Does God Exist?

Is there a God? 

That’s a good question for a Friday afternoon. In my opinion, I think there might be. I doubt there's a “God” in the sense that Christians or Muslims, or any other followers of man-made organised religion would describe it, as that would be an incredibly weird, petty and confusing God.

Why would a “God” be at all bothered about the actions of individual tiny humans, and whether they spent time praying to him or not? If there really was a God, in that sense, then the influx of calls and prayers he must receive in one day would be staggering.

OK, so you might say: "He’s God, He’s omnipotent, He can see into all our hearts and hear our thoughts... blah di blah." To me, the idea that any God would decree that human beings must do certain things, such as not work on the Sabbath, or not eat pork, or covet his neighbour’s ox, etc. just smacks of humans trying to gain control over others by setting rules. That’s all organised religion is, at the end of the day – 1% of the people hold the power, usually middle-aged or older men, over the other 99% of the people.

It’s good for the 1% if the majority continue to believe that if they live their lives quietly according to the “commandments”, if they do as they’re told and don’t cause a fuss, then they’ll be rewarded “in the next world” – whether that be heaven, or reincarnation, or some other afterlife existence. The powerful minority might even hold that belief themselves, or they might not, but I bet they’re happy for the rest of the people to keep turning up and paying their monetary contributions to the church for a new roof, or for the new Pope-mobile.

Wonder what their “God” would make of that?

But this post isn't about the evils of organised religion; I’ll save that for another day. I'm actually quite open to the existence of God. In a Universe as infinitely large and boundless as ours, with the potential for multiple other universes adjacent to/around/within it, there must be room for a God to exist.

What form that God would take, obviously we can’t be sure, but I like to imagine that the Romans and Vikings were along the right lines when they made up their tales of magical beings with super powers who could play with the lives of humans on a whim, and had story-lines involving births, marriages and deaths that any Soap scriptwriter would be proud of. Of course, they’re probably no closer to reality than the God of the Old Testament, but at least they’re more interesting to read about.

The main reason I don’t think there’s a “God” is that it’s never been proven to me. Ask anyone religious to prove why they believe what they do, and the answer is invariably the same: “I don’t need proof, I have faith!” 

Well, faith’s all well and good, but that’s not really a proper answer, especially for a physicist. I want to have concrete evidence that God exists, and not in the words or books written by monks thousands of years ago, or in so-called “miracles”, but in genuine experiential terms. And that’s (probably) never going to happen.

Also, I don’t see why an all-knowing, all-powerful God would allow/create such terrible and tragic things as cancer, AIDS or Hitler, unless they had a pretty bizarre sense of humour, or were imparting truly cruel punishments on Mankind. I honestly wouldn't want that type of God to exist, and I certainly wouldn't worship them if they did!

If there is a God, it’s much more likely that He/She would be more concerned with the life-cycles of stars and galaxies than with tiny bipeds living on a blue-green rock around a yellow star in the midst of gazillions of other stars, but you never know. There may be a God who is omnipotent. We may truly be “God’s children”, made in their image, and looked over by them for ever more... I doubt it, but if there is a God, I wish he’d hurry up and answer my prayers and let me win the lottery!

Of course, if there is no God, then I only have a 1 in 14 million chance of winning the lottery, so even if I keep buying a ticket every single week, it would take me about 270,000 years to win, statistically speaking. I guess the moral is that I’ll have to take responsibility for my own life, and take control of my own destiny. 

No matter what you believe in, whether it’s the existence of God or Allah or Humpty Dumpty, there’s bound to be millions of other people who believe in something else, which might seem utterly absurd to you. That’s the wonder of human beings - we all have brains, and most of us can decide for ourselves whether to believe in God or not, rather than simply taking for granted what parents, friends or dictators, or bloggers might say.

Most people don’t have the time or inclination to reflect on their own beliefs, and why they hold them.

Sometimes it’s easier to just accept what we’re told. What about you? What do you believe?

The World is Full of Amazing People

During the past couple of weeks, I've set out on a new adventure - creating a website using Site Build It!

And already it's opened my eyes up to a lot of different groups of people out there who are all doing amazing and imaginative things with their lives.

