provides 11 quick actions you can take to to get started towards your own business. I strongly […]
Adithya
Posted at 02:07h, 27 MayThe link for this article, was given to me by my sis. I really loved this article and yes it inspired me a lot. The easiest and the most difficult step is how to start our dream venture, by reading these steps one will get a bit more clarity to their thoughts. 🙂 Am glad that i was fortunate enough to start my day, with such an inspiring article.
Scott
Posted at 23:56h, 27 MayWell welcome to the adventure Adithya!! And please thank your sitter for spreading the word. It means the world!
I hope this makes that first step a little less daunting. Please let us know how the venture comes along!
Chris
Posted at 07:30h, 28 MayThis is an extremely powerful message. It’s one that I “knew”, but hadn’t internalized.
The entire concept of Robert Allen’s “Getting Things Done” is to break projects into the smallest “next actionable step” and I read that years ago.
This was a kick in the head. The line “The iPhone started with tinkering in a garage with leftover circuit boards.” left me absolutely dumbfounded. I actually picked up my iPhone and stared at it.
Kudos.
Scott
Posted at 18:10h, 30 MayHaha. Glad you liked that line! It’s pretty wild to think about how small the steps have to be no matter what the goal. GTD is a great system indeed. I’d say the The Next Actionable steps is the most powerful part of it!
Jason @ Stop & Breathe
Posted at 05:34h, 30 MayScott,
This was such a powerful post. Thank you!
I”m a big fan of #5, write it down. I keep lists upon lists of my ideas and thoughts. I also love to use mindmaps when expanding on my ideas.
Good luck with the book. I’m anxious to read it.
Scott
Posted at 18:12h, 30 MayThanks Jason. Can’t wait to get it in front of you guys! First the site launch, then the book. Hopefully it won’t be long.
As for writing things down, Things is an awesome app for the Mac or iphone ipad for really good task management. It seriously is the perfect app as far as I’ve found.
Patricia Merker
Posted at 16:09h, 30 MayWow Scott, so glad I “stumbled” upon your blog. I’m a new children’s author of a really different series (The Grand Master/Little Master Series) to be out this Sept/Oct. You’re so right; baby steps. I feel overwhelmed with all the marketing I have to do, in spite of the fact that I have a publisher. Had I known of all the work, I might have decided against it. I’m glad I didn’t know! Feel free to check out my blog at http://www.gmlmseries.wordpress.com
Thanks again for the inspiration! Patricia
Scott
Posted at 18:15h, 30 MayCongrats Patricia! What an incredible accomplishment. No doubt that a properly focused blog could be a great way to add a little promotion for the project. Nice work on getting that up.
So glad you stopped by. I hope you’ll stick around for the adventure to come!
Pamela
Posted at 14:19h, 01 JuneINSPIRING! With much appreciation and gratitude for sharing your formula for success. For me it puts a totally different twist on it, taking it from daunting to realistically surmountable, achievable and exciting! I look forward to bringing my dream to fruition.
Pamela, NZ
Scott
Posted at 07:48h, 16 AugustI absolutely love that quote Pamela “…taking it from daunting to realistically surmountable, achievable and exciting!” That’s exactly why I built Live Your Legend!
So now please tell us what this dream is and how you plan to make it reality??
Eli
Posted at 18:45h, 01 JuneScott, there always seems to be a specific thread, vs the universal and wise reminders, in your posts that keeps me coming back to your blog. I went fly fishing recently with a group of fellow medical students (all 10-15 years younger than me) in western North Carolina, and so I immediately appreciated the setting for this post. And I think fly fishing is encoded in our genetic makeup…haven’t proven it yet, but practice makes perfect. But what really made me smile, look down, and shake my head in that side to side appreciation of the threads that bind us was how the Alchemist reared his beautiful head. Maybe anyone who has read it once reads it over and over, but I’ve given that book away more times than I’ve read it. Along with the Power of One by Bryce Courtenay, it’s my favorite gift. Thank you for sharing yours.
Eli
Scott
Posted at 07:50h, 16 AugustSounds like a killer trip Eli. I’ve never been out that way for fishing. But you’re indeed right, it’s a mindfulness practice in itself – and sometimes you even end up with a fish!
