We Almost Said No: The Lesson AI Taught Us About Retirement And Life

As we walked across the golf course here on Desert Springs in Almería one evening recently, we found ourselves talking about something we never expected to be discussing. In many ways, the conversation reminded us why we created the Hybrid Retirement Lifestyle and why staying curious matters so much as we get older

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

If you had told us a few years ago that we’d be using AI in our business and writing a blog post about it, we’d probably have laughed

Not because we were afraid of it

Not because we didn’t understand it

But because we genuinely believed it wasn’t for us.

And that’s the lesson.

Because sometimes the biggest barrier isn’t the technology, the opportunity or even the circumstances.

Sometimes the biggest barrier is the story we tell ourselves

“We’re too old”

“I’m not technical”

“That’s for younger people”

“It’s probably too complicated”

We know those stories because we’ve told ourselves some of them too

The funny thing is that this lesson applies to so much more than AI

It applies to retirement

It applies to moving abroad

It applies to starting a business

It applies to learning new skills

And it applies to creating a life by design rather than by default

The biggest barrier is often not the thing itself

It’s our belief about the thing

Why We Resisted AI For So Long

We’ve been online for more than sixteen years

During that time we’ve seen countless trends come and go

We’ve watched people jump from one shiny object to another

We’ve seen businesses rise and disappear

We’ve learned that not everything new is worth pursuing

So when AI began appearing everywhere, we did what we’ve always done

We watched

We waited

We questioned

Truthfully, what we initially saw on social media didn’t inspire us

Much of it felt robotic

Impersonal

Disconnected from the very thing we value most

Human relationships

Stories matter

Experience matters

People matter

And we worried AI might take away the very things that make us who we are

The Biggest Barrier Isn’t Technology

Then something interesting happened

We started spending time with people we trust

Friends whose opinions we respect

People building businesses and lifestyles we admire

And slowly we began to understand something

AI isn’t at its best when it replaces people

It’s at its best when it helps people

It doesn’t replace your story

It helps you tell it

It doesn’t replace your experience

It helps you share it

It doesn’t replace your voice

It helps amplify it

It doesn’t replace your voice.

It helps amplify it

That was the moment our thinking began to shift

And it reminded us that the biggest barrier wasn’t the technology

The biggest barrier was believing it wasn’t for us

What A Hybrid Retirement Looks Like Today

Retirement is changing

For our parents and grandparents, retirement often meant stopping work altogether

Today it’s different

Many people want to continue contributing

Many need to continue earning

But most don’t want another full-time job

They want flexibility

Choice

Purpose

Financial security

They want a life where work supports life rather than life revolving around work

That’s why we created the concept of the Hybrid Retirement Lifestyle

Work a little

Live a lot

Not because work is everything

But because meaningful work can add purpose, connection and financial freedom to our lives

Why Staying Curious Matters After 50

One of the reasons we believe so strongly in the Hybrid Retirement Lifestyle is that it encourages people to keep learning, growing and exploring new opportunities

One of the greatest gifts we can give ourselves as we get older is curiosity

Learning keeps us engaged

It keeps us connected

It keeps us growing

Whether it’s learning a new technology, starting a business, improving our health or exploring a new country, the willingness to learn creates opportunities that would otherwise pass us by

We’ve met people in their fifties, sixties, seventies and beyond who are embracing new ideas and creating exciting new chapters

We’ve also met people who decided they were too old to learn something new

The difference isn’t age

The difference is mindset

The Hybrid Retirement Lifestyle

When people ask what a typical day looks like for us here in Almería, it’s usually a mixture of simple things

A little work

A little learning

Creating content

Helping people

Planning the future

Walking in the sunshine

Enjoying time together

That’s what the Hybrid Retirement Lifestyle means to us

Not stopping

Not slowing down

Simply creating a life where work fits around life

The tools may change

Technology will continue to evolve

But the goal remains the same

More freedom

More choice

More experiences

More life

We Almost Missed Something Special

As we watched the sun disappear behind the mountains that evening in Almería, we realised something

The lesson wasn’t really about AI at all

It was about staying open to possibilities

Because every meaningful change in our lives began the same way

Moving to Spain

Starting an online business

Writing books

Speaking on stages

Creating our Hybrid Retirement Lifestyle

Each one began with a decision to stay curious rather than comfortable

To explore rather than dismiss

To ask “What if?” instead of saying “No”

We almost said no to AI

We’re glad we didn’t

And perhaps the next opportunity that changes your life is waiting on the other side of a simple decision to keep an open mind

