Welcome to my blog about travel, living around the world, eating, and finding your particular path at any age.
My husband, Adam, and I have decided to start “living” around the world. It’s a lot less “traveling” and a lot more staying in one place one country at a time. We did not sell everything we own and filled our backpacks and start living off of a savings account. Instead, we kept most of everything we own, made some adjustments in our lives, and created work for ourselves that we can do while we travel and live in almost any location with a good internet connection.
What I mean by “living” around the world, is that we stay in one location for at least 2 months and sometimes up to 6 months (depending on our visa allowances and our enjoyment level). We become immersed in the community and culture and learn to really ‘live‘ in these places. We call this “slow travel“.
Those of you who know 
us, know that we LOVE to travel and have trouble staying still in one place for too long. We’ve done a number of adjustments in our lives to create this new lifestyle that we hope combines our passions, talents, and love for life and travel all in one.
In a nutshell, Adam and I are planning on traveling and being away from our home in North Carolina for at least two years – but most likely more – depending on where the work and good times are. Our plans are flexible and we continue to keep all opportunities (and job offers) under close consideration this entire time. This means we’re both available for work just about anywhere in the world – so don’t hesitate to ask us! We will also continue to be doing as much work as we can from the road.
TO BE CONTINUED…
Leaving our “Peaceful Mountain Retreat”
Peaceful Mountain Retreat, Fairview, North Carolina – just outside of Asheville.
It felt like sixteen years of repairs and maintenance done in about 3 months. That’s what we had to do before getting our log home in the mountains of western North Carolina ready to become a vacation rental. It is now in such a wonderful state, that it was difficult to consider leaving for so long. At least others will be able to enjoy it for the time we are away – and hopefully the income from the rental will help pay to take care of the house as well as help us along our way on this around-the-world living journey.
The house is now available to rent from property management company, Carolina Mornings. I am not kidding when I say it comes with EVERYTHING except food.
Wood stove room with plenty of space.
Our home, located at the end of the road on 25 wooded acres, is equipped with all the essentials, including all bed, bath, and kitchen needs, wifi and cable with flat screen TV, 3 large bedrooms, 2.5 baths, hot tub, outdoor shower, and all the peace and quiet you could ever ask for.
Book it now while it’s still available.
Master bedroom with king bed and plenty of art.
As we get the house rented, we continue to find wonderful homes in other locations to hang our hats for awhile.
Let me know if you’re interested in the house, or check Carolina Mornings or call (844) 371-0735 for availability.
Hot tub that seats 6
Outdoor shower with complete privacy
Dining room and huge kitchen
Don’t let perfection stand in the way of success
I’m writing this post to talk about a potential problem for good ideas. There is nothing wrong with trying to be the best at what you do. This is an honorable quality in people.
I would love to have a doctor who strives for perfection. I would love to see a film when everything in it is absolutely perfect. To have a chef who knows how to make the perfect meal would be divine.
The logic behind these statements are absurd however because it is impossible to be perfect. As humans, we always have flaws, that is what makes us human.
The problem with the goal of perfection in any project is that it can prevent you from moving forward and actually learning more about what you may have done wrong or right so that you can continue to improve.
Let me give you my latest example.
I was just about ready to give away my film to all my friends so they could see it and then pass it on to their friends. I then came up with the idea of using affiliate marketing to help promote the film. (A future post is in the works highlighting affiliate marketing).
Suddenly, I’ve created a whole new project that can potentially delay my project for weeks, if not months. There is finding the right affiliate, have the right plan, having all the tools in place, making it easy, making sure the incentives are appropriate, and the list goes on.
The thing is that I came up with a simple solution in one day that will allow me to offer affiliate partnership to my friends. Then I can get feedback and learn more. I can decide what type of affiliate plan might be best, which program is more attractive, which incentives are more effective, etc.
I’ve decided to compromise between perfection and reality. I’m going to spend one more day making a simple affiliate program available to the friends of my friends without postponing the release of the film.
There is something called the 80/20 rule, otherwise know as the Pareto Principle.
The basic idea at it applies to my situation is that the first 20% of my work that I do towards creating an affiliate program will result in 80% of my income from it. When I try to make it perfect, all that extra work will only result in the remaining 20% of my income.
I’ve got a lot of other work that needs to be done with this project and at the moment, I’m not making any income. I’ve got to get the word out about my film and one of the easiest ways is by telling my friends and giving them an incentive to tell their friends. I want to spend time outside of work as well so it only makes sense to budget my time well, make some income and then move on to the next task. If I feel that I need to improve on a particular part of the process, I can always return to it.
So with that said, I’m giving myself a reasonable deadline and goal.
Until then
Happy promotion
Adam
Blind Lyle Films
