Real Simple People:Nick Williams
Editor’s Note: This is part of a series of interviews highlighting Real Simple People and their simple but happy lives. Today is Nick Williams of The Inspired Entrepreneur.
Nick helps people discover the work they were born to do and how to set up a successful business through his company The Inspired Entreprenuer. Taking the plunge himself to leave an unfulfilling corporate career in IT 20 years ago, Nick has carved out an international reputation as coach, mentor, speaker, and writer. I know all about Nick’s work as he has mentored me in the past.
Q: Nick, welcome indeed to Real Simple People. You help people discover the work they were born to do. How did you first discover that for yourself?
Through being unhappy myself in the work that I did. Selling computers to foreign banks didn’t lift my heart up! I was pondering whether I just had to accept that this is how life was, I had to do work I didn’t enjoy or whether it might be possible to trust and follow that little voice inside me that said, “There is another life for you to lead, you are here to write, be creative, to inspire, to teach and make a difference.”
Q: Are there any key areas people should focus on to uncover their true work?
The three major areas are:
- In what inspires you – the thing that you know you are here to do and you think would thrill and uplift you. The thing often seems too big, exciting and scary. What would inspire you?
- The thing you are most afraid of and spend energy resisting – often what you are here for you spend years procrastinating about, avoiding, talking yourself out of and distracting yourself from. What are you most resisting?
- In your shadow life – this what is what you gravitate towards but never quite do. So you may want to write a book, so you work in Waterstones, surrounded by books, meeting people who also love books, and even meet some authors. But you never write your own book. What talent of yours are you keeping in the shadows?
Q: Where do you feel people are most in need of inspiration these days?
The general media often lacks role models of inspiration in many areas so I think we need inspiration in all areas. But the majority of people have never put the words work and inspiration in the same breath so work and entrepreneurship are areas people are crying out for inspiration.
Q: So what is the biggest block to living a life that someone wants?
Fear is obviously one of the biggest blocks, lack of self belief, and often lack of self worth and around work many people don’t believe they can earn money from doing what they love. Also so many people miss the huge power and value in taking lots of baby steps and the cumulative effective they have.
Q: How do you see work evolving in the next ten or twenty years?
More people are going to be portfolio workers or what I call renaissance souls – they will do more than one thing, have a combination of employment and self employment. Really bright people will create a personal brand around themselves too – know what they are really brilliant at and where they can most contribute and then find the people who want to hire them for that.
Q: How do you feel the world is changing, if at all?
The world is becoming so much more connected and the world is coalescing around passions and interests. There are so many niche markets rather than mass markets. And more people are hungry for authenticity and integrity, and for inspiring leadership.
Q: Is there one life lesson or one piece of wisdom you use regularly to ensure you keep your passion for life intact?
I trust my heart and that small still voice within me and know that I am not alone and there are always greater forces operating. I keep myself growing and evolving and on the threshold of my own life.
Q: In our modern lifestyles where would you say we don’t live simple anymore?
I think we can so easily get caught up in busyness and doing lots, and involved in things like social networking and often forget to have an overriding sense of purpose. There is always temptation to want more and forget to be grateful and to remember that happiness is within us right now, not something to wait for in the future.
Q: And finally, what three personal tips would you give for keeping life real simple?
1. I take quiet time and go within to find peace and happiness
2. Be grateful for what I have and less focused on what I think I don’t have
3. An overriding sense of purpose and a north star that I follow that informs how I live and the choices I make
Thank you Nick for speaking to Real Simple People and for being one!
If you want to discover the work you were born to do you could attend one of Nick’s many live events and workshops with leading experts or download his free nine part e-course. All the details you need to change your working life into one of your dreams plus find a large supply of resources and advice are at The Inspired Entrepreneur. Nick’s latest book, The Business You Were Born To Create, will be out in early 2011.
How did you discover the work you were born to do? What inspired you to make the leap? Nick and I would love to hear from you especially if you need any advice on how to start working for yourself.
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Hi John, hi Nick!
Thanks for this post.
