Getting Started

How to Find Awesome Work/Business and Why You Might Suck at Yours

July 11, 2017 By cubiclefree

When I decided to have a really good crack at digital marketing consulting I was in hole and I was looking for answers.

(Awesome resources at bottom)

Then I came across a very slick salesman who had a fantastic campaign.

And $2000 later I signed up to a Digital Marketing Consulting course that seemed like a great fit!

I wanted to help others to build their business
A decade of doing my own SEO and Social Media was probably helpful (but you don’t need these)
There is unlimited businesses who need help and this will increase
With drive and commitment I knew I could makes sales and build a business (I had built successful and profitable businesses before)

So in 2015 I began to build my business as fast as I could. Pretty soon I had a handful of clients making about $3000/month. It remained that way for almost 2 years.

Up and down. Some months up to $5000 and some months around $1000.

Grinding… Celebrating… Taking Steps Back… Grinding… Celebrating… More Steps Back – Ahhhhhh!

Truth is I wanted so much more but even after two years of going for it I was not looking like cracking it any time soon.

So I quit.

What went wrong?

I think the answer lies at the heart of the problem faced by anyone who feels unfulfilled in their work.

The trouble for me was that I attached a good amount of who I thought I was and should be to my work.

Even though digital marketing consulting looked fantastic on the surface there were some fundamentals that were completely miss-matched.

Fundamentals Like:

My Personality
My Inborn Strengths

and most importantly,

Doing Day to Day S*#t That Made Me Excited Every Day (Even after setbacks)

You know the old story about making sure you have you ladder on the right wall?

Well not only was on the wrong wall – I found there are multiple ladders!

I think finding the work that fills your cup is different for everybody. For me it was a Personality Test where I had a God moment. When I read what type of work my personality was best suited to it was like I imagine it would be when you find God.

Suddenly it became clear.

I could go on about why it did not work for me but that serves no purpose because it is all so individual. And at the end of the day – digital marketing consulting does work for others and some do excellent work and they do very well.

But for 95% of people it is a perfectly terrible choice.

My point is this: If we are to thrive in todays economy we need to understand ourselves better. We live in an awesome age of choice and opportunity and the old ways of finding a career path are very broken. From the industrial age education system to driverless cars and the gig economy (think uber and airbnb) the way we do everything and buy everything is changing faster then we can do a $100k college degree.

There are some constants though and they will lead humanity to a better place.

Those constants are our wanting to be part of communities, to help others and do the work that fills our cup.

How do you find what is right for you?

My Top Tips

Do a Free Myers Briggs Personality Test and then read a book like Do The Work You Are
Pay $20 and do Strengthsfinder 2.0
Spend time journalling daily to understand yourself better.
Hire a great coach

Hiring a great coach helped me to unlock the tangle of beliefs I had which prevented me moving forward.

If you think you might help with this – I am currently offering a limited number of free 30 min sessions where I have a series of questions that can help to unlock your work that fills your cup.

I can’t promise miracles but I can promise that I will do my best to help.

Thanks for reading!

Freedom is a choice

How I Designed a Cubicle Free Lifestyle

February 8, 2016 By cubiclefree

Hi Guys!

Last I wrote over a year ago life was very different.

Snow covered the ground outside the small inner city semi-detached house in Toronto and we were preparing for move across the world to Australia.

As the day loomed for the truck to arrive and pack everything we owned into a 20ft shipping container, our excitement grew mixed with a little sadness at what we were leaving behind – awesome friends, family, neighbours and a fantastic community.

Thrive Quote But time waits for no-one and opportunities are only seized by those who try.

Pretty soon we were in Australia.

The Plan – Ultimate Cubicle Freedom

In a nutshell…

Wife quits corporate job to be full time with 1 and 3 year old. (and me – but I need less help)
Sell house in ridiculously expensive big city
Move to another great community where there is much more nature and rent for a while so we can decide where we want to live
Build up online businesses
Find a good school for kids and get involved with the local community
Buy a house (ideally with no mortgage) where we can have a veggie garden, solar panels and live close to the beach in a natural environment. Ideally close to mountain bike trails and surf 🙂

Sounds like a good plan right?

