That’s where people like Bex Grennan come in. Grennan, a life coach and stage performer, has a real knack for helping other’s dreams come true.

Bex and I share similar interests and I had a great pleasure doing this interview. I absolutely love her defintion of sucuss and how it changed throught the years, and I highly recommend anyone to pay attention to her response to my final question.

1. What or who inspired you to embark on a career as a performer and why did you decide to eventually become a coach?

I have been performing ever since I took to the stage in my first concert aged five. I loved dressing up in all the costumes and taking on the acting roles. I feel like my teacher was a really dedicated and strict role model who instilled a lot of good perseverance qualities in me which have really helped in my performing journey. I also saw the joy my aunt and uncle had around music growing up and saw them often on their way out to a gig which was inspiring to me as an 8 year old.

I eventually decided to become a coach because performing wasn’t inspiring me anymore. I had reached a ceiling in my dancing career and the next step was to do singing and acting roles and at the time it wasn’t calling me. I really wanted to study again and I have been so fascinated by personal development and positive psychology since I was in my early 20′s so when I heard about this thing called Life Coaching I was like, “cool, I get to work with people and make a difference in their lives” in a more long term way vs short term emotional ride from seeing a performance I was in or something.

2. You hit rock bottom at 24. can you tell us more about it? What ultimately led you to make a lifestyle change?

I hit rock bottom at 24 with really bad depression. I was living hand to mouth in Sydney in a living situation that I didn’t love and with very little empowerment to chose to do things differently. Sadness hit me hard and I was really not eating, sleeping and finding any connection to joyful things or things that had brought me joy before.

The weird part is that I had desired all my life to be in a huge stage show touring the country and I had finally won that part. In the 2 months leading up to the beginning of that job is when I hit rock bottom and I was really contemplating pulling out. I had some really negative self talk going on that kept circling and circling and I was a really bad friend to myself in so many ways. I had a friend who was a right Irish character who asked me what I was going to do about the job and I was “I don’t know, I don’t think I can etc and he told me straight to “just get on with it”.

What lead me out of that was getting help and making a commitment to change what ever I could about my inside habits that obviously weren’t working in my favour. I did cognitive behavioural therapy and always loved the holitstic side to health and well being. Another friend of mine had a really cool experience with a life coach and once he told me about it I was immediately curious.

3. How do you help others find their creative energy? What is involved in the process?

I encourage my students to increase their playfulness. You know how we were when we were children and we believed through our imagination that all things were possible!? I’m such a goof that this is an easy project for them. Then we work on the “if anything were possible…” question and make a big vision of an amazing life full of their strengths and desires.

I like to work with vision boards and find this creative tool is great for loosening up resistance to change and opening up to new possibilities.

I work with my students to increase their sense of urgency to get things done and achieved vs taking the time. Hey, they pay for my services so they need to see results quickly, right!

We set small, achievable goals at first which I hold them accountable to reaching and all these activities help increase their creative energy which is so powerful in the manifestation of all our lives!

4. You’ve preformed all around the world, including the blockbuster animated movie “Happy Feet”, How did that experience help you grow personally and professionally?

Happy Feet really gave me a cool insight into working on a film set. It wasn’t your average film set though, as it was motion capture, black stage set, full of computers and body sensors.

Working with such a talented team increased my confidence exponentially as well as increased my scope of creativity. This process of full motion capture had never been done before in a film so new software was being built at every corner to keep up with the vision of the team.

It was very innovative and exciting to be around. That was both professionally and personally hugely inspiring. They really made it work with a strong team, passion and patience. George Miller, the director, was the picture of patience and a really calming and lovely man to work with.

5. Do you believe that everyone should have a mentor or a coach?

I absolutely believe in the power of teams and in using resources that are available to you. A mentor or coach is a great person to have as your personal champion and someone who will be there to remind you to celebrate your achievements, push you to go further than you ever thought you could. I have had a few mentors and coaches over the years and I have seen such a huge increase in productivity when I am being held accountable for my declarations and dreams!

6. What three pieces of advice would you give aspiring actors? What do you think makes a good actor?

Three pieces of advice would be to get as much life experience as possible. Explore and be adventurous with learning new things that will add to your scope as an actor. Keep a positive attitude and be optimistic about your future and the opportunities that you will make and will come your way.

Get good at hustling and staying present in the industry as a supporter and a contributor. Go to other peoples shows, be a positive person that is easy for people to like and work with. Make lasting friendships with people who will support you in your dreams and encourage your plans and limit your time with the ‘nay-sayers’.

7. Have you had to make any sacrifices? What are the main challenges of being a professional performer?

I have always been very ambitious and I have made choices in my career that have taken me away from my family and kept me clear of other intimate relationships. I decided early on that I wanted to make my career happen in a big way so I remained single so I could focus on my craft for many years.

The main challenges for a professional performer are dealing with the rejection and not having enough opportunities. Especially in Australia, the industry is smaller than that of the USA so not getting a “look in” for certain roles becomes frustrating.

8. As far as growing your own business, how do you market yourself and your business?

I use social media and that’s it so far. I have not spent a single dollar on traditional marketing avenues yet and I have been building steadily from these strategies so far.

I do guest posts on some industry websites and really invest in cultivating relationships with people on line. I have also started doing interviews and pitching myself for a lot more lately which will reap the rewards down the track for my business as well.

9. What is your definition of success? Have you found any shortcuts to obtaining it?

My definition of success is having close family and friends that respect me and are inspired by my experiences and projects to step out of their comfort zones and make leaps and bounds in their lives too.

At 24, my definition of success used to be being known, liked and respected by my entertainment industry leaders and peers to work consistently but that changed when I made the mind shift from “What can I get” to “What can I give?”. Now I am successful when I am growing and making a difference to the world.

10. In your acting journey, what is one key things you’ve learned? What advice would you give to anyone considering the acting lifestyle?

Don’t take the rejection personally. The casting process is like putting all the ingredients in a dish perfectly together. If you’re nutmeg and they have already cast a nutmeg…then there’s too much nutmeg in the dish and it wouldn’t work. There’s always something right around the next corner and it’s something perfect for you at that moment.

My advise is to keep working on your craft and being inspired. Learn from the mistake I made about not keeping inspired. Be around positive and motivated people and limit your time around nay sayers and pessimists.

11. How do you emotionally connect to the story and your character when you perfom?

I was trained in Stanislavsky’s The Method which instructs you to relate what the character is feeling, thinking and saying to a similar moment in your life and draw from that. I feel that is powerful for me to connect genuinely and authentically with what my character is going through.

I also use techniques of enhancing memories that I learned in Neuro Linguistic Programming training that I find really effective. An example is when I am remembering a point in my life and going throughout the memory I increase the colour of the memory and increase the volume of the sound and make the vision as real for me and as vivid as possible!

12. Talk a little about your personal life. What do you think readers would be most surprised to know about you?

I think readers will be surprised to know that I have a habit known as Trichotillomania in which pulling out my hair feels relaxing and rewarding to me. I think they would be surprised to know that growing up with Trich – as it’s known in the community- I felt like I was the ‘only one’ and ‘weird’ and ‘abnormal’ from all the other girls at school because I had this condition. They might be surprised to know it’s a healing journey that I am on still.

13. What drives you and What is your ultimate goal?

What drives me is the personal responsibility I feel to keep growing and share my experience and learnings with up and comers and the world. I have been born into a modest family from Ipswich Qld, who instilled in me the drive to go for my dreams and that commitment to work and loving what you do is most important.

