Learning from people who have done amazing things in their own lives is one of the best ways to get these same results in our own. So, I am happy to bring you an interview with Ryan Biddulph, a blogging genius who went from a security guard in New Jersey to running the uber- successful Blogging from Paradise while cavorting around the globe.
He is truly one of the most inspiring people I know, and I feel very lucky to know him in real life. He is my fiance and we have been sharing an amazing journey together.
No matter what it is you hope to accomplish in life, whether it is being a successful blogger like him, becoming location-independent to travel the world or building a home business so you can spend more time with your kids, he offers some great tips to help you live life on your own terms.
Enjoy!
First, if you feel so inclined, check out a quick video (my first) of me and Ryan chatting you up from paradise.
What Inspired You to ACTUALLY START Living Your Life Made to Order?
Kelli, first off, thanks SO much for extending this generous opportunity with me.
You’ve been there so you know the drill…. it’s so fun to share my experiences with your audience.
I was fed up with being bound. I had 5 days of vacation each year as a pier guard (your European readers are shuddering now) and I took my last vacation in 1989. Yes, in 1989.
I took a road trip to South Carolina in 1989. Before we started our couples world tour I recall dropping you off at the airport for your trips to South America and Central America and I recall picking you up from Newark International after your Europe trip, a few months after we met.
I knew that each time I met you in the airport that it was time to start traveling. I knew that it was time to be free.
I never wanted to go back to a job and I never wanted to be bound to a set schedule. I always wanted to be free more than anything else in the world and when Maher Terminals gave me the axe, I was overjoyed. Most other security officers who were pink slipped walked around like it was their funeral; I viewed this release as the best moment in my life, aside from meeting you.
So naturally, I ran with that increased freedom. But I had to be firm, and resolute, in staying true to my free way of living because family and friends suggest that I get a job, to pay bills, and to do all that stuff, even though I was intent on being free by owning a successful online business.
So the inspiration was being free, or working from wherever I wanted to, in the world, whenever I wanted to work, and of course, to tap into an unlimited income.
The catalyst was getting “das boot” from down on the docks.
That moment was the Universe forcing my hand.
Thanks Universe for pushing me to be free, to give me a taste of this life, because I ran with it once I got the taste.
You Recently Trashed a Blog with Over 3400 Posts to Start a New One That Has Been Wildly Successful.. What Motivated You to Make Such a Bold Decision?
About two or three months before we were in Fiji, back in the Koh Lanta days, I felt an intuitive nudge to trash my blog. The design was awesome at that point. Really coming together. But my topic was all over the place, as was my ideal reader.
I also was struggling with my first attempt at releasing an eBook. This energy leaked over in to my other blog and effed it up, or more accurately, I allowed the energy to leak over, and I effed up my blog.
You know when you feel a strong intuitive nudge to do something, and you don’t do it? Well that was me.
I went through a little depressed stretch in Thailand. This was the root of it. Not my struggles selling the other eBook. Financially I was doing fine too. I simply was meant to trash my old blog, all 3400 posts, and because I was terrified to let go on a deeper level, I didn’t even consider it.
I progressively felt better as the design of my old blog improved, and as I found a bit more clarity, but after the five days we took off from working, when flying from Phuket, to Kuala Lumpur, to Sydney to Nadi, to Labasa, I found clarity.
I knew what I needed to do and I felt so motivated to trash the old blog, to start a new one (I had no idea what the domain would be, but I was ready)…..yet it wasn’t until my hosting company suspended my old blog that I received the final push from the Universe.
Thank you Universe, once again, for forcing my hand.
After a mini terror/freak out at 3 AM Fiji time – jet lag, as Fiji is 6 time zones ahead of Thailand – when I saw that my site was suspended, I had perfect clarity in taking the next step.
Here I am in the jungles of Fiji, hearing the sounds of the night, and the gentle tide rolling in across the street, from the bay, when I felt an impulse to blog about my life from the past 4 years.
I sat in quiet.
The idea hit me. In a split second.
“Blogging from Paradise”
I checked to see if the domain was available. It was.
I bought it.
I called my man, and my web designer, Phillip Dews,asked him to re-do my theme, he whipped it up, I wrote a post, it went live, and one eBook, and some 30 blog features later, here I am.