I can tell you there have been more then a few challenges – actually very little of it has been plain sailing.

Just little things day-to-day can be a handful – our indoor Canadian cat now lives in a house where the walls basically fold away – try keeping her from disappearing.

Also trying to grow my business online has been a massive challenge and I definitely cannot rest and tick that one off the list. For me it not just about making money.

What’s the point of being able to go surfing in some of the best breaks in Australia if you are working 80 hrs/week?

At the same time as my passive affiliate income has grown I have found that I love helping other business owners. Now I get to help companies with their online marketing efforts in industries I am passionate about. For example, most the power generated in Australia – is super expensive and made by burning coal.

Yet there is so much sun!

Now I work with awesome family owned companies like Accord who have an awesome business designing solar panel systems and installing them.

Nothing is more rewarding than helping businesses where you are passionate about their mission.

Buying a house has also proved to be a big challenge.

A few weeks ago we thought we had found a place that was affordable. It was not fancy, but there was a whole lot to like. After two open houses and no one else showing up we wondered what was wrong with the place.

Then on the third open house three other families showed up and one had their wallet out. Suddenly our bargain piece of future paradise was in a multiple offer situation – us and a family who had seen it for 20 min.

We missed out.

Then three weeks later the other party backed out and it now looks like we might be the owners of our piece of paradise on the Sunshine Coast – assuming of course we don’t find out there just about to build a two lane bypass down our street or the walls are not held up by termites.

Finally we might be able to have our very own little veggie garden and solar.

The adventure continues, but what an adventure.

Thanks for reading! I love your comments.

Nelson Mandelas Guide To Making 2014 Awesome

December 30, 2013 By cubiclefree

3 Steps To Create a Compelling Future

At the start of this year I ~~boldly~~ stupidly made a mistake by claiming that my main goal was to make the equivalent of six figures in monthly income.

Stupid because it was not inline with what I really passionately wanted to do – and I failed.

Don’t worry, I will spare you of my many failures and what I learned … I want to focus on how we can all move forward and one win I did have with Nelson Mandela as our guide.

“most people fail in life because they did just like I did for so many years … I want you to right now revisit your dreams and goals. Nelson Mandela“

In July this year I had a dream and a goal.

I was looking to create a podcast featuring the story of some fledging entrepreneurs trying to build something special online.

Fortunately at the World Domination Summit (WDS) 2013 I immediately saw the potential of two guys, Spencer and Darcy, and began working with them and recording it as a podcast.

Fast forward six months and their online business has attracted a potential investor and they are currently racing the clock for a launch in the new year to customers who are eagerly awaiting their service.

I have no doubt these guys are on track to building an incredible business multi-million dollar business.

Where did it these amazing results begin?

Well I think my latest episode now in iTunes may go a long way to answering that!

Basically it all starts with their dreams and goals and then following the 3 step process I outline below.

If you don’t have time for the podcast now, no worries – this video may help to get you in the right mindset.

STOP

I realize that many people may not be podcast listeners or have access to video either but if you can watch the video before working on my three step process below I think you will benefit significantly.

3 Steps to Create a Compelling Future

Mandela says, “Yes your dream is possible, say that to yourself every day. Feed your mind with words thats you write and words that you hear and words that you speak to yourself – feed your faith and your doubts will starve to death”

What words do you feed you mind with?

This method is based on the Anthony Robbins method I used to help me build a $40k/month online business – the same one that still pays my bills today and gives me an incredible amount of freedom.

These steps are adapted from Mr Robbins best seller, “Awaken The Giant Within” written in 1992.

A lot has changed since 1992, for example “Wall Street” the original movie was still fresh in our minds and the internet didn’t become commercially available until three years later.

To make it more useful for the needs of today I have simplified the steps, added and changed a few things based on work I have done for over 15 years as a recruitment consultant and as a business coach.

Make no mistake, the underlying intelligence that was built into the original process remains intact.

