I Raised Another £???, The Challenges of Freedom & Mentors - Documenting the journey - Episode 11

Right, fellas, back with another episode, I think episode 11 of document the Journey. And I am in the very beautiful. So house. So rock house Mykonos, which probably looks like a classic case of fucking dream life, living abroad, etc. Etc. Which I get a lot of comments on, to be fair. But, yeah, I feel like it's never quite what it's cut out to be. The whole working abroad thing, the whole, like, barley laptop lifestyle sort of thing. Fucking hell, my hair needs a trim. And I'll get into that in a second. But first thing, Instagram is back after a week. A super stressful week again, having that down. It's down for six days in total this time, which is almost, I think, the exact same amount of time it was down last time that was super stressed. I said I was less stressful than the first time because it was hell. I realized that when I have two ears in a video, I look like I've got massive ears. I've got super subconscious about it recently. Super weird. And, yeah, it was stressful. Affects our performance massively, but it is what it is. Mykonos was booked as, like, I guess, the second, like, part of, like, the whole Hustle House thing that we did in Marbella. I'm gonna sound like a right tit saying this, but Marbella has definitely topped Mykonos in a lot of ways. Mykonos, probably the most expensive place I've ever been. It's terrible to get around. We couldn't book a villa, so we're all in separate hotels. But still a massive vibe. Less of a send than that one was like, the first three nights we went out. First night was very, very, very heavy. I almost felt guilty because I'm like, fuck, lot of work shit to do, I'm out here. But it was like, a lot of networking. Wanted to complete a deal with these guys. I was out here with handshake on that, which we've now done. Yeah, I feel like the whole working abroad thing and working, you know, having that freedom, like, barley laptop lifestyle, being able to work from a laptop in cafes. Whether it's Bali, Marbella, Mykonos, Mykonos, Mykonos, Mykonos. Fucking brains thrive in the sun. Bali, Mykonos, Marbella, you know, places in Europe, Barcelona, like, where I was two weeks ago. I'm gonna sound so ungrateful saying this, but I just. I think I've come to the conclusion that a trip for me, I prefer when it's a holiday and I'm not actually working or I'm not Trying to work, like fully flat out. Whereas this trip I'm sat here, the wi fi is alright, but it's massively fucking windy, so colds are like impossible. You know, you lose that routine that like creature comforts of home. And like, don't get me wrong, I fucking love traveling and I feel very fortunate to be able to do it. And I've done it a lot for like the past five, six years now, basically whenever I fancy. And I've got a great group of mates to do it with, but I don't know what it is. It's like trying to mix pure focus work with being away and the temptation to like, send it on an evening, etc, etc. It ends up. There's this weird anxiety I get from just fucking being like, almost in the middle. It's like, am I fully committed to work? And we feel great because we're getting on with shit and we're progressing, or am I. Or should I be enjoying where I am a bit more in the sense that, like, should I just be relaxing with a book, sunbathing, all that sort of good stuff? And I try and do a bit of both, but I think it's because I'm trying to do a bit of both that ends up feeling, I don't know, like, this is weird, like limbo. And then I really noticed it this week and I think I tweeted about it the other day and it's actually really bothering me. And I've probably been way too honest saying this, but, like, I'm actually a bit worried that I've done this sort of stuff so much and been so many beautiful places and traveled and it's like, I'm not sure I get the same pleasure or like, enjoyment or joy from it anymore. And it's not just traveling, it's like, I think it's mainly traveling where I know it's it because I'm in like a beautiful place, you know, where. And I get messages all the time saying, you know, you have my dream life, etc. Etc. And I'm very aware that in many ways I do. And I'm very fortunate to do what I do, even though there's terrible amount of work and stress of course goes into it now and then. But yeah, it's weird. Like, I don't know, I find myself. I'm very, very, very guilty of the grass is always greener. So like, when I'm in Mykonos, I'm like, we're talking about, I want to go Bali next month. And then when I'M in Bali because it was the same when I was back home. I was like, I'm so keen to go Mykonos. The second I get to Mykonos, I'm talking about Bali. I find it very hard to be like present and that's something I really need to work on just as a person in general. But yeah, I've just really noticed it this week and it's not necessarily a negative thing, it's just like a self awareness. But yeah, I find it quite hard to deal with, to be fair, because my character is