How I Got To Buy Superman A Beer.

In my efforts to be more cubicle free than ever, I am on a mission to do things that don’t just make a massive (positive) difference in the world, but things that make me happy as well.

Fortunately, a lot of good things seem to be happening all at once for me right now. Not the least of which is going to the World Domination Summit, a conference for social entrepreneurs and people who want to make a big difference in the world.

I can’t adequately describe how incredible my experience was, but just to give you some idea, I had the chance to buy Superman a beer (AKA Darren Rouse of Problogger). This for me was like two dreams come true. You see, Darren had just the day before given an awesome presentation where he appeared midway dressed as Superman–apparently a shared childhood hero.

At the closing party, the poor guy (mobbed by adoring fans) needed a beer, so he of course joined the line-up, right behind me. Not wanting to be yet another fan, I simply asked if I could buy him a beer. Being a fellow Aussie, I know it’s high praise to be offered a beer. I also know that it’s hard for him to refuse. You cannot imagine what a pleasure it was to extend this simple thanks to him.

The backstory is that one of my sites–Jobaroo–is undergoing a transformation that will make a massive, positive impact to many, many thousands as a result of bloggers I employed from Darren’s excellent job site. Considering that I own two job sites myself, I know this can be hard to achieve.

Despite everything going really well for me now, it has not always been that way I can assure you!

Over the decade and a bit I have had:

1. Money
2. Time
3. Made a massive positive difference in the world (Purpose)
   BUT I Still Have Not Always Been…
   
4. Happy!

Why? How is this possible!? Do you think I am mad? 🙂

You may think this sounds ridiculous, but it all comes back to feeling part of a like-minded community.

Having purpose in your life is really important, and when done right, can lead to more time, prime locations and financial freedom. But what happens during your time off if everyone else you want to be with is hard at work?

It’s a sad fact but most people in your life, your physical community, are still working for the man. Some even work for themselves and find that they are harder on themselves than any boss would ever be.

OK no worries, you say; just make friends online. Of course online friendship is pretty great–Facebook, Video Skype, Twitter and Google Plus can all help you to some degree. But still I found this was not enough. A smile, a shared laugh, a touch on the arm–in-person relationships are so much deeper.

Only just recently did I start to focus on this.

After 2009, my business was basically on autopilot and I was making more than enough money to live on.

In 2010 I decided to take an extended trip across the U.S., East to West and back again. In Vegas, I stopped for a couple of weeks with the plan to see if I could live the life of a professional Blackjack player. Really it was just multiple days of blackjack to see if I could enjoy it.

Fail.

The big problem was not that I could not make money (I didn’t), but the bigger problem was that I had no meaningful purpose and no one to share time with that I actually wanted to share time with.

Then I spent 5 months in Australia between 2011/2012. I bought a car and did some amazing travel–from Central Queensland to all around Tasmania and back again.

Same thing; I was missing something. Having traveled all around the world and spent many months on beaches with nothing to do other than have a swim or another beer, this is a familiar feeling for me. At some point you want to do something meaningful with people who you identify with.

The closest I came to nirvana was staying at a mate’s place where I spent my days waiting for him to come home from work. Of course I did have a wonderful wife and beautiful newborn to change nappies for, but I still found myself wanting for a connection with others doing amazing things–to “talk shop” so to speak.

So I decided at some point in 2012 to meet people like me and make major changes. This all started when I heard a Pat Flynn podcast in 2012. Now I am slowly getting to know Pat and even shared a cab with him Sunday night to an after-party.

I attended my first New Media Expo in New York September 2012, and since then I have started organizing my life around conferences.

So far, and I suspect for ever more, the conference that has connected me the most is the World Domination Summit held in Portland.

I know that jet setting all over the world is not possible for everyone. I do feel very fortunate indeed to have the opportunity. My point though is not that you need to go to the WDS, but that you need to physically meet like-minded people.

I propose a challenge then.

What if we make a huge effort to meet the most like-minded people in our own geographic communities?

Start by saying hello to the person in the coffee line.

Get out of our comfortable houses and start a meetup.

Invite someone who we respect or who inspires us to coffee.

What do you think? Doable?

You in? Let me know your thoughts and questions. Who knows, your Superman might be standing right behind you.