Step 1

Ensure you are in a positive state of mind and prepared to welcome any number of wonderful things into your life. That said, don’t wait for the perfect time, just the time of day when you are most able to think freely and positively. Re-watch the video above!
Get three pieces of paper, a pen or pencil and a timer
Divide each piece of paper in half to create six sections
Write the following six headings at the top of each

Personal Development
Business/ Economic Goals
Toys/Travel/Adventure Goals
Contribution Goals
Physically/Health/Spiritually
Relationships/Personal Life

Get ready to write fast and have fun, be bold and just write fast for each of the six heading. No second guessing – everything is possible, this is just sometime in the future.
Set timer of 5 minutes for each
GO! – See you in 30 mins

Step 2

Identify the things you are most excited about and highlight one goal from each of the six elements that you would be really excited about achieving within one year.

For example, lets say you said in your “Toys/Travel/Adventure Goals” that you wanted to buy a float plane to get to your private island in five years and this is what got you most excited. First decide what you could do (at a stretch) in one year. For example, you might save for half of the plane or get your pilots license – whatever…. Just find the goal that gets you really fired up!

Rewrite the six things as goals. (Leave space for a few sentences in Step 3)

Specific Timeframes – 1 year
Very specific details about what it is exactly. You need to be able to visualise you already have achieved it.

Step 3

Take two minutes to write down why you are absolutely committed to achieving each of the six goals within one year. (I hope you are really excited and can see how this step serves to reinforce WHY you have to achieve these goals)

Making Your Goals Happen

Congratulations! You have just created six incredible goals that you are really excited about achieving.

Now to make them actually happen – You just need to visualize having achieved these goals and enjoy the feeling that brings.

Here its is again – You just need to visualize having achieved these goals and enjoy the feeling that brings.

The “laws of attraction” say that whatever you believe will happen – the universe is built this way. So, if you can visualize the attainment of your goals and then feel the emotions this will bring you will achieve your goals.

To do this simply keep your goals with you and read them daily. I write mine out and when I jog (almost every day) I have a few sentences that enable me to quickly dig up the emotions and feeling of achieving my goals bring.

For example, “I am so happy and grateful that I have …. by December 1st 2014”

Thats it

This works – This is what I did in the past and it worked too!

As Mandela said, “Yes your dream is possible, say that to yourself every day. Feed your mind with words thats you write and words that you hear and words that you speak to yourself – feed your faith and your doubts will starve to death”

If you enjoyed this free but (I think) awesome resource visit iTunes and leave an honest review – Thank you so much for reading, listening and striving to be free!

What is it to be Cubicle Free?

August 1, 2013 By cubiclefree

Many people have dreams to escape the corporate world to be cubicle free.

That’s Awesome! But …

I think we can together do more – so much more!

I have found that doing great things always starts with asking the right questions.

Here’s my question;

Cubicle Free Is … ?

Here is a little video the just might be the start of something BIG;

In future videos I will be getting down to business with a little fun and inspiration thrown in but I really wanted to start off with what I think is most important.

Friends and Family

Without them why are we doing this?

I want to thank a few friends and family who are living the cubicle free dream – their dream.

I share with you these people with you because they are an example of how your friends and family can make a difference to everything you do.

Without their inspiration, their love and guidance – everything would have less meaning.

Chris Ducker who’s fun little accountability video ensured I got this project by 1 August! If you haven’t seen it check it out.

Jaime Tardy of Eventual Million who has been instrumental in getting all of my businesses firing on all cylinders.

Natalie Sisson of Suitcase Entrepreneur who provided the deadline and is a kindred spirit in so many ways. She also has an awesome book that I can highly recommend.

Tatum Rebelle of Total Mommy Fitness who is a great mate and helps significantly to inspires me to try to do good things.

Phil Isard who has a very successful business but manages to take time out to come mountain biking every year for the last few years.

Ohh and a little person – Clara – my daughter who doesn’t have a website yet but does have lots of daddy time. 🙂

Last but not least, Mark and Molly of Yonderblog who are working with me daily to do great things – including editing the video above at short notice.

What did you think of the video?

What do you want to see more of?

Thanks for watching and please leave you comments below.

Why I don’t and won’t blog about blogging to make money online

November 15, 2012 By cubiclefree

Every day I see a new blog pop up with the express purpose of making money online to escape the 9 to 5. The concern I have is not that others want to escape the cubicle (that’s awesome of course!) but the vehicle they have chosen to do it with.

