According to the World Economic Forum, one in five people planned to quit their jobs in 2022.
This is what happened to me when I quit my job 35 years ago, it was the start of a journey that turned out to be more exciting than I imagined and which eventually gave me a life of freedom, fulfillment, and self-expression.
Today, my wife and I live in a beautiful secluded house surrounded by nature. We’ve explored the wonders of Austria, France, Hong Kong, India, Italy, Malaysia, Portugal, Spain, Singapore, and Switzerland. Luxury cars like BMW, Mercedes, and Jeep Grand Cherokee have graced our driveway, and we’re both members of a private golf club.
Yet, material possessions were never the ultimate goal.
What truly mattered to me was the freedom to live life on my terms, free from the constraints of overbearing bosses and unnecessary stress.
In this article, I share some of the lessons I’ve learned along the way and provide a roadmap for those seeking to create their own independent and fulfilling lives.
This was most valuable
Of the many valuable things I’ve learned about the ability to live life on my own terms I consider the most valuable to be making myself into an expert.
In every field, there are tasks that others either can’t do or simply don’t enjoy doing. That’s when experts become invaluable. The key is to find something you really enjoy doing and then dedicate yourself to becoming slightly better than others in that chosen field. Whether you’re a plumber, copywriter, mechanic, accountant, electrician, artist, writer, or lawyer, expertise opens doors and ensures a steady demand for your services.
By continuously honing my personal development skills and staying ahead of the curve, I positioned myself as a sought-after professional coach who delivers exceptional results.
This makes it easy
Making yourself into an expert might sound like hard work, but, in my experience, that’s not the case if you follow a path that interests and inspires you and that you believe to be valuable and important.
Each of us has a vital interest — an area of passion that quickens our pulse and ignites our curiosity. When you identify this vital interest, it feels natural to channel your efforts into learning more and becoming an expert because the subject truly resonates with you. And when you’re genuinely interested in something, that interest endures. It fuels your enthusiasm and provides a solid foundation for continuous learning and growth.
Experts thrive when they discover a niche that genuinely captivates their attention.
This is what ensured my success
I attribute much of my success to adopting the Japanese philosophy of Kaizen — continuous and never-ending improvement.
A thirst for knowledge and a commitment to ongoing learning have been essential ingredients for building my expertise and leading an independent life. Reading books about subjects that interest me, attending courses, and engaging with experts in my field of performance coaching have drip-fed me with knowledge from sources that engage me. This is how I’ve kept myself up-to-date and often ahead of the competition.
Mastery is a lifelong journey, and by consistently learning, practicing, and expanding my knowledge, I’ve positioned myself as an authority in my chosen domain.
This amazing value only occurred to me later
I still remember the morning the postman brought the book.
I had been anticipating its arrival eagerly. The write-ups had been glowing. I tore off the wrapping and started to read without a care for my to-do list. Every page brought some new story, another important learning. I was totally absorbed. Learning excited me with the possibilities of new ways I could help my clients. Darkness had descended by the time I put down the book.
When you’re learning about what you really care about the accumulation of new knowledge actually refreshes your excitement and motivation for your vocation.
This article in The Harvard Business Review discusses the need to make the effort to learn, but my experience is that if you’re passionate about your subject you don’t need to make an effort you are simply swept along by your hunger to know more.
Why I stand in the traffic
To succeed as an independent professional, you have to go where your potential customers gather.
Just as we search the internet for local services, your online presence must be optimized to attract clients in your specific field. Furthermore, attending courses, seminars, and events relevant to the needs of your customers not only helps your learning but also allows you to connect with your target audience on a deeper level.
By approaching these opportunities with a humble student mindset, you will find you can contribute thoughtfully and build relationships that may evolve into fruitful business connections.
An important lesson from personal preferences
I have always preferred intimate one-to-one conversations to large group events.
I enjoy parties but I prefer more intimate dinners. I feel more engaged and comfortable when I can get my teeth into a conversation and explore subjects in depth. And I enjoy listening to and telling stories. I didn’t realize it at the time I chose my direction, but I now feel sure this was why I chose to be a personal development coach rather than say a purveyor of coaching courses or a trainer.
Consider your everyday behavior when deciding on the way you wish to work.
Your best source of income
While wealth should not be our sole motivation, it is a pragmatic reality that thriving becomes easier when catering to clients who are accustomed to investing generously in services.
Instead of struggling to sell low-priced products to a large volume of customers, targeting affluent clientele streamlines our efforts. For instance, I made a conscious decision to work exclusively with corporations, knowing they were more likely to allocate substantial resources to consultants and coaches. I ignored opportunities to be a generalist life coach and instead focussed on performance and leadership in the corporate sector.
Follow the money and cater to those who value and can afford the expertise you offer.
What not to do
When I first decided to become a coach every coach was training to become a life coach.
It seemed to me that the world was knee-deep in life coaches. And, as far as I could make out, none of them were making any money. I got lucky, I met a young farmer who had a very small farm. He asked the Government advisor what he should do with his small farm. The man from the ministry told him to grow black currents. “I bet that’s what he’s telling everyone,” thought my farmer friend. So he decided to grow iceberg lettuces. He was one of the first in the country to grow icebergs. It was the start of his fortune.
Don’t do what everyone else is doing.
The path from job to joy
- Ask: “What subject so absorbs my attention that I keep reading about it and trying to learn more about how to make it work?” This will show you the vocation at which you will most readily become an expert.
- Study your personal behavior – in what way do you prefer to socialize? This will show you how you will perform most naturally in your career.
- Start learning everything you can about your chosen path today. When the learning excites you you’re on the right path.
- Ask yourself these 5 vital questions in order to understand your market:
4.1. Who needs what I intend to offer? Or, Who desires what I intend to offer? (Need and desire are the two strongest buying triggers.)
4.2. Who can readily afford the product or service I want to offer?
4.3. What will my customers see as the main benefit of what I offer?
4.4. What will convince my customers that my product or service will meet their needs or desires?
4.5. Where can I get to meet my customers?
Now all you have to do is start and go on.
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This post was previously published on Making It Happen.
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The post From Job to Joy: Empowering Yourself to Create an Independent and Fulfilling Life appeared first on The Good Men Project.