Over the past few years I have gotten myself in to some ruts and it’s been hard to get out of them as they seem to build up really slowly over years. That’s right…years!!There have been times when I’m motivated to make a change and take my life to the next level and as soon as I begin to move forward, an obstacle appears. Obstacles can come in different forms
- Mental blocks
- Being overwhelmed and tired of trying, nearly giving up
- Lack of a strategy
Here’s an example from my own life and where the rut began and how I kind of got in to the rut
I used to drive buses and though I enjoyed meeting people and the people I worked with, I really only took the job on because I needed an income after getting married in another country and returning home with my wife and son. I was pretty desperate to leave and do something else. I used to sit down at the back of the bus every chance I could with a notebook and write down ideas. One day I had a brilliant idea that took me on a journey for close to 2 years. Unfortunately it wasn’t the travel kind of journey, more like a journey of learning and persistence. I learned a lot but unfortunately the idea never took off, apparently it was high risk and required a large injection of cash.
The idea I had was a game idea based on the tourist industry in my country. I thought it would be a cool souvenir for visitors to purchase in gift shops around the country, and I called it “Interactive New Zealand”.
During my time in the Tourism industry, thousands of tourists had told me of their reasons for visiting New Zealand and almost without exception it was the green wild fresh beauty of the country, and our culture that they had come to see. I thought a tourism based game on a disc would have an instant appeal to the many thousands of tourists who wish to purchase souvenirs to take home with them. There was no (and still isn’t) a product like this on the market. I thought it would be the perfect gift idea for friends, colleagues, family or children back in the respected countries, selling our country in a totally unique and modern format.
It would be an adventure tourism based game with similar visual effects to Lord of the Rings, Medal of Honor and The Getaway, touring NZ from the tip of the North Island to the bottom of the South, incorporating adventure with our culture, people and scenery.
Long story short, it didn’t happen
However I received positive emails from the likes of Saatchi and Saatchi CEO, NDA with Electronic Arts GM and met with Sidhe Interactive, the top game studio in New Zealand. Like I said I learned a heck of a lot. I was 27 years old and that was close to 10 years ago.
I took massive action back then and it didn’t pay off, although like I said, I did learn a lot.
Since then I have been doing the 9-5 thing, raising my kids, being a husband, trying to figure out what I want to do with my life, ho hum life passes you by. I see old friends and they ask what I have been doing with myself since they last saw me (which I hate, especially since there’s nothing too much to report back) and I have nothing exciting to report and I got to tell you, it sucks! Especially when you see old friends and in the space of time since I had last seen them, they have been doing all kinds of exciting things or at least changed something in their life and all I can report back on is…well not much to tell you the truth.
I have some good news though
It’s never too late to change your life, to take it up a few notches, to increase your satisfaction, to change jobs, to start a business, to find your dream partner, to achieve goals you had wanted to achieve so long ago. It’s really just a few key changes you have to make and a few decisions that need to be made. But one thing I’ve finally learned that had taken me a long time to figure out that can fast track your success.
Photo used under Creative Commons from shawnzrossi's photostream on Flicker
Decisiveness
It’s true. I recently made one decision that I’d been putting off for literally years and it has lifted massive burdens off my shoulders, something I’d been putting off doing for “the right time”. I feel much better and I am seeing more and more opportunities each day, it’s quite amazing. But I’ll share the 5 Rut Breaking Hacks that I have with you here now and get on with it.
1) If you don’t like your job, quit
It’s true that if you don’t have any savings or anything else to go to it probably isn’t a wise decision but who knows, maybe it is? It really depends. I was in the same position and I quit and I feel wonderful. I haven’t felt uncertainty for a very long time and it’s quite exciting. There is nothing worse than spending time doing something you don’t enjoy anymore. If you were to become severely ill and had 3 months to live is there anything you’d regret? Would you regret not leaving your job earlier? Sometimes it pays to ask the hard questions because it forces you to look at things and address things you’ve perhaps been putting off.
2) Go meet new people
It’s good to meet new folks because they bring so many new perspectives and life experience and knowledge to your world and can have an impact with your future decision making For instance, my life is richer because of all the wonderful people I’ve met whilst working in the tourism industry. I have met so many colourful people who have inspired me with the things they have done in their life. By meeting new people you open yourself up to new thinking and new perspectives.
3) Go outside and be with nature
For me it’s going to the beach and being near the Ocean. It has a healing effect on me and takes away many of the issues and problems on my mind. It brings clarity to decision making and I find you are able to see a bit more clearly. For you it might be a stroll in the forest or being with the kids kicking the ball around a park. Being inside glued to the computer probably won’t help you find the secret to breaking out of the rut you find yourself in.
4) Volunteer
Trying new things and creating new experiences for yourself is a great way of stepping out and opening your mind to new pathways. If you just continue to do the same thing day in day out it’s pretty silly to think you’ll break out of a rut doing this. You have to continually step out and try new things. Embrace change and seek it when you can. I’ve just realized this myself.
5) Decide
In MY opinion, this is the key to all this. It’s so simple and yet it was hidden from me for years!! I didn’t realize it was so simple, that one decision would change so many things and open up so many new opportunities and options for me. Whatever you wish to achieve or begin for yourself in life, whether it’s to start a new home based business, move country, travel more, find a new job, all you have to do is decide to do this. Once you decide it’s almost as if everything begins to move along in that new path. The first step is always the hardest.
Hope you enjoyed this article. Let me know how it goes for you, I’m on the same journey here!
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