After all…

it’s never too late to learn something new

It’s never too late to change direction

It’s never too late to create more financial security

And it’s never too late to build a life you genuinely love living

Looking back, embracing AI became another chapter in our Hybrid Retirement Lifestyle journey

 

Thank You

Thanks for reading today’s blog

We Almost Said No: The Lesson AI Taught Us About Retirement And Life

And would love you to share your thoughts and feedback or any questions you have

Just reach out to us here

And if you prefer to talk to us personally you can book a call here or chat with us on WhatsApp

It’s Fr.ee to talk and we’re not going to “sell you” just answer your questions and give you some clarity on what’s next because nothing would give us more pleasure than seeing you succeed

The Old Story vs The New Story – Which One Is Shaping Your 2026?

As the year winds down and the noise of daily life softens, something interesting happens

We get space to think and in that space, a familiar voice often shows up

It sounds sensible, it sounds protective and it sounds like us

But here’s what we’ve learned through personal experience – that voice isn’t always telling the truth

We now think of it as The Old Story

 

What is “The Old Story”?

The “Old Story” is the internal narrative shaped by past experiences, disappointments, fear, and well-meaning conditioning

It says things like:

• “Now isn’t the right time”

• “You should be grateful – don’t rock the boat”

• “What if you fail again?”

• “You’ve left it too late”

It doesn’t shout – it whispers

And because it feels familiar, it often goes unquestioned

In a training we’re going to share, Dean Graziosi refers to this voice as the inner villain

We like that language but honestly, “The Old Story” feels like a better description from our experience

Because the Old Story once had a job to do – to keep us safe

But left unchallenged, it also keeps life small

Why this matters more than ever right now

As 2026 approaches, many people are already telling themselves:

“I’ll think about it in January”

But the truth is this:

Your future isn’t shaped by what you plan in January – it’s shaped by the story you believe today

The Old Story delays decisions, avoids discomfort, and keeps you exactly where you are

And here’s the part we want to be very clear about before you say it (and people do)

We are no different from you

Chris and I had our own Old Story running our lives for years

Had we not learned how to recognise it, question it, and consciously replace it, we simply would not be living the life we have today

This is why this training matters to us so deeply

We’ve listened to it more than once and each time it reinforces something we know to be true

Confidence isn’t something you wait for…

It’s something you choose

Give yourself time to watch it here because we promise it will help you take the next step whatever it is for you

As we say The Voice That’s Been Holding You Back Isn’t Yours!

The New Story doesn’t arrive – it’s written

One of the most powerful parts of this training is the invitation to rewrite the narrative

Not by pretending fear doesn’t exist or forcing positivity

But by asking yourself better questions

• Where did this story come from?

• What has it already cost me?

• And what will it cost me if nothing changes?

This is where The New Story begins

The New Story is not reckless or unrealistic…

It’s informed, intentional, and rooted in who you are now – not who you were when the Old Story was formed

The worksheet that accompanies the training is designed to help you do this quietly, honestly, and powerfully especially over the holidays when there’s finally room to think.

And if you come across this post after the holidays it’s just as valid so do use the worksheet

It’s going to become something we will use with our clients all year round to be honest

 

Borrowing belief until yours catches up

Another key insight from the training is this

When doubt feels loud, borrow belief

Look at the stories of people who’ve done what you’re considering not to compare yourself, but to disprove the Old Story!

Because if someone else can do it…

…then the story that says you can’t is already flawed

As you step toward 2026, ask yourself this

Which story am I living from right now?

The Old Story – familiar, safe, but limiting?

Or the New Story – uncertain, but expansive and honest?

You don’t need all the answers today

You just need to stop letting an outdated story decide for you

Your next step

We invite you to

• Watch the training

• Use the worksheet

• And listen carefully to the narrative running quietly in the background of your decisions

Because once you recognise The Old Story you get to choose The New Story

Watch the training and download the worksheet here

Thanks for reading today’s blog The Old Story vs The New Story and would love you to share your thoughts and feedback

Just reach out to us here

And if you prefer to talk to us personally you can book a call here or chat with us on WhatsApp

It’s Fr.ee to talk and we’re not going to “sell you” just answer your questions and give you some clarity on what’s next

Belief Changes Everything -The Moulin Story That Changed Our Lives Forever

Back in March 2005, Chris and I walked into a tiny village in the French Alps called Moulin

Snow on the ground
Sun shining
Silence so thick you could hear your own breath

We weren’t looking for a lesson
We weren’t looking for a life-defining experience
We were just looking for a dream.

