1. What would you do if there were no way you could fail? If you were 10 times smarter than the rest of the world?

2. What would you do if you had $100 million in the bank? What would make you most excited to wake up in the morning to another day? (clues include: one place to visit, one think to do before you die, one thing to do daily, one thing to do weekly, one thing you’ve always wanted to learn)

3. What does ‘being’ entail ‘doing’? – i.e. make everything you would like to be something you can do – make it actionable.

4. What are the four dreams that would change it all?

Ferriss then asks you to calculate the cost of these four dreams, and develop a target monthly or daily figure that you need to earn in order to make these dreams a reality. In particular he asks you to change you understanding of failure, and see bordoem as the real enemy. Similarly he argues that inaction is much more damaging than trying something that in the end doesn’t work.

I touched base with the Youth Forum today to see how things were going down there and felt a little chuffed with myself that I’d taken what felt like a bold step to leave. Reading the book and getting ready for sailing has made me more and more determind that work life after this amazing adventure will be a new kind of employment. A flexible, mobile and self-determined journey that allows Keli and I to travel, to continue adventuring, and to get stuck into things that make us passionate.

Totally recommend the book, it’s opened my mind to a new way of thinking about career, money and employment. Well worth a read.

We met with the bank to finalise our new Canadian accounts this morning, and then headed into town to meet Ian, a local yacht broker to talk through a range of options for boat buying. Ian was really friendly and had very helpful advice to offer on the types of boats that will meet our needs within what in boat terms is a very small budget. It was really encouraging to meet someone who knows their job who didn’t think we were crazy, and was happy to help.

We cooked an amazing curry tonight for Dennis and Pat and spend a couple of hours chatting about boat options and how to move forward. Dennis and Pat have loads of experience, and we’ve had a lot of fun bonding over boat stories and nice tarts for desert.

It’s amazing to think that a week has gone by already, things are moving so fast. It’s been a tough week in terms of emotions and both Kel and I have had off days. It’s funny how having too much free time can be as stressful as too little.

I’ve been reading a great book called the ‘Four Hour Work Week’ by Timothy Ferriss this week which has provided some really good food for thought. Taking time out to travel is a very deliberate opportunity for both Keli and I to rethink our careers, and develop some rules to live by in terms of future employment.

In the last few years I’ve really come to understand how I function and what motivates me best, and the book has helped me structure those reflections a little. I’ve been struck by the mobility afforded to people wtih the advance of the internet, and how that allows us to earn money in one currency and spend it in another in a way that really increases the relative value of our bank balance.

Mobility, flexibility and autonomy compete with pounds or dollars to become the most desirable currency, and the ‘dream job’ is now one that has a mix of those three things, rather than a well-paid job that limits my life choices. Ferriss calls this ‘lifestyle design’, and argues that a new generation are making career choices based on the ability to maintain a flexible and fulfilling quality of life, rather than a bottom line salary. Naturally I’m with him all the way!

If we’re not careful we might never stop sailing…

The Four Hour Work Week is well worth a read if you’re in any way thinking about your current career, or if you currently have a retirement plan! (which I of course don’t and the author thoroughtly discourages!)

Bed calls, but there’ll be more thoughts tomorrow after my 6am fitness group.