by Aimee Burton | Apr 19, 2015 | Financial Freedom
I’m striving for freedom, and I’ll bet you are too, but here’s the thing we have to realize: freedom isn’t free.
My freedom vehicle is a network marketing business. And like any business, it takes time, money, and effort to be successful. Lots of people join network marketing opportunities because it sounds easy and lucrative and its true that this business model offers many things that traditional businesses or careers can’t offer, but I suggest you watch this 3 minute video where Eric Worre lays out what it really takes to achieve freedom in network marketing.
Freedom may not be free, but the price is worth it.
Picture yourself five years from now. You are living in a beautiful, custom designed eco-home with the love of your life. You have a brand new electric car charging in the driveway. Your garage is full of surfboards, skis, snowboards, camping gear, hiking gear, and kayaks. All of your bills are paid and you know there’s plenty more money rolling in next week, next month, next year. You are planning the ultimate yoga and surf adventure in Costa Rica with your three best friends, and next year you are planning to hike the Inca Trail in Peru. You took a month ‘off’ this year to spend time with your brother and sister in law and your little nieces. Your days are full of adventure, fun, and meaningful work that you absolutely love. You work with people you adore and are inspired on a regular basis. You wake up in the morning and fall into bed at night in a state of blissful happiness.
Is your dream life worth 3-5 years of focused work? If your answer is yes, you are in the right place. And guess what, you can have a lot of fun while you develop your freedom plan. That’s what be:free is all about. We learn together, work hard, and have a blast while creating a lifestyle we love.
by Aimee Burton | Apr 2, 2015 | Financial Freedom
I first read The Four Agreements, by Don Miguel Ruiz, while I was backpacking in South America in 2013. (I 
actually listened to the audio book on the long bus ride from Cuzco to Arequipa).
It was one of those books I had heard about several times, and finally got around to checking it out. (The fact that it was one of the books on my new boyfriend’s bedside table provided some additional motivation, I’ll be honest.)
I absolutely think this little book is the key to better relationships, better health, more peace, freedom, and happiness. I am not religious or an overly spiritual person, but I’m definitely interested in expanding my spiritual awareness, so this book has become sort of a ‘code’ for how I live my life.
My friend Dave thought the Four Agreements were so important he had them tattooed on his arm.
What are the Four Agreements?
1. Be Impeccable with Your Word
Basically: have integrity. Do what you say you will do, as it relates to others and to yourself. Don’t speak negatively about others or yourself.
2. Don’t Take Anything Personally
Get this: It’s not about you! It’s never about you! Other people’s actions have nothing to do with you. They live in their own reality and their words and actions are not related to you. When you let go of worrying what other people think about you, you feel a sense of peacefulness.
3. Don’t Make Assumptions
How many situations are made worse by assumptions on your part? Communicate clearly with others to avoid confusion, disappointment, and sadness. It takes some courage, but the rewards are great when you ask questions and express what you really want.
4. Always Do Your Best
Let go of the need for perfection and realize that doing your best in any moment is good enough. Some days your best will be better than other days. Know that you are in a constant state of growth and improvement and be kind to yourself.
What I’ve noticed since becoming aware of these four agreements is that I am more conscious of what I say and how I show up in my life. I think number 3 is the most challenging for me. It’s very easy to make assumptions, about everything! Any situation where I feel upset, worried or unhappy can usually be traced back to me breaking one of the four agreements. Luckily, I’ve gotten pretty good at living in a way where I rarely experience those feelings! Seriously, go share this book with the important people in your life and watch your relationships improve.
Experiencing more freedom, well-being, and happiness is what be:free is all about, and we love finding and sharing resources to help people do just that.
Your turn:
What do you think? Have you read the Four Agreements? Have you made a conscious effort to implement them in your life? What have you noticed?
by Aimee Burton | Mar 16, 2015 | Financial Freedom
What if, instead of going to university, people did this instead…
It occurred to me during the Victoria Yoga Conference in January you can’t toss a mala bead in this town without hitting at least one yoga teacher. Everyone and their mom is a yoga teacher. Your neighbour is a yoga teacher. Your interior designer has her 200 RYT. And get this: your accountant is even a yoga teacher! (Proof: I spoke to one at the conference). Yet, yoga studios are still offering teacher training and pumping out graduates left, right, and centre. The word insanity has crossed my mind when I think about this. From a business standpoint, it seems crazy. Think about it: yoga studios are actively seeking to train people who will most likely become their competition. Does this make sense to you?
Choosing yoga as an occupation doesn’t make sense from a business viewpoint. The numbers just don’t add up. But… from a human perspective, look at all the people who have stepped onto the path of body awareness and greater enlightenment through their yoga training. What an amazing benefit to themselves and humanity!
