I’m going through changes again. Are they changes I want or are they enforced by outside influences?

That’s a very difficult question to answer. The world is a strange place right now. In fact I cannot recall so many economic problems at once. But the changes I’m going through are actually through choice and the issues over which I have no control have conspired to help me.

I’m one of the few people I know who is pleased with life right now. The downturn is having as much affect on me as any one else – real world business is down, my clients are suffering and I could be fearful of the future – certainly from an income perspective. But…

…this is the opportunity I’ve been waiting for. I have some breathing space. I have some time to concentrate on new ventures – on things I’ve been looking to do for so long but just haven’t been able to fit in.

I have a saying I use often – you may have read it here before:

Nothing Changes Without A change

That summarises life for me. Everything changes from the day we are born until the day we die.

But if we don’t make a change the situation remains the same.

And yet, most people fear and resist change.

For me, the changes right now are fantastic. I have no control over the world economy, over banks and their ridiculous attitudes, over stockmarkets or house prices.

SIDENOTE

I saw on the news a couple of days ago that the major UK banks had been scammed out of £ millions. These are “prudent” bankers don’t forget. And then seconds later there was an advert suggesting I might like to get free financial advice from them! I think they’ve done enough damage thank you.

Those changes, however, provide me with opportunity. There is ALWAYS a positive to offset the negative and I ALWAYS focus on that positive.

So it is with a very light heart I move towards 2009 and another change, another chapter perhaps, in my working life.

I prefer to think of these changes as evolution – a flow from one state to another. If you don’t resist and just go with the flow life is so much easier and amazing things happen.

A year a two ago I met a lady named Suzie Cheel from Abundance Highway when we were both starting new businesses. Suzie has just published a new book about this very subject of change. The Emergings Book is her collection of art and words that flow around the sometimes difficult subject of change.

Created originally 21 years ago when Suzie was contemplating a major career change it is as valid today as it was then. The words flow around her paintings – it is more an experience than a book!

Suzie has gone though a number of changes over the past year – the release of this book was in fact as part of a major challenge to complete an unfinished project within a very tight timeframe. 21 years after starting it seems Suzie managed to complete the task in less than 2 months. Clearly she knows something about change!

If you are worried about change or are facing changes that you find uncomfortable then take some time to really focus on the positive side of those changes. Sometimes you need to take inspiration from others – maybe Suzie’s work will be inspiring enough for you to make that change.

Look for the good in every situation – it is there if you look hard enough.

Technorati: change, changes, coping with change, emotional change, life change

Image via Wikipedia

I probably don’t use StumbleUpon as much as I should. But I do try to find at least 2 quality sites everyday that may help to develop a business mindset.

This morning I StumbledUpon a great post by Brian Armstrong entitled, 8 Essential Skills They Didn’t Teach You In School

What I found so interesting was Brian’s view that most of what he was taught in school was of little actual practical use to him. That sounds a little familiar and definitely in keeping with my theme of the “mummy state” churning out clones to perpetuate the myth that there is a “standard” way to live your life.

Certainly what we learn in school has very little to do with developing a business mindset.

And yet, more and more people around the world are becoming self employed and need to think about business in a different way.

In particular, Brian picks up on economics lessons being academic mumbo jumbo, oh how so very true. Just take a look at that chart above – absolutely riveting stuff! But how useful is that to your business!

We have kids leaving our schools bored senseless with some of this stuff, having been force fed micro and macro economics and yet having no idea how to operate a bank account or that if you have a credit card you have to pay back the amount spent!

Why this post is so good is that the skills Brian refers to are required by all of us, particularly those looking to change their lifestyle from the “prescribed” 9 – 5 AND he provides links to additional resources for further, more detailed reading.

When I was at school the less academic kids were taught woodwork and metalwork – so they’d have a trade to follow when they left school. Thinking back, at least they were being taught something useful for their lives. The bulk of us were given very little that would really help us in life.

It’s about time that changed – but then the “mummy state” would have people thinking for themselves – I’m sure they wouldn’t want that!

I’ve subscribed to Brian’s RSS feed and after reading his post you may find you want to do the same.

Technorati: business mindset, economics, lifestyle, StumbleUpon

Secret talks amongst world leaders today had “a global Mummy State” high on the agenda.

Imagine the outcry…

“No one is going to tell me how to live my life”

“I don’t need someone telling me what to do”

And yet…

The vast majority of people live their lives just as they are expected to. I’d go as far as stating they are living their lives just as they’ve been programmed.

You probably know one of these people:

• Went to school from age 4 or 5
• Taught to work hard to get a good job
• Little idea of what they really want to do in life
• Study a few subjects (maybe because they like the teacher or find the subject easy)
• Leave school or college and get a job
• Work 9 – 5 (plus some) until age 60/65
• Buy a house and get in debt
• Spend most of working life paying for house
• Take a few good holidays
• Stop work and live on life’s savings – yet more time to spend more money!
• Die without doing what they really wanted to do

Does that sound like the perfect lifestyle to you?

Who told us that’s how we have to live our lives?

It’s what is expected for sure

Governments around the world encourage education – and quite rightly so. But they also set out the curriculum that is designed to put our children through the “sausage” machine and churn out adults to follow the “system”.

How many schools teach entrepreneurship?

Children who are “different” are singled out and their rough edges smoothed out. We can’t have people upsetting the system!

