Now Where Were We? – Chapter 1: Taking the Red Pill (The Next Level...

So, by now you may have read my first book in this series… my ‘flagship manifesto’ if you will, the imaginatively titled - Take The Red Pill, Quit The Quo!

You will be familiar with some of the concepts we discussed, my view on it all and have your own ideas I’m sure. You will by now hopefully be questioning the ‘norm’, the ‘way things are’ and perhaps challenging them where appropriate along with some sort of clarity in what’s important to attain success. You will be aware or have reinforced the principles that are necessary for any achievement or endeavour.

You will have had enough of mediocrity and simply nodding along to what you’ve been told and be making some proactive decisions and taking some positive, decisive actions. You may be clearer in your thinking or set off some intangible shift in your psyche. Your life may have taken an up turn… it may not have.

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The good news is you are still in the race, so just keep on running. Never too late, never too early! By now, not only will you have taken the red pill but you will have upped your dose considerably.

If you never got round to reading it, have never even downloaded it, then maybe it’s time to take a look. If you have read it, then these things are always worth re-reading to give you a fresh perspective on the second (or more) viewing.

So what are we delving into in this instalment?

I’m not really sure as I write this so we shall see! Although there are a few things I would like to discuss…

I promised another book. I also alluded to the fact that I would have had some developments in my own life; including travel, living abroad, change in career etc. I said those things without having them in place, although I did know there were plans for the above but I just didn’t really know the specifics at that time.

I did know that however much I stalled, was held back, or stopped in my tracks, that somewhere along the line things would have moved on and I would have further clarity in my future. I will discuss this further.

The first book was written in a small town in Devon, England. This one from Madrid, Spain. So a little twist there to start with. I’ll be delving into my thoughts on that process, insights, fear, love, loathing, observations on people, places and the jolly old merry dance of the universe.

Now, in book one I feel there was a slightly angrier tone then what you will see in this offering. At the time I was quite passionate about what I was saying. I didn’t have a job as such (not in the regular sense but I was working hard at a lot of things, not just sitting around scratching my arse) at the time - which allowed me to write the book - and I didn’t really want to get one just to stay alive to live another day in order to work another day.

I’m not talking about work you love, I mean the stuff literally to pay the bills and be yet another drone (really depressing in general but especially for me). I was a little pissed at how things were ‘supposed to be’. Also anger is a good motivator, keeps you on task and spurs on action. This helps the writing process along with perhaps getting underneath other people’s skin. Unsettle people, ruffle a few feathers, upset the apple cart.

Perhaps make them think.

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I knew the book had to be written as I had it inside of me and it gave me more of a free range than in regular blogs. It was good to sit and write as I find it energising and almost therapeutic. Even if no-one was ever to read it. People have read it and I have had some great, positive feedback.

Don’t get me wrong, I am still very passionate for the pursuit of freedom and the ‘cause’ we are striving for but I’m a little more philosophical about it all… a little more Zen.

Ultimately, it doesn’t matter and if you can’t change something than acceptance is the only way to contentedness. But, we still must keep fighting for what’s right and our ultimate aims - the truth will set you free, and to thine own self be true and all that.

I don’t want to shove anything down anyone’s throats. It’s yours to read, enjoy and implement if you wish. It is also yours to use as bog roll. I don’t mind, I know my truth and I know my outcome.

There will be moments in this book where I will have a little rant and a little more ‘angry’ but not for the sake of it, more to illustrate a point or emphasise it slightly. But the majority will be laid back… a sort of; this is what I’m up to, this is my plan, this is the situation as I see it, my thoughts on the potential future, this is what I can do to help etc and seeing if I can help you make some strides towards where you want to be… a factual personal viewpoint along with some stories, thoughts and case studies.

I’ll try and keep it light and not too heavy going. A fine mix of personal development, travel and a little fun… facts along with conjecture, the serious along with entertainment.

A new age is upon us. You may or may not have noticed that the world is changing and we want to position ourselves in the best place. I hope that these reports can help us to do that along with providing a nice little break from the regular humdrum of work, media and boring TV and the ‘try hard’ social encounters that we indulge in in the name of ‘fun’ to escape that existence.

My Current Situation

Since I wrote the last book I have moved to Spain. I am now living in Madrid (at the time of writing, not any more). I wrote an old blog post on this transition so do check that out if you are interested.

Anywho, one question that might arise is that of selling out. I am working for a company (at the time of writing, these things can change and sometimes quickly!) Monday to Friday 9am-6pm. Surely this is what we are trying to avoid… what gives?