But what we found was a belief story – one that changed us forever and is the reason we teach what we teach today

Before we take you into the photos, the drama, the roof-off moment (yes, the entire roof)…

We want to share what we wrote when we reposted the video of this story on Facebook

“Our beliefs matter…
People often say to us, ‘You don’t understand what it’s like for me’
Trust us — we do
That’s why we’re sharing our story of our renovation in France, and how our belief and mindset changed forever
‘What the mind can conceive, the mind can achieve’
So YES… we do know what it’s like for you”

This is not a story about a house

It’s a story about belief, and how belief is the invisible engine behind every transformation – whether it’s renovating a falling-down barn or rebuilding your financial future in midlife

The Day We Fell in Love With a Dilapidated Barn

Let’s start with what we saw that day…

 

 

This was it
A run-down four-bedroom house and a stone barn (a grange) attached to the side
Cracked
Dark
Sagging
Unheated
Unloved

Most people would have walked away

But we saw possibility
We saw life
We saw our future hybrid retirement – long before we even created the phrase

We wanted to ski all season
We wanted to wake up to mountain air
We wanted a place we could pour love into

But more than anything, we wanted to prove to ourselves that we could bring a dream into reality –  even if we didn’t know how yet

 

 

The Simple Plan… That Wasn’t Simple at All

In our minds it seemed so easy…

“Oh, we’ll take the roof off”
“We’ll convert the barn into beautiful living space”
“We’ll turn the old house into a chalet”
“We’ll build an apartment for ourselves”

That was the plan
And believe it or not – we did it.

But the reality between Point A and Point B was a rollercoaster that only belief could have carried us through

We had:

no renovation experience
no idea how French building regulations worked
no understanding of traditional alpine architecture
no guarantee anything would go according to plan

All we had was

a dream
a vision
and belief – shaky at times, but present

And that belief was the reason this story didn’t stop halfway through

The Roof-Off Moment (Where Belief Was Tested)

At one point during the renovation, we flew from London to check on progress.

What we expected:
A tidy, professional, organised building site.

What we found:

No roof.
At all.
Just sky.

 

 

It was one of those moments where your stomach drops into your boots and your mind whispers

“What have we done?”

This is where most people abandon their dreams – not because they can’t finish, but because belief cracks under fear

And that’s exactly why this story matters

Standing in the cold, staring at our roofless future home, the only thing we had left was belief

Belief that we’d figure it out
Belief that we’d get through the unknowns
Belief that the dream was still worth it
Belief that we were capable of more than we realised

And that belief carried us through

 

The Transformation (Outside & Inside)

Here’s what that once-forgotten building became…

 

Warm wood

Hand-built stonework

A mountain chalet full of life, light, and love

And here’s the part that means the most to us

This chapter – now closed, as we live in Spain – still shapes everything we teach about hybrid retirement, online business, and midlife reinvention

Because once you’ve proved to yourself that you can turn a broken barn into a dream home…
you realise you can rebuild any part of your life

You can actually see inside as we’ve retained the website that tells the story

Because the story didn’t end there

Nor will yours

What This Means for You (Whether You’re 50, 60, 70 or Beyond)

Every week, people tell us

“I don’t think I can do this”
“I’m too old to start something new”
“My circumstances are different”

And we say this with love

Your belief matters more than your circumstances
Your mindset sets the limits or removes them

You are not too old
You are not too late
You are not stuck
You are not without options

You simply need belief

The same belief that carried us through this renovation, through reinvention after 50, and through every chapter since

 

Watch the Video: Our Belief Story Recorded in 2017

Here’s the original video, recorded right outside the chalet, where Susan shared this story on camera

Watch It Here

It will give you the emotion behind the pictures and the truth behind what belief really looks like in action

 

 

 

Free Gift: Download The Mindset Shift

(because belief is the foundation of everything)

If this story resonated with you…

If you’re standing at the start of your own “renovation” (of life, income, purpose, health, retirement)…

Then this book is for you

Download The Mindset Shift (Free)

A short, powerful guide to strengthening the belief muscle so your next chapter becomes possible

 

 

Thanks for reading today’s blog Belief Changes Everything – The Moulin Story That Changed Our Lives Forever and would love you to share your thoughts and feedback

Just reach out to us here

And if you prefer to talk to us personally you can book a call here or chat with us on WhatsApp

It’s Fr.ee to talk and we’re not going to “sell you” just answer your questions and give you some clarity on what’s next

 

Our Top Free Resources For Home Business Entrepreneurs

These Are A Few Of Our Favourite Things

No we’re not about to burst into song aka The Sound Of Music

These are some of our favourite tools and resources we recommend (FREEBIES!)

