Void of Inspiration

Yesterday a blog was posted about Void – which explains things much better than probably this whole site does.

Ask For Help, Not Permission
http://www.awakenyourcareerpreneur.com/2011/02/ask-for-help-not-permission/

“Recently, I boarded a cross-country flight with the intent of spending my six hours, sleeping, reading, and writing. Having a lengthy chat with my aisle mate was not part of my agenda. But within ten minutes of boarding the flight and getting settled, I happily let go of my “flight” plan.

As serendipity would have it, I was seated next to a young woman who is the inspiration for this post. A young woman who has spent years planning what is now her dream come true: She was beginning her trip around the world!

Taking a year to travel around the world in and of itself is noteworthy and is certainly to be celebrated. But what got me psyched was learning how long she had been planning for this adventure and how she creatively solved how it would be financed. Her strategy contains nuggets of wisdom and inspiration for us all!

She started saving for her trip ten years ago, not knowing she’d end up in the situation I am about to describe.

Just two years into the job she now has held for four years, she approached her boss about a salary increase and lobbied for taking on increased responsibilities — responsibilities that included being the first woman to hold the position she wanted. But soon after presenting her initial idea, she went back to her boss and said, in essence, “Keep the salary increase; I’d like to take a year’s sabbatical, travel around the world, and come back to my job.” Their response, in essence, “No, we will give you your increase AND the promotion but let’s figure out how you can continue to work whilst you travel.” Imagine getting that response as a counter-offer! The caveat: They wanted to do a year-long test-drive to gauge what it would be like for her to work and manage her team remotely. She had to delay the beginning of her trip by a year.

Since I’m writing this you know the test drive was a success. So, wherever she is in the world, the agreement is that she has to work a few hours each day and be available during 9-5EST for any potential meetings. It will mean having a whacky sleep schedule, for sure. But how fantastic that she’s able to continue working and getting paid AND travel as she has dreamed since she was a child?!

With the work situation resolved, it was time to tackle her apartment. She didn’t want to sublet it to just anyone. For starters, she’s coming back to New York City every three to four months to unpack/repack for the next leg of her journey. And, she has three cats. Therefore, she needed someone who would care for her pets and her fully furnished apartment, and with whom she felt comfortable sharing the space when she’s home during her periodic visits. This, too, is something she test drove before settling on the person she chose. She didn’t mark-up her rent, but she planned her trips so that the places she is staying (mostly apartments or youth hostels) are either less than or equal to what she would have paid each month for rent.

What dream/s have you been carrying for years, and have you been consistently saving for said? If money and work considerations are holding you back, have you stretched and contorted your comfort zone to uncover ideas that will help you off-set the legitimate concerns you have?

[Author] has a website where she is chronicling her year-long journey. (I think it is great.) I absolutely loved meeting her and appreciate her story for the wonderful reminders it contains for us all: That a) fulfilling big dreams requires a lot of prep time and support from others, b) life demands creativity and openness, and c) freedom comes from asking others to help us live out our dreams…but not for their permission to do so!”

– Jacquette M Timmons, Ask For Help, Not Permission