always, what's next, what's next, what's next? You know, more, more, more. Where's the next trip? What am I doing next week? You know, like, how can I scale this thing now? Like, how can we get to the next level of numbers now? In the past it was like I had my dream car when I was 22, but then it wasn't my dream car anymore because I wanted the one that was more expensive and the roof came off and I just noticed that pattern in myself. And I'm really, really, really trying to figure it out and be more present and appreciate so that I don't appreciate things. I think I just, maybe I'm not. I keep saying it, I'm not present enough to fully enjoy them. And then it's often a case of I'll go back from this trip and I'll be like, that was beautiful. Were some great memories. It was an amazing place. But I didn't appreciate necessarily in the moment. So yeah, I mean, this isn't business talk, but it's maybe like online entrepreneur freedom talk and just. And maybe an interesting perspective because a lot of people look at me and think, and this sort of lifestyle generally and I know plenty of people that, you know, would love to work online and stuff, but. And have that freedom to go anywhere. And having the freedom is great. But yeah, I don't know. I guess like two things I'm trying to say is firstly, when you're mixing kind of work and travel leisure, they almost both sacrifice a little bit and they both lose that element of focus and true enjoyment. Like you're either fully working, are you fully enjoying yourself? When you're in between, it's difficult. So that's kind of the first thing. So basically I prefer to travel if it's like a full holiday. This one was a bit more last minute and I guess I'm guilty of just fuck it. Summer. I wanted to come Mykonos never been beautiful place and it has been amazing. But yeah, that's just my own internal observation. And then the other thing, which is probably more. I don't know if it's worrying, but I've just become acutely aware of it, is that I just don't enjoy things as much that I used to really yearn for and, you know, really desire, like, the ability to go nice places, nice dinners, all this sort of shit. And it ultimately comes back to, like, more things and experiences isn't necessarily better, certainly not the more expensive ones. It doesn't make it better. It's like you have to figure out what you actually enjoy. And most importantly, it's the people around you when you're doing certain things. Like, I would rather be in a rainy room in London with people I love and care about and are friends with and value than be here by myself, for example. Obviously, I'm not here by myself, but that's kind of the point on that. I think maybe it's an interesting perspective because. Yeah, that's just what I wanted to say, and this week's really highlighted it. Speaking about now is kind of therapeutic, to be honest. I've spoken to my mates about it quite a bit, and I think maybe it's an entrepreneurial trait because I'm always. My mind's always fucking thinking, I find. I mean, I'm going on a tangent here, but I find that quite difficult. I'm always thinking of the next idea, whether it's fucking podcasts, business. And sometimes I feel like paralyzed by ideas, to be honest. And then, like, elements of my personal life. I'm just a. I think a lot and I think it's a great. It gives me a lot of brain power and it's a good thing. It has served me well. But sometimes I find. Sometimes I wish I could just switch off and lie down with the book for 12 hours. I really fucking do. But I find that so hard to do. And my mind's always racing a thousand miles an hour. And when I'm in serene places like this, it comes to fruition more because, you know, I notice everyone else relaxing, maybe, and I think, fuck, I wish I could switch off, but I just don't. I find it very, very, very, very, very hard to do that. I mean, running helps me a lot with that. I've been training a lot out here still for the marathon, which is in like 10 weeks. But, yeah, I guess this is maybe an episode that's a bit more about just maybe relatable shit from another entrepreneur that's fucking figuring out. But in terms of Actual business stuff. Yeah, I have, I touched on it a few times, kind of hand shook on it. Documents sent out, looking to close another round of funding by the end of the month, which is bigger than the first round, quite a much bigger valuation for obvious reasons and more importantly, feels like I'm assembling a real dream team of people that can really help and mentor me, particularly one of them who's already been kind of doing that in a way. But yeah, it's good to have him officially coming on board. I think it's best for both of us that he's like financially invested and yeah like on that because we spent so much time speaking like me, him, a bunch of guys here. You don't realize the value of like mentorship. Don't know if that's the right word, but like it's probably the only person I've ever seen as like a mentor but the value of that and experience, like proper experience, input