People such as Danny Wallace and all his Joinees in the Join Me forum - well worth a look if you're intrigued by the idea of random acts of kindness (RAOKs), and creating a community based on good karma.

And Just Joe Average, with his thought-provoking blog  about aspects of life we don't spend enough time thinking about.

The founders of Book Crossing - what a simple yet amazing idea!

And everywhere you look on Twitter, there are people with fascinating stories, jobs and hobbies.

There are so many different ways to make a living Outside the Box of regular 9 to 5 income. Sure, it's great that people are bus drivers, bank clerks, office staff... I'm sure the world would grind to a halt if all those people ditched in their jobs and decided to follow their dreams...

Or would it?

On an iPhone game I play occasionally (read: daily) called Tiny Tower, the aim is to have happy citizens populating your tower, each doing their "dream job". The game makes it easy though, by telling you how much someone would like a certain type of job, and even what their ideal job would be.

If only real life was like that!

We aren't born with sticky notes on our heads, setting out which industry or location we're destined to end up working. Most of us have to flail around aimlessly, until we stumble into something that will do.

That's why I think it's important to get to know your own likes and dislikes as much as you can.

Take time out to think about what makes you happy - and miserable - and focus on bringing as much of the good stuff into your life as possible.

We only get one life (except the Buddhists among us), and it is possible to have a really good one. Just don't worry about what others are doing.

They don't matter - you do!

Unless you find someone doing your dream job. Then you're fully entitled to stalk them and emulate what they do, and see if you can do it better. That's why mentors are so brilliant.

Just be yourself, and be happy. You Are Amazing!

How Do You Choose a Niche?

If you know you want to be your own boss, but you’re not sure where you should be focusing your energies, then you should think about choosing a niche.

Ideally, you'll find a speciality you love, something that will make you want to want to jump out of bed every morning and run to your office, ready to get to work with a smile on your face.

Having a niche will automatically make you more of an expert. For example, if you want to become a professional artist, you might experiment with watercolour, oils, graphite and sculpture, but it would take centuries to become a master artist in all those mediums. You’d be better off finding the field you feel most comfortable working in, and specialising in that.

It’s the same in any industry – it’s much easier to become really good at one or two things, and gain expert status in that niche. And generally expert status means more customers, more respect and a higher income!

If you’re struggling to think of a niche off the top of your head, try this exercise:

Take a piece of paper and divide it into two columns.

1. In the right column write a list of 10 things that make you happy. These could be anything from writing, designing or managing projects to horse riding on a deserted beach. If anything makes you smile just thinking about it, then write it down!
2. In the left hand column, write a list of 10 things that you’re good at. List here all your skills and positive attributes, and anything that you think you have the potential to be good at.
3. Finally, compare these columns and circle anything that overlaps the two. You might see a link that you wouldn’t have thought about before.

For example, if you enjoy painting and you’ve been told you’re a good teacher, then you might consider a new career as an art instructor or private tutor.

I recently helped a friend of mine to discover her niche using this technique. Her list of things that made her happy included being with children, and she realised that she could use her attributes of patience and kindness to work with children. She’s currently retraining to become a primary school teacher.

I’d love to hear how this works out for you. What will your niche be?

Question of the Day

How can I bring value to other people?

Did Einstein or Newton think about that, or did they just get on with what interested them?

Did Michelangelo lie awake at night thinking about increasing his “network”, or did he just take up a brush and start painting?

It’s a shame we can only have one life at a time – there’s a lot of things I’d like to do with mine, but each of them would probably involve a lot of training and time.

But what am I doing instead? Nothing. Just sitting thinking.

Poetry, science, art, psychology, astronomy, literature... I could delve into any one of them and find a million things to interest me. And yet when I try to focus on just one my brain goes blank.

I could throw myself into poetry, take courses, and practice it day and night. I’d probably make quite a name for myself in 5 to 10 years time.

I could travel round the world, learning about new cultures and different languages, writing and photographing as I go. I could study native animals, people, archaeology and gastronomy. All those things would bring excitement and happiness, right?

