More Travel, More Holidays, More Free Time, More Kid Fun!! But How? Hint...BYOB

blog 2015

15 Sept

I have finally decided I want more! More of the stuff I like and less of the stuff I don't. Sure we all think this at time, but what do we actually do to get it? I have taken some risks and chances to get on the road to time freedom. It's not for everyone, but if you are keen to get more time, travel, life and less work, pressure and stress - then this blog might be for you. Below I discuss the four things I am doing to give me back ownership of my time, money and life. Enjoy!

Vietnam holiday, amazing!

Here are the four things I am doing to get more of the life I want

1) Start your own business

A few years ago I stepped off the corporate treadmill and started my own business Social Star. I wrote about my 'Why' in this blog so if you are new to my story (welcome!) but read the blog to catch up.

The key to starting your own business is to be prepared. Don't just jump ship tomorrow without a parachute. My exit from corporate was quite sudden, but I already had a business I was running on the side so it was a lot easier for me to take that full time. I only had 4 months income, but I had all the other assets I need to scale quickly and we were making profit in month two.

I recommend having 6 months income in the bank, a strong network, current clients who have road tested your product and your digital profile (website, social media, LinkedIn) to ensure you can scale quickly. If you start taking action now, in 18 months you could be ready to jump into your own business and start the next challenge of your life!

Sure it is risky to start your own business and you sure work hard at first. But if you follow the right path you can release yourself from the day to day workload in only 2-3 years. Then you can spend more time doing whatever takes your fancy. For me, more travel, fitness and kid time. I already have flexibility in my time which is fantastic and soon the freedom.

If you want to know more about setting up your own passion business check out our courses.

2) Reduce your expenses

I can't possibly reduce my spending! I hear this all the time, in fact I use to say it when I was in corporate and had a $10k AMEX bill EVERY MONTH! Whey drink domestic when you can have french! Let's fly business and bespoke clothes were a must - rubbish.

If you want to change your life, you gotta make some changes. Some are hard, but it is worth it in the end. When I started my own business I HALVED my spending in a month. Basically I gave up all the non essentials so that my new business wasn't weighed down with high monthly wages payments.

I didn't change my lifestyle drastically, just altered some choices. I flew economy, I camped with the kids, I ate at home more, I bought less clothes, had less stuff, reduced my non-essential costs. Basically I tightened my belt. But I still traveled to Bali, USA, London and Vietnam in the same year!

The funny thing is you get use to it and any extra money seems like a blessing! So you appreciate it more and are likely to save it.

3) Ensure you are protected

If you are going to risk your income on a new venture, don't risk your families future. Get insurance and make sure it fully covers you. Recently I upgraded mine as I realised I wasn't fully covered in my business and realised how exposed that left my family and shareholders if something should happen.

Get personal cover for death, total and permanent disability and income protection. There are ways to make this very affordable so get some quotes. I can highly recommend my guy so contact me if you want some details.

Also ensure you are insured by the business for any debt or fees involved in leaving your business. I discovered that you have to pay tax on business payouts so ensure you have enough cover. The worst thing in a tragedy would be for your family to have to untangle you from your business.

4) Create a secondary income

When I was working in corporate I didn't really need a second income. However corporate life is fickle these days and you never know when the next take over and retrenchments are going to be. So I started Social Star as a Plan B income source and because it was fun to run. Lucky I did as when I suddenly left my job, it was right there to provide me with a chance to start a new life in my own business.

Today, I run Social Star and love it. But I still have a Plan B income source, this time in travel. As a Independent World Ventures representative, I get to travel for ridiculously cheap prices and help others to create a bit more freedom in their lives too. Pretty cool yeah!

I got involved as I really want to travel more with my kids and knew I couldn't really afford it at retail prices. This business gives me the opportunity to take trips more regularly and earn points for doing so.

I'm all in for the business side of things too because the people I get to hang out with are top notch. Yes it's a MLM style of operation, but get over yourself and start looking at the big picture of how to release yourself from the day to day travelator of work. If you keep doing the same thing as everyone else, guess what, you're going to have the same result.