My ultimate goal is to keep growing in all aspects of my life and career and to make a difference and spread joy along the journey. The big reason I began my business is so I can leave something I created for my children ( who arena’t even born yet) haha to be proud of!

14. Can you tell us more about your “Performers Clear Vision” ebook and your “Nerves To Superb” audio program? Who are they designed for?

The Performers Clear Vision is a 56 page ebook, written simply for the performer who is just starting out …or needs a little more inspiration back into their career. I talk about the mindset needed to maintain a successful and easily manageable career and teach the reader how to set easy and super effective goals for themselves.

The Nerves To Superb is a cool visualisation/hypnosis audio program I developed for performers who are already auditioning. There are 3 cd’s which are so short and easy to put on your ipod and take with you on the plane, or train including ones for calm confidence which is great for performers who are not being the best in auditions or networking events because their nerves are getting in their way. The other 2 are for opening up to your creativity and preparing mentally for events. They are great cd’s because I talk right to your subconscious mind where studies have shown the depth of your potential lives and you don’t need to lift a finger. Frequency for this program is the key though! You never go to the gym just once hoping for 10kg loss do you!: )

15. And finally – What is your message to people who want to pursue their dream and can’t find the willpwoer to realize it?

Scrap willpower and take action. Stop waiting for motivation to magically show up. We are conditioned as humans to maintain the staus quo and not take risks outside our comfort zone because—ah we might die or lose money or whatever it is. If you can be ok with losing everything again that’s the biggest motivator. I always know I can get a job tomorrow working in a cafe- and I know that from there I can survive and build myself up again.

Forget about getting over whelmed about the big dream and the what if’s about it happening or not happening. Break that dream down into bite sized chunks that might lead you there and then break them down into smaller chuncks and start with the smallest chunks today. Easy, little action steps each day lead to momentum and you have more chance of realising your dreams with momentum backing you.

Do less things- more often and consistently doing that- you will be on the way to realising your dreams.

Thank you!

Bex Grennan focuses on helping actors, performers and creative entrepreneurs achieve better results in their work or personal life. Visit Stage 2 Coaching or follow her on Twitter at @BexGrennan.

Helping Others’ Dreams Come True – Interview with Bex Grennan is a post from: Below Zero to Hero - Get Inspired.

I saw some of dan’s paintings online and immeditely became a fan. His excellent blog which teaches others how to make a living from their creativity, revelas a passionate man who cares deeply about his audience.

In this interview Dan discusses his definition of success, what he thinks about the term “Starving Artists”, and what others can do to get their career off the ground.

1. Tell us a bit about yourself. How did you become an artist? What ultimately led you to quit your job and make a lifestyle change?

I’ve loved drawing since I was a child. Art was always my favourite subject at school, but after high school, I made the decision to take a more academic route, eventually doing a computer science degree and ending up as a web designer. I kept drawing and painting in my spare time though, and always told myself that one day I’d become a successful artist.

I think what led me to make a lifestyle change was the dawning realisation that unless I did something about it, I was never going to become an artist. I couldn’t let fear of failure keep me from a life of fulfillment. So last October I simply decided that I was going to be an artist. That was the hardest part, making that commitment.

I’m still not a full-time artist, but I’m proactively working towards it, currently making a living from a combination of part-time work, freelance art projects, portrait commissions and web design.

2. Why art? Can anyone do art? Can “non-artists” benefit from creating art during their free time?

Personally, I just love painting. I do believe that anyone can create art, even if you’re not good at drawing (which can also be learnt by anyone). Art is just a form of self-expression, which could be music, poetry, sculpture, whatever takes your fancy.

I believe that everyone has the potential to be artistic. All children enjoy creative activities such as painting and dancing, it’s only when we get older that we often leave these things behind for things that are considered “more important”. Anyone can benefit from rediscovering their lost creativity.

3. You’ve heard of the term “starving artists” before, why do you think so many artists fail in their quest to earn a living through their art?

I think a big factor is the self fulfilling prophecy of the starving artist story. Artists fail to achieve financial success through their art because they don’t believe it’s possible. They have been told over and over again that you can’t make any money as an artist, it’s not a real job etc., and not everyone can get past that kind of negative mindset and find success for themselves despite what they have been told.

4. Can you actually make a living from your art?

Yes. There are plenty of people doing it, so clearly it’s possible. In fact, the Internet has made it easier than ever before to promote yourself as an artist and even sell your art directly from your own website. I think that most people simply don’t make the most of the tools available to them.

5. Do you believe professional training in the arts is an advantage for an aspiring artist? How important is to have an expert status in this field?

I think some degree of training is always useful, to learn the basic skills of your art, but you don’t necessarily need an art degree to be a successful artist.

The question of expertise is an interesting one, which I wrote about in a guest post on the Expert Enough blog. Since art is very subjective, one person’s master portrait could be another person’s childish finger painting. Who is to decide who is an expert artist and who isn’t?

The last thing you want to do is perpetually put off starting your creative career because you don’t feel like your good enough yet. Sure, you should always strive to improve, but you don’t need to wait to reach some supposed ‘expert level’ before you can start making a living from your art.

6. How important are business skills to success in art? How do you bridge the gap of the business side of designing?

Business skills are essential to any form of self-employment, and art is no exception. Fortunately, I am not completely devoid of left-brain capabilities, so I don’t have too much trouble managing the business side of things.

If you really struggle to get to grips with finances, accounting and taxes, you could hire someone to do it for you, but in the early days, this is probably an expense you could do without, so I find it best to set aside at least half a day every week to work on the business side of things. Knowing that your finances are in order will make it much easier to focus on your artwork.

7. As an artist, how would you define “SUCCESS”?

I think success is something you have to define for yourself. Nobody else can tell you whether you are successful or not. You need to decide how you want your life to be, and take steps towards making it happen.

For me, success is less important than fulfillment. If I’m doing work that I enjoy and feeling motivated when I wake up in the morning, then I could consider that to be success.

8. Do you use any “method” to get into a creative mode? What inspires you to begin your work?

I don’t have any specific method, other than listening to music that I like. If I’m painting a musician, I’ll often listen to their music, as I find it helps me capture their personality somehow. If I ever have a creative block or feel uninspired, I will sometimes browse the work of some of my favourite artists, or look for new artists online to find inspiration.

9. What has been the biggest challenge for you on your journey? Did you ever feel like giving up?

The biggest challenge is definitely the uncertainty of not having a regular income, but people shouldn’t let that put them off doing what they really want to do.

I have fleetingly wondered a couple of times whether I should have stayed in my job, but I know that I couldn’t go back to a 9-5 office job now, at least not full-time. Having made the commitment to be an artist, it’s not something that I’m going to give up easily.

10. What’s absolutely integral to the work of an artist?

Passion. You need to have a burning desire within you to create art, even if you’re not sure exactly what it is you want to create yet. If you don’t have that motivation, you’re going to struggle.

11. How important is it to have confidence in what you do and how did you cultivate your confidence?

Confidence is very important. You need to have confidence in the work you create, because, as with any form of creative work that you publish, not everyone is going to like what you do, and you will inevitably face criticism at some point. You need the confidence to rise above the critics and move on with your work.

I constantly work on building my confidence by venturing out of my comfort zone. Try a new medium you’ve never used before, take your paintings into a local gallery and ask if they want to display your work, ask for feedback from an artist you consider more accomplished than you. The more you step out of your comfort zone, the more confident you will feel about doing these things again.

12. What inspires you to keep going and how do you keep yourself motivated?

The thing that inspires me is that burning desire to create art that I mentioned earlier. That, and knowing that if I gave it all up and went back to a 9-5 office job, I would regret it for the rest of my life. Most people my age (31) will probably end up working well into our 80s, so you need to ask yourself what you want to be doing every day of your life for the next 50+ years. That’s a long time to be doing a job you can’t stand.