Or I could use my PhD in physics to do something remarkable in science. I could stalk top professors until they agree to take me on as their research assistant. I could spend hours buried in textbooks, dreaming up thought experiments, and solving science’s great mysteries. I could find the Higg’s boson (unless it’s already been found), or uncover the true nature of dark energy – is that what black holes are made of? There are a billion different questions that I could spend a lifetime trying to solve. And I could probably make a nice living doing it – the Nobel Prize money would come in very handy!

But what would I be sacrificing? My art, my love of books, or telling stories through the typed word?

Why am I even writing these words, and putting them out there? Do I hope someone will read it and give me the answer? Will anyone even care what I do?

Or should I shut up and get on with my day job. I have an easy life, answering information requests and taking minutes at meetings. I can carry on doing this job well for years if I choose. Nothing would change. The world wouldn’t end, and I’d never be in danger of failing anything.

Or would I?

Shiny Inspirational People

I thought it might be helpful to make a list of a few people who I hope one day to count as friends and colleagues in my independent, outside-the-box lifestyle.

All of these people are brilliant, switched-on people who are focussed on improving the world in their own way, and they're not the only ones. 

I'm sure there are plenty of other like-minded people out there, including you. 

Wouldn't it be amazing if we were all in a room together? Maybe we should make that happen...

Craig Ballantyne and Matt Smith at Early to Rise

Steve Roller at the Copywriter Cafe

Barbara Winter at Joyfully Jobless

Valerie Young at Changing Course

Chris Guillebeau at the Art of Non-Conformity

Andy Cope at The Art of Brilliance

Some other websites I've found inspirational include:

Sovereign Life

http://livingoutsideofthebox.com/category/about-us/

http://smartwomanonline.com/feature/2009/02/living-outside-the-box/

http://www.stevepavlina.com/

If you've found any of these links interesting, or have any suggestions to add, please let me know.

The Unconventional Future For All of Us

I’ve just stumbled on Chris Guillebeau’s site, and I’m so emotional I could weep – there’s someone out there who gets it too – and you know what, we’re not the only ones!

#1: What do you really want to get out of life?

A: I want to experience and observe as much as I can. I want to make a difference, and save humanity from the disastrous path it’s on. I want to find the answers to the big questions. I want to help people make their dreams come true.

#2: What can you offer the world that no one else can? 

My genius. My way of seeing things, and my compassion. My time and energy. I can offer myself.

The internet has changed the way we live our day to day lives, it’s changed the way we interact with others, and the way we view information.

But it hasn’t changed us.

We’re still people, with our own thoughts, feelings, hopes and dreams.

In a thousand years from now, when the internet is a distant memory, and every trace of facebook is long gone, there will still be people. Human beings living their lives the best way they know how.

I’m here now, and this is my chance to make a mark on the world.  This is the perfect time to take action.

We need to look beyond online social profiles, and see the real people within. We need to remember who we are, and how to enjoy our lives.

I’m going to help people do just that. I’m going to remind them of their humanity, and set out a legacy for future generations.

In a thousand years, when people look back at 2012, they’ll see a golden age, when people started to truly connect with each other.

So go on, tell me who you are, and what your deepest hopes are for the future. Together, as a species, we can make all our dreams come true. 

Let's get started today.

10 Step Guide to Setting up your Own Business (Part 1)

I've been hunting everywhere for a clear guide to help me set up my own business, but I haven’t been able to find one – well, not one that wasn’t full of jargon and really hard to follow!

So I figured I might as well have a go at writing one myself... and I’ll use my own fledgling business idea as an example throughout. Here goes...

Step 1

Decide on the product or service you’re going to sell. It has to be something you’re good at, or something you’re sure will make a good profit. I’m assuming here that you’ve already done your market research and picked something valuable that you can provide that other people will be willing to spend money on.

If you haven’t done your market research, do it now! Ask family, friends and anyone you meet in the street about what’s missing in their lives that you might be able to provide. Think about what your hobbies are, or what you enjoyed doing in school... or anything you can think of really, the sky’s the limit.

My example is copywriting. I’ve always enjoyed writing, and I’m pretty good at putting a sentence together. Well, I’m more than happy to pick other people’s sentences to bits, anyway! Plus, I know there’s a big demand for copywriters out there, and I know there’s money to be made if I do it well.

