NOTE: The following is reposted from my podcast consulting blog. It directly applies to developing the mindset of an internet business master.
This post begins a series of posts that goes to the basis of everything I do as a podcaster and business owner. I guarantee the concepts I’m going to outline will help you produce better content, connect more effectively with your market, make more money and have more fun!
Let’s talk about something that too many business owners either have too much of, have to little of or are controlled by when they don’t have any of it at all…
Purpose
I’m going to start with a story to give this word more context. It’s a personal story which means talking more about me than usual. I prefer like to focus on what things mean for YOU so that YOU can accomplish YOUR objectives. I share this story in the spirit of helping you achieve your objectives as a business owner and online content creator (OCC).
The Purpose Society Prescribed
Several years ago I finished my studies in Electrical Engineering-a very practical and marketable degree. I even landed one of the highest paying jobs of my graduating class and was employed by a company that made audio gear for guitarists. This was a dream job for a wannabe rock star like me.
I‘d fulfilled one of the big milestones of life-get a good degree and start a solid career. I was fulfilling the purpose that society had prescribed for me. Things were right on track…or so it seemed.
I soon started feeling like something was missing. It was a sinking feeling. “Is this it? Is this the rest of my life?” Even though I had a steady job and steady pay in an industry that many would die to work in, it just didn’t fulfill me.
Stuck in the Daily Grind
After a short while I began to dread waking up and going to work. My passion and creativity were being snuffed out. I was trapped in a daily grind…the rat race! I could not remain like that for the rest of my life. I knew I had to figure something else out.
I spent the next couple years searching for options. I considered being a full-time musician, a university professor and even at one point a National Parks ranger (it’s true). But none of these would provide a lifestyle I wanted.
Maybe an MBA would give me more options. I took the GMAT. Wait! That just puts back into the rat race with more debt. But I loved being in school.
The Fulfillment Factors
I thought back to my time in college (some of the best years of my life) and considered what it was that had made that lifestyle so enjoyable.
- Variety - New opportunities were varied and abundant at university
- Control/Freedom - The power of choice over my time (i.e. what classes I took and whether or not I went to class).
- Constant Learning - No shortage of knowledge to absorb. Everyone was there for that purpose (well, except for maybe that one roommate with the samurai swords).
- Teaching - During my studies I was the opportunity to teach a class on digital audio and electronic music. I had a knack for teaching and found this incredibly fulfilling.
These were the things that fulfilled me most. I call them my “fulfillment factors” (FFs).
SIDEBAR: I want to take just a moment to comment on relationships and family as a fulfillment factor. Relationships are of utmost importance in life. Everything I do is filtered by considering what impact it would have on the relationships I value most whether with family, friends, colleagues, clients or I’d even say…my blog/podcast audience.
Escape From the Rate Race
I had to get these fulfillment factors back into my life. Three years after starting my career (for which I had studied five years) I quit my job. I’ve never looked back. In fact, I’m now self-proclaimed chronically unemployable.
My path led from being a real estate investor, to a marketing coach and finally to internet entrepreneur. I discovered that you could run a very profitable businesses online by publishing valuable information for niche target markets (a.k.a. information marketing).
This excited me because it allowed me to:
- Constantly learn new things in a fast-paced industry and a variety of topics.
- Teach others
- Enjoy freedom to pursue my own ideas and live wherever I wanted in the world.
- Control my own time
It had been a long few years, but I had learned some valuable lessons.
- You deserve to do what fulfills you most in life.
- It’s important to clearly identify your fulfillment factors.
- There are opportunities out there that will provide these factors. It may take some time, but pursue them with tenacity and they will be yours.
FFs Are Not EnuFF
Fulfillment factors serve as a yard stick to measure the decisions I make and opportunities I pursue. However, on their own they only get you so far.
The next step is to use these factors to define a specific purpose. That’s the topic of the next post.
What are your fulfillment factors? How have you (or are you) pursuing them? Does podcasting contribute to finding your fulfillment factors?
Hi Jay & Sterling,
I came across the RichJerk website as a result of listening to one of your older podcasts where you mentioned an ‘examples’ page on your website. Is it really possible to be successful with RichJerk? I already signed up but I’m not really sure how to proceed. I know there is a RichJerk forum and I’m also supposed to be receiving an intro package in the mail, but I wanted to know if you guys have any advice or insights on how to make this program work. I’m completely new to internet business/marketing so I kind of feel lost in all of it.
On a related note, I’m a vegan (consume no animal products/by-products) and I’m into natural (alternative) health and green/eco living. Do you have any suggestions on how I might create an online business from these interests?
I really enjoy your podcast. Thanks for your time.
Sincerely,
Sean Redmond