Making The Empire Portable

Just how portable will my “empire” (business) be?

Well, I plan to fit everything into a small carry-on bag.  By everything, I mean not only what’s necessary to run the business, but also all clothes, toiletries, and random stuff I’ll be using to live for 4 months in Thailand/Asia.

I dont know why, but I really love the challenge of simplifying.  I think of it as a game.   In fact, I heartily recommend this mindset.  When faced with scary economic news and warnings of doom–  why not see simplifying as a fun challenge rather than something horrible that will be forced upon you.

My first simplification challenge happened prior to living in my car the first time.  I’ve always been nomadic, and I REALLY hated moving all my stuff from one apartment to another.  I’d rent a truck, haul a bunch of heavy furniture and junk, and feel exhausted.

So one day I decided to reduce my possessions to the point that everything would fit in my Nissan Sentra.  I sold or gave away almost everything.  I decided to use only free or near free furniture- so I could just leave it behind whenever I moved.   And happily, I accomplished my goal after only a few months.  I felt light and free.

Of course, the car and van living experiments created even greater challenges for simplifying.

Now, I’ve given myself the task of not only living out of a small carryon bag for 4 months.. but of also running my company from it.   Ill be doing demonstrations and seminars in Thailand, launching new lessons, launching a new website, creating & editing videos, and continuing my usual writing and podcast recording.

Here’s the basic packlist so far:

*  A Macbook Air laptop with wifi…. and a webcam for making videos

*  A Blue Snowflake microphone for podcasting and other recording

*  Final Cut Express video editing software.  Garageband software for podcast editing.

*  Cheap Thai cell phone for most local and international calls.

*  iPhone with international plan for a few select business calls.

*  Small headset for Skype (free international calls to friends & family.. and to my singing teacher)

*  Hiking/Backpacking Clothes made from quick-drying synthetic materials…  easy to wash and dry,.. and they pack up very small & tight.

* Dark, very lightweight running/hiking shoes.  Also a pair of Teva sandals.

* Toothbrush, contacts, glasses.

And that’s about it.

Most of you probably can or do travel with a similarly light load.  But here’s a powerful idea– if you can and do happily live from a small suitcase or backpack when on “vacation” or “camping”…   why can’t you continue to happily live from that same small suitcase or backpack once back home?

Why is it we are perfectly happy to live so simply when traveling, but at home this is considered a terrible hardship?  The shift is merely mental and attitudinal.

This is a powerful antidote to fear.   Realize that you could lose or sell 90% of your “stuff” and yet continue to be warm, healthy, and happy.

Living in the car… and later in a van… taught me just how fun and free a very simple life could be.  It taught me that most of our ideas of “poor” and “poverty” are just that– ideas.   Poverty is mostly mental, emotional, and spiritual,…  not economic.

When I moved to San Francisco, I learned a similar lesson.  I was very nearly homeless- having come with a small amount of money and no job lined up.  At the last minute, I found a part-time job and a tiny little apartment (one room and super cheap).

Was I “poor”?   I didn’t think so.  I had an apartment near the center of town.. within walking distance of everything I needed (quite a novelty in the US).   I only worked 16 hours a week… and I loved teaching at the school.  I had enough money for food… and I had a lot of free time.

So everyday I went on long walks through the city.   I relaxed in coffee shops and read books and wrote.  I met friends.  I started and built my business.   I was “poor” in money-terms… but rich in time and rich in freedom.

Ironically, that freedom and time gave me the energy and opportunity to develop my tiny business– which has since grown and given me financial security too.

So, the point is–  don’t believe the fear-mongering bastards on TV.  Don’t succumb to fear or panic or worry.   Simplify your life voluntarily as a GIFT to yourself– a gift of freedom, a gift of time, a gift of energy.

This is an opportunity, not a problem!