The main ones paid and free are on our website along with books etc but what do we use everyday in our business that won’t cost you a bean

That’s a question we get asked a lot

Let’s start with my absolute favourite for graphic and video creation…including book covers, TikTok and YouTube promos and so much more…

Canva

Yes, we know it’s been around for a while but it continues to evolve all the time and now you can do just about anything with it that’s related to image/graphic needs including creating mockups and presentations as well as everything

You can happily start with the no cost version and go pro when you want to. I can’t say enough about this brilliant resource and if you haven’t used it in a while, go and see what great innovations they’ve added!

Canva : https://canva.com/

Canva now has an excellent integration with Pixabay (because they bought it!).

That brings me on to my go-to sites for stock images and videos…

You guessed it:

Pixabay : https://pixabay.com/

Another one that’s been around for ages and yes, we’ve tried all the others but we keep going back to Pixabay because it has such a huge variety of stock images and videos, is incredibly user-friendly and has a generous licence which allows you to do just about anything with its content

Another one we love is also probably familiar to you and that’s Unsplash

Unsplash : https://unsplash.com/

Want to host the courses/products you create with all of the above and more but not ready to find a course program due to the cost

No worries…

We love Systeme.io which will get you started and, again, you can upgrade when you’re ready…or stay with the basic version

Systeme io : https://chrisandsusan.app/systeme

We especially love this as we can create resources to share with our clients to help them build their business

Need to livestream as part of those courses or simply to raise your profile?

We recommend Streamyard

Streamyard : https://streamyard.com/

As far as AI goes, you’ve probably guessed we’re a fan of ChatGPT

AI : https://chat.openai.com/

As well as Grammarly

https://www.grammarly.com/

And the wonderful selection of tools available at Google Cloud

https://cloud.google.com/use-cases/free-ai-tools

While if it’s an unzipping tool you need, 7-zip is great

https://www.7-zip.org/

Keyword research?

Try Semrush:

https://www.semrush.com/…/what-can-i-do-with-a-free…/

Tool to showcase your business assets on social media, emails etc

Linktree : https://linktr.ee/

New favourite :

Milkshake : https://milkshake.app/

And one more for luck

You can have all the tools in the world but if you don’t use them, you’ll achieve nothing.

Need a dose of motivation to help you get started?

Fav TED talk this week will give you just that:

https://www.ted.com/…/ted_ed_how_to_get_motivated_even…

For more visit our website for free and paid for resources to build your home business enterprise

https://chrisandsusanbeesley.con/resources

And if you’ve got and favourite free tools let us know and share the love

 

 

Thanks for reading today’s blog Our Top Free Resources For Home Business Entrepreneurs and would love you to share your thoughts and feedback.  Just contact us

And if you want to talk to us you can book a free call here

Our Top Free Resources For Home Business Entrepreneurs

6 Reasons why Finding Your Purpose Matters

At first glance, it might not seem important to live your life with purpose. After all, so long as you get through the day and are reasonably happy or content, it’s all good, right?

Not really.

Without purpose you’re missing out.

What happens when you try to live your life without purpose?

You pretty much drift along and never achieve your dreams and goals.

That could so easily have happened to us when we saw our retirement on the horizon and realised we would never be able to achieve our dreams and goals unless we made a significant change…

And it all began by a session with our mentor where we went through what we saw our purpose in life going forward was.

The rest is history as they say so let’s look now at what you can do about it and the 6 reasons why finding your purpose matters.

 

Purpose Gives Drive

Purpose gets us going and makes us eager to start the day. Without purpose, you might feel your day is aimless to the point where there’s no reason to try setting goals. Left unchecked, this can affect mood and even lead to depression. It’s no wonder purpose is one of the most important things to drive us forward.

Purpose Builds Relationships

Purpose is one of those things which really bring people together. Having common interests and goals creates strong bonds. Without purpose, you might find it harder to connect to others, especially on a deeper level.

Purpose Gives Direction

Decisions can seem difficult sometimes when you have no purpose. When you are not working toward a goal or interest, it’s easy to waver or let others lead the way. But purpose means you weigh decisions against what’s important to you, meaning you honor yourself. More important, you keep to your own set of values every time you’re faced with a choice.

Purpose Gives Value

Without purpose, you might wonder whether you’re making a difference. In contrast, purpose tells you you’re making a difference and adding something to the world with every action that honors this purpose.