13. Should people care what others think and say about their art? How much do you care about what others think of your work?

Anyone who says they don’t care what anyone thinks of their work is probably lying, but like I said earlier, you can’t please everyone, so you need to develop a thick skin. It’s lovely, and very encouraging when people praise your work, and it can be difficult to hear people slating it. But unless your only motivation is praise and popularity, the only people who really need to like your work are the people who buy it, and you.

14. What’s the best way for artists to market themselves? Can you also tell us more about the “Artist Website Launch Package” you designed for people who want to gain more exposure for their art?

In today’s online world, the easiest and cheapest way for artists to market themselves is on the Internet, by building a community around your artwork. This should be centred around your own personal art website.

The Artist Website Launch Package is a simple and affordable way for artists who don’t have much of an online presence to get their art online on their own website, which they can then use to build their online community.

15. Where do you want to go with this? As an artist, is there anything special you hope to be accomplish? What is your dream project?

I’m still in the very early stages of building an art career, so I don’t have an ‘ultimate goal’ just yet. I would love to reach the point where I can spend the majority of my time painting what I want, without having to think about where the next paycheck is coming from. I also want to do a bit of art tuition, which I plan to start offering soon in the form of online training through Right Brain Rockstar.

16. Lastly, any last words of advice for aspiring artists or anyone who want to unleash their creative side?

Make time to be creative. Turn the TV off, get up an hour earlier, whatever you need to do to squeeze in some art each day, do it. If you’re always waiting until you can find more time, it’s never going to happen. Start today!

Thank you!

Thank you!

Dan Johnson is an artist who writes about his journey toward making a living from creativity at Right Brain Rockstar. You can follow him on Twitter at @rightbrainrocks.

Ditching the 9-to-5 to Become an Artist – Interview with Dan Johnson is a post from: Below Zero to Hero - Get Inspired.

After reading his engaging autobiography, “Chasing The Wind”, I was so inspired that I decided to share some lessons from his remarkable story.

But first, a bit of background…

Steve Fosset Story

James Stephen Fossett was born in 1944 in Tennesse and was brought up in California. James was inclined towards adventure from a very young age. As he was not an innate athlete James trained long and hard at endurance sports eventually succeeding in a wide range of sports.

He was 12 years old when he scaled his first mountain (the San Jacinto Mountains) and at the age of 13, he secured the highest rank of Boy Scout, the Eagle Scout. Thus initiated to the life of action and adventure at a young age, he was established as an adventurer by the time he enrolled himself in Stanford University.

After receiving an MBA degree from Olin Schools of Business, he started his professional life in the field of computers. Five years later, he shifted gears and took up commodities sales, a job he excelled at.

After 15 years of working hard, he founded his own companies named Marathon Securities and Lakota Trading, two successful companies that earned him millions.

During his stint as a finance man, he did not indulge in many adventure sports, and his college vacation wherein he climbed mountains across Europe was the last significant adventure he had. By 1990, the void that had been created by the lack of adventures became apparent and he started to take 6 weeks off every year to enjoy adventurous activities.

As an adventurer, Steve is nothing short of a legend. Fossett has to his credit a stunning 116 records in 5 different sports. Air balloons, powered aircrafts, gliders, sailboats…the vehicles that fetched him aviation world records are a healthy array.

In 2002, Steve achieved the distinction of being the first can to circumnavigate the Earth in a hot air balloon without refueling. He achieved this feat during his 6th attempt to set the record.

Fossett went on to set records as a jet pilot in US Transcontinental, Australia Transcontinental and round-the-world flights in a Cessna Citation X, and became the only aviator to hold records in 4 classes of air crafts.

2005 and 2006 were important years for Fossett. During this time he flew around the world non-stop in a single engine Virgin Atlantic Global Flyer in 67 hours, becoming the first person to circumnavigate the world without refueling. He topped this record with a record for the longest flight for an aircraft sans refueling by flying around the world in 76 hours and 45 minutes.

Steve Fossett has to his name 91 world records in avaiation (and 36 still remain unbeaten to date) and 23 sailing world records. The gliding world altitude record is another gem in his jewel-studded crown. Cross-country skiing and mountain climbing are other sports at which he excelled, apart from trans-continental flying, gliding, sailing and hot air ballooning.

In September 2001, Steve set out in a Bellanca Super Decathlon airplane with a single engine that disappeared over Nevada.

An extensive search team was deployed that combed the region for about a month, only to return empty handed. A sum of $1.6 million was spent in conducting the search mission.

The team found remains of the crashed plane, but they could not track any clues to Steve’s body. A few months later, a couple of bones were found at a distance from the crash site and a DNA test revealed that the bones matched with Steve’s profile. The legend was then officially pronounced dead.

Lessons from Steve Fossett Story

One of the finest gifts a person can give himself is the freedom of pursuing his or her dreams, and Steve Fossett chased his dreams like none other.

Throughout his life Steve saw obstacles as challenges and thrived on what others might call stress. He worked extremely hard to excel at his work in order to be able to fund his missions, often at times when no sponsor would be willing to pick up his bills due to his advanced age and lack of experience.

Through his actions and life story, Steve shows the value of always giving your best to whatever endeavors you undertake. Fossett is as much a success as a commodities salesman as he is a records-holding adventurer and sportsman. He had little reason to be regretful at any point of his life as he always worked toward actualizing his dreams, thereby leading a contented life.

Steve Fossett is an inspiration to those who want to break from the clutches of mundane-life and live with more purpose.

The fast-paced modern world requires one to be at the wheel steering his life’s ship to survive, often at the cost of their dreams.
What matters is your resilience and the ability to circumvent the problem you’re faced with in order to find a solution that will provide you with the monetary requirements and ultimately allow you to pursue what you love.

So go ahead and pursue your biggest dreams with all your heart and soul!

Chasing The Dream – Lessons From Steve Fossett Story is a post from: Below Zero to Hero - Get Inspired.

You and I are programmed.

We have been programmed from early age to acquire more possessions and never be satisfied with what we have.

We were told we need to buy new cloths every season, a new car every few years and the latest gadget each time it’s announced.

We were conditioned to trade our freedom for a 30-year mortgage, so we can fill our 4 walls to their maximum capacity with stuff we don’t really need; another candle holder, another piece of furniture, another cute little bowl.

And when the space runs out, we go and rent more storage. The Self Storage industry is now an estimated 20 billion dollar business, and that’s in the U.S. alone. In fact, North Americans have more than twice the amount of space than a few decades ago, despite the fact that the size of their families has decreased in that time.

We have far more freedom than any people in the history of mankind, yet we choose to trade it back for more stuff.

What we do not have though is more happiness.

Do you enjoy running around like a mouse on a wheel, always in a hurry to get things done, trying to cram more and more in just so you can pay off your bills?

Does that luxury item you can barely afford give you real fulfillment?

If this all sounds a bit depressing to you, don’t fret. After all, we did not have much choice. We were conditioned from an early age to be consumers in a well-functioning system built for profit.

I want to use this space to offer a new paradigm, one that I have been embracing for the last three years; a paradigm that advocates for a more healthy and sustainable lifestyle.

I call it “Minimalist Living”.

What is Minimalist living?

First, let me address what it is not.

Minimalist living is not about being frugal or living on a shoestring budget. I own quality products, I travel the world, I spend when it matters.

Being minimalist is not about denying pleasure or depriving yourself of all the things you want.

