johnnyfdk
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Life Changes Quick: Introduction

I don't know if this has been done before, but I'm going to live write my next book.  Instead of keeping it private until it's all done, and edited (I actually have an editor this time, hi Russell!)  I've decided to write this next book live on my blog.

Why you may ask?

1. I'm not your normal author type.  I've seen interviews and most authors enjoy being alone, focused and in their own heads.  As you may have figured out by now, I'm none of the above.  I like being around people, I like sharing my thoughts and not over analyzing things.  Hence why my first book 12 Weeks in Thailand: The Good Life on the Cheap wasn't edited until after it was released and had already sold a few hundred copies.  Oops.  But it's edited now to be honest if I had to focus on spelling and grammar while writing it, it never would have gotten finished.


2. Instant Feedback.  Love or hate a chapter?  Let me know in the comments and we'll take it into consideration when editing the final book!

3. Timeline/Deadline. I had promised myself to finish the second book by mid summer, which would technically be August 1st 2014, but at this rate, it never would have gotten done, so by writing it live on my blog, hopefully it'll get done quicker.

4. You Get it First!  For those who don't have time to sit down and read an entire book, or want to spend the $10 to buy it, you can read most of it here live weekly as it comes out!  Thanks for reading my blog and all of the positive feedback.  Please ignore my grammar for now, I'm going to bang this out and have someone edit it after it's all done. Ain't no one got time for that!  

New book cover: Can you do better? All entries are welcome!

Introduction:

I thought I had finally figured it out.  I quit my job, moved to a tropical island and got paid to party on the beach, scuba dive with hot Swedish girls and practice martial arts all day. It seemed like every guy's dream and it all started with a short three week vacation to Thailand in 2008.  In my first book 12 Weeks in Thailand: The Good Life on the Cheap I described how I was able to muster up the courage to take the risk of quitting my corporate job in California, move to Thailand and get by on what little savings I had.  I didn't speak the language, know a single person, or have any source of online income. I just knew that I was stressed back in the U.S. and I wasn't happy.  

I had done everything I was supposed to do.  I graduated from university with honors, got a good job with a big American corporation and lived in a big house in one of the most sought after neighborhoods in one of the best cities in the states.  I didn't realize until I had moved to Thailand what I was missing, and to sum it all up, it was freedom.

It's ironic that I had to leave the United States of America, the country that prides itself on freedom, to really feel it.  But I had realized that freedom wasn't being able to vote, drive a big car, or own guns. Freedom to me was being able to do what I loved everyday, without having stress, traffic, responsibilities or bills to pay. 

Moving to Thailand instantly gave me the freedom to live a good, comfortable life without worry, which was something I didn't even know I desired but once I had a taste of it, I couldn't imagine living without it.  Then it all hit me.  After four years of doing whatever I wanted, and living a great life I suddenly realized that I had been lying to myself and building another prison around my new seemily, carefree life.

It all came to me when my friend mentioned he was moving to Europe for no other reason than Europe was nice during the summer.  

It was at that instant that I realized I was only content in my new life, but was trapped living in cheap places and didn't really have as much freedom as I previously thought.  I had lied to myself thinking that I didn't need money to make me happy, and that I was fine working for someone else as long as I was doing what I loved.  

"Do what you love and never work a day in your life."  - Confucius



It was a lie.  I had no longer loved scuba diving or Muay Thai as I no longer did it out of passion. Don't get me wrong, the first few months it was the best experience in the world.  I got paid to teach people what I loved and got to share in their joy and frustrations alike.  But at some point, the job diminished and all I felt was the frustration.  Imagine being a professional race car driver and only taking student drivers out as your career?  That is exactly how I started to feel, but there was nothing I could do about it.  I had spent what little savings I had becoming a certified dive instructor and this became my career.

To make things worse, I was out of savings, didn't have a plane ticket home or a job to go back to.  

I was stuck, my friends and family who I thought would have been happy for me all of these years for pursuing my passions and going after my dreams would not get to say, "I told you so."

