This is a guest submission by Kristin from KristinLajeunesse.com

At one time or another, almost everyone I know has said, “I wish I could travel more…make more money…live anywhere in the world…live better, healthier, happier…etc.” Have you heard this? Have you felt it?

I felt it, about a year ago, despite the fact that my life was just fine and dandy. Great job, great boyfriend, nice apartment, comfortable income, and a generally healthy lifestyle. All seemed right, which was exactly why it wasn’t.

Up until 3 months ago I was just like everyone else. I was a “sayer.” I said I’d travel, that I’d one day work for myself, that I’d own my own business, that I’d do this and that and blah, blah, blah. I commiserated with like-minded friends over brunch.

We’d get pumped up about our so-called big plans and then go home and spend Sunday evening stressing over the fact that tomorrow = Monday. That Monday = work. Another 9-5 drag.

Don’t get me wrong, I actually quite enjoyed my latest full time job. The organization does amazing work for animals. The people I worked with were passionate and dedicated to their work. It was wonderful, really.

And while I was content with what was given to me, and quite good at my job (if I do say so myself), I wasn’t happy. And I didn’t really know why.

It all came together when I read Crusht It! by Gary Vaynerchuk and The 4-Hour Work Week by Tim Ferriss, back to back. It was like a one-two punch to the gut that woke me the f*ck up and lit a fire under my ass.

It was time to face my fears.

Slay The Beast

In Do The Work, Steven Pressfield brilliantly walks his readers through the ominous steps of getting work done. And I don’t mean just sitting-at-your-desk work.

I mean whatever project you are currently trying to accomplish: building a website, writing a book, creating a product, starting a new career, or planning a life changing adventure. Anything that requires your utmost attention and ultimately needs to get done.

For me, the biggest takeaway from the book is that resistance is unavoidable. Resistance to any project or task is what can cause us to fail. To get started but not finish.

Resistance is our inner beast and we are the only thing controlling it. If we have the courage to take the beast by the horns, then we can accomplish our most daunting tasks.

So, after getting pumped up by Vaynerchuk and Ferriss I knew that I wanted to leave my job and pursue a lifestyle that was more fulfilling. The best part was realizing that making a comfortable living online was possible. Which meant I could finally move away from being like every other ‘sayer’ out there, and become a ‘doer.’

The time had come and I knew I had to quit my job but I was terrified of the beast. I was terrified to commit to the idea of going it alone.

But I did some prep work, secured an ongoing freelance position, started setting up my “I’m too excited to sleep because these ideas are so amazing” websites, and put in my notice.

While leaving my job and getting some of the back end/prep work complete presented its own set of insecurities and mini-beasts, it turns out that it wasn’t the mama beast. It turns out that quitting was the easiest part of this transition.

And right now, I’m living in the belly of the beast, as Pressfield would say. I’m in THE do or die moment. Right. Now.

“My friend Tony Keppelman snapped me out of this [bad movie review] by asking if I was going to quit. Hell, no! “Then be happy,” he said. “You’re where you wanted to be, aren’t you? So you’re taking a few blows. That’s the price of being in the arena and not on the sidelines. Stop complaining and be grateful.” – Steven PressfieldDo The Work

Don’t Stop, Get It Get It

This is my time to fail or to triumph. I’ve made it pretty far compared to some, but have a ways to go compared to others. I’m working terribly hard on various projects to see what sticks. It’s time to start working smarter, not harder.

Since leaving my full-time job I’ve continued to freelance at least three days a week for a niche marketing company.  I’ve also started 4, count ‘em FOUR new websites. And it’s just too much. It’s time for me to push through, admit that I need to let some of these projects go, and start going batshit on the projects that I’m most passionate about.

I need to stop thinking and just let my gut drive.

“The greatest drama in the English language was written on this very subject. Hamlet knows he must kill his uncle for murdering his father. But then he starts to think – and the next thing you know, the poor prince is so self-befuddled, he’s ready to waste himself with the bare bodkin.

Thus conscience does make cowards of us all,
And thus the native hue of resolution
Is sicklied o’er with the pale cast of thought,
And enterprises of great pitch and moment
With this regard their currents turn awry,
And lose the name of action.”

– Steven PressfieldDo The Work

All You Need Is Love

I’m wrapping up the P90X Lean program (3 weeks left…w00t!) and am simultaneously starting the Couch to 5k running program. And what the F does this have to do with everything I’ve talked about so far? Well, hold on, hold on. 🙂

It was a really crappy day out the other morning so I ran indoors, on a treadmill. When I run I let my mind go. I let it wander. It helps the running go by faster. On this morning my mind wandered to my “ah ha” moment. In this moment I found the sword that would help me keep fighting and slay the resistance beast.

I started screaming out loud while running on this dreadful treadmill (I prefer running outside). “YES! THAT’S IT. OMG. THIS. IS. IT. WOOO!” I’m not kidding. I was literally yelling out loud while running.

As it turned out, it was so much simpler than I thought it would ever be. What I want to do most is…help others.

The crazy part is, I’ve been doing that most of my life. I used to give horseback riding lessons as a teen and on through college, because I knew horses better than anything else at the time. I loved it so, so much.

And watching the connection grow between horse and rider created this unbeatable high. When I became vegan it was the same thing. Learning. Doing. Teaching. Learning. Doing. Teaching.

So the reality is that I’ve been doing what I love for most of my life but I failed to see how to make that my career and my income generator. I’m willing to bet a lot of you are in the exact same place!

And now, that’s where I come in! To teach others how to take their deepest passion and turn it into a career. Using social media and lifestyle design courses, I help entrepreneurs dig deep, keep going, slay the resistance beast, and do what they love.

“GREATNESS: If you want it badly enough, and are willing to make some changes in your life to cause it to happen, you too can take over the world…or do anything else you really want to do. The only things you’ll need to give up are assumptions, expectations, and the comfort zone that holds you back from greatness.” – Chris Guillebeau

You DON’T need permission to be yourself, to do what you love, and to follow your deepest passion to success. Go full throttle, balls to the wall, baby — do what you love and work smart. You’ll be surprised at how effortlessly all of the other pieces will fall into place.

Kristin specializes in kick-in-the-pants style social media and entrepreneurial lifestyle consulting. She has an MA in Integrated Marketing Communication and has worked within the for- and non-profit communities helping them navigate and master social media and online marketing.

Kristin is embarking on a one year long, food focused road trip across the country this fall. Work with Kristin and follow her adventures via Twitter and Facebook.

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