It does not mean we have to give up the comforts of the 21st century. Consumerism, after all, is not the devil.

Minimalist living is rather a balancing act.

It’s about being fully aware of all the options we have, yet choosing only those which give us the most benefits and eliminating those that don’t.

It’s about stripping away the unnecessary and getting rid of things we don’t really need, so we can free our time and resources for that which gives us true joy.

It’s about living without an obsession with material goods or an obsession with newness.

It’s about quality, not quantity.

Minimalist living can mean something different to each person. For some, it may be giving away unwanted clothes and cleaning things up, and for others it may be living in a bare-essentials cabin surrounded by nature.

Whatever it means to you, being minimalist is something that is worth getting excited about.

Less stuff, less debt and less clutter mean more freedom, more joy and more room for what’s important.

A story of two lives

Perhaps my first awareness of the concept of Minimalism came after watching the movie American Beauty.

There were some scenes in that movie that stayed with me for a long time (My favorite by far is the “It’s just a couch” scene. Search for it in YouTube)

In many ways, American Beauty represents our Western society’s addiction to consumption in its futile attempt to regain more happiness.

The reality is that racking up debt to acquire more stuff has never been a reliable source of lasting happiness for anyone.

For many years I was craving simplicity and a life of less consumption but it only really happened three years ago, just before I left for my round-the-world trip.

I literally purged 95% of my possessions. I never really realized how much crap I owned until I moved.

Suddenly, my new life was more than the sum total of what I owned; it was rich with freedom and possibilities.

Everything I owned I could carry on my back. I had no return date, flight ticket home and no job lined up.

I thrived.

And it happened not only because of my trip but also because of my newly adopted minimalist lifestyle; a lifestyle with no cluttered schedule, no ongoing expenses and no giant TV.

Simplifying your Life Right Now

Obviously you don’t have to go on a round-the-world trip to enjoy the benefits of minimalist living.

Start by realizing you already have enough. Then start simplifying.

Choose a room in your home and asses each and every single object. Ask yourself – “Do I truly NEED this object?”, “Do I use it on REGUALR basis?”

If the answer is “No”, then pass it along to someone who could put it to better use by selling it, donating it or giving it away. If you can’t even give it away, instead of storing it, simply recycle or dump it.

Remember, less is more in this case.

Here are some specific item groups you want to focus on in your simplifying process:

1. Books – When I was young I had a dream of having floor-to-ceiling bookcases with all the books I’ve read. I’ve rationalized that I may need to go back to these books for future research. In reality, I’ve never gone back to any of my old books and they just collected dust on the shelf, so just before my RTW trip, I gave away 90% of my books to friends, complete strangers and the local library. These days, I own all my books in a digital form and mainly use Kindle or my laptop to read. It’s worked great for me.

2. Music – In this digital age, there’s no better time to get rid off your entire CD collection by converting them into high quality audio files. There are plenty of free software programs that will do the job.

3. Clothing – This might be a challenging one, especially for many women among us, but we’re all guilty of hoarding clothes that we no longer wear. Key questions to ask here: “Does this piece of clothing fit me?”, “When’s the last time I wore it?”, “Do I own too many similar items?”. In my case, I pared my wardrobe down drastically keeping only the most versatile and classic styles. It continues to work perfectly in my minimalist lifestyle.

4. Paper – There is no real reason to keep paper beside a few original documents that have legal signatures on them, such as Birth Certificates and Identification Cards. Everything else can be scanned and stored electronically. Say goodbye to all those overflowing paper folders and cluttered files.

5. Electronics – Multifunctional is the word here. Instead of keeping up with single-purpose devices, concentrate on multi-purpose items such as smart phone or a laptop. With my laptop, I am able to listen to music, watch videos, read eBooks, call on Skype, work on my business, browse the internet, store my documents, and even watch television online when a show particularly appeals to me. As a result, I have not owned a TV for eight years. No complaints!

Final Words

Despite what the media would like you to believe, you will not die if you don’t own the latest, greatest, soon-to-be-obsolete version of everything.

We are conditioned by a well-functioning marketing system to chase sugar high after sugar high without thinking of the true price we pay for them. Frivolous spending leads to excess consumption, debt, information overload and less free time.

In a world of endless shopping options, buying more stuff is easy, too easy. More often than not we do it in search of more “happiness”, but the truth is that it only brings temporary joy in our lives. We’re merely filling a “hole” rather than looking at what the true void may be.

What you need instead is to make a commitment to simplify your life right now.

- Cut back your possessions to what is absolutely needed. It will free you for the more important things in life.

- Buy and own quality stuff that you’ll love for years. Not in momentary events.

- Choose to spend money on experiences over possessions. Their memories last longer.

Minimalist Living is a rewarding path to a more meaningful life; a life with less attachment, more clarity, and more freedom.

Take the road less traveled and give it a shot. You’ll not regret it.

Minimalist Living is a post from: Below Zero to Hero - Get Inspired.

If Richard Branson, a business tycoon worth more than four billion dollars today, had let the fire within him flicker off because his teachers told him he was incapable of achieving anything by virtue of his poor academic performance, Virgin, one of the biggest and most diverse corporations, would not exist.

I read Branson’s book, Losing-My-Virginity, almost without stopping and it was probably one of the best biographies I have read. In this post I’ll share some of the lessons I’ve learned from Branson’s truly inspiring story.

Richard Branson Story

Richard Branson didn’t become successful overnight.

His resume as a young man didn’t make a great impression: He suffered from dyslexia and had difficulty in reading and understanding certain concepts. His reading and math skills were poor and he left high school at sixteen.

What the school system failed to notice was Branson’s exemplary interpersonal skills. Richard easily connected to people, heart to heart, and it is this skill that later laid the foundation for his uber successful business ventures.

Frustrated with the treatment meted out to him, and moved by the student revolutions raging in the 1960s when he was in college, Richard launched a student newspaper, “The Student”, alongside his friend Johnny Gems.

The Student was a hit, with members of Parliament, rock stars, bigwig actors and highly respected intellectuals contributing their writings to the paper. “I predict you will either go to prison or become a millionaire,” said Richard’s college principal of him, congratulating him on the success of his newspaper.

Branson always recognizes opportunities when they cruise by him, and it was this innate business knack that helped him lay the foundation to what is today one of the world’s best known brands. In 1970, the British Government had abolished the Retail Price Maintenance Agreement, but major music stores refused to lower the price of their ware. Branson started a mail order discount music records business that progressed like wildfire.

The first chapter in the glorious story of Virgin is young Branson’s decision to set up the recording studio Virgin Records, fueled by the success of his discount records venture. The name “Virgin” was coined by a colleague who explained that they were all virgins in business, and thus the name was apt. Mike Oldfield’s instrumental compositions Tubular Bells topped charts in 1973, and stayed on the UK charts for almost 250 weeks.

Richard Branson is known for his boldness, be it his appetite for adventure sports, or for his unconventional business methods. Soon after the launch of Virgin Records, Branson signed on the controversial Sex Pistols, and went on to gain appreciation for publishing avant-garde works like that of Faust and Can. And thereon began a series of trend-setting achievements in the musical world.

Today, Virgin is a brand whose assortment of businesses includes airways, publishing and distributing books, music supermarkets, credit cards, holiday planning, fitness clubs and recently, countering global warming.

The empire called Virgin Group is made of 200 companies that function independently with different boards. However, all these companies have something in common: the collective knowledge and experience.

Lessons from Richard Branson’s Story

Richard was courageous, imaginative and determined and these are some of the qualities that led to his success. What is more significant is that it is his personal traits that went unnoticed by the uni-dimensional exams of the educational systems that contributed to his meteoric rise to fame.

