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Wednesday, November 25 2009 | Creativity

The New Way to Work – elance.com.

Working 40 hours per week isn’t pleasant. Working 60+ hours, even less so. So I quit my music teaching job. I left the family business. Mum wonders who she can blame for my rebellion. I told her Tim Ferris and his first edition of The 4-Hour Work Week. She’s reading it as I write this.

I’ve read a lot of ‘wealth creation’ books. I was part owner in seven properties, on my way to the dream of early retirement. I played gigs on the weekends. I was working so many hours I would wake up with such little sleep some mornings, my day would start in tears. Something had to give.

Fiona, rang me from work one day, telling me she’d bought The 4-Hour Work Week with a discount Borders voucher that had landed in her inbox. She said it sounded interesting. Once at home, I read it from cover to cover – three times. I engaged the expertise of a lifestyle coach. Then I quit my job and sold my share in the properties. Finally, I felt like I had the right information, I felt empowered. My dream felt possible.

Playing at Secret Garden, Vietnam.

For the past twelve months I have dedicated myself to my true passion – performing and writing music. I have played in Australia, India and now Vietnam. Next will be the Philippines. I have released five of my original songs online, with five more to come.

Playing for the children at the local orphanage.

At the same time as quitting my ‘real job’ as a singing teacher, I employed a Virtual Assistant through elance.com. Vipul is based in India and is worth his weight in gold. While I perform in Vietnam, he is looking for my next gig in the Philippines. While I develop a new line of merchandise for my website, he is sourcing distributors. Brilliant. I really can be in two places at once.

Playing at Kyra, India.

So now, I wake up every morning, well rested and energized for the day ahead. All day every day I am creating. Making music, making JadeMonster plush toys, bags, tees. I can go to the beach any time I want.

Beach view, Kovalam.

Living currently in Hoi An, Vietnam, my weekly cost of living is reduced to $80 per week . Yes, I live in a hotel (no cleaning or bed making), eat at vegan restaurants (no cooking) and ride my rented bike (no maintenance costs) for $80 per week. As long as I earn $80 per week, I can sleep, eat and get around. Any more than that and I’m saving, traveling, shopping or re-investing back into my music and merchandise products.