Photo by Pear Biter
I’m typing this post from the porch sunny Sacramento ranch. My fiancee is a bridesmaid in a wedding, and I was lucky enough to tag along for the ride. A peacock is nonchalantly grazing not three feet from me, and I’m sitting next to a babbling brook typing away, amazed at how different this surrounding is than most of my “normal” days.
Yet with these beautiful surroundings, I’m still able to write. In fact, I want to work. I’m called to it. Why is that? I have a few theories.
Is it REALLY work?
It’s hard to call what I do work. Sure, every job has aspects that aren’t as fun, but being a full-time freelancer means that I can run away whenever I feel like it, and tote my office with me.
When I leave town, I always try and do as much in advance, so I can unwind as much as usual. But I don’t crave a total disconnection from the outside world because I’m tired of it. I try to save the things I love for the trip (ie. writing for LifeDev), and leave the things that aren’t as fun for home.
Do as others do
It wasn’t too long ago that I came to the realization that I needed to set routines and schedules for my creative work. After reading everything I could get my hands on pertaining to working and creativity, I found an interesting trend. Nearly all successful and wildly creative people have routines. They stick to these routines religiously. Usually at a certain time every day, they attempt to create. And then the rest of the day they use to perfect their craft.
An example: A Stephen King writes 1,000 quality words a day, and spends another chunk of his day polishing his skill by reading. Has it worked for him?
The deeper the roots, the taller the tree, (and more importantly), the more those branches can sway.
Deep Roots are the Key to Working a Portable Lifestyle
These people have “rooted” themselves in routines that they follow every day, no matter what. I’m trying to do this too: I try to publish at least two articles a week on LifeDev. No matter what. Even if I’m at a beautiful ranch with a stream flowing through the backyard, with peacocks strutting around, covered bridges, horseshoe pits and gazebos scattered across the property.
Having cake and eating it too
So, you might be thinking by now that I’m a tad on the looney side for wanting to write, when I could be doing tons of other fun things.
Why don’t I want to completely disconnect? Am I so chained to this computer that I can’t get up and leave?
The fact is, writing this post is part of my vacation. It’s what I love to do. It’s allowing me to unwind; it’s a release.
So let me pose this question: Do you love what you do so much that you would want to take it with you on vacation? If not, than what is the one thing you find so much pleasure in that you could do it whenever and wherever, loving every minute of it?
Passion is everything. The business plan comes later.
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