If my goal on this blog is to help people to succeed online I have to help people choose a winning vehicle!

In this post I will show by example how a WordPress website can be a much better option.

First off lets make sure we are all clear – a blog is just a special type of website that requires new content continually.

WordPress can create great websites OR blogs, no problem.

Fortunately, it is almost an identical process to set up and launch either a blog or a website using WordPress.

However the difference in the time commitment required to grow a website compared with a blog is worlds apart. For example in my last post, it took me ten hours to write, edit, and publish. Even some of the most successful bloggers like Pat Flynn and Darren Rowse all talk about how it took them YEARS to get started and both had successful online businesses beforehand. The big concern I have for most people blogging is that they will burn out way before they even taste success.

I can’t stress this enough – Why commit to a time intensive blog when a website will get you where you want to go faster?

The perfect comparison

A couple months ago, I started this blog AND a website at exactly the same time. Building the website was an easy decision, but deciding to go ahead with the blog was a much bigger decision because I knew that I was committing to more work for less pay (at least in the short term).

But I still did both because in some ways a blog has some key advantages:

1) If the market you are in is evolving fast a blog is much more responsive to change.
2) If the competition is fierce, a blog enables you to infuse your personality, differentiate yourself and thereby build trust.

To work out if you need a blog or a website you really need to look at the market you are in and check out the competition. Then you need to think about what you can offer and the best way to deliver that message.

Back to my examples: Cubicle Free (blog) v RSACoursesOnline (website)

Cubicle free is in the “make money online” niche. The market is ridiculously competitive and crowded. Every man and his dog seems to be starting a new blog every week. This in itself should make anyone pause. On the other hand there are some great examples of guys making money online (and it is mostly males).

But just because everyone else is doing it is a very poor reason in itself, I really had to look at the Market, what I could Offer, and the best ways to Deliver my offering.

1) MARKET & COMPETITION

You really need to do what I am calling ninja research and find out what is really going on. Doing some searches is a start, but really is not enough. You need to find out the pain and the needs of the people that you want to help.

Fortunately there are some great tools to help do this:

Twitter Search
Forums Comments
Blog Comments

Here is what I found:

Lots of confused and dismayed people who had tried to make money with micro-niches which were not real businesses but just search engine circus tricks.
Lots of incorrect or outdated information post Panda and Penguin
A shift towards building real businesses online
A completely unnecessary focus on blogs
A useless and potentially harmful focus on keywords

2) OFFER

I have been building real business online for 10 years, and I want to give something back
So far, the main thing that has enabled me to be successful online is useful niche websites
I see awesome opportunities for many others in building websites and I want to share what I will be doing

3) DELIVERY

Now that I had a plan to attract the right people it was clear that a blog was really the only way to go. In order to do well in this niche you need to develop trust, be able to talk about current trends and network within the industry.

Other examples that spring to mind are Consultants and Real Estate professionals.

My niche website needed something very different.

In my recent post I showed how I am going to build a six figure income again by building a number of useful niche sites. I also showed I would become an authority and exactly the time I would be spending to build this website. What I haven’t revealed is the time it takes me to do this blog, but let me assure you that I have spent many hundreds of hours already and to date I have not earned a cent. By comparison, just one month out and the website was already making money.

So why bother to blogging at all?

Good question. For me it really came down to the passion I have for helping others to do what I have done with websites for over ten years. If my goal was simply to build passive income then building websites with WordPress would be easily my first choice.

For me it was not an option to not do this blog. I really felt that I had something valuable to add and wanted to share my past and future experiences. I also have the luxury of being able to blog part-time and build useful niche sites part-time.

To answer the question for yourself if you should blog or build websites, I think you need to go back to the main question.

What is your passion?

If you are mostly passionate about the lifestyle the internet can enable, a website may be your best option.

On the other hand, if you are passionate about a specific subject and a blog is required, a blog is your best option.

Still not sure what to do?

What about considering some niche websites as options? There is no harm in starting a website first and then doing both later on, but first let’s make some money.

If you like the idea of building a useful niche website, I think you will get a lot from joining my email list.

What’s your experience with blogging? What’s your experience with websites? Can you relate to my experience, or am I Robinson Crusoe on this one?