Lifestyle Design is A Conscious Choice

For many, the daily routine of getting up and going to work, coming home and doing it all the next day is all too common. It seems as though there has to be a better way to live, a better way to make a living, to work on your life’s mission. I am in no way saying working hard and working long days are over; what I am saying is that your routine, your lifestyle is of your own creation and design. And because of this, it is a conscious choice. If it is not what you desire, it is you who has the power to change and shape it into one that you do want.

Lifestyle Design is Born

A great example of creating a lifestyle that fits ones goals and personality is that of Timothy Ferriss. You may have read his book, The 4 Hour Work Week, or follow him on Twitter or subscribe to his blog where he documents experiments in lifestyle design. Tim has been able to create a lifestyle, by conscious choice, where he is free to travel when he wants, choose what projects to work on next, and not have to worry about a typical job. I believe he is also the one who coined to the term, lifestyle design.

Entrepreneurs and Lifestyle Design

We all know that entrepreneurs are a rare breed. They have certain characteristics that make them stand out among the crowd. They are focused, passionate, dedicated and determined to make a difference in the world through their product or service. Many entrepreneurs do not seem to fit the typical 8 am to 5 pm work schedule. Some may find inspiration at 3 am, others may find they work best in a coffee shop. Whatever the case may be, they need a lifestyle that fits them and their schedule, allows them to be their most creative at their peak hours, and that allows them flexibility.

It is these same characteristics that entrepreneurs have and that lifestyle design offers. This, I think, is a large part of what is attractive about being an entrepreneur. When you combine a lifestyle that allows you the freedom to live your life your way with the idea of creating a product or service that the world can benefit from, you have a combination that can create the closest thing to freedom as we may know it.

Case Study: Yaro Starak

Another entrepreneur and blogger that has created a lifestyle of their own is Yaro Starak. He is best known online for creating information products to help people make money by blogging. By being consciously aware of what kind of life he wanted, Yaro has been able to earn a living from his blogs and websites, one of his most popular being Entrepreneurs-Journey.com. Having the luxury of working online, Yaro has been able to travel the world while still maintaining, updating, and continuing to earn income where ever he may be.

Lifestyle Design and Business Development

What does lifestyle design have to do with business development? In my opinion, everything! As a business owner, it is my guess that part of what you are seeking is more time, more money, and more opportunity. When you are forming a business, it is important to envision how that business will look five or ten years from now, what role you will play within the company, and how the company will be perceived. If you cannot envision it, most likely it will not become reality. This also ties into Michael Gerber’s entrepreneurial seizure concept, in that being a business owner and being able to step away from working within the business and working on the business are very important to understand. If you set your business up a certain way, you will be able to enjoy a lifestyle of your choosing.

My Experiences with Lifestyle Design

More and more, I have consciously worked at creating the lifestyle that I want to live. As I become more aware of how I want to shape my life, I consciously am more aware of decisions and choices. In other words, I have become focused on a particular lifestyle, though I cannot really describe what that is fully. This has allowed me to really appreciate things less and people and experiences more. I continue to set goals for myself that will continue to form the lifestyle of my choosing.

It is not an easy process, nor is it a fast one. But as it becomes more clear to me, I can start to put small pieces in place, eventually bridging them together to create the big picture that I envision.

What About You?

Have you become consciously aware of the lifestyle you are living? Is there another lifestyle that you would rather live? What kind of steps would it take for you to get there? Leave a comment below.