By the way, if readers want to pick up my eBook they can do so here:
Blogging from Paradise: How to Retire to a Life of Island Hopping through Smart Blogging
The boldness was in me for 3 months but the inner knowing surfaced when my host suspended my old blog. In that moment I experienced a little uncomfy nudge, then full clarity. I bought the domain, and was at peace.
Things took off from there.
If You Could Only Give One Piece of Advice to People Who Want to Live Their Dream Life, What Is It?
Know why you want to live your dream and tie it to being free.
Like, if you want to travel, or to make more money, or to attract a fulfilling relationship, you must tie the reason for living your dream to some form of being free.
Without valuing that freedom, and without feeling it now, you’re doomed.
Most people don’t live their dreams because they have no clue why they’re even trying. Some do what their parents tell them to do, others set up goals to keep their families and friends happy and other people just want some more money.
There are virtually no strong positive emotions behind these dreams, so naturally, they quit for good when obstacles arise, or they quit, then attempt to chase their dreams, then quit, then try again, only to spend their lives wondering….”what if?”
I’ve met people who mean well, but who are caught in this vicious cycle, with no real reason why they want to live their dreams, or with a reason why NOT tied to being free.
You must become so emotionally involved with being free, and so whipped up in these emotions, that you don’t think twice about doing freeing, but uncomfortable, stuff.
I succeeded because I was so much in love with being free that I didn’t fear doing uncomfortable but freeing stuff.
If you want to live your dreams get used to doing freeing but uncomfortable stuff. Get comfortable with being uncomfortable.
What Obstacles Have You Faced and How Do You Handle Them?
I had to deal with mental illness some 13 years ago after a breakup. I was depressed, and felt terrible for months at a time. At that point I decided to slowly start working on my mindset.
I worked a few jobs. Some were pretty darn easy, and afforded me the ability to do some personal development, while taking care of my body, working out like a champion.
Five years ago ,when I decided to become an online entrepreneur, I began to meditate, visualize and affirm, religiously. I read self help books. I watched inspirational videos. I began to act a bit more inspired.
I still had plenty of mental clearing to do but at least I started to act inspired, and I felt a bit better about myself and my life.
I ran into some serious financial hiccups, as you know. Really, I had to double down on personal development and I dove into doing uncomfortable stuff.
I realized that many of my financial limiting beliefs were not mine, but were those of my family members, and society at large.
After opening a handful of income streams, and getting my mind right, and doing freeing, uncomfortable but inspired stuff, online, I began to make money AND to I began to handle my money responsibly, saving, prospering, and all that good stuff.
Business-wise, I had no entrepreneurial bones in my body.
I had to work, and study, treating both being an entrepreneur and blogging like going back to school.
I read, studied, learned, and acted.
It doesn’t take hard work to succeed but since my mindset was mired in poverty consciousness, I worked 360 days a year, for three or four years, to get my online gig going.
Then when my mindset improved, my work became fun, so now, I really don’t work at all. I enjoy what I do, so I don’t call it work, and if I write posts, eBooks, and write for clients, and connect with blogging authorities, 365 days of the year, it’s my pleasure.
I Know You are Committed to Personal Development..What ‘Work’ Would You Suggest People Do?
Meditate, meditate, meditate, meditate.
Repeat the first sentence. Again and again.
KC, you and I have learned how you to choose to feel creates your experience. Meditating, more than any activity, makes you aware of how you REALLY feel.
Now I meditate for 20 minutes after waking, every morning. Sometimes I meditate for an hour a day, sometimes, 2 hours a day.
I’d suggest you start at 5 minutes. Increase by 5 minutes each week. Aim for 20 or 30 minutes each day.
You’ll be able to easily see why you’re screwing up. Meditating is truth serum. You’ll have so many moments where you say to yourself, “why the hell was I doing/not doing that?”, when going through your day, as your awareness expands through meditation.
Exercise for 45 minutes or more daily. As you know I exercise 1 to 2 hours on some days.
Exercising raises your vibe which helps you feel good.
Feeling good attracts inspired ideas, people and circumstances to you, which helps you live your dreams.
You can do affirmations and visualize, but these days I do very little of those things, because meditating, exercising and simply smiling and laughing and doing silly stuff like dancing, and playing silly games with our pets here in Fiji, or doing whatever it takes to help me feel good, has done the trick for me.
