It’s been a while since I’ve taken a snapshot of how things are going at The LDP project. There are some solid resources The LDP has been featured on lately and a few behind the scenes workings that I’d like to share about. In fact, as what usually happens, there’s more than a few things going on behind the scenes and a few directions we can focus on going into the future. I need your help with that. Check out what’s going on around the project and influence where we go from here in today’s post PLUS a time saving breakfast batch secret I just discovered AND a video in which I chug a 2 liter bottle of Pepsi Max. It’s like 3 posts in one! You’ve been warned.

Influence Me and Get What You Want

Obviously we’re moving ahead with creating income online, we’ve covered feasibility testing of an idea with a thorough stroke, next we’ll dig into how we actually bring about this idea to a reality. Along that path, I’m cooking up some content I think those interested in intelligent free living will want to know about. It would be a sincere help if you took a minute to pick what you’d like to see in the poll below. Extra detail on each topic is further down the page.

Previews and Details

The Life Design Timeline in collaboration with Alan Perlman, (9-5 Alternative)

A timeline that’s flooded with nothing but vital resources for the phases of lifestyle design. It’s a tool designed for those who need to gain footing when they’re lost, or gain a visual grasp of the core elements of breaking free from a molded lifestyle. Check out this picture for an example, it’s a timeline of the this blog.

Click to Enlarge

Lifestyle Design Infographics

A series of info graphics like the one below aimed at instant “aha” moments for creating breakthroughs in time management, productivity, and other core elements of living well, “allah” lifestyle design.

Click to Enlarge

Outsourcing Workflow Database

In collaboration with reader Jason Stephens (who I’ve been working with on outsourcing his business) I’d like to gauge interest for putting together a resource site dedicated to pre-made workflows for virtual assistants and common tasks both business and personal use. The materials would help bridge the gap in how to work with a virtual assistant and automate several common minutia type tasks of marketing, information research, maintenance and such.

Time Batching Omelets!

I’ve found one of the most interesting effects of reading the 4 Hour Work Week on my time has been batch cooking. Here’s a gem if you like protein healthy eggs in the morning.

Omelets in a Boiling Bag

You can set up a whole weeks worth of omelets, including the fixings in one fell swoop and cook them without using any messy dishes during the week. Try this out.

1. Crack a couple eggs, add cheese, pepper and your favorite additions to a zip-lock bag. Use the Ziplock brand name, as they’re sturdier.

2. Boil the ziplock bag in a large stovetop pot. (takes about 12 minutes)

3. Enjoy. The omelet slips out of the zip lock without a mess. Add to fajita wrap for breakfast burrito action.

I’ll probably pull a Tim Ferriss on this later and do a YouTube that will subsequently get 50 billion views….you never know. The cool thing about this breakfast hack is that you can make a weeks worth of omelets at a time and have minimal dishes to clean throughout the week, big time saver. If you’re particularly green, don’t complain, I’m assuming that I’m somehow absorbing like .01234 percent plastic into my diet. Let me know if there some awesome “green” alternative to zip-lock bags that might work.

The LDP around the Web

I’ve been chatting it up with some awesome people as I continue to empirically test out designing life on purpose. As you can surmise, I love talking actionable changes which almost always leads me to process design and automation conversations. Check out where this project has recently been featured below, some upcoming content, and thank you for being a part of it!

Gen-Y Rock Stars -- Outsourcing for musicians guest post and audio conference (strategies, tools, and experiences)

BlogcastFM, process design and productivity chat. This site is a big up-and-coming interview style audio resource, includes some premium lifestyle designer names. Worth a look.

Chris Ducker of Virtual Business Lifestyle will be guest posting here soon!

Look for me possibly showing up at Free Pursuits in the near future!

The World Occurring Right Now

What’s life look like right now, after 8 months of lifestyle design testing? Here’s a very candid run on sentence kind of glimpse.