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Like mentioned in the previous book and throughout the blog - It’s a process of refinement.

Sometimes things can be changed in one fell swoop… but often over time. It’s a matter of eeking towards your ideals bit by bit.

Ideally we would all get there tomorrow; skipping around, traveling, sipping cocktails on the beach served by scantily clad girls (or whatever takes your fancy), visiting exotic destinations, waking up when we choose and generally living on our terms.

Unfortunately that doesn’t appear like it will happen so it’s more of a case of slowly slowly catchy monkey. But catchy monkey we shall and I think we can enjoy the process and get as much out of the process as the attainment of our goals themselves.

What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals

~ Zig Ziglar/Henry David Thoreau/Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (not sure who said this originally!)

So, I have improved my situation a little and have worked towards a goal. Namely, working abroad… and in Spain due to wanting to learn Spanish amongst other things, meeting new people, new and different experiences etc. Now, my Spanish has not improved a lick but we can discuss that later ;)

Working yet another boring office job in England would not be the one. Doing it in Spain becomes an experience. Add into the bargain that I have selected the company I’m working for and believe in the product makes it all the better and less of a sell out.

This is in stark contrast to falling into a job just because it was available at the time and just going through the motions although you have no interest in the company or industry… simply a means to an end (gives me the heeby jeebies just writing it).

Am I intending to stay with this company in this job doing those hours? Absolutely not. No way José. But I can do this for a time, pay my dues and perhaps negotiate my position (and work on other projects… including writing ebooks!).

There are other roles within the company I could do. I could also do more out of the office, more active work, work part-time, work remotely… essentially improve things further. I could also leave completely and do something else, whether here in Madrid or elsewhere in the world. There are no rules. I would like to do more writing and publish some work amongst other things.

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By the way, if you are interested in the job I’m doing then I help coordinate English speaking volunteers for an English immersion program in Spain for Spanish people. Here is an article I wrote following my first experience as a volunteer before working for them to help coordinate said volunteers – Pueblo Inglés.

Ultimately we still need to strive for working for ourselves and on our own terms and only work for/with others on terms that suit and are mutually beneficial. That is what I (and hopefully you!) are looking to do. And in this book, blog posts, future books and videos we will explore how we can get there. It won’t be easy but what’s the alternative?!

What my present situation has taught me and what I have achieved in the past year has shown is what I am capable of and how easy it potentially could all be. Writing an ebook is quite some feat for most people, especially one with fairly coherent ideals. I also had an idea to move to Spain and for some reason Madrid and within a year or so that process was complete even without any clear plan or idea how I was going to get from point A to point B.

Coincidences and just events, one thing leading to another got me here. And the process in between is all a bit of a blur, it seems as if it just happened. I sometimes have to stop and reflect on what I have done. I don’t give myself enough credit. I’m not saying I’ve done anything amazing but I’ve done something noteworthy enough both with the ebook, the blog, moving countries etc.

I had no idea I was going to get this job, I just booked a flight. Then my sister mentions a volunteer program she had previously attended which I then went on, I then returned to do another program… one thing led to another and next I was working helping to coordinate that very same program.

Is the situation perfect? Is Madrid the ultimate place? No. But I had an idea and a goal in mind and made it happen… and the weirdest part is the little effort that it seemed to take, from decision through to actuality.

All that striving, all that effort you put in and often you end up getting nowhere… and then occasionally things seem to ‘just happen’ like the universe has its own ideas and you’re not really calling the shots but that’s the way you’re being taken.

We need to tap in to some of that to make our lives (and others) great. This is possible and many have done it. Sometimes by accident, sometimes deliberately, but we need to tap into that and flow with the ‘universe’ so there is no struggle, just a continuous flow, like water, through and around obstacles, working with nature and forces and riding the ‘coincidences’ and events.

It’s a reminder that you can, literally, do almost anything if you put your mind to it. Sounds like a cliché but it’s true. And even when we know this and even when we have successes we forget or think that the next thing we want is unobtainable or difficult to reach.

Anything that is not literally impossible (ie. physically preposterous… although even that is debatable where the line is), is possible. Not only possible but very likely, no, guaranteed if you adopt the right mindset and enter the right flow. Make the decision, do the research, make the plan, take the actions, things have to develop.

Even if things take a different turn that you didn't see coming so be it. It may be even better as a result and produce a whole new world that you could never have dreamed of…