2019.
I started the year in a great place. I was raising millions for my new start up. I already had multiple companies and real estate portfolio. I had the nice cars, I was building my dream house, with a happy family, and we travelled a lot.
But I was like duck.
Everything looked good above the water. But beneath the water line my legs were spinning like crazy. All that spinning was burning me out. It was like I was programmed in only one way - keep spinning.
I felt like there was more to life for me and my family. But I was stuck. All the obligations I had made me feel there was no way out but to keep going. So, I did. More.
I was 42.
Then my world toppled. Burnout led to 2 chronic illness, and over 18 months in and out of hospital with various bits cut out of me. Lockdown. Excruciating pain, bedridden. Company loss. Legal dramas. Family bereavements, then my own NDE.
That was the moment. When all I saw were the faces of my wife and children. And everything else faded into insignificance.
The very next conversation with my wife was about how we needed to take some drastic action. Change I'd be craving for years. We both decided there and then, none of what we had mattered except each other.
So without any plan, we left it (nearly) all behind.
The things we wanted to do were unrecognisable from everyone else we knew. No one else we knew was doing what we were. We just knew that together we had to be, do and have more of what we wanted - and that meant ditching the identity I had built up and searching for a new one. We shifted, from Life 1.0 to discovering Life 2.0.
We didn't know what we were doing. We weren't able to plan - the world was still adjusting to lockdowns. And the fact we didn't know what the hell we were doing - apart from being together - was the most liberating thing about it all.
Fast forward 6 years 2019-2020 was the best worst thing that happened to me. Without such drastic events, I probably would have just carried on. Getting slowly more ground down, burnt out, unhappy, legs spinning while the world got crazier around me and I had to pretend all was ok on the surface.
Today I see the duck is the best analogy I can think of for how most people are living, trying to keep it together while spinning circles.
It's interesting to see the results of our survey coming in. I'll share more soon.
But here's a sneak peek at the top answers. They're like echoes from my 2019.
Most people say they are stuck in their current career roles and are not sure what to do about it.
Most people say they've currently hit burnout, or big life changes.
They feel most alone trying to make the shift from who they are to who they want to be.
And they don't know how to start to fix it all.
I recognise exactly where they are. Everyones circumstances are different of course, but it seems this is the new pandemic.
And I know how it goes if they just keep going, doing the same thing, and not exploring what they could be doing. What they WANT to be doing.
The statistics aren't good. The world is getting faster, sicker, more stressed, and poorer.
On the flip side, there are a lot of people who have figured it out. Living a life thats more fulfilling, healthier, more connected and wealthier.
You want to know how to start to fix it?
Make some big decisions. Different choices. Seriously. That's all it takes. Look at your situation with a different perspective. Hang with people who have made the shift from who they were to who they want to be. They'll be able to help you see what you can't. You'll need to be brave. Make different choices. You might have to let go. But I know you can do it.
I'm living proof, that life is made of small margins. we take it all for granted and think the way we're doing life is the only way. "Because.. (insert reason why)"
One day you might be in my situation, praying you make it out of it so because NOW you finally will do it differently.
Don't wait for that. Take it from me.
The life you want is on the other side of the decision you are avoiding.
See ya on the other side.
Richard
PS if you want to take the survey, get the answers, and understand you are not alone - we'll send you our Retirement Plan B Guide, The 4th Turning webinar (why the world is so crazy and what you can do about it), $100 off our AI Implementation workshop, and early access to the 90 Day Edit programme - click the button. It takes 5 minutes and we'll send you these bonuses ($297 value)