I still maintain a 9-5, although I’m ruthless about my attention both at work and out of work. Fridays are optional. Singular focus has become a vital practice in block working. I’ve gotten the hang of checking e-mail only a few times a day, I’m a heavy Gmail filter user now, gathering IT Arsenal e-mail, personal, and LDP e-mail all in one spot while parsing off automated bill pays and all account type e-mails. I’m fairly busy but not stressed. I maintain a pretty tight reign on my time through scheduling and calendaring. I use Evernote as a gathering pool of things that need to be scheduled or looked at, this list rarely goes above 10 items. I “hold” actual tasks to tackle either in a calendar or linked Google document in a calendar event. I spend about 2 hours a day after work alternating days between this blog and it’s projects (some mentioned above) and IT Arsenal, the freedom business born from this whole lifestyle design idea. I spend about an hour day while taking in some sort of entertainment responding to e-mails of readers or potentials clients, and I’ve loved these conversations. At times I put this off for current or new client hourly pay type interactions. I’ve been shifting focus to IT Arsenal recently, but doing a lot of similar work on both fronts, which has been networking. I now have a fairly solid “pitch” at IT Arsenal and plenty to talk about with the fun people and stuff I’m working on here to chat it up on social networks and others with similar projects…I can now offer something of value in the conversation. These conversations usually lead to some sort of “we should do something together” vibe that is free to act on, and furthers promotion and continued work on products or my mission on helping out entrepreneurs, small business owners et cetera. I constantly am looking for mentor support on the business front (how to appeal to users, how to launch products and service ideas, ect.), and feel I’m moving slowly in terms of any growth or actual income. I remind myself that consistent smaller amounts of effective work are much more valuable than burning myself out trying to work till 11pm every night. The gradual build of followers, mission, and value will be profitable when I have sellable propositions. I also get to continue do things I love with the pace I’m at, weekends, long hours, trips and steps toward dreams like learning JKD or running triathlons aren’t being sacrificed. I spend about 5 hours a week working on value driven posts and digital product creation. I’m constantly on the lookout for entrepreneur collaboration and lately spend my time in WordPress, Tweetdeck, Google Analytics, on the phone, and Evernote drumming up content.

It’s frustrating I don’t just have something I can sell except myself (in an hourly way) yet, and I think I would have put more hours in the beginning into something I could, or into learning affiliate selling of products I’ve used and can honestly promote if I could do it all over again. I’m sure I would have earned passive income by now. I blame it on coming from a freelancer’s perspective. On the flip side, I’ve gained some valuable new hourly/project gigs along the way.

I’ve tried to cut back on the scheduling as I find myself in my calendar too often (I’m too analytical and need to prompt action from myself more often), but I have a few big goals I’m digging for in terms of “business goals” this year. I’d like to speak at 4 engagements on how I think I can help entrepreneurs (which will build credibility to cite elsewhere), I’d like to launch 2 products, go to one big entrepreneur conference, get published in a physical publication, and work with one semi big name. On a personal note, I’m done with the snow here in Philly and looking forward to getting outside. I’m a runner and a triathlete and I’m getting sick of working out indoors, it doesn’t help weekend plans with my girlfriend either.

Finally a Request

I’ve entered a contest for my freedom business connected with this project, IT Arsenal. It’s a two minute video in which I describe IT Arsenal and chug a 2 liter bottle of Pepsi Max! Your view counts as a vote so you would be doing me a huge favor if you watched! Thanks!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcY7yxcg1X8

Tweet this and help a brother out! Check out the contest here.

Well, that was probably the post random post yet, hopefully beneficial/entertaining, what do you think? Leave a comment

photo credit: Tim Morgan

As the Adword testing of my information product flies around the interwebs I wanted to offer you some more varied experiences at The LDP in the next coming weeks. I’ll be adding to my Monday posts randomly throughout the week with some different lifestyle design topics, features and insights. I hate to break continuity on our income stage so I’ll do my best to keep things related, but hey that’s what blog categories are for.

