Calm brings time to reflect on consistency
Up until the first two weeks of July, the summer has been a hectic one. Unlike many of my fellow Dutchies, for me summer started at the end of May, instead of now in August. Many of the surrounding businesses are shutting down and taking their summer vacations, regardless of the bouts of rain and thunderstorms we are still getting. As things have calmed down for me, and the surrounding pace of life has slowed down quite a bit, its given me plenty of time to reflect on my habits and routines. Since the last blog post, I’ve turned in about a third of my MA thesis to my supervisor, and been working on the commercial side of the Global Venture Forum. As I do all this work from home, I’ve been finding it important to start getting a routine in that makes sure I get work accomplished in a good time frame.
The reason why I’ve found this important because it speaks to what the future can hold for me. More specifically, I mean future goals past the current, and hopefully next MA. Though I’ve gained a great deal of experience working in formal work places, such as my time at Waterworld in the younger years, or working at the Consulate General last year, the ideal work situation in the future will allow me to work from anywhere and everywhere, all over the world. I strive towards an independency in work past the formal office environment. Will I work in an office again? Most certainly, though I don’t want to follow a career working 9-5, 5 days a week. What it all comes down to is that I’ve been making time and finding ways in becoming consistent in order to accomplish more on many fronts. Spending more time consistent in exercise, spending more time consistent in learning Italian, and getting in the mode to stay consistent or better with work. And one thing I really need to improve on is cutting out some needless distractions. Thankfully, I have plenty of sources of inspiration to get work done. My boss/partner Che Mott at OpenStrategic is constantly on the ball getting things going, and motivating me to do the same. Another at home worker, my dad Peter Laanen “the Brand” is an inspiration as well. Finally, when there is time, listening to the podcasts from Hack the Entrepreneur gives great human insight on the lives of ordinary and extraordinary self-employed workers. I’d certainly recommend giving the podcast a listen to.
What most of this comes down to is not just having a fulfilling career and work/life in future, but to avoid the major pitfalls we hear from many of the older generations. Leaving behind creativity or art or music or other ways hobbies to keep the brain active. Not seeing the world, or finding that after all those years, that I haven’t done the things in the world I’ve always wanted to do. While I learn to become consistent with my habits and routines, I must remind myself that this life is a journey, and that its about the experiences on the journey, and not the destination, that should be enjoyed.
