If you prefer the video…
In this episode, Lydia Lee from Screw the Cubicle (what a great name!) takes us through her journey of overcoming burnout and creating a fulfilling, sustainable business that works for her, instead of her spending her life working for it. She now “works” most of the year from Bali, but travels around the world, having started before being a “digital nomad” was a thing.
She burned out of her corporate job, but then found herself burned out working for herself, feeling too much pressure to work on projects just to make rent. She wanted more time for hobbies, play, and fun, integrated into daily life, instead of waiting for a vacation.
She did an experiment to work from the road– she didn’t just move to Bali. (Although she had planned to work on the road, with her partner, but then they ended up breaking up just before she was suppsoed to leave.)
But she did end up starting her Screw the Cubicle blog from Bali.
If you want to think about setting up a base somewhere else, try it for a month or so (or even a week). See how it goes. It doesn’t have to be permanent. And of course, life can get in the way (listen for the literal exploding toilet story).
Speaking of the exploding toilets, Lydia had to generate cash, so she partnered with her web designer in the Philippines, and put together a website package for coaches to make some quick cash.
Moving to a new place, learning a new language, a new culture (“yes” might be a polite “no” or “maybe”).
In 2015, she made the most revenue she had ever made, but hit a health scare and felt burnt out all over again. She had too many programs, too many balls in the air.
She realized that while she was a minimalist in her personal life, she was a maximalist in her business, always trying to do more. She then realized that success was not just about money, but about having free time and a feeling of spaciousness. What might a business look like that would be optimal for her life?
What boundaries would she need to put in place, on herself and her clients? (Being asynchronous in client communications has been a huge help.)
While money isn’t everything, we shouldn’t be afraid of it, either. We need to get clear on how much money we need– what’s your “enough” number (which can change over time)?
- Your costs that you need to cover. (You may also find that you can eliminate a lot of costs that aren’t essential and aren’t making your life better.)
- If those basic needs are met, what about the things we’d like to do– remodel the house, take a long vacation, etc.
Given a certain amount of money that Lydia wants to make, how can she make that money most effectively and efficiently, instead of assuming that she has to keep her nose pressed to the grindstone. (For example, she takes the month of December off from client work to “Marie Kondo” her business, eliminating work and delegating tasks.)
Lydia also reminds us that being an “expert” means different things to different people– if you’re helping people in first grade, being in second grade is perfect– you don’t have to be a professor. Being too advanced might actually get in the way.
When getting started, don’t over-invest in superficial stuff like a fancy website. Make sure you’re doing great work for people.
“Success” doesn’t necessarily mean becoming a billionaire. Lydia knows people who work 20 hours per week and live by a lake. Define what success means for you, and follow that.
The Wine
Reuben is having a glass of Petroni Sangiovese from California (!!), not usually known as a hotbed of Sangiovese. Lydia is having kambucha.
Where to find Lydia
YouTube channel (make sure to check out the various playlists)
Where to find Reuben
@Sales4Nerds, @Mimiran, Mimiran.com.You can also listen on Overcast, or Subscribe on Android, or Player.fm.
Want a way to make sales and marketing fun, without being “salesy”? Try Mimiran, the CRM for elite solo consultants who love serving clients but who hate “selling”.
Unlike CRMs built for the VP of sales to keep track of a sales team, where contacts are just statistics, Mimiran is built for relationships, networking, and referrals.
(In Mimiran, use the Pipeline Planner to figure out how to translate your “enough” number into the number of leads, conversations, average sales price, etc, that you need to meet it.)
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