Step 2

Hone your product or skill. Take classes in the subject, contact people who are already doing it professionally, and listen to what they say. You can never know too much about your chosen field, but the same time, don’t spend too long on this step. If you wait for the “right time”, when you feel completely ready to start your business, you’ll probably never do it.

Even the experts still have things to learn and improve. But chances are, if it’s something you enjoy, and you’re good at it, then you probably already know enough to be able to do it well enough to help other people.

In terms of copywriting, I’ve completed the AWAI six-figure course, and I’m constantly reading books and blogs about copywriting, sales and direct marketing. I know there’s a massive learning curve still ahead of me, but I’m sure I know enough of the techniques to do a good job already.

Step 3

Choose your business name. There’s a lot of advice out there about how important this is, but in my opinion it doesn’t have to be a big deal. Plenty of businesses change their name and rebrand themselves later down the line. Just look at Snickers and Starburst!

For now, just pick a name that’s easy to remember, says a bit about what you do, and doesn’t already belong to a multinational conglomerate.

I chose Brilliant Writer as a name because it had a nice ring to it, and because a teacher at school once told me I was a brilliant writer. No doubt in a couple of years, I’ll want to create a more general overarching company, for all my spin-off ideas.

Again, don’t spend ages on this step. The right name will probably leap out at you, and if it doesn’t, just try sticking a pin in a dictionary and picking a word at random. Or use an online random word generator. http://randomwordgenerator.net/

You might be surprised at the results... “Yiddish Cupcakes” anyone?!

Step 4

Buy your domain name. Every business needs a website nowadays, even if it just contains the basic details.

There’s plenty of places out there selling domain names, and some of them offer web hosting packages too (we’ll come to that in a minute). GoDaddy.com, 123-reg and one.com are a few that seem to get good reviews, but I’ll leave it up to you to check out a couple of sites and choose the one that best fits with your business.

I personally went with GoDaddy for my site www.BrilliantWriter.co.uk because it was the first one I looked at, and so far it’s been fine for me, but I’m sure they’re all much of a muchness.

In terms of the actual domain name, you should choose a .com or a .co.uk if you can afford it, and if you want to do better in the search engine rankings. Your domain name should be easy to say (without having to spell out each letter), and as short as possible.

If you’re worried about people misspelling your domain name, or if you’ve got money to spare, you could always buy a couple of different names and have them both pointing to the same site.

Also, think about where the majority of your customers will be based. If you want to be an international brand, it’s probably worth having a .com site, as people searching on Google.com (or other search engines based in the US) will be more likely to find you than a .co.uk site. If you’re setting up a more local business, then choose a local domain for your site.

Step 5

Choose web hosting. Now you’ve got a domain name, it’s time to find somewhere to host your new website (when you’ve built it – that’s the next step!) For a basic website, you should be able to easily find hosting for a couple of pounds a month.

I used http://thetop10bestwebhosting.org/uk to check out the options, and I chose GoDaddy mainly for convenience as that’s where my domain name was registered.

Some web hosts offer extras such as email accounts, as well as other incentives including Google Adwords credits. I’m personally a bit sceptical about these added “freebies” – you’ve got to end up paying for them in the end, right?

If you’re not interested in spending the time boosting your search engine rankings yourself, and you don’t know anyone who can help you, then it could be worthwhile paying for some “SEO assistance” from your web host.

Personally, SEO is one service which I’m interested in learning more about, and offering to my clients in future, so my website is as good a place as any to learn the ropes.

I'd better stop now before this blog post turns into an essay. Come back next week for the remaining five steps to success... and good luck with your business, or businesses, whatever they may be.

Stuck in the Mud?

I’m confused and struggling; I don't know what to do.

I’ve had a lovely weekend with the family, visiting and catching up with friends. Then I started reading a book last night about the guy who sold his life a couple of years ago. He was describing his new adventure of achieving 100 goals in 100 weeks, and I found that idea really inspirational. It’s been ages since I had any adventures. I’ve just been sort of floating through life, getting married and having Brilliant Boy. All good times, but not really what I had planned out for myself when I was younger. I was going to rock the world – become an astronaut, win a Nobel Prize, change lives, save the planet... all that jazz.