Purpose Reduces the Need to Keep Up with Others

If you worry about what others are accomplishing, it’s probably because you’re unsure of your own purpose. With purpose, it becomes less important what those around you are doing because you’re more interested in your own personal journey.

Purpose Reduces Stress

We experience stress most when things around us feel out of control. With purpose, you know your direction and have a pretty solid idea of what you need to do to get where you want to go. Even more important is how purpose helps you get back on track if you’re sidelined for a crisis, giving you firm direction and control when things around you feel like they’re out of your hands. This all reduces stress and helps you deal with challenges calmly and reasonably.

With purpose, your life changes for the better. It’s no wonder taking the time to figure out what you’re all about is crucial to a healthy and happy life.

Take the time for yourself.

You won’t regret it.

Why not get a copy of our brand new book Rescue Your Retirement where we take you through a journey and help you find a new way to create a secure retirement income online and live your true life passion

 

Thanks for reading today’s blog 6 Reasons Why Finding Your Purpose Matters and would love you to share your thoughts and feedback.  Just contact us

And if you want to talk to us you can book a free call here

 

6 Reasons Why Finding Your Purpose Matters

How to Get From Fear To Freedom

Back in 2014 we were speaking at an event in Orlando on how to get from fear to freedom drawing on our own experience and from our book The Mindset Shift.

Seriously, the “F” Word plagues us all – FEAR that is.

Our daughter (who was 28 at the time of writing) is seriously scared of spiders and this image alone would completely freak her out if she saw it. In her mind she sees even the smallest insignificant spider as an enormous killer spider.

The fear is absolutely real to her

 

For you as an entrepreneur starting on your journey or contemplating starting it is likely you have fears too … and will want to know how to get from fear to freedom or fear to fortune even!

Fears like …

• Does this work
• Will it work for me
• Will you help me

These fears are actually what we call common misconceptions or limiting beliefs and we have all encountered them at some time or other. Specifically though in this instance things like …

• It’s too hard, I’m not techie
• I can’t do it
• The time’s not right yet
• It won’t work for me
• It’s not for people like me
• I can’t be successful
• I’m too old!

Look we totally understand because we’ve been there ourselves. Like all fears they are deeply seated in the unconscious. Unlike the more tangible things like the fear of death, public speaking and spiders, we are often unaware of their origins and often even their existence.

The good news is that these fears really are monsters of your own creation – the voice inside your head is the mother and father of your fears until you make it change its tune!

If we had not made a scarey decision in an instant 13 years ago we would not be here today writing this article and showing you how to get from fear to freedom and become an entrepreneur in control of your own future, income and destiny.

Let’s explain by sharing our story just as we did in Orlando back in 2014…

 

How to Get From Fear To Freedom – Our Story

It was 2009 and a cold,  wet blustery night we were driving home from a client (we had our own accountancy and management consultancy business) and had just been told that a project had been bought forward to coincide with our first two week holiday skiing in France over Christmas and the New Year.

Now that might not seem a good reason to do what we did in that moment but we had been wresting for some time about our future and wanting to have our time and freedom to travel before we got too old!

It was in that moment that we knew we had to face the fear of the unknown and break free from our business and begin a new journey.

One that we had been researching but not made the decision to do…

You know that feeling we are sure as you read this story…

Suddenly all those irrational fears came flying at us as we gave notice to our clients and began to work on our new business part time whilst still working the day job (the 6o hour a week business we owned and managed)

Were we fearful?

Of course we were

Did we have the same thoughts that you might be having as you read this?

Of course we did

The difference is that we knew the majority of our fears would never ever actually happen.

They were just figments of our imagination.

We could easily have given them life by thinking about them just like you are doing right now.

It’s just the way your mind works.

We could go into this in detail here but to help you we have already written a book on it.

 

 

It’s called The Mindset Shift From Employee to Home Business Entrepreneur and because we want to show you how to get from fear to freedom we’re going to give you the chapter called “Get The F*** Out of Here”

It explains exactly how you can train your unconscious brain and get over those irrational fears.

Here’s a couple of examples just to explain

Imagine that when you were young, you were frightened by a dog.  You may well create an unconscious belief as a result, that all dogs are dangerous.  This would happen to protect you – a very common reason for beliefs to be created – and you would likely grow up being afraid of dogs.  This doesn’t mean that all dogs are really dangerous does it?

Another example (especially prevalent in people of our age group and generation) is around money.