I thought my friends would be happy for me, I assumed my family would see how happy I was and support my decision to move. Instead, I noticed that people were secretly hoping I would fail.  Maybe it was because they were too scared to do it themselves and wanted to know it wasn't actually possible.  Or maybe by me coming home with my tail between my legs allowed them to feel better about their own lives.  Either way, even though I knew I had given it my best shot, enjoyed four years of traveling and seeing the world, I didn't want to just give up and return to the real world.

The thought of moving back home, interviewing for jobs again, and volunteering to rejoin the real world made me desperate to find a solution.  Having my back against the wall, I knew I had one good year left before needing to go back home.  I asked myself what I had accomplished since then, and what would really make the entire journey worth it.  I asked myself what the one goal I never accomplished was.  It turned out, it was quite simple.  

Goal #1 - Get a Six Pack.

Stay tuned for the next chapter!  

Hope you enjoyed it so far.

Warm Regards,

Johnny




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  1. Wow, another book! So this is about fitness, online business and love, right Johnny? :))
    I'll follow your progress here.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hey Hieu. Yup. The first book, 12 Weeks in Thailand was about Quitting your job. Traveling for Cheap. Scuba Diving and Muay Thai. This one is about getting in shape, starting an online business, living like a boss, traveling like a boss, and finding the perfect relationship to share it with.

      Delete
  2. Johnny,

    I love this idea?! So many bloggers make books out of their posts after they're dusty in the archives, so why not write-a-book with your audience. Cover looks nice already. Title and sub-points definitely pull you in.

    And being that your new book is going to be a process, I can definitely see how many of us are going to be anticipating the next, up-coming chapters as well. I hope you include something about 'goals' too. You mentioned on one of your shows how much that's impacted your life.

    Thanks for allowing me to feature you in my recent blog post. The best is yet to come!

    Robb

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hey Robb, glad you like the post to book idea as well as the cover. I will definitely have an entire chapter of the book on setting and achieving goals, as that was a huge part of my success. Thanks for the suggestion!

      Delete
  3. Hey Johnny

    I frequently visit your blog and read almost all your posts :)

    Keep it up .... I am waiting for the next chapter of your upcoming book. I believe in you and what you do

    Will follow your posts in the future. Thanks a lot for sharing and inspiring about online business and fitness

    you ROCK

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. What's up Mahi! Thanks for the kind works buddy, you rock for following along the journey! I'm glad you like the blog, make sure you check out the podcast as well if you haven't already. I'll be sure to write up the next chapter soon, having it public will keep me on track and accountable.

      Delete
  4. Hey Johnny,
    This is Jon..that other Asian American residing in Thailand. This is a great idea on writing a book. By just reading your introduction, I KNOW this will be a great book! I will be buying your first book AND this book when you make it available for sale. Keep up the good work.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hey Jon, thanks for supporting buddy! I'm glad you enjoyed the intro and I hope you enjoy both books!

      Delete
  5. Wow what an intro dude, loved it! That is my first goal as well Johnny to get a six pack!
    I love the idea of writing your book live and something I know I would never think of so may try it when I do decide to write me a book on blogging!

    I hope its soon though that I start to write mine as I have just finished helping my buddy Ryan Biddulph develop the website for his first book. I am pretty sure you have heard of him anyway dude.

    Anyway cannot wait for the next installment dude!
    Laters
    - PD

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hey Phillip, glad you enjoyed the intro buddy. Good luck with the six pack goal, let me know how that goes! I'm still working on getting mine by this summer! The live book is definitely going to keep me motivated and accountable so we'll see how that goes!

      Delete
  6. Johnny, fab blog! Phil Dews - my good friend - referred me, and it is up my alley....REALLY up my alley lol. We've lived in Chiang Mai for 7 months over the past 3 years, and in Thailand for 15 months. In Koh Lanta now, absolutely breathtaking spot and island. Awesome idea too....Thailand is paradise...keep on inspiring bro!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hey Ryan, glad you are enjoying the blog. Thank Phil for introducing us. I loved Koh Lanta, was just there a few weeks ago actually. If you haven't already make sure you scuba dive there. Koh Bida, Koh Haa, and Hin Daeang/Muang are all incredible. Also if you can find a speed boat to take you to Emerald Cave as a small group before the million tourists show up at 10am you will love it.

      Delete

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