Deep down, I know they’re all childhood fantasies, but so what? People achieve amazing things like that all the time. There are astronauts, and Nobel Prize winners out there, and not all of them are more intelligent or more brilliant than me! If I knew how to, and if I put enough energy and effort into it, I’m sure I could change the world, or at least have an exciting and worthwhile life...

It sounds dumb now, and I can kind of see where Brilliant Guy was coming from when he said he was happy with his life right now, and to chase goals like that would only be a sign of dissatisfaction and frustration. He seems to think we shouldn’t chase goals like financial independence, but should wait until we reach retirement age to start living life properly. Blah di blah.

While I can see where he’s coming from, I happen to think he’s wrong. Why shouldn’t we have adventures and a fun life now, while we’re young? Why does everyone think you have to work really hard for forty years before you’ve earned your dues, and can relax into old age?

Look, I understand that we have to have a purpose and add value to our society – but we’re not worker bees! We’re amazing, incredibly, beautiful human beings, with brains the size of melons.

Surely somebody somewhere can come up with an alternative to the humdrum 9 to 5 work day, 5 days a week? Working “full time” is my nightmare, and yet I’m in it – and have been for the past 6 years. Something has to give, and I hope it’s not my sanity!

You have to understand, this doesn’t mean I’m at all dissatisfied with my family life. Far from it – I want to be able to work fewer hours, to spend more time with the important people.

I’m sure I’m not the only one who feels this way. In fact, judging by the few people I’ve shared these thoughts with, the vast majority of us are feeling torn by our responsibilities and our inner ambitions. There’s a massive waste of potential going on, and we have to be brave enough to say stop. Enough’s enough. I’m not going to put my ambitions on hold any more.

I’ve decided to follow my dream of financial independence through copywriting and life coaching. I’m going to use my skills in writing and empathy to add more value to society, and increase what I can get out of life.

What will you do with your skills?

Paradise is Here and Now

When it's a lovely day outside, my thoughts often turn to Thailand.

Memories of lying on a beach under a palm tree, sipping coconut cream cocktails and listening to Jack Johnson playing softly through headphones. Ah, those were the days.

But why do we place such importance on holidays? Why do we feel the need to "get away from it all"?

Surely if we're not happy in our current lives, we shouldn't wait for the one or two weeks in the year when we can relax and be happy. Life doesn't need to be stressful, no matter what the characters on Coronation Street or Wisteria Lane might portray.

If you're counting down the weeks 'til you can escape the office and get out into the real world for a break, then why not think about changing things? It is possible to be happy most if not all of the time. 

Believe it or not, there are jobs out there that will make you feel like you're on holiday every day. And they're not the same job for everyone - we all have our individual likes and dislikes.

For me, the job that would give me the greatest feeling of relaxation and freedom would be writing for a living. Tapping away on my laptop with my cat curled up at my feet and my son playing with his toys on the floor in front of me. That's my simple dream. That's why I'm becoming a freelance copywriter.

I've also considered being a travel writer, a photographer, a university lecturer and an astronaut. But for one reason or another - such as the lack of a space programme in this country and my extreme travel sickness - have put me on a different track.

For you, it might be something completely different. Whatever floats your boat, as they say. 

If you can think about it, and if you can imagine doing it, then there must be a way to achieve it.

I know deep down that if I had really really worked at becoming an astronaut, then there's a chance I could have been successful. Just as I know now that by learning the craft of copywriting, and putting in strong foundations, I can build a successful freelance business, and I can achieve my simple dream.

It's up to you to get started. Noone's going to come along and kick you if you stay in your safe boring job. But lots of people will cheer you when you make the effort to succeed at your dreams. I'll cheer you too!

Good luck, let me know what your dream is and how you're going to make it a reality.

5 Reasons to have a Coach

Many people might think of a coach as someone who  stands on the sidelines at a football game and shouts at the players. Or you might think of a coach as someone who helps you learn what you need to pass a test, or to master a specific skill.

As it turns out, in the purest sense of the word, to coach simply means "to help someone on a journey" - like the coach that carried Cinderella to her ball to meet her prince... but hopefully your coach won’t turn out to be a pumpkin.

A coach can be a brilliant way of helping you to make an important decision in life, or to achieve something worthwhile - especially if you feel stuck or feel like something's holding you back.