So there I am, contemplating this phenomenon when another idea pops into my mind…
…what if, instead of a Bachelor’s degree being the rite of passage into real life and the minimum requirement for entry-level jobs, more people were encouraged to get their yoga training? Imagine if more people were walking around with a keen awareness of their body, breath, meditation, mindfulness, the chakras, and human anatomy. How could that possibly be a bad thing?! {full disclosure: I’m speaking as a non-yogi, however, I imagine these are the main topics covered in yoga teacher training…}
There’s a reason yoga has survived every trend over centuries
What I’ve noticed is that people who practice yoga tend to pursue a healthier lifestyle all around. I’m a huge advocate of people taking ownership of their health (no one can do it for you) – the world is a better place when people are healthy, and yoga encourages the same philosophy.
So, more yogis = we all win!
But here’s the challenge: not everyone can make a living as a yoga teacher. The ones who want it badly enough and dedicate themselves to becoming an expert can and do, and many finish their training and don’t end up teaching.
Thats okay, they are on the path to a healthier life and are creating a positive ripple effect on the world around them.
When I do my teacher training (at some point), it won’t be to start a career as a yoga teacher, it will be to learn, deepen my practice (as they say in the yoga world), and improve my overall well-being. And, the knowledge and experience will be helpful in my wellness business too. In my business, I get paid to be healthy and the more personal experience I have in helping people get and stay healthy, the better.
I want to help yogis thrive.
There is a fundamental challenge for yoga teachers (and many health practitioners) in creating a solid financial future: they are trading their time for money and many of them simply cannot teach (or fill) enough yoga classes in a week to make a good income. This is where be:free comes in. We help you diversify your income so that you can follow your passion AND be compensated what you’re worth. Click here to learn more.
Your turn:
What do you think the world would be like if more people did yoga teacher training?
And if you’re a yogi, how are you finding it as a career?
by Aimee Burton | Mar 14, 2015 | Financial Freedom
It’s been said that you become the average of the five people you spend most of your time with. It makes sense and that’s why I’ve decided to spend time with, and work with, people who share my core values. They don’t have to be exactly the same as me (that could get boring) but there are some fundamentals that I think are pretty important.
Love your body
We get one body and it is our responsibility (and only ours) to look after it. I am jazzed to spend time with people who respect and love their bodies. That being said, I’m not a total health freak. I like to eat fries now and then. I love chocolate, red wine, cheese, and my all time favourite thing in the world is pasta. I believe in making good choices, almost all the time. My friend Andrea really nails this point in her blog.
Live by design
In other words, recognize the power you have to create your future. If life doesn’t look or feel the way you want it to, change something. I get annoyed with people who complain a lot, dwell on the negative, or act like they are a victim of the circumstances in their lives. I totally get off around people who understand they are in the driver’s seat of their own life. That doesn’t mean every day is picture perfect or that there aren’t moments of doubt, but to know that you really do have a choice, in every moment, about how to live your life.
Pursue freedom
In case you haven’t noticed, I’m kinda stoked on being free. And I fully realize that freedom looks different for everyone. I believe if more people feel free, both financially and in their well-being, the world will be a better place to live. And that means everyone wins! For me, the path to freedom includes self-discovery, a focus on physical well-being, personal and spiritual growth, and alignment with an entrepreneurial vehicle to provide abundant cash flow and free up my time.
Embrace unconventional education
Home schooling. Independent schools. Waldorf. I’ve been lucky to experience some unconventional education in my life (even before the snazzy stuff like un-schooling and hack-schooling came out!). No offense to all the great teachers out there (I was lucky to have some really good ones), but the public school system is broken. I believe we must seek out the learning opportunities that excite us and that some of the most valuable learning happens outside the classroom. I believe children should be celebrated for their uniqueness and nurtured into their brilliance if we are to create a thriving future for humanity.
Radiate positivity
The world needs as much love as it can get. Do what you love. Love yourself. Express your love. I don’t think its possible to overdose on love. A positive mindset has been my number one asset during the last few years of transition.
A few things I love:
- Witnessing inspiration, growth, and transformation in others
- Exploring nature and experiencing the world
- Growing, cooking, and sharing delicious and nutritious food
- Chocolate, red wine, and cheese (oh, did I mention these already?)
- My family, my friends, and my man
- MY DOG, Isik (aka my fur baby)
- Dancing and music
- Life
Your turn
What are your core beliefs? Have you ever taken the time to reflect on what your priorities are? Since we’re influenced by the people we spend time with… are there people in your life that lift you up and make you laugh? Are there people who suck your energy and bring you down? You choose who you surround yourself with – choose wisely.
If you’re looking for a tribe of like-minded people in your life, and this stuff reson
ates with you, awesome! You might want to check out what its like to work with us.
by Aimee Burton | Mar 12, 2015 | Financial Freedom
If you crave freedom but it feels unattainable and you don’t know where to start, guess what… thats normal!
Our society, education, peers, pretty much everything has conditioned us to believe that freedom is a far away fantasy, attained by only an elite few – people who were born into a wealthy family or who were exceptionally lucky. Most of us believe we have to work hard, save our money, and eventually, if we’ve done it right, we’ll have freedom in our retirement years.
I’m not okay with waiting until age 65 to live my life.
I happen to know that freedom is possible and I’m on a mission to achieve my definition of freedom by the time I’m 30. Freedom doesn’t care how old you are, what you do for a living, where you live, what kind of education or background you have. You don’t have to be a millionaire to be free. You don’t have to quit your job and live in a Winnebago van to be free.
