Random thoughts

Will Success Change Me?

April 10, 2016 by Camilla

“Wherever focus goes, energy flows.” ~Tony Robbins

It’s been a while since I wrote a more personal post but it’s time. They are scary to write because well, they are more personal. I’m not a super private person but at the same time, when you write something that anyone in the world could read it feels a tad awkward.

For the last couple of years I’ve been very focused on where I want to go. Of course, there are moments when you feel that BIG vision of yours is sooooo far away you wonder if it’s worth all the hard work and commitment. That maybe I should just settle and go find a corporate job and live a simple 8-5 life. Sometimes the vision seems to be just a bunch of words on paper.

This quest of becoming a better person, a better coach, a better speaker and this quest of stepping into my potential that I know lies within me is not a walk in the park. It’s more like trying to navigate the jungle wondering if the machete you have will be enough to cut down enough brush to clear a path.

And it can be very lonely. People look at you funny when you choose to go home and read a “personal development” book over “hanging out drinking cocktails.” And I can’t tell you how many odd looks I get when I say that I don’t watch TV or the news and that most of my time goes to learning and improving my skills so that I can continue to grow and help more people.

I have people that pay me to help them create a path. They look to me for answers. It’s my responsibility to work hard on my craft to make sure I help them create the absolute best path I can at the time.

But sometimes I struggle with clearing my own. Fear sets in. Lack of confidence sets in. All the voices in my head that’s coming from the various blueprints my parents, teachers, friends and society have imprinted into my mind without me knowing.

I show my clients how to deal with their blueprints, how to recognize their triggers and then re-write the voices. It’s hard work and it’s not done overnight. I’ve spent years rewriting them and it’s just like a bad habit, you got to avoid any temptations to let it sucker you back in. Rewiring your brain with a different blueprint is a really cool thing but it requires dedication.

I’m continually shaping me into the kind of person I want to be. Now, I’m very happy with who I am right now. In matter of fact I absolutely love and adore her. I have shaped her into what she is today, but now is the time to make something great into something even greater, but that doesn’t mean the nerves doesn’t kick in.

Will I lose this woman that I love and adore so much when I take my business to the next level? Will she be different? I’ve never been afraid of failing. But I’m afraid of success. Not good, old fashioned success as in living a good life. I’m talking about massive financial success. Because that’s where my vision lays. My goal is to build a 100 million dollar company by year 2020 and to stand on stage in front of thousands of people inspiring them to go live better lives.

That vision both excites me and scares the living crap out of me. It’s a tug-a-war. I have days when I feel as if that vision is as comfortable as my beloved yoga pants that would make any style fashionista cringe and there are days when it scares me so much I spend the day reading a business book in hopes of finding a magic answer on how to get there without me actually having to do it!

I’ve been around massive financial success and I’ve seen it change people. But my blueprint has been such that I’ve seen them change for the worse. I’ve seen it make them entitled. I never want to feel entitled. I never want to forget that my purpose is to serve. I never want to stop being so comfortable in my own skin that I don’t care if I wear a designer pair of yoga pants or not because I know it’s not what’s on the outside the counts, it’s what’s on the inside.

I’m scared success will change me. But that is still not a valid reason to play small. I’ve learned that when you look at option A and option B there’s an entire alphabet of options left. All I know is that it is up to me to mold the future me into what I want her to be and to make sure she is someone I’m proud of. It’s up to each and one of us to create us into what we want to be, then find a way to hold ourselves accountable to the highest vision of ourselves.

It’s hard. There’s no instruction manual to follow. No crystal ball. But fear of any kind is not a reason to stay where you are. Like Brendon Burchard so eloquently stated: “Fear is just bad management of our mind.”

What blueprint do you have that is holding you back from fully stepping into your potential?

How 10 Years in Corporate Killed My Creativity

July 16, 2015 by Camilla

The other day I decided to dive into some boxes. You know the ones that’s been covered in dust and you sort of know what’s in them. That got packed up quickly when you moved and for some reason never got unpacked.

But then as you start going through them you discover small pieces of your life. In my case I found my old Walkman that I treasured so much. I found a floppy disk where the sticker said Finished Book on it. I found old poems and doodles. I found my old employee card from when I worked crew on a TV-show. I had really long hair then. I don’t even remember ever having long hair but looking back on photos that’s what I had.

I found my old snowboard instructor certification. Deeper into the box I found a letter from a publisher encouraging me to submit my book. I have no memory of doing so. Or maybe the rejection letter is floating around somewhere because clearly there is an unreleased book still on a floppy disk.