Good point about the Alchemist. There are few people I’ve met who’ve only read it once…
I think I need to add Power of One to my list. Thanks!
Freedom. It’s not what you think – wisdom from Scott Dinsmore « Intentional Living
Posted at 11:19h, 06 July[…] Pick a freedom and start small. […]
Jeroen van Baardwijk
Posted at 00:44h, 16 JulyGreat and inspiring post, Scott. There’s just one thing I don’t like about it, and that’s the fact that you made a mistake an afwul lot of people make, and which tends to annoy a lot of people where I live — the same place Marcel comes from.
Marcel isn’t from Holland, he’s from The Netherlands. No, it’s not the same. Holland is part of The Netherlands, but it’s not the entire country. Referring to The Netherlands as ‘Holland’ is like referring to the USA as ‘California’– the latter is part of the former, but it’s not the entire country. You probably have no idea how many Dutch you annoy (or outright piss off) when you call their country ‘Holland.’
But other than that, I like your post!
Scott
Posted at 07:53h, 16 AugustOh wow Jeroen- thanks for the heads up! Leave it to the guy out in California to make that mistake. Thanks for brining it to my attention– never know what I’m going to learn from all you readers ;).
Glad you enjoyed it aside from the geography!
Freedom. It’s Not What You Think. | Live Your Legend
Posted at 17:03h, 25 July[…] Pick a freedom and start small. […]
Matt
Posted at 20:40h, 27 JulyHi Scott,
My name’s Matt, I’m from the UK. I found your website via Leo’s Zen Habits and I’m really glad I did. A few months ago I quit my job, it was having a negative effect on my health and life in general.
I now intend to start my own freelance business. I have been reading and researching and I feel overwhelmed at times. There are so many things I want to do in life that I haven’t done, that others around me haven’t encouraged me to do. I truly believe we are each here to walk our own path. There is so much information and advice out on the internet but ultimately only we can reach out and do what we need to do.
I hope that your site here lends some courage to my own efforts. Thank you.
Scott
Posted at 07:55h, 16 AugustCongrats on the transition Matt!! That realization, and resulting action, is the most important one a person can make. You’ve also called out the most challenging part about all this free information on the internet. The reading is free but it’s the ACTION that comes at a price (in time and effort mainly).
The key is to not get bogged down in so much learning that you never do any doing. Pick a few things and dive in!
llop
Posted at 05:02h, 04 AugustFont sucks.
Particularly the italicized font in the start.(11 ways)
Scott
Posted at 07:56h, 16 AugustThanks for the heads up. This post some how got messed up in the transfer. I will get right on fixing it!
Wendell Keith
Posted at 04:23h, 26 AugustThanks for the update, is there any way I can receive an email sent to me every time you publish a fresh post?
Bridgette
Posted at 00:43h, 01 SeptemberI fall in Love with SeaLife and a cute little red SeaStar (I know it`s called officially `Seafish` 🙂 and one of the few steps is . . . another day at Snorkeling with my `safety diving flag`!
Good day2u
Bridgette
Karlita
Posted at 16:50h, 10 NovemberHi! I have just found your blog in google hah.. looking for inspirational phrases to make me start on my bucket list!.. I started a blog 5.5 months ago and it has 50 followers now.. its ok but still I feel I need something to put that number up.. also I would like to start my company (e-shop).. but just the fact of thinking about the e-laws and taxes overwhelms me.. however I am going to start searching today!
Susan
Posted at 14:10h, 08 MarchHi Scott –
I just stumbled upon this post through another site. I’ve made the decision to help my family become financially stable, so that we may begin our dream of moving to Argentina. This is a huge undertaking, and my action steps for this week are to research what will work for me, make the action plan and to-do lists and follow through!
Thank you! This is exactly what I needed to read today.
Anjan
Posted at 04:55h, 25 NovemberJust want to thank you.
Thank you so so much. 😀
The 17 Habits of People Who Change the World | Propel Steps
Posted at 16:00h, 11 May[…] in a mountain town in Oman, navigating a rental car up the coast of Croatia with my wife or discovering Patagonia with a fly rod. Whether it’s seeing a town across the world or across your state, adventure has […]
Will Richardson
Posted at 07:26h, 20 JulyI’ve already started, that’s why I’m here!