On top of that thought, you should always be doing something more to build your financial freedom and designed lifestyle, whether it be re-activating a failed practice (I’ve doing that with singular focus lately using e.ggtimer for productivity) or reaching out to others. Lifestyle design is much more about laying tracks, relationally, mentally, and even physically for a future you’ve already visualized or goal set than it is about selling something or doing any ONE thing. So, in efforts to keep recording what I’m doing, you’re getting it all. Today’s post is on my varied conversations with Ramit Sethi, author of I Will Teach You to Be Rich over the last 5 months.

Ramit wrote a very obvious sounding book on finances, saving, and being smart with money. His style is what I recognize as unique about him and the more I read  his blog and interacted with him, the more that stuck out. Especially his frankness, I wouldn’t be surprised if he simply told people listening, “Stop asking me dumb questions, you guys are stupid, this is what you need to do…. ” He does it in a very approachable and intelligent manner though, the guys no slouch coming out of Stanford.

Okay so those are the basics, on the Lifestyle Design front, you’ve maybe seen him with Tim Ferriss as they’ve done a few video’s together. Ramit’s blog, like Tim’s is also very similarly engaging, case study filled and interestingly written. Posts are a little too often for me. I’ll be honest, I haven’t read his whole book through, I’m not struggling with saving or making investments, I’m much more interested with income/freedom and lifestyle at this point. I think if you want solid financial tips go to www.getrichslowly.org for basics and beyond. Ramit’s book will put money in your pocket too.

Anyway, I approached him maybe 4 months ago, shot him an e-mail out of the blue and said in a pompous way, trying to attract attention I’m sure, that I wanted to work with him. I made a song and dance about working with him to test and advise me on business (very freedom business oriented) ideas, or use me as a technical advisor. The title of the e-mail was “to the real ramit.” I was trying to do just as I’ve seen others do and would still advise, get in touch with the super powers in certain niches, gain exposure, network, build credibility and really help someone who’s made it in your mind.

UPDATE 7:02PM: He actually called me out on this e-mail citing it as a “bad e-mail” on his last blog post. Hah! Hilarious, we actually posted about the same e-mail at relatively the same time. I didn’t read about it until just now.

I think it’s even a tactic in the 4 Hour Work Week. To my surprise the guy responded not once but everytime! albeit short sentences, cordial, but informative. In the end, he said something along the lines of not interested. Looking back on the e-mail, I wasn’t specific enough, I was blanketing that I could help him out and I wanted to join ranks, but little else. It was junk. That’s where that ended, but I learned something. People you don’t think you can reach, you absolutely can reach, but have something dead set specific to ask them for, or about. Be short.

Fast forward to a few weeks ago, I’ve been following his blog loosely. He started focusing more on making income, and most recently turning your skills into freelancing. I attend a few of his free Wed night, Ustream office hour sessions (YouTube preview). Which by the way, are a killer, viral, easy to do publicity service action. I threw my questions in on how to make my tech service niche and skills profitable, again I had trouble being specific, half knowing I already knew what products I had in mind, yet dumb enough not to site them.

So I write him again…heck why not. Here’s where I give him real respect and credibility. He responded to about 20 e-mails over the next week with me. It’s funny, one thing I put too much effort into when setting up my blog and business sites was how I wanted my e-mails to look to people. Ramit was obviously not writing to a CEO, but he was down to earth, used no capitalization or signature. That could just be him, or he could be cutting out grammar and actually responding to the XXX e-mails he gets a day. Our topics varied; a sys admin for his blog, traffic credibility on websites trackers like compete.com, and what to do with my “freelancing”, I even got him to go look and comment on the information product I’m looking to launch.

Ok, So What?

Here’s the tie in back to lifestyle design and income. I’ll say it as I’ve said it before, relationships are fuel. You need to be reaching out to those in the area’s you look to succeed. I have no clue if I’ll talk to Ramit again, in my opinion I’ve made myself look like a complete novice when it comes to business ideas or launching anything. Fact is, I learned I am, despite having a strong technical background. I’ve made a connection though, joined up for his earn1k.com program at his recommendation and suggestion to jump to a higher tier with the program, and despite him saying I’d most likely make zero sales with Backup Informer. He gave me confidence I’d learn a lot from it, I’m on the right path, and that if I wanted, I could write him again and get an ear.