Feel good.
If you’re feeling depressed, write a gratitude list of 100 things to be grateful for.
Find ONE good personal development book or program. Read it. Study it. Stick to it. Practice what it preaches, or else it’ll be light reading, and your life will never change.
As for time, spend 30 minutes to 60 minutes daily working on your mindset.
As within, so without, and spending up to an hour daily working on your mindset helps you delve deep within to uproot those damaging limiting beliefs that need to go, before you begin to really rock it out, and live your dreams.
Thanks so much Kelli!
You can find Ryan over at Blogging from Paradise or connect with him through Facebook and Twitter .
Would love to hear your thoughts on the interview. What piece of advice resonated most with you? What advice would you offer to people to overcome obstacles and get what they want in life? Please leave me a comment..would love to chat with you.
Kelli,
Thanks so much for this opportunity. We’ve had such a fun journey. I hope that more folks chase their dreams because if we did it, anybody can do it.
No..thank YOU for taking the time to do it for me. You are in high demand these days, but I suppose I have a special ‘in’. Love you!
Love you too 🙂
Ryan,
As I’ve said many times in responding to your posts, you are truly an inspiration! I am SO happy that you are leading a blessed life and that you are able to move forward with clarity. I dig you meditating habit – Be blessed 🙂
Thanks Kelly for featuring Ryan here!
Jane.
Thanks so much Jane..glad you liked the interview. Meditation can really work wonders. I’m sure Ryan will be checking in here soon.
Hi Jane, Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing. Meditating is a wonderful tool for finding clarity, most definitely. Have a great weekend.
Inspiring stuff, guys!
I have to say I used to be better about my mindset. In my mid-twenties my husband and I were HUGE into the LOA and all that, but we’ve been a little more jaded these days, not sure exactly why. I need to be better about thinking positively.
I’m really good all day when I’m busy, but then right before I go to sleep I always have a major self-doubt spiral… my husband generally gives me a pep talk and things look brighter in the morning =)
I’m working on incorporating more exercise into my routine and I think that totally makes a difference. I’ve been slow to get back on the horse since my son was born, but it feels good to get moving again!
Thanks guys!
Brittany
Hey Brittany
Thanks for stopping by. I am honored he found time to do this for me 🙂 He is quite the busy bee these days! I think the end of the day can be a tough time. We are a bit worn physically and mentally. We are no longer doing a bunch of ‘stuff’ to keep our minds occupied and the nasty little thoughts can easily creep in at this moment.
I think your experience of becoming jaded is a common one. It is all too easy for the ‘responsibilities’, mundane aspects of life, the news, other people and all this other outside ‘stuff’ chip away at our efforts to have a better mindset. Thinking more negatively certainly doesn’t take much effort, and we have a lot of momentum behind those types of thoughts and beliefs, so they can easily gain traction. Overall you strike me as a very positive person, and I am sure you can succeed in getting back to a more positive train of thought overall. It is good you have someone to pep you up..that is invaluable!
Exercise has been one of my lifesavers for sure.
Hi Brittany,
I usually have had the major negative self talk thing in the morning, although lighter these days. A quick bout of meditation helps quell the worries. So happy your husband helps talk you down the negative self talk ledge 😉 Appreciate you stopping by to share.
As Ryan already made clear- mindset matters!
Sometimes during the day we are doing such a good job of having to be fully engaged to get through the things on one’s todo list that it’s not until the evening when one is a bit more relaxed that anxiety and self-doubt gremlins step out and do their dance in an attempt to disrupt precious night time rest.
There’s a few things that I’ll do that keep the anxiety and self-doubt gremlins from paying a visit at night (and in the morning):
– Do some yoga for about 15-30 minutes
– Do some EFT
– Write out 20 things I’m thankful for
– Write out any concerns or irritations in my journal as well as noting at least 5 things about the day that made me pleased to be me
When I do at least two of the above activities before going to bed, self-doubt can’t get through the door!
Hey Deirdre
Thanks so much for stopping by. I think those night gremlins are a common experience. Like you said, during the day it is go, go go and nothing has time to really slip in, and if it does, it doesn’t get as much of our attention.