I found old diplomas and certifications that various employees have given me over the years. And really deep into the boxes I found magazine articles that had my name on them. Most of which I forgot I even wrote or that I did illustrations and graphic design for.

I used to be creative. I would write, draw, take photos and do layouts for magazines and various organizations. I almost went to art school. I was encouraged by many to go down the path of art. I can’t remember why I didn’t. Practicality?

So where did all that go? It didn’t go anywhere. My creative side got tired of screaming and constantly being told to shut up so it went dormant. I got busy. Just like so many of us. Life got in the way. But thinking back it didn’t go dormant until I started a corporate job.

My corporate job had a creative side to it but that side was telling a graphic designer how to create an ad. I remember early on I was flowing of ideas but quickly learned that no matter how great my ideas were, they would get changed. They had to fit a very specific mold. Don’t color outside the lines kind of thing.

After a while you get in line and stop being creative. You become a machine and spit things out without much thought or effort. Mostly because you know it’s a waste of time trying to push the limit. All bad? Absolutely not. Learning to stay consistent with a brand look is great but it can also kill your creative mind.

After a day at work you’re too tired to come home and be creative. Your thought process has been trained to color inside the lines. There are no limits at home, but they still sneak in and that creative muscle of yours gets weak.

Why is our corporate world killing our creativity? Because they are built on the same philosophy as a factory. You work 8-5, take lunch, do as you’re told and follow the rules and guidelines. It doesn’t matter if you have a job that allows for some creativity. That creativity isn’t limitless. It’s a freedom with a very small window of what is allowed and what is not.

It’s the “don’t rock the boat” mentality. I’m naturally a rebel questioning why things are done a certain way, but after a while you get dizzy banging your head into the walls and even the most non-conforming of us starts to conform.

Wow…I got conformed. I don’t like the feeling of that. At all. So I’m taking my creativity back. I want to be that girl again who colored outside the lines and always spent her time in an unrestricted mindset. I hope you join me.

What are you doing to take your creativity back? Let’s share our stories in the comments below.

Stop Stressing About Finding Your Calling

April 13, 2015 by Camilla

Everything goes in trends and one big trend right now is to figure out what your calling in life is. Your purpose. Your true authentic path.

I think we all are born with certain things we are meant to do while we are here that allow us to step into our full potential. But one thing that hits my nerve at times is…I don’t think we have just ONE calling. I think we have many different passions and callings we should explore and those will change depending on where we are in life.

I meet a lot of people stressing about finding their true calling in life. Their one purpose. It’s like it’s all or nothing. And they expect to have some kind of a-ha moment.

I don’t know if what I’m doing right now is my true calling. I’m certainly stepping much more into my full potential than ever before but what if this thing called “calling” is a journey and not a final destination “a-ha moment” kind of thing?

After all, what I’m doing today I couldn’t be doing without all the years of experience but I don’t feel as if I arrived at a destination. Opposite, I’m still very much curious about what’s around the next corner.

I’m certainly not some scholar and have researched this all over the world. I’m just basing my opinion on my own personal experience. Plus what I thought I was going to do with my life when I was 20 years old is so different from now.

When I was twenty I was certain my calling was to work as a freelance writer and graphic designer for magazines, which I dabbled in for a while. Later on I wanted to be a stock trader on Wall Street, until exercise physiology and nutrition became my new love and I was certain that was what I was meant to do with my life.

I’ve worked in the movie industry, sales, marketing, product and business development, fundraising and the list goes on. Name it, the list of things I’ve either wanted to do, done, tried, started, stopped or believed “this is what I’m meant to do with my life” is about as long as driving from LA to NY.

I’ve hit that ‘this is it!” several times but then years later decided to try something else. I absolutely love what I’m doing right now. I love helping people. And I love writing, creating and inspiring but like I said, I don’t know if this is my true calling.

What if instead of stressing about what our one true calling is we simply try many different things so that we continue to learn and grow?

What if instead of stressing about what our one true calling is we stop living in the shadows and dare to step into what our hearts already tells us we should do?

And what if instead of stressing about what our one true calling is we pursue living the best life we can by always trying to step into our full potential, pursue what we love doing, while leaving as much positive impact around us as we can?

What if our true calling is a journey and not a final destination? Let me know what your thoughts are by leaving a comment below.

Change Is in the Air for 2015

January 12, 2015 by Camilla

Picking a word for the year is a popular thing to do. I normally like to go against the popular trends but I like this one. It forces you to think about one word that can represent things you want to do or accomplish. It’s hard to pick just one word. Of course, picking a phrase works too. At first I was going to pick the word Balance as I need to achieve more of that in my life.

