Three years ago, I read The Four Hour Work Week because it sounded so sensational. It was a NYT bestseller, so I knew it had to offer something of value. Turns out, it was mostly full of fluff.
But there was one principle that radically shook my world - you can replace your salary with alternative sources of revenue so that you don't have to live in a cubicle and get your best ideas shot down by unimaginative people with no tolerance of risk.
So began the journey to replace my salary venure by venture. It hasn't been easy. I look more like a president at the end of his tenure than before it. But by God's grace, he's allowed me to do it. I don't have a single source of income from Virginia Beach.
Which means I can pursue audacious projects. I can bring dreams to life. I get to collaborate with amazing people all over the country. And I can work from anywhere. A New York City Starbucks. Chicago. My home office. An RV. Germany.
My passion is to help other people pursue their God-given dreams, to act in great faith and live with no regrets. The Dream Year deadline is tomorrow. I hope you'll make this the year.
This is great Ben. I am signed up to attend the retreat in January. To be honest, I keep getting to the end of the Dream Year application (I've started to fill it out about 7 or 8 times) and then after a while, I close out my browser.
To be 100% honest, the thing holding me back more than anything is the money. $2400 is not a lot for what is offered, but considering I am leaving my full time job at the end of this month to go out on my own (doing IT consulting and photography), the 'fear factor' is so hard to get beyond.
Oh well. I have a day to get over it.
Posted by: Jaycaruso | December 02, 2010 at 10:36 AM
No worries, Jay, that's why I'm doing the weekend. Really glad you're coming...
Posted by: Ben Arment | December 02, 2010 at 10:39 AM
very inspirational Ben. Congratulations on a milestone in a journey that no doubt has many more milestones ahead.
Posted by: Bryan Allain | December 02, 2010 at 10:42 AM
An RV. Nice. I can see you rolling one of those. With some tight rims and your pink bike on the rack in the back!
Posted by: Brentonbalvin | December 02, 2010 at 10:41 PM
Fluff? I think it's a great book. There's hundreds of stories of people who have implemented his strategies!
Not accusing you of this (you are a shining example of a dreamer with the audacity to DO), but I believe many people dismiss non-fiction books because they have read so many, and acted on the information in so few....if any.
I am personally trying to limit my own consumption of nonfiction work, but the ones I do read...... I'm trying to act!
Love what you're doing, keep it up!
Posted by: Tim Chermak | December 03, 2010 at 11:13 AM
Proud of what you've done, continue to do and example that you set. I've been remote with my biz for 10 years now. The freedom and flexibility is so worth the effort, the risk and even the tough and scary times. We can accomplish a lot when we go for it.
Posted by: Daniel Decker | December 03, 2010 at 10:11 PM