That is really great you have become aware of this tendency and take steps to counteract it..a lot of people don’t do that. I love, love, ove your tips. EFT is great and I have recently gotten back into it to clear some energies I didn’t realize I still had. I am a huge fan of gratitude–it can really shift our whole world when we consciously go to that space.
Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing your thoughts!
Deirdre, I like your practical tips. If you can meditate, do yoga, and follow your intuition to clear out the inner world your life will improve dramatically. Thanks so much.
Wow Guys what an inspiration of a blog post. I love you both hugley.
Reading these posts of yours really get my mind straight and ready for the day!
Actually I just finished completing a small job for you RB and I made a point of visiting this post as soon as I had finished.
KC you sound and look wonderful on the vid and you should make some more, it was really exciting to see you on camera finally. being a blogger into LOA and Personal Development you should not shy away from the camera. I remember being 11 or 12 and being featured on a BBC childrens programme many years ago, what an amazing and excitng experience that was and something that really boosted my confidence (Even though at the time my voice was breaking.)
On top of this many thanks for linking out back to my main blog and site. Thanks again both for all that you do.
– PD
Phil, we love you too man. You’ve been instrumental in designing our blogs wonderfully. Wow on BBC as a kid? How cool is that? Personal development is huge, in this blogging game. Thanks so much Phil 🙂
Cheers Guys,
Yea I got it on VHS somewhere here. I may have to put it up on disk seeing as we still have working Betamax and VHS recorders.
I also once has 2 Blue Peter Badges many years ago one being a Green one but have since misplaced them 🙁 (Sad face). Do google it if you want to know what a BP Badge is.
Always a pleasure working with you both!
– PD
Hi there Mr. Dews
Glad you liked the interview..I figured his story would be a great fit for the blog. He has got the ‘inspiration’ thing down pretty good. Thanks about the video..I think I am going to start doing more. That is so cool you were on TV..it can definitely boost confidence for sure!
Yea Indeedy.
I also had long hair back then. Really must get that video online one day!
Left a comment for you both above anyway!
Geeat post as usual KC. Keep it up.
Manete alsius
– PD
Long hair? Like a British rocker? 😉
Awesome man, want to see one of them photos on Facebook.
Hi Kelli,
Nice to meet you and Ryan here. I am a regular reader of Ryan’s blog”Blogging from paradise”. I just love his writing.
Fantastic interview. Thanks Ryan for sharing your views and experience here. It is really inspiring and learning.
Have a great week ahead!
Hi Nisha
Thanks so much for coming by..he really is a great writer. One of the best bloggers out there for sure. I’m so glad you liked the interview. Inspiring for sure!
Hi Nisha, Thanks so much for stopping by 🙂 It was all our pleasure.
I love this interview! You two are a real inspiration! 🙂
I love the part where Ryan says “Know why you want to live your dream and tie it to being free.” This took me a bit to realize. When my bf first suggested we travel, I was so scared about leaving my job (even though I didn’t even like my job!) and the security that I had. But now after a few months in, there’s really nothing in this world that compares with the feeling of being free. We thought the dream was to travel at first, but really, it’s about being FREE (while seeing some pretty cool stuff, hehe).
On meditation… I really need to start doing that. I’ve tried and just can’t sit still long enough and let my mind focus enough. My mind seems to be everywhere. I’m impressed you guys can do that for 2 hours!
And any suggestions for a good personal development book? Thanks! 🙂
Hi Anna, Thanks so much…..being free rocks, right? I’d suggest Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill, it’s the book which helped mold my journey and you can likely find it online for free. Appreciate it.
Thanks so much Anna
So glad you liked it. When it comes to sharing inspirational stories, I knew he would fit the bill! He is so busy these days, I am lucky to be sharing a residence with him–made it much easier to score an interview 🙂
That piece of advice really is important, particularly for people who want to build incomes through blogging and other online efforts since it can be challenging, and screwy priorities can lead us astray and right back to a life we don’t want. Like you, the root of my travel desire is that feeling of freedom. That has always been my number one value and thing I desired most. That is what everyone wants in some fashion–they just want to feel like they can do the things they want to do.
Meditation and studying LOA are the two things that have changed my life the most hands down. It can be challenging at first..I would suggest just starting out with five minutes when you feel particularly inspired to do it–don’t worry for now about making yourself do it first thing in the morning or at a certain time of day.