Hajer Al Sabei
Posted at 07:06h, 07 AugustGood point
Eric Michael
Posted at 18:11h, 11 AugustThis is really a great blog post. I agree with almost every statement. Don;t think about starting a business… think about starting a blog, and then publishing a book, and keep adding income sources until you have a real thing going.
I started out never writing a page, never commenting on a blog, did not even know what HTML was. In the last year I have published a #1 bestseller http://www.amazon.com/Passive-Income-Life-Amazon-com-ebook/dp/B00DVBQUAO on Kindle, built a 80 page website and a blog, and now have 5 books in my ‘Almost Free Money’ series of Kindle books, all while working a full time job. You just have to start building. The first step is the hardest!
22 Quick Actions You Can Take Today To Avoid Unemployment Forever
Posted at 16:19h, 13 August[…] (Thanks to Adam Baker for the inspiration and the format of this post. I borrowed it from his post titled, “24 Quick Actions You Can Do Today to Change Your Financial Life Forever“. You can find other great “quick actions” post by Corbett Barr and Scott Dinsmore.) […]
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Posted at 12:06h, 10 NovemberIf you wish for to grow your familiarity simply keep visiting this web page and be updated with the hottest information posted here.
The Beginner’s Guide to Doing Work that Makes You Happy | Live Your Legend
Posted at 08:38h, 05 March[…] 11 Quick Actions You Can Do Today to Successfully Start Doing Work You Love (or Anything) […]
JackieHinton
Posted at 10:30h, 26 JulyLove this website, I am learning to be a changemaker,I’m an aspiring writer, and an aspiring social activist.I’m giong to be applying to southern New Hampshire University.to take up sociology,social entrepreneurship,creative writing, and web develop,ment. You’re site is what i needed to learn other things.Thank you i signed up for your newsletter. Great job. I want to be just like you.
Mary Winters-Meyer
Posted at 00:21h, 29 AugustThis week my focus has been finishing my first 4 piece series with my intricate mandalas inspired art. It’s currently at my printer being scanned at high res so I can get it onto my websites. This weekend I hope to finish the first stage of building my art website.
Steven Schwanitz
Posted at 11:48h, 19 MaySo I’m now taking my actual first steps to becoming a freelance writer, I plan on putting in my two week notice soon, and i’m currently building a life for myself, and for the longest time I just had no idea how to do it! Your blog has been the number one driving force behind it! Thank you so much Scott!
Daniel Felipe Villamil
Posted at 09:21h, 06 AugustA practical and rethorical question: as a turist can someone buy properties, apply to nationalities and live wherever one wants no matter how long? Nop. So, doing something is important, but how can you deal with this requirements if you acknowledge them after you start? My point is, no power of will can suffice if you (for example) need to obtain nationality to do all that and that country’s goverment simply won’t give it to you.
The overcoming of this legal inconvenients is what I’ve always wondered about this kinds of stories (been arround the world -> finded my spot -> stayd).
Appreciate your thoughts…
Hajer Al Sabei
Posted at 07:02h, 07 AugustHi there.
I am making the first step here.
I dropped out of university and I am very sure it is the right decision, but now i have nothing.
It is very scary. as if I had this structure that i relay on, and now I am on my own.
Hopefully the future is more certain for me.
Thank Scout and LYL community.
Regards, Hajer from Oman
linda
Posted at 03:31h, 19 Januarythis week, i will continue reading, and making a list of what that first step might be
Karin Feldbaum
Posted at 07:28h, 31 JulyFilled in my Goal Setting and Action Workbook … now it’s down to weekly planning 😉
MissPsychic WendyBella
Posted at 05:40h, 02 AugustFocusing On All Of The Good That I Am Thankful And Grateful For.
Colleen
Posted at 07:00h, 22 AugustThank you for another inspiring article! I am continuing to work my way through the fabulous LYL resources in order to define and pursue work I love. I am definitely getting closer – thanks guys 🙂
Leeloo BadAs
Posted at 03:50h, 06 September“It all starts with starting”. I love this ! <3
Jessica Anne Gooding
Posted at 01:55h, 30 MarchI’m starting by answering the 27 questions to ignite your spark and completing the find your why work book…