He might yell at me as he didn’t want me to share exact e-mails but here are a few intelligent comments he made I think you could use and I don’t think he’d mind me sharing.

• best advice: ask specific questions to get specific answers. do the broad soul-searching on your own, with your family/friends, and using google.
• figure out who wants what you’re offering. dont just jump in blindly…start with your GOALS

So…relationships are fuel people, keep building them and your future. Well, my egg timer for 30 minutes has about 27 seconds left so I’ll end here and link this post up later.

What do you think? Leave a comment.

photo credit: Rodrigo_Soldon

I’m afraid the LDP will be indisposed for this Mondays post at an all week event. I’m sorry! There’s still plenty going on under the hood. Most notably, freedom business updates and the New 4 Hour Work Week Giveaway. More to come as 2010 embarks. I’m psyched!

If you’re feeling now’s the time to make some changes in your life, shed bad habits and make real strides toward more time, freedom, and financial liberty take a look at a previous post entitled How to Reboot your Brain and Regain Life Control. It’s a stellar practice for seeing where you are, and gaining clarity for the next steps on your path. It might just what you need if you’re looking for that fresh start feeling in the new year.

FREE TREAT! If you’re a fellow wordpress blogger and are always looking for creative images for your posts, here’s a true gem. Photo Dropper is a plugin that searches up free to use, creative commons Flikr images from within the WP compose screen. Sick. http://www.photodropper.com/

Cheers!

In the works.

The Updated 4 Hour Work Week Book Giveaway!

• Details are still in the works, but stay tuned for your chance at a free copy of the newly released Expanded 4HWW.

Visual updates: a little logo and sidebar work. Feedback welcome.

An interactive timeline that will allow users to view the suggested lifestyle design stages in detail. (the process followed here at The LDP) Each stage in the timeline will include several development points and link to actionable information and posts. Users can identify where they are, where they want to be, and where they need to revisit.

A resource book on mock testing a freedom business from ground zero.

Continued breakdown of lifestyle design and its real life application.

• Currently testing the freedom business “muse” development process and its automation.

Looking Back…

Some of our accomplishments in the last 6 months…

Contacted and spoke with two talented authors, Sam Carpenter, and Gary Vaynerchuk. Sam has contributed here at the blog and continues to be a resource and Gary will be involved in some shape or form, interview or advising most likely in 2010.

Roughly 3k hits a month, 250+ RSS subscribers. Thanks! Small but growing.

New friends, new relationships, and networking opportunities.

A few comments from our journey so far…

David Walsh: Massively valuable bank of resources here Rob. You’re the real deal and things are about to blow up for you. It’s not a matte…
(The Life Design Project | Resources for Freedom )

Monica O’Brien: Rob, my experience with VA’s has been great. It is some work upfront, but man is it worth it. Great post – great primer
(Results | Outsourcing and Automation in Freelance )

stressful life: Right on !! Damn I’m getting addicted to your blog
(Life’s Easy Mode in 3 Steps | Automate Your System )

MS Scientist: Am I the only chick here who cares enough to comment? I like your chronology. I also liked your mind re-booting post.
(Life Designed | 70 days in, What have I done?!)

sam carpenter: Very good Robert. It’s the calendar thing and the documentation thing and it’s most always worth what seems the “extra” time …
(How to Reboot your Brain and Regain Life Control)

A Goodbye

Brandon, who started this project with me has decided to take another direction. Lifestyle design isn’t for everyone and he often couldn’t see the reality of possibility. He’s pursuing a few other interests which may very well lead him to financial freedom as well, hopefully he’ll keep his eye on the new currency, time and freedom as he pursues real estate and the stock market.

—

You guys are amazing, Thanks for your support and interest. If you’re one of those interested minds wavering on the cusp of intrigue and action, please feel free to drop me an e-mail, I’d love to hear your story and answer any questions on lifestyle design, or what I’m up. Merry Christmas!