A coach is simply a person who listens to what you're saying (or not saying), asks the right questions and gets you to think through a problem from a different perspective. They don't offer specific advice or tips - that would be a mentor's role. They're not interested in delving into your childhood or the reasons for your low self-esteem or daddy-issues - you'd have to see a psychologist or a counsellor for that sort of help.

A coach is there to help you move forward in life, to break through barriers or to make a key decision.

So if you think any of the following things apply to you, it could be time to call in a coach:

1. If you have an issue burning away in your mind, keeping you awake at night, and you can't figure out what to do about it.

2. If you have some idea about where you want to go, but can't seem to make yourself take the next step, or need help deciding what steps to take.

3. If you don't have anyone you can talk to about how you feel, or if your friends and family don't seem to understand your viewpoint.

4. If you look back at the past couple of years and feel disappointment or frustration at the lack of progress in your life. 

5. If you just want to talk out loud about your issues or problems, and you need someone to listen without being judgemental or offering their own opinions.

It can be really hard when you want to make progress but can't, and it can feel especially isolating if you don't have a circle of peers to support you. A coach can be the difference between success and failure; at the very least he or she will definitely help you to open up.

If you think coaching might be useful for you, contact me and we'll have a chat about it.

As for having someone at the sidelines cheering you on, when you're successful, there'll be a whole crowd of people shouting their support. And your coach will be standing there quietly, smiling at you, knowing they helped get you there.

3 Steps to Achieving Your Goals

"If you feel like you're spinning your wheels and not making any progress, one solution is to put more urgency into your life. Here's what you need to do. 

First, identify what it is that you truly want to accomplish. Second, outline what you need to do to get there. And third, give yourself a deadline. (Bonus fourth step: Cut that deadline by 20%. Don't worry, you'll reach it.)"

- from Craig Ballantyne at Early to Rise 

As an example, here is one of my key goals broken down into steps, using the SMART principles, with more urgency added than ever before.

1.       I want to be able to earn at least £50,000 from copywriting per year by April 2013. This would make a massive difference to my quality of life, and allow me to spend more time with my family.

2.       In order to get there, I will need to be making at least £4,200 per month from copywriting, or £1,040 per week. Ideally, that would be from long term clients, and fun projects. I will need to draw up a list of ideal clients and projects, which will suit my likes and aspirations. I will then need to write proposals to them, to offer my services. In order to help me market myself, I’ll need a clear website with a few samples and some testimonials. In order to get those testimonials, I’ll need to do a couple of projects on spec for clients similar to my ideal clients.

3.       In order to get to my target of £4,200 per month consistently by April 2013, I’ll need to meet the following deadlines:

a.       Decide target audience/niche today (April 17^th)

b.      Select and research ideal clients and projects

c.       Work on website text aiming at ideal clients

d.      Set up balance sheet for accounts

e.      Website drafted and bought by April 25^th

f.        Website final design by April 27^th

g.       Sample letter finished by April 30^th

h.      Website online by May 1^st 2012

i.         Draft proposal for work by May 5^th 2012

j.        Join Elance and create template proposals by May 9^th

k.       Complete first project by May 31^st

l.         Get testimonial and add to website

m.    Take SEO course and add specialisation to website during June

n.      Send out more proposals and increase prices

o.      Earn £5,000 by June 30^th 2012

p.      Go to Copywriting Bootcamp in October

q.      Get more clients and increase prices

r.        £3,000 per month by January 2013

s.       £4,200 per month by April 2013

A lot of these stages are dependent on my having a good clear website and systems in place, to allow me to get the work done outside of the time I'm at my full-time job, while still spending quality time with Brilliant Guy and Brilliant Boy. If I can figure out what my ideal projects would be, then it will make things a lot easier, and that’s my job for today. No more procrastinating! Onwards and upwards, hurrah!

How to find Meaning in your Life

I’ve spent a great deal of time over the past couple of weeks (*months*) trying to figure out what makes me happy, and what I should be doing with my life. I still don’t know what I want to do when I grow up, and I’m almost 32!!

