Several years ago, my family and I moved out of Sydney where we had previously spent almost all our lives, to a country property a few hours drive west of Sydney. When people hear what we have done, they often tell us that they would love to do that too. That would be their dream as well. However, shortly after expressing their dream, they also raise their biggest concerns around such a move. Two of the most frequently asked questions we receive are:
- How will you survive financially? and
- How will you know what to do on a farm when you have lived in the city all your life?
Needless to say, these are very valid questions and ones which deserve quite some consideration. Most people raise these questions in their own minds and then quickly conclude that they cannot achieve their dream because:
- they probably won’t be able to find a job or conduct a business out in the country
- there’s too much they don’t know, so what if it all fails?
The choice we all have when considering how to deal with challenges and opportunities is to understand the situation and then to proceed boldly forward with the intent of dealing with obstacles as they arise. People with such a progressive mindset have the greatest possibility of succeeding during the twenty first century. Those who want to retreat into their comfort zone and play it safe will be less likely to prosper and succeed in a rapidly changing world.
For our part, we looked at ways of restructuring our business so that our location was irrelevant. We also looked at new business opportunities which allowed us to capitalise on our new and more ‘remote’ location. (I think it’s only a state of mind!) Then we looked at extra business ideas we could implement to complement our existing business and which are in line with the changing face of business in the new millennium. Now, after several years, we are delighted with our move and secure in the knowledge that we can operate our business activities from wherever we choose to live.
Since we have not been farmers by background, we looked at the economics and decided that we would be better off financially by leasing out the majority of the farm to another farmer and just collect the rent. We wanted to enjoy the rural lifestyle without necessarily having to work the farm. The rental return more than covers all the expenses of owning the property and generates a positive cash flow. In this way, we have turned the house we live in, from a liability into an asset. We have still retained a large vegetable garden, the chicken run, two orchards and a few dams for our private use. We have access to the whole farm whenever we want, without the need to manage or maintain it.
In the meantime, we are planning a few more ventures to increase the returns from the farm and to generate extra sources of income. We have recently erected a monitoring tower to measure wind speed and direction with a view to erecting a wind farm on a section of the property if it proves to be financially viable. Some tourism options are also under consideration.
What we have found as a result of our move is that far from there being less income opportunities, we are discovering opportunities that we would not have been open to had we continued to do what we had always done. What’s also interesting is that there is a growing re-emergence of the entrepreneur as the dominant business structure for our rapidly changing times. In earlier times, most people were entrepreneurs before the advent of the industrial age and as a result of massive industry restructuring and downsizing, more and more people are once again becoming entrepreneurs either by choice or necessity.
Probably the best and lowest cost way for many people to generate an extra source of income is through network marketing. In most cases you can get started for less than $500 and with some effort and training you can generate substantial incomes and other bonuses such as cars and travel. Before I started writing books and giving seminars, I was involved in this industry on a full-time basis and enjoyed a substantial income for quite a few years. It was a wonderful way of meeting many new people, travelling and building a residual income stream. When I sold the business, I also gave up a great residual income stream.
Since I teach wealth creation strategies, I get many enquiries from people who want to get started with their investment programme when their income is rather small and they have nothing to borrow against. Although I tell them about budgeting, for many people this is not enough. Most people are looking for additional sources of income. Most people need at least one extra source of income.
The power of network marketing lies in the leverage that can be enjoyed by those who work their businesses consistently and systematically. While the effort is substantial to begin with, the ongoing benefits in increasing residual incomes can make it all worthwhile for those who are willing to hang in there for the long run. I know this to be true from personal experience.
Please understand that you do not need to move house to do what we have done. All you need to do is to think about what you are doing right now and how you can make some changes to improve your results. If what you are earning right now is not enough to help you achieve your goals, perhaps you need to look at creating another source of income. If you are already in a part-time business now and are finding it tough, perhaps you should consider changing. Be on the lookout for other opportunities. Be on the lookout for a dynamic team with excellent training and support systems.
Analyse your weak spots and work out what you can do to change them. Recognise that most successful people have tried several different paths before they finally succeeded. Be willing to try and fail. Be willing to try again and again. Learn from the challenges and see what you can do better next time. Understand that when you fail it is just a result. It is never final. It is an opportunity to turn the page and move forward. It is an opportunity to turn over a new leaf. It is an opportunity for a new beginning. An exciting new time is ahead!
We continue to face challenges in creating our extra sources of income as all of us do with whatever we undertake. The important thing for you to understand however, is that you enjoy the power of choice. You can choose to move forward with a sense of adventure and expectation or retreat into your comfort zone. You can embrace the opportunities calling you into a new world or you can stick to what you know in the hope that you will survive. The choice is yours. Which path will you choose?
About Hans Jakobi
Hans Jakobi is an educator, author and investor. He is the author of six best-selling books including,
How To Be Rich & Happy On Your Income which is available at:
www.supersecrets.com and the presenter of the Super Secrets® to Wealth do-it-yourself real estate home study course. Join Hans Jakobi’s FREE Super Secrets® Online Newsletter
© 2002 Hans Jakobi. All rights reserved worldwide
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