In a workshop we attended a few years ago, a major theme was that amazing things do happen if you are:
- open to the possibilities
- taking some action towards your goals/dreams
Many people believe in the power of manifestation as highlighted by the popularity of “The Secret” however until you add some form of action towards making dreams a reality they may stay just that.
The reason we know this is that not only are we living a lifestyle that many people envy, but have also recently teamed up with one of the world’s biggest publishers and co-produced our first information product. Which launched on October 23rd 2014 and offered to a mailing list of 500,000 subscribers.
So how did this come about? Because they did not just knock on our door and tell us they wanted to work with us……………………..
It started back in March 2013 when we entered a short video entry into International Livings Win a Test Drive Dream Retirement Contest. First we were shortlisted into the top twenty–from hundreds of applicants–and then as one of the final three to go on to the next round.
A few months before this, I started studying a travel writers course from AWAI , I was learning a lot and was keen to get my first ‘clips’ published. As the finalists of the contest were asked to write Facebook posts and articles for International Living, I made sure that I mentioned this during the interview.
Sadly, we were not chosen as the finalist; however, I was invited to submit an article to them for consideration for publication–when the editorial staff of a publication that large makes such an offer immediate action is required! A few days later I submitted an article about our recent trip to Isla Palenque and waited…….and waited ……..and waited.
Undaunted, I followed up with a polite enquiry via email and a few days later received an email from the publisher of International Living’s magazine Eoin Bassett. He did not have a use for that article but wanted to know a little more about our roving retiree lifestyle. I responded immediately and my first article “Happy Vagabonds” was published in the November 2013 edition. (Another of IL’s editors for use in another publication later picked up the original article).
Since then I have written articles for another two of IL’s editors and have developed a closer working relationship with the first editor Eoin Bassett. In fact, when we found out that we were going to be in Panama at the same time as him, we made a point of meeting him in person.
That face-to-face meeting led to requests for more articles, ranging from transiting the Panama Canal, the Caribbean and housesitting. These articles were written and published in due course and the housesitting one generated a lot of interest. So much interest, that Eoin suggested we write an outline for a housesitting guide and pitch it to International Living’s Publisher who had expressed an interest in adding this type of guide to their bookstore.
That was almost six months ago and together with the staff of International Living we have written and produced said guide. It contains so much information that it morphed from the initial proposed downloadable pdf to a product that now resides–complete with a generous smattering of Michael’s photography–on its own password-protected website.
We set an intention at the beginning of this year to find ways to earn extra income, enabling us to maintain our vagabond lifestyle indefinitely. The sales of this guide will do exactly that, 2014 is indeed the year of ‘Perpetual Motion”.
Amazing things do indeed happen, when you combine strong intention with that vital ingredient ‘action’.
If you would like a sneak look click here The Most Powerful Money-Saving Travel Secret of All Time.