Anyway, one thing I’ve discovered about myself is that I have this huge dichotomy in my self-image that is really holding me back. One the one hand, I think I’m one of the most super-intelligent people on the planet, mainly due to my IQ of 174 and my amazing GCSE results – so basically that belief goes back to the age of 16! Fair enough, but on the other hand I’m plagued by the feeling that I’m just not good enough, and I don’t know enough. I’m a terrible friend, wife and mother – or so my inner voice tells me on a regular basis. Why would anyone want to listen to my opinions, let alone pay me for my writing?!

That sounds ridiculous when I think about it rationally. I’ve certainly spent enough hours learning and practicing copywriting to be able to do it well, and I’m a fantastically loving mum to my little boy – hence the reason he screamed so much when I left him in crèche this morning L

Deep down, I know at least as much about copywriting as most of the people out there making a living from it, and I’m learning more all the time. Just this morning, I watched an online seminar by Heather Lloyd-Martin, of SEO copywriting fame. That taught me even more about key-phrase research and increasing conversion rates through the use of better titles. I know I could definitely add a lot of value to clients’ webpages. Now I just need to find some clients! J

Back to my earlier question: how do I find out what makes me happy? I guess the things I do when I’m not forced to do them could be contenders. In that case, I’ve just answered my own question. I’ve spent most of my Easter holiday learning about copywriting – when I could have been doing anything with my time.  But if that’s what makes me happy, then why do I feel so overwhelmed at the thought of committing to it?

Mind you, I did spend quite a bit of time playing online poker too, so maybe I should become a full-time poker player instead...? That’d probably be a riskier way of making a living, but it’s one I would seriously think about if I didn’t have a family to support, and if I was 10 years younger!!!

Maybe another way of looking at it would be to think about how I’d spend my time if I knew the world was going to end this year? It is 2012, after all. Personally, I don’t think that helps – if the world’s going to end tomorrow, I’m running around panicking and screaming like a lunatic, “I’m too young to die!!!”

The moral here is that we shouldn’t really worry about what we’re going to be when we grow up – it’s all pretty irrelevant in the grand scheme of the universe anyway. Just have a good time, do what makes you happy, and try to make others happy along the way. Oh, and if you can, make a lot of money doing it.

If you have any better ideas about how to find meaning in life, please let me know by leaving a comment, I’d be really interested to hear your views.

Musings about Meaning

I’m the Queen of Procrastination, and there’s only one way I’m going to get anything done – and that’s just by doing it! Sounds simple? It should be!

I’ve learned all the techniques about time management, life management, prioritisation and motivation you can fit into one head – and still I manage to spend hours staring blankly at a computer screen, too scared to write one thing.

That’s not going to get me anywhere!

If I want the world to hear what I have to say then I’m just going to have to say it.

What’s important to me? I’ve asked myself that question so many times in the past few months; you’d think I’d have a really good answer by now. But guess what? I haven’t!

I’ve been reading too many other people’s accounts of what’s important to them, and getting intimidated by all the smart, self-aware people in the world. Why can’t I join them? Do I really not believe I’m good enough? If that’s the case, then I should stop trying right now. If I think I’m going to fail then I will, because I’ll self-sabotage myself all the way to Poverty-Ville!

Positive mental attitude – that’s got to be the answer (yes, I know I’m still procrastinating!)

If I set myself a task, no matter how small, then I’ll have positive feedback in my self-esteem, and I’ll be able to achieve more in future. Or something like that!

So, what’s important to me? Brilliant Boy, happiness, Brilliant Guy, happiness and health. And security. And excitement, and adventure (what’s that?!).

What passions do I have that I can use to make some money?

Travel – I love to travel, and see new places. I should write about my travels, but I’ve never been able to summon the arrogance to believe anyone would want to hear about them – which is probably silly, as I lapped up the book about the gap year in Ecuador, even though my own adventures in Nepal were just as interesting. Maybe I’ll write that book one day....

Horse riding – I was getting ok at it, and I could get a horse to canter, but I never lost the fear of falling off – and that’s probably going to get worse now that I’m a mum... but the feeling when you’ve lined up a horse perfectly for a jump and you fly over it like a dream – that’s quite a buzz, and one I’d like to experience again. Galloping wildly across a field, however, doesn’t really appeal to me, as I like to feel like I’m in control.