As for books, god there are so many I have read and none are coming to mind right now as the ‘best’ one. But, what did come to mind was the suggestion to start reading Melody Fletcher’s blog about LOA at deliberateblog.com..she has a free ebook that gives an overview as well. I know you said you have recently started learning more about LOA and I think you will really like it.
Nice post! I don’t know how Ryan manages all this meditation, working out, while writing so prolifically. Wow!
Frank (bbqboy)
Thanks Frank..glad you liked it. After seeing him in action all these years, I don’t know how he does it either. He is one of the most disciplined people I know, and I’m not just saying this because he is my fiance, but he has always amazed me with this stuff and I truly admire him. He is a very unique individual!
It can be a challenge Frank but focusing on the freedom aspect of our lives keeps me inspired. Thanks so much!
Hi Kellie,
So great to see Ryan here on your blog that is fantastic BTW! I just love it when I see couples working together because I do with my husband too.
I’m the big social media person, whilst David is the quiet guy. This post has inspired me to do an interview with him.
I get a lot of traction on my blog, he doesn’t because his head is into marketing. But, together we have made a product, then proceeded to go on to higher levels with our business, Enough about me…
I know Ryan’s story and just loved that he shared it here on your blog. I remember his old blog and it was OK…but now that he made changes and writes longer posts, it became a big hit.
Wow..Ryan…your second book is out and it is amazing. It is so great to see Kellie and Ryan together working!
-Donna
Hey Donna
Thanks for stopping by. I feel honored he had the time…he is quite the busy bee these days. Lucky I share the same physical space with him, that gave me an edge. 🙂 That is awesome you guys work together on the business–that is really not that common. To both have the interest and skills, and work on something together is pretty special. Ryan’s new blog took off overnight, and his experience is a powerful lesson in clarity and following your intuition. His new book is great..he really has a talent. I have a feeling he is going to become the ebook king!
Donna, You and David have a wonderful mix. You’re so blessed to have that great energy with your partner, as we are too. Thanks SO much for all of your support over the years, from my old blog, to this one. You rock 🙂
Hi Kelli,
Finally made it by to read this interview and that’s pretty awesome of you to help Ryan in this way. That’s what loving couples do right!
I’ve learned a lot more about Ryan this year then ever before and I appreciate him being so candid and sharing the good plus the bad with us. I think this is a great way for us to learn and grow as well.
One thing I have in common with you Ryan is I was let go from my corporate job too. It was the nudge that I needed. Want to know something? I was praying every single night that they would let me go because I hated it that much. It was a fairly new position and the owner was a very nasty man. It was just going to be a matter of time before he fired me because there was no way he would ever treat me the way he treated his other employees. God answered my prayer with severance pay too! 😉
It was just what I needed because I had been thinking for a couple of month myself that it was time for me to go in search of something else. I was no longer happy doing what I’d done for over 30 years and I wanted to enjoy myself.
I tried meditating for a few years but I seem to have a little different experience with it. Spirits come to me during those times so I scratched it altogether but I do spend time every morning, I have a ritual that I go through which consists of reading devotions, going down my gratitude list and just being so thankful for all that I have and all that’s yet to show up in my life.
I’m also not an exercise person but I walk every single day and have for years so that’s my release so to speak. I have similar type things in my life but in a different form I guess you could say.
Thanks Ryan for sharing this with us and I’m so thrilled you are both living the life of your dreams and now showing others how they can do the same.
~Adrienne
Hey Adrienne
Love reading your comments..so insightful and I always enjoy learning more about the people I connect with online, especially successful bloggers such as yourself. It’s funny because I see him doing this post as more of helping me by promoting it to his own large audience of fans 🙂 I felt lucky to land it considering how busy he is! That is great you were able to recognize you were ready to move on and actually hoped something would happen–lots of people would still cling to a job they don’t like out of fear. It is understandable though, especially if you have been working for a long time and feel you can’t learn any ‘new tricks.’
That ritual sounds great, and everyone just needs to do what works best for them. If the end result is feeling centered, calmer, more at peace and positive, it’s all good. I’m a big fan of walking–it is undervalued as a good form of exercise, but when done consistently, it provides many of the same health benefits as other forms of activity. We do a lot of walking here..about five miles a day and I feel quite fit!
Thanks so much again Adrienne, I really appreciate you taking the time to comment here.