Contact me here if you are keen on talking about getting more travel in your life and check out this video.

Final word

I recommend everyone to find something that you love as a secondary income source. At first it was Social Star when I was in corporate. Now it's travel so I can take my kids away more, make a few dollars and mix with inspiring people.

So I ask you a question. What's your plan to stop being a sheepeople and get back ownership of your time and money?

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As an added bonus all my visitors can download a complimentary copy of my book 'Creating a Powerful Brand' by clicking on the book menu button or here. Tell your friends we have load of eBooks! It will change your life or you money back. Enjoy!

(Here is the link for the free Ebook 'Creating a Powerful Brand' )

Andrew Forde-ttraction

Andrew Ford

Marketing expert Andrew Ford, the founder of Social Star, has discovered the secret of ‘Powerful Branding’. With a fire for unleashing people’s inner brand and developing business models to generate profit from an individual’s passions, Andrew leverages ground-breaking digital and social media marketing techniques to create digital strategies for clients to attract maximum opportunities. Having established a strong name for himself in the field, Andrew blends traditional business techniques with now-necessary tools for entrepreneurs to achieve scale, quality, and influence in their niche. Andrew’s comprehensive business background and qualifications consist of a Bachelor of Business (Marketing) (RMIT 2003), a Graduate Certificate in Management (MBA Executive Program, University of Sydney 2005), and a Masters of Entrepreneurship and Innovation (Swinburne University 2011). Continually on the cutting edge of his own education, Andrew has tested his marketing theories in forums such as the BCG Business Strategy Competition, which he won in 2005 against all Victorian MBA schools, and the Venture Cup Business Plan Competition (Swinburne University 2003), which he won in the Masters category. With experience working at Hewlett-Packard, Sensis (Telstra) and IBM, Andrew also has mentored dozens of junior staffs to help them achieve their professional goals. Meeting and influencing high-profile public figures helped Andrew to realise just how many professionals require more understanding and control of their public brands or appearance, and need help with the skills to use the many amazing free tools at their disposal to generate success. At Social Star, Andrew consults with clients to uncover their personal brand – both where it is today and where it can be tomorrow – and refine and define how that should be displayed in social media in order to attract their perfect target audience. Andrew mentors his clients to rapidly grow their business’ audiences, resulting in larger potential client bases and higher revenue. Applying formulas that integrate over twenty years of Andrew’s business experience and fifteen years of formal business education, Social Star specialises in building clarity and velocity for clients’ brands using the ‘Understand, Build and Leverage’ methodology. ‘Having a Personal Business enables people to have an authentic, congruent connection with their valued clients and partners, using their brand as the bridge,’ says Andrew. ‘I’m highly driven to work with the new breed of entrepreneurs and small business owners – people who have a passion for making the world a better place. Traditional business models are stepping aside as people follow their innermost dreams and my role is to see them operate within their values while creating wealth. Some people think you have to sacrifice what you love to be successful in your business, yet it is actually the opposite. Follow your passion and success will come.’ Lecturing at Swinburne University from 2009 to 2011 on brand dynamics and digital marketing, presenting at numerous conferences, and consulting to hundreds of clients, Andrew has seen his philosophy work that if you follow your unique path, based on your skills, experience, values and goals, you will automatically attract the opportunities you desire and achieve the success you deserve. Living his mantra, Andrew has created a successful business and attracts high-profile clients including musicians, athletes, authors, models, entrepreneurs, professionals and small business owners, helping them find their ‘why’ in their business and fulfilment in their lives. Business for Andrew is more than work, it’s personal. Running a personal business means that he is able to fulfil all of his values rather than separating his life from work. It supports his two boys while providing social opportunities, educational development, fitness opportunities, spiritual fulfilment and many valuable friendships. Social Star has now become the vehicle for Andrew to crystallise his mission in the world, to help people love what they do, supporting his ‘why’, that if more people loved what they did, the world would be a better place.

http://www.andrewford.com.au/