His self-confidence, refusal to give in and readiness to challenge largely accepted norms became the fertile grounds on which success blossomed.

“For me business is not about wearing suits, or keeping stockholders pleased. It’s about being true to yourself, your ideas and focusing on the essentials.” This is the outlook Richard had on his business.

This is not to say that the man never second guesses himself or doubts his decisions at times. What counts is that he never let self-doubt hinder him from trying, and he refused to let stigmas of the society pull him down. His achievements were borne of the faith he had in himself, and no amount of ridicule could rob him of that faith.

If a man suffering from dyslexia could go on to found a megabrand with a plethora of businesses beneath its umbrella, than others can overcome their obstacles and emerge victorious, too.

It is the individual who decides what he/she is capable of, not society.

Challenging Society’s Conventions – Lessons from Richard Branson’s Story is a post from: Below Zero to Hero - Get Inspired.

Looking at the dazzling later part of Franklin’s life, one would little expect a childhood as rocky as his. I just had a quick flick through Walter Isaacson’s book, Benjamin Franklin: An American Life, and an inspiring zero-to-hero story is slowly revealed.

Benjamin Franklin was sired by a man who fathered 17 children in all. Josiah Franklin was a soap maker, and could not afford to provide for all his children. This translated to Benjamin not having access to formal education.
However, Ben’s quest for knowledge led to him to voraciously read every printed word he could lay his little hands on. Ben was later direct to apprentice a printer for his older brother James Franklin who owned The New England Courant, the first newspaper in Boston.

In Philadelphia, Benjamin was working with a printer when the governor of Philly promised to help Ben set up his own shop if he traveled to London to purchase his own printing equipment. Ben readily boarded a ship to London, but was stuck in London when the governor failed to live up to his word.

The silver lining to this cloud is that he met the love of his life, whom he would marry later in his life. Ben returned to Philly later and soon set up his own printing press.

A couple of years fast forwarded, Benjamin Franklin was a respectable man renowned for his contributions to the civic world he was a part of.

Being a thinker and an ardent reader, Franklin solved the problem of few books being available in America by introducing the concept of subscription libraries, and set up the first library.

He also founded the American Philosophical Society, the first ever pool of learned minds to exist in America. He also set up the Pennsylvania Hospital to cater to the ailing. All the three organization are fully functional till date.
Franklin also brought about the first fire brigade in Philly. And his work in the field of electricity established him as a man with knowledge to be reckoned with in the field of science.

On the political front, Ben was among those who first recognized that America must be unlinked from England. He collaborated with Thomas Jefferson in drafting the Declaration Of Independence, coaxed the French into siding with America and drafted a good number of treaties.

Benjamin Franklin, exposed to the vagaries of life early on, was relatively unperturbed by the rough hand of life. The ability to quickly rebound and advance forward is an asset that will serve us well.

“If you would not be forgotten, as soon as you are dead and rotten, either write things worth reading, or do things worth the writing,” said B. Franklin. Rise above the gluttony of small failures and reach out for the stars to make your life note worthy.

Rising Above Adversity – Lessons from Benjamin Franklin’s Story is a post from: Below Zero to Hero - Get Inspired.

One woman who personifies all of these traits and can truly be labeled as a successful entrepreneur is Laura Roeder. She is a social media marketing expert, who works with small businesses to understand and use the impact of social networking.

Laura’s hard work and determination have paid off. She was invited to the White House in 2011 to speak about entrepreneurship and also named one of the top 100 entrepreneurs under 30.

She has attended a number of conferences and seminars such as BlogWorld, BlogHer, The Social Communication Summit and many more, where she has been a speaker and inspiration to hundreds of people.

Laura Roeder Story

From a young age, Laura understood what it was like to be responsible for your own business and run it successfully.
Coming from a family that believed in the ideas of self-employment and dedicated entrepreneurial ethics, she inherited the traits of hard work ethics.

All of this came along with being a natural leader with a tendency towards social interaction and thriving on creating businesses. She grew up at the time when the Internet had just started making a mark on people’s lives and she started learning to work along with it.

In 2000, Laura founded LKR, a company that specializes in social media training. In a span of just three years, the LKR brand has become a veritable leader in the world of understanding the working of social media.

The services are targeted at small business ventures, start-ups and entrepreneurs who want to grow their brand with the help of social networking websites, especially Facebook and Twitter. Laura has developed a reputation for being smart and a successful leader, something that has made her quite popular in her chosen niche.

Laura was only in the seventh grade when she decided to teach herself how to create a website. This required learning how to code and design pages, creating a thirst for knowledge and a base for what she would do in the future.

Through the Internet, she learned how to set up and run fan clubs and websites, where people could participate with contributions. This is was her first brush with figuring out how to attract more customers and viewers, something that holds her in good stead as of now.

This fascination for the online world kept up her interest and she continuously taught herself how interaction on the web works.

Laura obtained her degree in Advertising from the University of Texas. She used it to start her career in designing when she was just 20 years old. Situated in Chicago, her entrepreneurial tendencies got her to quit her job at 22 years old and begin her own business.

The bold step of becoming a CEO at such a young age is what kept her going on, looking for clients and thriving on her small-scale business. However, even though she loved working with small and upcoming businesses, she soon realized that staying small-scale would not be enough to branch out and earn bigger and better profits.

Laura’s vision for her work took her into social media consulting. But even so, she wanted to do something big, which was not possible if she took on one client at a time. She felt that it wasn’t enough to work with a few hundred clients a year, since there were many more people who could benefit from her outlook and networking skills.

Instead of going out looking for customers, she started video blogging about her ideas about social media management. Soon after, followers and clients followed.

In fact, a large part of her business to date comprises of video blogging. As a result, she launched LKR and soon after, The Dash which works towards offering a training in business using technical resources to build up a good reputation and client base. At its core, Laura still focuses on social media training but has started to work on newer projects as well.

The success of LKR and The Dash is because they connect with people, along with offering advice that everybody can use. These are the qualities that have made Laura into a successful businesswoman and have her being honored on a number of platforms.

But most of all, she believes in loving what she does. Nothing gives her more joy than in working with her team at LKR and coming up with new and innovative ways to reach out to the customers.

She puts this feeling into her business, working with people who offer constructive outlook and bring positive energy into the team. Her company follows a policy of not engaging with hate mail, negative press and trolls. Laura personally feels that if you don’t pay attention to them, it all quickly goes away.

Personal philosophy plays a definitive role in the workings of LKR, which help small businesses understand how to strike up a friendly relationship with their customers. This stems from Laura’s belief that trying to connect with the ‘right’ people or move with the ‘right’ crowd rarely helps until you make friends with people that click.

Her team is focused on providing the correct tech tools to open up avenues of marketing and branding in the small business industry. They also frequently organize informal meet ups for the customers, so that they can work one-on-one to find a common ground to connect over.

Laura often travels for vacations, where she chooses to unplug and take some time for herself. She also gives back to the community in a big way. As a person, Laura is quite open and chooses to talk about herself quite frequently, setting a base for trust and honesty between her and her followers.

Lessons from Laura Roeder Story

We have often heard people telling us to do only what we love so that it never feels like a job that needs to get done. Although we try to pursue our passions, many people tend to give up and take on a less challenging path in life.

No journey worth taking is ever simple in nature and the only way to move forward is to have an unwavering belief in your own self. What Laura Roeder shows to us is that is possible to take on obstacles head on and come through successfully.