Hearing your parents talk very disparagingly about rich people during your childhood saying things like “they’re all greedy and make their money by ripping people off”. 

You would construct a belief that all rich people were unpleasant and greedy.

Not only would it make you less likely to become rich (because your unconscious would want to avoid you becoming like these people) but because of your internal filtering system, you wouldn’t spot those things that would prove that wrong either!

Here’s the biggest surprise of all …

They say fear of public speaking is higher of the list even than fear of dying.

Who would have thought on that day 14 years ago that we would be sharing our story on stage and showing other people just like you how they can get from fear to freedom

And even though we are “no spring chickens” as they say, we have taken our message on to the virtual stage of Tik Tok where we talk on living the retirement lifetyle, online entrepreneurship and personal development.

Here’s a video we recorded yesterday “Achieving Your Dreams”

 

We would love to see you there

We’ll leave you with this thought as you think about that ONE powerful motivation that will empower you to live your dream ….

“When you face your fear, most of the time you will discover that it was not really such a big threat after all … we all need some form of deeply rooted, powerful motivation – it empowers us to overcome obstacles so we can live our dreams“

~ Les Brown

 

Thanks for reading today’s blog How To Get From Fear To Freedom and would love you to share your thoughts and feedback.  Just contact us

And if you want to talk to us you can book a free call here

How To Get From Fear To Freedom

Success Leaves Clues

We recently embarked on a journey that has not only expanded our horizons but has also opened up a world of opportunities, both personally and financially.

As a reader of our blog posts and your passion for personal growth, we couldn’t help but think of you and share this information.

We’ve become Round Peg Ambassadors for the “Secrets of Success” program. It’s an enriching platform that delves deep into the teachings of personal development legends and if you’ve read our previous article you know that we believe this is an integral part of online business success.

Beyond the invaluable knowledge, what truly excites us is the rewarding affiliate program the program offers, one that is designed to benefit us both in terms of personal growth and an income revenue stream.

Being an ambassador has given us the chance to not only grow ourselves but also to share this transformative experience with others. And now, we would like to extend this invitation to you.

Trust us you’ll want to be a part of this.

Why wait? Click here to register now and start your journey as a Round Peg Ambassador.

Dive into a realm of opportunities waiting just for you because it truly does all start with what happens in the mind and working on the mind brings new and exciting things into your life.

And if you’re reading this because you want success in business or to enjoy greater wealth then join us for this challenge – The “How To Get Anything You Want” 3 Day Challenge!

 

 

If you are looking to combine working as an affiliate marketer and help people set themselves up for success then this program is going to be invaluable both from a personal development perspective and from an affiliate income perspective.

With 13 years of online business experience as affiliate marketers we can tell you that opportunities like this are very rare and it’s way better to be involved now than in 5 years time.

And Russell Brunson has all the skills and experience to make this hugely successful for everyone.

This is the link to become an affiliate – a Round Peg Ambassador

This is the link to enjoy the benefits of this mastermind

And best of all you can be both like us

Because success leaves clues!

 

Thanks for reading today’s blog Success Leaves Clues and would love you to share your thoughts and feedback.  Just contact us

And if you want to talk to us you can book a free call here

 

Success Leaves Clues

Top Entrepreneur Secrets Of Success

If you’re reading this and ready to take the leap and follow your entrepreneurial spirit…

Thinking about finally planning your escape route from your current job and taking the leap into entrepreneurship…

Or maybe just daydreaming about it (that’s how it usually starts) we’re here to share with you our top entrepreneur success secrets.

Why we believe personal development is the key.

 

These are the lessons we learned making our escape from the corporate world (our management consultancy) and how you can shift from a corporate mindset to a business mindset.

MAKE A DECISION

Are you going to stay right where you are or will you follow your entrepreneurial spirit?  You can’t move forward until you decide to commit to achieving a certain result in your life.

KNOW YOUR DIRECTION

Know where you’re going and don’t let other people’s stresses affect you.  Even if you don’t know exactly what you’re going to do you need to know the direction you’re heading.

In our first book The Mindset Shift Alice asks the question of the Cheshire Cat during her adventures in Wonderland if she was on the right road.  He asked her where she was going.  She said she didn’t know and he replied thatin that case any road would get her there.  And he was right.  If you are wandering aimlessly you will never arrive at your destination because you don’t have one!

 

REMOVE ALL OBSTACLES

What is standing in your way?  Remove people from your decision makeing and put away other people’s opinions.  Don’t adopt other people’s lifestyles that don’t align with your own.

