My first 12 month report card

Today is the 12 month anniversary of my post-corporate life. So it's a time of heavy reflection for me, on what I have and haven't accomplished in that time. It has certainly been an interesting year, with lots of personal and professional highs - and lows.

I deliberately took a few months off when I left Microsoft, to travel, read, and collect my thoughts. I knew I had to re-boot my brain. I was feeling uninspired, exhausted and depleted. My last couple of years in the corporate world left me feeling stupid, useless, and pointless. I had started to question my own intelligence and abilities. It often seemed like everyone disagreed with me and that I was either a visionary - or delusional.

I was pretty sure I'd start my own IT consulting business. Podcasting didn't even exist at the time. I certainly had no ambition to be in the media business. All I knew is that I wanted to do something entrepreneurial again. I wanted to build something. To put my energy, intellect, passion and dreams to good use. I wanted my kids to think of their dad, not as someone who spent his life sitting at a desk working on someone else's dream, but as someone who was prepared to take risks, prepared to make mistakes, prepared to get hurt, in the search for meaning, for personal fulfillment.

A year later, I find myself working on something I am passionate about. I love what I do on a daily basis. I believe in the power of what I'm doing. I'm working with wonderful, passionate people. We're part of an emerging industry which might change the world.

But... I'm not making any money. A year later, I'm still living off of my savings. And that can't go on forever. I find myself questioning my own thinking a thousand times a day. Am I kidding myself that this can be a business? Am I deluding myself? Will I have to go back to a corporate job this year? Could I? Who would even take me?

Sometimes I imagine myself ending up on a park bench, siphoning metho through a loaf of bread, still wearing my goddamn Elvis sunnies. But deep down I'm still convinced we're doing the right thing. That podcast publishing CAN be a business and that the challenges we are facing CAN be overcome.

Whether or not we make this thing work, I know I'll never regret the decision to leave and pursue my own dreams. I'd recommend it to anyone feeling stuck in the corporate rut. Taking risks, building a vision, getting other people to believe in your vision... waking up every day, facing the challenges head on, without having to put up with the bullshit of corporate politics... we are the new explorers, the Magellans, the Captain Cooks,  the Leif Ericcsons.

Comments

[Phillip Molly Malone]

Congrats on the one year mark. I am sure penny on how to make money from this venture is just around the corner.

I personally are starting on year number 9 at progress and things just keep getting more interesting.

Molly

[Tony]

Not everyone is brave enough to attempt what you have done and you should be congratulated for it.

You maybe not be making money at the moment from the podcasting world but as the next few months will hopefully prove with Itunes 4.9 release podcasting is the future and will be getting more adverisers on board. As has been discussed previously the only real issue will be targetting audiences not only for a particular podcast but for a worldwide audience which is a problem that radio dosen't have.

I am sure you have the skills to make this a success and we are all supporting you as we want it to work as well.

[Mike Seyfang]

Happy Anniversary.
My 21yr wedding anniversary as well.
June30 eh - how neat and tidy!

[Phillip Molly Malone]

Hey Mike,
Anyone used the "You would get less time for trafficing Drugs in your surf board bag into Bali" joke yet?
Molly

[Nicole Simon]

(That is prompt delivery)

Thank you. ;)

[Tony]

Gotta admit Molly I read that while I was still at work and cracked up. Funny stuff unless your a Schapelle fan I guess.

Haha, you got it.

[Mike Vallender]

Cam,

I was bored so I read you blog :-)

I read this post with interest because I get exactly where you are at. It is unfortunate that society struggles to reward people who want out of the system. It has become very difficult for those that want to pursue their dreams rather than participate in the great superannuation machine known as the corporate world. To get a year off the treadmill at an age where you are still capable of participating in reality with passion and enthusiasm is its own reward. On your deathbed, you won’t be wishing you spent one more year pushing MS.

It doesn’t matter wether Podcasting brings you fame and fortune; the journey is its own reward. You are in the club now, of those that weren’t afraid to say screw you, I’m gonna do my own thing. The people I feel sorry for are those that are going to be stuck in the system until they realise it is too late, and everything they ever hoped to accomplish in life, is well, what they accomplished already.

Don’t be afraid to live your dreams and dream about how you want to live. Fear of failure is a great thing, if you don’t have that; you are not tackling anything hard enough. Capitalism controls people with two fundamental buttons, fear and greed. Once you can overcome both of these, you are free to do whatever you want. Good luck my friend, may relentless passion be you guiding light.

[Tony]

Great post Mike.