This only goes to show how far true determination, hard work and actions can do for a single person.

Becoming a Successful Online Entrepreneur – The Story of Laura Roeder is a post from: Below Zero to Hero - Get Inspired.

Imagine waking up every morning knowing that you are completely free to choose what you want to do and how you want to do it.

Imagine being able to spend time with your loved ones, your friends, your family, whenever you need to.

Imagine being able to go anywhere you want and contribute to the world in whatever way you choose.

Close your eyes and really think about it for a minute.

Did you hear a little voice in your head whispering: “That will never happen“?

If you did, I encourage you to reexamine your way of thinking as your beliefs eventually create your reality.

The Choices We Have

The greatest freedom we have in life is the power of choice – to either be the victim of circumstances, or to grab the bull by the horns and actually try things out for ourselves.

Trading time for money has become so common in our society that it seems the only way to live our lives. We have been conditioned to believe that this is the most lucrative way to earn a living, while in reality, the majority of us are indebted to a financial system that is fraudulent to its core.

Millions of people in the “developed world” are now debt slaves, both individually and as citizens, to a system that has been designed to put us in debt and keep us there.

The system may or may not change in the future, but your relationship with it can change now.

The choice is yours. You don’t have to follow the crowd and you don’t have to live your life the way other people expect you.

If the last sentence resonates with you, I invite you to read on.

Your Journey to Freedom

For many years I believed that work is something that has to be done, something that must be endured in order to make a living.

I still remember my first day in that tiny cubicle, spending hours in front of a monitor, being extremely dissatisfied with the life society expected me to lead.

It was a limited reality. My job determined where I lived, how much money I earned, and what kind of lifestyle I had.

I knew I needed to do something else, to create my own circumstances. So I took the plunge and committed myself to nothing but freedom.

Fast forward to today and multiple streams of passive income I’ve created allow me and my partner a life of complete liberty.

Ever since then, people have constantly asked me how they can make money online, whether it is to supplement their current income or to replace it completely.

The answer of course is not that straightforward. It requires passion, focus, extensive knowledge of the subject matter and perhaps more than anything, a firm commitment and self sacrifice.

For many people that might be too time-consuming, difficult or scary, but for others the journey to freedom is exciting. I advised those people every once in a while, showing way through, sharing ideas face to face and via email.

I came to realize during this time that my passion to help others is not enough. It calls upon a central knowledge base of passive income experts and other inspired people who are totally committed to their freedom and who are willing to fight for it.

I thought of how I could fill this gap and that is how my new project, Passively Free, was born.

Passively Free

In the world I imagine, people are not stuck in fear of losing their job or in fear of what their boss would say. Instead, they work on projects they truly believe in and want to contribute to society in a significant way. A paycheck at the end of the month is not the focus but a natural outcome of their passionate contribution.

What about you? What is your first thought when you wake up on Monday?
Do you dread the morning commute to work?
Does the thought of another day at work make you want to hurl?

If you are not passionate about your work or curious about the concept of financial freedom, visit PassivelyFree.com.

My goal is to share experiences of successful entrepreneurs from all regions of the world, and by doing so, motivate as many people as possible to find freedom and fulfillment in what they do.

What this website will not do is promise people riches beyond their wildest dreams and a pie in the sky without them having to lift a finger. The road to financial freedom is a journey, an ongoing process that takes time, hard work, and sacrifice.

The truth is that you don’t need to be a millionaire to achieve freedom. For most people a few hundred dollars each month, earned passively, can make a world of difference.

If any of the above sparks your passion, I invite you to commit yourself to a new journey for regaining back your personal independence.

Final Words

The main message I want to leave you with today is this: don’t give up on freedom.

Financial Freedom is not about quitting your job and doing nothing. It’s about using your new freedom to create a life you are so passionate and excited about that you can’t wait to wake up in the morning.

I truly believe that work should not be something you have to endure around the clock, but something you enjoy and want to do.

You should be able to create a business or have a job that fulfills the life you want, not the other way around. Your job should not determine your life.

Rather than planning to retire from work, do work that is so rich and fulfilling that you will never want to retire from it…

Why retire from something you love anyway?

Live Your Dreams!
Tal

P.S. If you got anything out of this post, I hope you’ll share it with others. The world is a better place when people have more freedom, more choices, and passionately contribute to society without worrying if they get paid or not.

Having More Freedom is a post from: Below Zero to Hero - Get Inspired.

I was quite a shy bookworm when I was growing up. It took me quite a journey to build my confidence up around the opposite gender but one that I’m extremely grateful for. Besides the fun factor, this journey gave me the opportunity to discover more about myself and connect with some incredible people.

Chris Manak is one of those people who made a similar journey and transformed from introvert to an outgoing social butterfly. He is now a successful dating/lifestyle coach and speaker on the theme. We’re fortunate to have him share his thoughts with us.

1. Hey Chris, please tell us a bit about yourself. How did you end up coaching men as a profession? Have you always been confident with women?

No definitely not. According to my mother I was a quiet kid, and from memory I was pretty much the same in high school. Even now I happily admit to not being an unwaveringly confident guy because the thing is – you don’t need to be. You don’t need to be really confident to accomplish things. You just need to build enough reference points in your mind that certain things are possible.

It all started for me some years ago after a break up left me feeling like I was missing something – an understanding of myself more than anything. But it also made me realise that my inability with women meant a bleak future, be it alone or in a relationship that I was not secure in. So I just started putting in the time and effort to meet and talk to girls. Then soon after I’d moved to Melbourne, regular requests to take people out were often accompanied by comments like “you should be charging for this”. So I did, with no real expectation of anything, I initially just wanted to pay for a $400 tooth repair. Then word just spread.

2. Why did you feel that you needed to go through this journey?

I wanted to be the best man that I could be. Ultimately I want a great career, a great partner, a happy life and an awesome story to tell at the end of it. And I felt that I needed to better understand myself and fully experience the world around me, women included, in order to have that. I didn’t want to settle leaving stones unturned. I believe that we all crave stomach-churning love and deep emotional connection, and for me the best way to get that was to build my self-esteem to a point where I knew that I was worthy of it.

3. How do you feel you’ve developed during your journey from your early days to where you are today?

I’ve would definitely say that I’ve come full circle. When you first want to be more successful with women it’s very easy to believe that you need to be a confident, macho, party guy in order to do so – because they’re the guys that you see getting the most attention. But once you stop trying to be something and fully accept yourself, flaws and all, you find a new sense of ease and happiness, and it all becomes a lot easier. So I would say that I am much more accepting of myself now. I know that the right people will love and be attracted to you for being you, whereas several years ago I believed that you needed to be the stereotype of what everyone wanted.

4. What is your best advice for someone suffering from shyness and who wants to get better with the other gender?

Don’t use your shyness as a reason to not take action. I am by nature incredibly shy and I’ve accomplished more than I ever dreamed of. Rise above your shyness. Do something. Plan something. Go somewhere. Know that you as a human being are malleable and ultimately you are what you decide to be. Don’t see shyness as a bad thing. Shy people are often the most intuitive and insightful, and you can be shy and still get what you want. Confidence will increase once you start taking consistent action.

5. What is the most common trouble with which people come to you? What is the number one goal your clients usually have?

The most common trouble is that guys simply don’t know how to go about meeting women as they go about their lives. They see women that they’d like to talk to everywhere but feel that it’s impossible. They feel lost, trapped, frustrated and want change.

The most common goals for guys are to simply be able to talk to women instead of feeling paralysed, and to get a girlfriend whom they have chosen, someone they really like.