This was a difficult one for us as it was our closest friends and family who couldn’t see what we were doing was what we wanted and in fact needed to do!

GET A MENTOR

Find someone who’s been in your shoes and don’t be afraid to ask for help.  Business owners and entrepreneurs LOVE to share their stories!  We know what it feels like and what you’re going through.

We remember reaching out to the young guy who was to become our first online mentor.  He had done what we wanted to do and as it turned out was willing to help and guide us.

Best thing we ever did!

BUILD A NEW NETWORK

You can’t rock and roll in that old network you were in prior to making your decision to escape your current situation so it’s time to cultivate new relationships.  The world of entrepreneurship has a totally different mindset and support network.  Find other people who think like you.  People you ‘vibe’ with.  People you can see as your future self – who you want to be.  You never know, one of these people may become one of your clients, business partners, or customers

GIVE IT TIME

Ask yourself if you’re willing to start over before you quit your job.  There are building years that you have to invest into your new business – your entrepreneurial career – before you have the money and free time to support your ultimate dream.

We did exactly that and some years later in 2012 when we got a special edition of Think And Grow Rich from Sharon Lechter she shared with us how important it is to start part time to give you financial security as you grow your business and network

You can listen to that interview here

After your escape everything is different…

And that’s a good thing!!!

Because success leaves clues

 

Thanks for reading today’s blog Top Entrepreneur Secrets Of Success and would love you to share your thoughts and feedback.  Just contact us

And if you want to talk to us you can book a free call here

Top Entrepreneur Secrets Of Success

Starting Over In Life

For some, it’s big life milestones that trigger change — marriage or divorce, moving to a new city (or country as we’re doing), committing to a partner, buying a home, starting a family, or becoming empty-nesters.

It can be the loss of a loved one or friend.  We know this having lost both our parents now and it still affects us when we remember an event or something special in our memories.

It can be a global crisis (like the pandemic) or a traumatic experience.

For others, change comes from other significant changes that we all experience, like our health, aging, retirement, or simply who you choose to invest your time in.

It could be a new career, moving across the country (or world like us), or another life-changing event that catalyses big change.

Change is inevitable.

It often causes us to examine our values or re-evaluate our priorities.

And sometimes, it leads us to this question:

• What should I do with my life? 
• Should I start over in life? 
• Where do I go from here? 

When we’re talking with clients about their retirement plans we hear this all the time

It’s A Fresh Chapter

You might be contemplating the prospect of embarking on a new chapter in your life, and it’s important to recognize that starting over does not equate to erasing all the knowledge, accomplishments, and experiences you’ve amassed thus far.

Quite the opposite, in fact.

Your life experiences have brought you to your current point, and today, you possess a wealth of wisdom that you did not have just a short while ago.

The most valuable asset you have at your disposal is your own self-knowledge.

This is just a blog post.

Your life isn’t going to magically change after reading it, but it’s a good start and the consequences of your action or lack of action are definitely not.

This is your life.

We were reading an article recently in Business Insider and these were the key questions the author suggested we all ask ourselves to see where the answers take you

1. What will remaining right where you are now do to your life?
2. Is your health helping or harming your purpose in life?
3. When did you last step outside your comfort zone?
4. What will continue to happen if your don’t change anything?
5. Are you or could you use your strengths?
6. What do you really dislike?
7. What would you do if you had six months to live?
8. What are you most afraid of?
9. What’s the first step you could take?

If you really want to change your life you have to make a start somewhere and there really is no better time than now

We’re not life coaches

There are plenty of them you can find if you need one to help you in those areas of your life you find difficult

We just wanted to share some of the issues that come up when we talk to people wanting to change their life in respect of their retirement years and why we put together a free book you can download called Retiring The New Way

It’s all a matter of facing whatever fears you have and taking the first step to improve whatever area of your life matters most to you right now

We wish you luck and much courage

But know it’s possible

Above all BE HAPPY

Why not take our short quiz and at the very least improve your mental fitness then you can tackle anything

Thanks for reading today’s blog Starting Over In Life and would love you to share your thoughts and feedback.  Just contact us

And if you want to talk to us you can book a free call here

Starting Over In Life

Living The Blue Zone Lifestyle

Have your heard of The Blue Zones?