Writing – I really enjoy the feeling of letting my fingers do the talking, so to speak. I like the thought that I’m writing things out of my own brain and onto paper or the screen, for other people to one day read... maybe... possibly... perhaps I could make money in some way from that feeling. That would be pretty cool!

Bird ringing – it really is an incredible feeling to be able to hold a tiny throbbing lifeform in the palm of your hand, and know that you’re probably the only person to have held that bird before – it feels like holding a part of nature, that you would never normally get the chance to do. But it doesn’t give me as much of a buzz as I think it should. There’s an awful lot to learn about it, and I’m not sure whether I have the inclination to devote a lot of time to it. We shall see....

Flying... watch this space!

Childcare/parenting/breastfeeding – they say that those who work with children smile a lot, and I can see why – you have to smile to stop the little b$%*#ers having tantrums on you! Of course I’m joking, being a parent is the most fantastic experience in the world, and I’m a very lucky mummy. I’m just not sure whether I could offer anything valuable to other mums, other than a space to chat – and there seems to be a plethora of other forums already out there. I doubt I’d be able to match www.mumsnet.com or www.netmums.com on my meagre budget! J

I guess the moral here is that I need to get more hobbies! Does watching TV count as a passion?!

Escaping the Cubicle

It's time to stop waiting and planning, and start taking action.

I've spent most of the past year reading about and studying ways of becoming "financially independent", and trying to find out what my ideal job might be. I still have no idea, but I can't let that hold me back any longer.
Hopefully, by taking action today and starting this blog, opportunities will come up, and great things will start to happen... That's the plan, anyway!

Let's start at the beginning... 

My main motivation is to be able to spend more time with Brilliant Guy and Brilliant Boy, to laugh and dance with them as often as I can, and to be a good role model for Brilliant Boy as he grows up.

Right now, I spend around a third of my time in an office - which is open plan, so I'm not strictly stuck in a cubicle - doing a job which is uninspiring and uncreative, but pays the bills. I guess a lot of people will be in a similar position, and it would be nice to be able to help others to escape it too.

Another third of my life is spent sleeping - I LOVE to sleep!

And the third third? To be honest, I probably waste more time than I'd like to admit on facebook, twitter, etc., playing games and generally not interacting with the real world. That's a shame, when I've got a beautiful, Brilliant, one year old son who's developing at the rate of knots! (but that's a whole other topic I could write for hours about!)

So, technically, I need to improve two thirds of my life, and I need to do it fast - there's my motivation!

Where to start though?

What is financial independence, and how do I go about getting it? Well, after spending many, many hours researching this topic, I'd say there are probably about as many answers to that question as there are people on the planet! Helpful, eh?

In terms of my own definition of financial freedom, I'd say it would include not having to pay a mortgage any more, and not having to worry about paying the bills each month. I'm not personally interested in owning a mansion or a super-car, or six thoroughbred racehorses (well, maybe that'd be fun!). As long as I can take care of my family and friends, and have the satisfaction of saving the human race some day, that'll be enough for me... did I mention I have a slight God complex?!

Back to reality, temporarily... I'm sure there are many ways of earning six figure salaries, if you're prepared to work at it. Short of winning the lottery, I think the quickest way of getting out of the job-trap is to start your own business.

To me, that's always sounded terrifyingly complicated and impossible, but Brilliant Guy did it 5 years ago, and he's never looked back. It actually seems surprisingly easy to set up a new business using the internet, and there are lots of resources out there to help. I'll add a blog post about that in the near future.

The type of business would depend on your own unique set of skills and interests. 

For example, I've recently been taking a course with AWAI on copywriting, as I've always been interested in writing as a career. The vast majority of writers barely make minimum wage though, sadly, and I doubt I'm destined to make it as the next J.K.Rowling. (But you never know!)

With copywriting, however, the market is vast and ever expanding, as more and more businesses need websites and letters to help sell their products and to reach customers and other businesses. Judging by some of the awful junk we get through our letter box every day, it seems like there's a real need for quality writers out there. And that's where I'll come in - hopefully!

This blog is my way of kick-starting my writing career. Ever since I was told by a primary school teacher that I was a "Brilliant Writer", I've known that I'd eventually become a writer. The tricky thing will be learning how to use those writing skills to motivate people and persuade them to part with their hard-earned money!