6. What is the number one mistake that you see guys make when they approach a woman?

Trying too hard. They try to fake confidence, or to be the entertainer, or the loud party guy, or the cool cocky guy. Most of the time, none of this is in their nature at all so it’s incredibly see through and gets them nowhere.

7. Can you give us an example of a success story you’ve recently had with one of your clients?

Just one of my favourites is a guy who is now a good friend of mine. He had just broken up with his girlfriend and wanted to get over it. He was a determined, fun and motivated guy – my favourite to work with. He did a couple of nights with me, went crazy in the dating world for about a month, and then got back with his girlfriend. I have no doubt that there are a lot of guys out there who need to just get ‘that’ out of their system in order to fully appreciate what they have.

8. I know most of your clients are men. What kind of advice would you give to a woman who has no luck with men?

I have to say two things:

1) Get your appearance as good as possible. Looks are obviously not everything, but men are attracted to attractive women. It’s perhaps an unpopular fact, but a fact all the same. And I know that all women can be utterly beautiful, it’s just that many have unfortunately given up on themselves.

2) Let go of any cynicism for men and/or the dating world. I come across this a lot – an otherwise great girl who is so bitter and angry from previous experiences that she radiates it, and it can deter a new guy quite quickly.

9. What do you think stops people from taking action and going after their dreams? What is your message to someone who’s stuck and can’t seem to go forward?

Simple fear of failure stops people doing most things. This can often manifest itself in a feeling of laziness. I believe that everyone has at least one talent or passion that, if honed, could make them a career. If you’re unhappy with your life, find out what that passion is and do something with it. Passion is much more important that ability I believe. You just need to be driven by either the pleasure that you feel from doing that something, or by the pain that you feel from your current situation. Pain, discomfort and unhappiness are the best motivators for change.

10. Do you follow any “dating rules” that you live by? Do you have any guidelines that you think are actually helpful or make sense when dating someone new?

Not necessarily. I would say to just be strong. A new partner will stir in you both amazingly beautiful feelings, as well as bring to light all of your insecurities. You just need to love yourself, be accepting of the fact that you aren’t perfect, neither are they, and that the end goal is worth it.

11. How do you stand-out from the crowd in your business?

I really love what I do. I feel truly blessed. And seeing the smile on client’s faces is so incredibly rewarding for me that I will do anything within my power to make that happen. Clients aren’t dollar signs to me, they all become a friend and part of my life, and I will go out on limbs to help them. I also only coach one-on-one allowing me to really get to know someone and work with them personally. Lastly I walk my talk. Everything that I get my clients to do and strive for, I have done myself.

12. What goes through your mind when you approach a woman you don’t know and that you’re interested in?

I think what should go through your mind is that she could shut you down in a second or that she could be your future wife. That she could be a horrible person or that she could be an amazingly inspiring person in your life. You just never know until you meet her. Also remember that you’re doing something which most men will go their lives without doing, so regardless of how it goes, it is an accomplishment. Imagine that you’ve just dropped $100 on red on the roulette table. You’re excited and a little scared. I think that’s how you should feel when you approach a girl. Unlike gambling through, there is nothing to lose.

13. Talk a little about your personal life. What do you think your readers would be most surprised to know about you?

That I am very real. People hear “dating coach” and assume all kinds of things, from living in Armani suits, to schmoozing models every night (think Barney Stinson or Hitch). No. In fact I face my own dating life dramas often. I deal with my own fears and tackle the problems of attaining my own life goals, every single day. Everyone is dealing with something, regardless of where they’re at.

14. What do your parents think of your job as a dating coach? What do your current/previous girlfriends think of your job as a dating coach?

My Dad was quite proud by what I do. He would rant about how I need to “expand my business and be like that millionaire matchmaker woman on TV”. My Mum is the same, but I think still finds it a touch weird. She is amazingly supportive and listens to my rambling on the phone all the time.

15. What’s your take on online dating?

From my own experiences I am not a huge fan. But I have friends who have been with partners for 10+ years from online dating. I just can’t help but to feel that the time spent online could be better spent meeting people in person. I think someone’s vibe is incredibly important which is hard to tell from a profile. Obviously though it really suits some people perfectly – like older people and people living remotely, so definitely each to their own.

16. Do you recommend any books that helped you along the way?

When I was 16 I first read The Power of Your Subconscious Mind by Joseph Murphy which was like me discovering God. The concepts in that are still a big influence on me – just this notion of us having much more control over our lives that we’re lead to believe. But obviously that message is not only in that book, there are thousands of books and webpages on that you can learn from.

Jim Rohn is also a huge influence on me. I’ve referred to him as “my dead mentor” before. An amazing self-help guru which I would recommend everyone to learn from. I like that there was no wishy washy stuff with him, he had a cut throat attitude and told it how it is.

17. How did your journey change the way you feel about women?

I definitely believe in the quote “Behind every great man is an even greater woman” Although you could easily argue that men run the world, I think women are the backbone behind us. They’re our muses, our inspiration. Men drive nice cars for women, wear nice clothes for women. We reach the height of our existence because of women, but also the scary depths of our existence. There is a definite yin and yang balance there, a dance of seemingly opposite drives and desires. We’re all just people, going through one issue or another. No girl out there at her core is different to you. She is just another soul trying to make do and be happy.

18. What’s next for you?

Only time will tell. Mainly I would like to do a lot more writing, like ebooks or websites designated to self-improvement, so I’ll probably be focusing on that in the coming year.

From Introvert to Social Butterfly – Interview with Chris Manak is a post from: Below Zero to Hero - Get Inspired.

Matt and I had been drinking buddies and friends for years. It is funny to me, looking back, how unfit we both were when we met and how far we have come since that day. I have learned a lot from Matt and I hope you will too after reading this interview.

1. Hey Matt, please tell us a bit about yourself. How did get into extreme endurance sports like ultra marathons and Ironman triathlons?

I was a keen sportsman when I was much younger, but then, like a lot of people I strayed into a working and social life where I didn’t do much sport or any at all. I remember looking at the photos of a recent holiday when I was 31 and thinking that I was looking a bit “too comfortable” and that I needed to work on my weight and general fitness. I bought a pair of runners that day and went out for my first jog in years. It was only 2 – 3 km, but it nearly killed me.

At that stage, I had no goal other than to find enjoyment in running and get slimmer and fitter. Once I moved to Australia, I got into running in a bigger way and it wasn’t that long before I signed up for my first marathon, which was just after my 34th birthday (although I signed up to run my first three marathons within 6 weeks of each other). Once I had completed a few of marathons, I was speaking with a very inspirational friend about his recent Ironman, which I thought sounded like a crazy challenge. A year of training (including learning to swim) later, after completing the ironman, I was hunting around for the next challenge, which I wanted to be ultramarathon. I prefer running to cycling and swimming so ultra and marathon is where I like to test myself.

2. What is the longest distance you’ve run? Could you have imagined yourself doing those things a few years ago?

So far, my longest distance is only 104km (the race was only 100km but I got lost early on in the race and ran an extra 4km), but I have longer in the pipeline. It certainly isn’t something that even 2 years ago I thought would be possible. In many ways, even today, I still sometimes think that it is crazy, but I used to think that about a half marathon. Your body and mind are incredible machines and they are capable of much more than you could ever imagine. My goal now is to find out exactly what it is capable of before they genuinely say enough is enough.

3. Why running? What is it that drives you to train harder or work toward seemingly impossible goals?

It is the age old argument about running. It is very difficult for a runner to explain to a non-runner how wonderful it can be (and I don’t need to explain it to a runner). For me however it is where I find myself. It is where I put all the ills of the world behind me and where I am able to tackle anything. Every work and personal problem seems so much more manageable after a run – life becomes more even-keeled.