But in the end I decided to pick CHANGE.

I’ve never been afraid of change but it’s easier when things come at you vs. you creating the change. Intentionally pushing yourself out of the comfort zone is always harder than being pushed. I used to just jump and ask later but now as I’m getting older I’m getting more hesitant and start over-analyzing things. Which means pushing myself is even more important. It’s easy to get comfortable!

Change Is in the Air for No More Hamster Wheel in 2015.

As you may have noticed (or not) I have been more sporadic with my blog post. That will continue. I’m changing this blog into more of a resource site where you can find resources on how to leave the rat race instead of just being a blog. I am of course going to continue to blog but I’m not going to always give you a new post weekly.

The site is going to be updated to a new look in 2015. Major change.

I’m going to start adding video’s. Some of those will be with me in them – gulp!

I’m going to talk more about my journey. Talk about pushing myself out of the comfort zone! Letting others in is not easy. Among my friends it’s easy. What you see is what you get. With you…who I count as my digital friends it’s harder. I don’t know who reads this blog other than those of you that comment, stay in touch and so on. I’m going to be as honest and authentic as I can. It’s hard admitting to strangers that I don’t know all the answers nor do I have it all figured out. Gulp again!

I’m going to open my site up to more guest posts and I’m going to add more interviews. It’s been suggested I start a podcast too. We’ll see on that one.

I have a long list of things I’d like to accomplish for No More Hamster Wheel in 2015. However, what I might have in mind may not be in line with what you, the reader, want so I’m going to ask you to leave a comment on what you would like to see on this site.

What do you want more of? Less of? What is missing? Please share in the comments.

Best and Worst of 2014

December 29, 2014 by Camilla

As we are turning to the last page of 2014 I decided to look back on the year and see what posts were the most popular based on number of views.

I’m so blessed to know that when I publish a new post you read, comment and share it. Naturally, some posts became more popular than others so here are the top 7 posts of 2014!

Best and Worst of 2014.

1. Become Debt-Free with 5 Dollars a Day. This post was a clear winner and I even used that theme when I priced my book. Hey, for less than 5 dollars you can become debt-free!

2. 5 Ways to Save $2,000 in 60 Days. When you are under a deadline and want to find extra money there’s a way. I shared how I intended to find $2,000 in 60 days by applying 5 things. This one was my first “viral” post and to this day holds the record of highest number of views in one day.

3. Want To Leave the Rat Race? I wrote this post early in 2014 and it continues to attract readers. It’s short and starting 2015 you will see more posts talking about how to leave the rat race.

4. How To Gain 9 Weeks of Free Time in a Year! This post shows you how you can create 9 weeks of free time in a year with little effort. After you read this post you can’t use the “I don’t have time” excuse anymore.

5. Interview with B.A. Norrgard “A Bed Over My Head.” The interviews I do with various people that have left the traditional path are always popular but this one definitely attracted a lot of attention.

6. 3 Things I Did to Reduce Digital Noise. I need to re-read this one myself. Lately the digital noise is screaming at me. I think for most of us this is a constant struggle but hopefully this serves as a good reminder to set boundaries.

7. 10 Ways to Make Extra Money. Whether you just want to make some extra side-income or quit your day job to pursue your business the post has a few tips and ideas.

Those were the top 7 posts for the year. Now to bottom two that I thought was going to be hits but were total duds.

51. Why We Need to Write Our Own Eulogy. It was the lowest read post of 2014! I know…we don’t want to have to think of that we are going to kick the bucket one day but truth is…we are. Asking ourselves if we are creating the kind of life we want to look back at is hard.

50. Can DNA Influence You as You’re Writing Your Life Story? Not many thought this was as interesting as I did. As a people person I love watching how we all interact, react and communicate with each other. I also love taking into account how upbringing, society, culture and more influence someone and how some are “stuck” and some have no problem “rebelling” and creating their own path. Besides becoming a storm chaser in my next life, archaeology and DNA tracing are some of the “geeky” things that interests me. Oh well, not every post can be a hit!

I published 51 posts (including this one) in 2014. It’s been a great year and I can’t wait to get going on 2015. I’m planning on adding more interviews, tips and ideas on how to leave the rat race, get out of debt & money tips of course and share more about my personal journey as well.

See you in 2015! ~Cheers, Camilla

Let me know what post was your favorite of the year. Or what you wish I wrote more of. Share in the comments.