I’m 28 and I work since I was 18. I did all sorts of jobs (copywriting, foreign language teacher, barista, personal assistant) and lived in Brazil, in Italy and in the UK, but I was never truly happy working for other people. So I moved back to Italy and while my husband works to support us, I am taking a few months to reorganize my thoughts, plans and ideas, and see what I can accomplish on my own.
I would love to publish a book some day, I’d love to inspire people every day of my life to become a better and happier version of themselves. I want to study to become a Life Coach. Long story short, I’m truly excited with all the possibilities but very, very frightened by the responsibility too.
I think I need a big plan, lots of discipline and organization, a to-do list with strict goals. What do you think? It’d be lovely, really lovely, if I could hear from you some time. Anything you’d have to say would be much appreciated!
Thanks for the time and attention.
Kind regards, F.
Hi Flavia, personally I am an advocate of taking baby steps. In my experience, we don’t know how it will all work out beforehand but by walking the path a step a time, the path emerges. So think big and I’d encourage you to start small, today and tomorrow
All best
Nick
Flavia, for me it’s about getting started and developing momentum. We often sit on the outsides looking in talking about what we would love to do without actually doing it. Seeking perfection and being great at it immediately isn’t an option. Start, get writing, hone your talent, glisten the diamond that is you and let others read your brilliance. As for Life Coaching create your own individual tools and ask friends (and their friends) if they will have free sessions with you in return for honest feedback. The word goals starts with ‘go’ so it’s time to get out of the stands and on to the field of play and in the game! Then you can build a reputation and a business.
John: Great interview. Very informative and inspiring.
Nick: Wonderful concept you have to help people find what they are born to do.
I think one thing I was born to do is be a father. It’s just a natural fit for me. To be selfless, for my kidos is absolutely no challenge.
In terms of work…I’ve never been that inclined to focus on “what I was born to do”, in theory. I’ve always had a simple, logical and applicable approach: focusing on being the best fit for any position, rather than narrowing myself to one…So, for me, I think that is what I was born to do; adapt the make the best out of any situation – no matter the environment.
HOWEVER, I know people who become depressed because they can’t find their way in the world. They search and search and just can’t find the sweat spot. At times my insensitive side shines and says: “just do what you have to do, no matter what – stop complaining”…but then I realize that everyone has different motivations. As I may be motivated on a macro level to take care of my family, no matter what…someone else’s motivation is to have peace of mind in doing what they love or were born to do.
I will say that over the past 2-3 months I have came closer to doing something I love to do. One thing for sure is that I love to help people. I’m highly motivated to do this because I feel that I’ve been so fortunate throughout my adulthood that I must give back. One way I do this by way of my blog, where the overall tone is helping people position themselves in the most favorable positions to obtain their professional goals…this all form a non-traditional, yet moral and ethical approach.
Beyond that, over the years I’ve been coaching sports, doing charity work, sponsoring families for Thanksgiving and Christmas, etc. These things aren’t about me, but I do take a sense “feel good”. It’s great being in a position to help others…even if I wasn’t able to help on a financial level, I would still donate my time – which to me is more precious.
Thanks for the great interview and inspiration.
Peace.
JK, I’ve done a lot of what you have moving about jobs, inter-changing to find exactly what my life’s work should be. In reality it’s about trying and experimenting and knowing that you are sharpening your skill set. Many get bogged down in one field of work and think they will never find their true calling.
I admire Nick’s work because he doesn’t ever feel you are beaten that way and his observations of shadow side and resistance tackle most people’s reasoning that there is nothing worthwhile within them. Life is one big adventure and as work is what we do most then why shouldn’t that be one too?
Thanks John – you are right – ultimately it is all about contribution and making a difference – I think each of us is uniquely able to contribute in ways that will be joyful to us too. So glad you have enjoyed so much of what you have done – you will have inspired others by your example. All best Nick
“Shadow life” What a great concept. It seems like a fantastic tool for unlocking what you really want.
I found this post very inspiring. Thanks, Nick!
Travis, the revelation about a shadow life lead me to starting this blog which has become something I love doing so it’s as powerful an observation as I’ve come across in life thanks to Nick.