What drives me on is a genuine desire to find out who I am. Having that mental battle about stopping when I am exhausted is a great place to find out what you are made of. Running the ultramarathons and Ironman always makes me think that any other challenge that life throws up won’t be too hard to take on.

4. Why ultramarathons? What made you decide to start running beyond marathons?

It is not just because the challenge is there. I don’t think that sums it up very well. For me it was more about wanting to find out about who I am. In running, you can generally do this in two ways: run faster or run further. I prefer further. Although I am also keen on running faster too
I have never thought in a marathon, “I am not going to finish this” so I want to reach that point and still carry on to finish.

5. What are the biggest challenges to running distances far longer than marathons?

It is a very different type of running and often the most difficult challenge is holding back. All keen runners love just dashing out of the door and letting rip. It is the thing in my life that takes me back to being a child – that carefree moment where everything in the world is great. With ultramarathon, you are on your feet for so long that you just can’t do that, you have to set yourself reasonable targets and stick to them.

Also, technique is very important. You are taking so many steps that even the smallest of technique issues will become a serious issue after a time.

6. What goes through your mind when you are running? Are you focused or do you just let your mind wander?

It really depends on how quickly or how far I am running. It varies of course. Sometimes I think about the day or life in general, sometimes I get caught up in the sounds of the environment, sometimes I love the music I am listening to and sometimes I completely zone-out and I only snap back into a few kms later. All feelings are good and you can embrace them all. I am just happy to be able to go out running.

7. Do you listen to your body when you feel pain or do you believe in pushing beyond it?

I regularly have little aches and pains of course, but I generally think that are ok to run through – they always seem to go away within a couple of kms of starting anyway. I have really only had one injury (Achilles tendonitis) that I “listened’ to and rested, but not before running 29 of 31 half marathons in 31 days (for charity) on the injury If I am ill, I do rest however. There is no point pushing when you are ill. My thought is that it is better to have two days off, than push and have to take a whole week off – I have learned this the hard way.

8. Who inspires you? do you have any mentors?

Wow, so many people inspire me. Life inspires me. So many people fight through so much that it is hard not to be inspired to try your best every day.
If I hear a good running story (particularly a first marathon story), that inspires me. People are fascinating and hearing their stories is fascinating. I am in a fortunate position that I am healthy enough to go out running and do other things in life, so if I am not inspired by others to do that, then I feel I would be wasting my life.

9. What is a typical week like when you are training for a race? What do you find most challenging about training?

I am currently training for a number of ultramarathons (which also involves running in plenty of marathons too) so I generally run about 6 times a week (I take Friday off) and cover about 100 – 140kms a week, so without a doubt the biggest challenge is the sacrifice you have to make to your social life. It takes a lot to complete an ultra or ironman so this obviously means that other things suffer. I wouldn’t do it however if I didn’t really love doing it – I don’t want to do it just for the goal and I don’t ever want to take it too seriously.

10. What is your favourite race story?

My absolute favourite running experiences are where I pace a friend or group of friends to their first marathon or PB in a marathon. I trained a group of friends and “friends of friends” in 2009 from non-runners to running a full marathon. Their original goal was to run a half marathon, but they did so well that I persuaded them that if they ever wanted to run a marathon, now was the time to do. Three extra months of training and they all crossed the line together in under 4 hours – to cross the line with them that day and see the look on their faces in recognition of what they had achieved in 9 months was undoubtedly my favourite running moment. I get inspired every time I think about that.

11. Do you recommend any books, products or websites that helped you along the way?

Only one answer to this “Born to Run”. Whenever I am tired or not enjoying the running as much as usual, I listen to the audiobook version of it – it inspires me every time.

12. Talk a little about your personal life. What do you think your readers would be most surprised to know about you?

I would say that most people would think in order to run over 100km or complete an ironman, you would have to be a “fitness freak” or really, really dedicated. I guess to a certain extent that is correct, but I definitely don’t take them or things in life too seriously. I like to try to do my best, but I know that there are more important things in life than work or running. As such, I try to get as much enjoyment out of them without getting too emotionally invested.

13. What advice would you give to someone who wants to start running long distance?

I guess in general my single piece of advice for anyone starting running would be to find the fun in it. Do it for 4 weeks, even if you are not enjoying it, and if at the end of the 4 weeks you still aren’t enjoying it, then look for something else. Above all else, it should be fun.

My single piece of advice for a runner that is now looking to run long distances is that you can do it. The battle is mostly mental when you get into the long distances, so believe in yourself and you will achieve incredible things. Another piece of advice is “slow down”.

14. By the way, how do you avoid injuries with so much running?

This is definitely an important one. I have to admit that I never used to read any of the books etc when training. I didn’t even read much when training for the ironman and that was despite not being able to swim before taking on the challenge, however when I started thinking about ultra, I thought that it would be worth reading up on technique. As a result, I completely changed my running style and focus purely on running style for one session a week. Making sure that I run economically and correctly seems to have worked wonders and I haven’t had an injury in over a year. So, technique, technique, technique

15. Does your family/friends crew for you during races? How important is it for you?
It depends. During the marathons, it is not really required but during the long races (ironman or ultra) it is needed for a couple of reasons. Firstly, obviously to provide you with nutrition etc. is very important, but secondly, and far more importantly, the moral support they provide is invaluable. As mentioned, when you get into the long distances, the battle is mostly mental so know they are there cheering you on really inspires you to keep going. It is very, very important

16. How has running changed your life?

My life in unrecognisable compared to a few years ago. Mentally, I feel a lot calmer, more centred and like nothing can phase me and physically I always feel like I can take on anything. I put this all down to running, the people I have met through running and the things I have achieved with it. I never really used to take inspiration from things, but now I seem to find it everywhere – I can’t think of the last day where I didn’t speak to someone and think “wow, that’s amazing, you are inspiring me to try harder”.

Also, I now always want to improve and try other things. Things that I would never normally have been interested in (art, music) have become something that I want to try in order to become more rounded. I know it sounds strange, but I genuinely put that down to running.

17. What is your message to someone who’s about to embark on his dream?

It’s a cliché answer, but without a doubt that it is about the journey and not just the destination. Of course, I loved finishing the ironman and ultramarathons, but the real fun has been in the training with friends. Being inspired by others and being an inspiration for others is the best feeling in the world and the journey will take you there.

18. What’s next for you? What will be your most challenging competitions for the coming year?

So far this year, I have run in the Hobart Marathon (January) and the Tokyo Marathon (February), both of which were PB’s (down to 3:03, which has qualified me to run in the 2013 Boston marathon) and I would love to crack the 3 hour mark this year. I am signed up for 7 more race marathons this year so I have a few opportunities. Truth be told however, this year my focus is really on distance, rather than speed.

I am signed up for 3 ultramarathons as well. The first is the world famous Comrades Ultramarathon in South Africa; 18,000 equally crazy people from around the world running 89km from Pietermaritzburg to Durban. The second is probably even crazier which 100km around the Botanical Gardens (25 laps) in Melbourne, which I am using as a second qualifying race for the final ultra of the year, which is the 246km Coast to Mount Kosciuszko Ultra in December – that will be the biggest challenge of my sporting life as even the winner last year took 27 hours. I am not sure how I will handle the exhaustion and sleep deprivation, but it will good to find out.

Thanks Matt

10 Marathons and 3 Ultramarathons in 1 year – Learn How Matt Callaghan Does It is a post from: Below Zero to Hero - Get Inspired.