Freedom looks any way you want it to.
If you desire freedom, ask yourself these 3 critical questions:
What is my definition of freedom?
What prevents you from feeling free in your current lifestyle? What would it feel and look like to experience your version of true freedom? Is it a certain level of income, owning a home, not having a boss, playing music, making art, owning a new car, traveling anywhere in the world, volunteering for a year overseas, being a stay-home mom or simply being able to pay all of your bills and have money left over to play?
Now that you know what freedom means to you, figure out if you are on the path to freedom:
If I continue doing what I’m currently doing, will I eventually have more freedom or less?
In some careers and businesses, the better you get at your job the more you have to work. Unless you love your work and your definition of freedom is working all the time, you need to be able to free yourself from exchanging your time and/or expertise for money.
In other words, will you ever be able to walk away from your day to day work, whatever it is, and still earn income month after month? This is called residual or passive income and it is KEY to the money part of freedom. You must get crystal clear whether what you are currently doing has the potential to set you free. If the answer is no, you need a freedom vehicle (and I suggest checking out this workshop for some ideas).
Am I willing to do what it takes?
Unless you happen to inherit millions of dollars or win the lottery, you have to do something to set yourself free. Why do you think so many people don’t feel free? Because they haven’t been willing to do what it takes to get there. There is no reason why you can’t create the freedom you crave, if you’re willing.
My mentors always say, “work with the willing.” I’ll bet you’re capable of learning any skill you want to learn, and overcoming any obstacle in front of you, the key factor is your willingness to learn and grow,
You don’t have to do this alone. Few people have ever succeeded on their own. It takes a community of like minded people to learn from, grow with and be inspired by to truly reach beyond the limits we set for ourselves. be:free exists to bring freedom-seekers together and provide inspiration, community, and opportunity to those who want it. Learn more about the be:free tribe here.
by Aimee Burton | Jan 27, 2015 | Financial Freedom
Have you ever wished your life was different? Have you ever found yourself daydreaming…
- what if I didn’t have to go to work every day?
- what if I could do the things I love and still make a great living?
- what if I could go on that six month trip to India and not have my life fall apart?
- what if I could afford to buy land and had the time to grow my own food?
Most of us see ultra successful people and think, I could never do that, that’s not possible, why even try? But the truth is, every human being IS capable of achieving their dreams. There are plenty of unlikely success stories out there. So why do some succeed and most fail?
The thing is, no matter what your dream is, there are people who have achieved it, and in some cases, they are actually willing to share how they got there. If you’re hanging out on this blog you probably share a desire to create more freedom in your life. Whatever dream lights your fire, why haven’t you achieved it yet?
Chances are, you haven’t mastered 13 simple yet profound principles found in a small and unassuming book, first published in 1937, called Think and Grow Rich by a guy named Napoleon Hill.
Oh No! Not another self help book!
Okay, stay with me here… If you’ve ever set foot in the self-help section of a bookstore you know that there are hundreds, no thousands, of books written every year on how to create success/wealth/happiness etc. Its ridiculously overwhelming. But how many of those authors actually created real results in their life, before they wrote the book?
What the successful people know and you don’t
Think and Grow Rich is the quintessential guide for getting what you wantbecause it was written based on the study of the 500 most successful/wealthy men of that era (women wer
e sadly unrepresented in the time period, but we’re working on changing that now, right?!). Its not some backyard guru sharing his “7 steps to becoming a zillionaire.” Its legit.
Hill’s extensive research revealed that there are 13 steps, or principles, to achieve any goal and after my 2nd reading of this book, I am convinced that these principles need to be understood by everyone wishing to create amazing results in their life. I’m sure there are people out there who succeeded without reading the book, but I bet they utilized these principles anyway, either intuitively or through some sort of coaching or mentoring.
So, what are the 13 reasons most people fail?
Most people:
- haven’t figured out exactly what they DESIRE
- lack FAITH, or a solid belief that what they want is possible
- don’t realize they can influence their subconscious mind via AUTOSUGGESTION
- are unwilling to learn the SPECIALIZED KNOWLEDGE required for success
- lack IMAGINATION, the workshop of the mind
- don’t bother converting their desires into action via ORGANIZED PLANNING
- don’t make a DECISION to go after what they want
- lack PERSISTENCE
- are missing the POWER OF A MASTERMIND
- don’t know how to TRANSMUTE SEXUAL ENERGY to get better results
- don’t utilize the power of emotion to stimulate their SUBCONSCIOUS MIND
- aren’t aware their BRAIN is a sending and receiving station for thought vibrations
- aren’t accessing the infinite intelligence of their SIXTH SENSE
If you are struggling to get what you want, chances are one or more of these factors is affecting your personal success formula. I know this was true for me. So… what are you waiting for? Go read the book! And come on over to the be:free Facebook page to get in on the discussion. We want to hear what you struggle with and what you’ve mastered.
I’m striving for freedom, and I’ll bet you are too, but here’s the thing we have to realize: freedom isn’t free.