until you have it. And I think also it's taken me getting to this stage of maturity which I mean I'm not the most mature kind, but definitely way more than I was like two years ago when I was a bit of an arrogant shit to be honest. But now I realize how much, how much value that having the right people involved can actually bring. I'm not doing it all myself, which I definitely tried to do in the past. So yeah, I'm excited about that because I feel like it's almost. I think I've put myself in a fortunate position now, granted, you know, from six, seven years of previous stuff where it's like I think I'm in the right vehicle at the right time. I've got more than enough capital to execute as quick and as boldly as I would like. And I also have a dream team of fucking very, very, very smart minds from, you know, from a few different industries, E Com consumables, you know, other guys that running brands, mates of mine, people that have raised nine figures for a big fintech company. Like I feel like Christ, if I can't make this work over the next sort of three years, three to five years, maybe three years to an exit, which is my goal, then like it would really be my fault. Like I've got a very solid foundation. All the boxes are ticked. It's just now a case of executing it and not making any major, major, major fuckery mistakes along the way. I think to get to where I want to be and I've written down exactly what I want the outcome to be. I think A three year timeline, because I was never, I was always a bit ambiguous on that. I was maybe like, I want to build a hundred million pound brand. But then one of the guy, one of the guys I'm talking about got me a lot clearer on. All right, that's all well and good, you know, 100 million pound brand valuation. What does that actually mean for you if it doesn't necessarily mean anything for you in terms of like personal wealth, an exit position, etc. So now, now I'm redefining like the financial goal of the business to be like my money off the table after tax. Like what does that look like, what does that amount buy me in terms of freedom and lifestyle, like forever. What's the minimum it really needs to be and how much is enough really? And then putting a proper plan in place with people that have actually done that to that level and far beyond to execute it over the next. I'm calling it three years because I think, I think we, I can do this in three years. And yeah, it's a fucking long way to go, of course, but it's exciting but terrifying. And you know, I think I'm not going to talk about the exact goal maybe in this episode, but if I can get to that number by in three years, which I'd be 29, then fuck me, life would be pretty. I mean, there'd be different challenges at that point, I'm sure, but life would look pretty perfect for me in terms of like the life I've always dreamt of, elements of which I've experienced but you know, getting to that next level and yeah, thus I've got a bit clearer on that recently and I think having people around me that have actually done that and like I said, beyond, and have achieved that financially, achieve that freedom makes it feel way more tangible because it's not some pipe dream and I have a plan in place on how to do it and it's just a case of winning the fucking day. Like have a plan for realistically like the year, break that down into quarters, break that down into months. Obviously things change, you pivot as I've already had to do a lot in the first three months, but just feels like it comes down to winning the day. And I know it's so stereotypical, but being like a mad overthinker myself, my mind's just always, you know, what happens if we get here, what happens if we don't. Etc, it's just like fucking out. Just focus on the day ahead of me, execute that, win that you know, complete that mission and then move on to the next day. And over time, the fucking days add up and it kind of dawned on me. I've actually never spent more than 12 months focused exclusively on one brand. And I've done loads of shit over the years, as anyone that watches this knows. But if I can do three years, like laser focused and just focus, discipline, consistency, time, that's what it feels like with any task and certainly this. So, yeah, there's a lot going on. Still working on getting TikTok back. Instagram is back. Google shopping still not quite back. There's a load of private jets flying in there, some massive fuck off yachts. Elon Musk was here the other day. There's levels to this, of course, but yeah, back to the UK in two days, then I'm probably going Bali in August for a while. I fucking love Bali. I think it's probably better than Mykonos. I'm not complaining. Mykonos is beautiful, but Bali's like. It's got a part of me from back in the day. But yeah, there's a lot going on. That was a bit of a philosophical episode, probably just sharing my fucking thoughts, to be honest. Therapy for myself when I'm sat overlooking the mountains and the sea. But yeah, I'll catch you in the next episode. Cheers for watching.