If you haven’t then let us give you a brief description

The term “blue zones” was first coined by Dan Buettner, a National Geographic Explorer and Fellow and journalist, during an exploratory project he led in 2004. After an expedition to Okinawa, Japan in 2000 to investigate the longevity there, he set out to explore other regions of the world with reportedly high longevity and vitality

We first became fascinated with this topic after reading a newsletter called Liberty Through Wealth (the shortest way to a rich life)

The author of the newsletter met a journalist who had spent years researching the health, diet and lifestyles of the world’s longest-lived people in places like Okinawa, Japan (the picture you see in this newsletter); Ikaria, Greece; and Loma Linda, California and that journalist was Dan Buettner.

What Dan found was that those people who lived in these Blue Zones were living to a great age but were also very happy with their life.  He found that it was because of 3 things…

 

 

The 3 P’s Of Happiness

Those 3 things were pleasure, purpose and pride.

Pleasure includes the time we spend doing things we enjoy, especially with friends and family.

Purpose is the strand of happiness that results from living out your values.

And pride is feeling satisfied with your position in life, your accomplishments personal or professional.

Dan’s research shows that most of us are happier if we live with a loving partner, have friends we can confide in, get at least 30 minutes of physical exercise daily, own a dog, have clearly defined goals, spend less than an hour a day on social media and can articulate our purpose in life.

Apparently we find it tougher to be truly happy if we are overworking, overspending or under socializing.

 

The Secrets For Living Longer

The book I am reading at the moment – The Blue Zones : Secrets for Living Longer by the same author  Dan Buettner and describes the lessons from the healthiest places on earth.

If you have not seen the Netflix series I would highly recommend it. It’s called Live To 100 : Secrets Of The Blue Zones.

The five spots (Okinawa, Japan (the picture you see in this newsletter); Ikaria, Greece; and Loma Linda, Californiashare some similar elements

• A plant-based diet
• Natural movement
• Putting family first

And has been proven to promote longevity and health in residents.

The Documentary takes members around the world to investigate the diet and lifestyles of those living the longest lives and from which he can now offer insight on how to benefit from following at least some of their leads, because the only thing better than looking good as you age, is feeling good as you age

We’re calling it the “Blue Zone Lifestyle”

The truth is we’re living longer but our future is not looking bright given our declining health and financial resources for health care

Up until 2 years ago we admit we focused on just financial well-being but the pandemic and a health scare set is thinking

We hope it gets you thinking too…

And that it’s not a health scare but forward thinking

But the best thing is we can take action today and protect our future!

Most of us have the capacity to make it well into our early 90’s and largely without chronic disease

Just little steps today can make a BIG difference tomorrow

• Start taking regular exercise – just walking every day is good for you
• Start cutting down on processed foods and add more nuts, seeds, fruits and vegetables (adopting a Mediterranean style diet is really easy to do)
• Get a good night’s sleep
• Get a health check – if you know what you’re dealing with you can then decide how to tackle it

Side note more people are turning to more natural holistic alternatives vs pharmaceutical medication and for many they are making a real difference

Taking control of your own economy and your own health is your responsibility don’t you think?

We’re certainly doing all we can because we want to enjoy this time of life and be as healthy as we can for as long as we can

Hence our wanting to move to a warmer climate

Blue skies, sunshine, fresh food (especially fish) and daily walks on the beach

We just feel so much happier and healthier and best of all we can still take care of our own economy running our online businesses

Not everyone can do that however

It’s hard to imagine, for example, that anyone can be truly happy if they are worried about their retirement, still living pay check to pay check, facing unemployment or mounting debt and uncertain about whether they can ever really retire.

If you have never given serious thought to changing your circumstances though an online business then now would be a good time

There are many ways to achieve financial freedom through online entrepreneurship as we see from the number of emails we see every day (research driven naturally LOL)

But the fact remains that many are fads or five minute wonders and we have over a decade of experience behind us that enables us to help our readers, students and clients choose what’s the best for them.

There really are a plephora of choices for someone who is prepared to look outside the box

So Chris and I decided to write a book where we share some ideas on how to retire the new way – you can download a copy with our compliments here

I’ll talk more about ways of creating financial freedom in a future newsletter but if you have any questions or want to have a chat do feel free to book a call with us 

While we’re here let’s talk about mental wellness as it’s intricately woven into financial wellness

Your Mental Wellness Matters

Talking of happiness just to let you know we’ll be talking more about health and wellness and in particular mental wellness in future articles so before we go something everyone should take a few minutes to do – take a mental wellness assessment and find our your happiness score.

It’s as easy as ABC

Take it here

Thanks for reading today’s blog Living The Blue Zone Lifestyle and would love you to share your thoughts and feedback.  Just contact us

And if you want to talk to us you can book a free call here

Living The Blue Zone Lifestyle