So maybe a global mummy state is not so outrageous after all.

Many people spend their working lives building up a nest egg for retirement and then have lost the desire to do the things they planned or don’t have the health to enjoy them.

The money isn’t spent and part is taken in taxes by the government when they die. Perhaps that’s part of the “master plan” but I don’t want to get into a political debate on that!

Too busy working to enjoy life’s journey. The beauty of the world around us is missed in the rush of modern life.

• When is the last time you watched the sunset?

• When did you last marvel at the early morning dew?

• When did you last take the time to smell a rose?

Now here’s the challenge:

If you don’t like the idea of following the pattern, you and only you, have the power to do something about it.

You have to change. You have the ability to change but…

You have already been programmed that change is not good. That change is not easy. That living your life differently to others will lead to stress and complications.

For so many, those implanted thoughts, which in my opinion have no real substance, prevent them from taking the action necessary to change their lives for the better.

For years I’ve used the phrase “Nothing Changes Without A Change” meaning until you change the input you’ll get the same output!

Right now, and I mean right this second you have to make a decision.

The decision itself is very easy to make but it will have such a major impact on your life it is the most important decision you will ever make.

Once you’ve made the decision you have then the most difficult task ahead of you.

Are you ready for this?

The decision is this…

Are you going to settle for what is expected or are you going to create a lifestyle for yourself that you truly desire?

No more dreaming. No more wishing or hoping. This is it. Are you going to do something about it?

If you are going to change you have some difficult times ahead but the rewards are so great compared to living the “state required” lifestyle you’ll be so glad you made the change.

If you’ve committed to the change then I congratulate you. You are without doubt amongst the few. But now you need to take a further leap ahead of everyone else.

You now need to take some action or that decision you’ve made will be worthless.

You need to decide what your lifestyle needs to look like.

I’m not talking about what work you will do. I mean what do you want to do each day?

Sound far fetched?

Unless you map out your life just as you want it I can assure you you’ll fall back into the old ways. That’s simply because humans usually take the path of least resistance and do what we’ve always done – there’s no chance of failure with that.

We know what to expect. It’s a way of avoiding the pain of change.

You’ll need to commit to making your new lifestyle a reality and make those changes.

So I’ll leave you with one more decision, a simple choice.

Life your live the way you choose.

OR

Accept the mummy state rules and life the way someone else has decided you should live.

I hope you choose to live your life the way you desire and if so that you’ll Bookmark this site or subscribe to one of my RSS feeds above (don’t forget you’ll get my FREE REPORT – The Best Four Letter Word) and embark on a journey to a freedom lifestyle.

Technorati: change, lifestyle, lifestyle created, mummy state, world leaders

So you’ve decided you want to run your own business.

You’ve mentally committed to doing so.

You’re enthusiastic, raring to go but don’t know what business to be in.

You know you want to work from home & also know you want to start part time.

Or maybe you’ve already taken the plunge but are not happy with the market you’re in.

It’s all very well me telling you you’ll have your greatest success following your passion but if that happens to be toe nail clippings through the ages it may turn out that’s not a profitable market!

It may seem obvious but the first thing to do before you start your business is to undertake a viability study.

You may have heard of Michel & Sylvie Fortin. Both are very successful online and offline and run a program called Success Chef. This is a top quality, high ticket program that contains multi media training for aspiring internet tycoons.

As part of that program they are releasing individual “cook books” covering various key areas that need to be in place for a business to be successful.

The first of these draws from Sylvie’s immense experience (she’s identified brilliant markets for many of the top producing marketers) and shows how to find a profitable market, research properly and ensure your success before you even commence trading.

Entitled, Marketing ESP Cookbook: The 4-Step Process to Finding Hot, Hungry Markets! this multi media program will ensure you do not waste money and time starting a business in a market that cannot sustain the level of profitability you require for your business.

Give yourself a head start, see if your chosen market really is the right place to be.

Technorati: ESP Marketing Cookbook, own business, profitable market, success chef, work from home

Image via WikipediaDefining what this site is all about is a bit of a challenge!

Can you imagine how many millions of people live their lives according to “expectations” rather than the way they really want?

How many people watch films and quietly wish their lives were different?

The day to day drudgery of a working life: same route to work; same boring lunch; same boring work – quietly counting the days down to retirement. What a relief that will be – no more work. BUT for most people that also signifies a complete lack of money!

You can get out of this hole that society expects us to be in.

Yes, you can but you have to be prepared to take some risks, make some changes and do something differently.

LifeStyle Created is all about creating the lifestyle you want – whatever that might look like.

I’ve done it by running a business from home for over10 years. I’ve seen the good times and the bad – I’ve faced enormous challenges but also spent time playing golf when others are working .

So LifeStyle Created is about getting your mind straight. It’s about finding the real desires that will keep you motivated towards your goals. It’s about change, that’s the real big one – making changes. It’s about work from home business and it’s about the actual lifestyle you want for you and your family.

I refuse to be pigeon holed – this isn’t about Self Improvement or Internet Marketing although both are major inflences on me and where I am today. They’ll be referenced and discussed but this site is about…

YOU

I want to know about the challenges you face. The goals you want to achieve, the guidance you need and above all the lifestyle you want to create.

Sign up to one or all of the RSS feeds, the email updates, bookmark or favourite this site but make sure you come back somehow – I want to know when you’ve made it.

Mark