As I write this I’m told by the first officer that I’m at 30,000 ft above mean sea-level. I’m on an airline that I’ve never heard of travelling to a country that I’ve never been to before. Unless there are unforeseen delays I’ll transfer in El Salvador, and in 4 hours time I will arrive in Jan José Costa Rica. I’m headed there because I was unsure of which country to start the next leg of my travels, so I had friends and family vote about where they thought I should go. (Costa Rica narrowly beat Jamaica by a few votes). I don’t how long I’ll be there for, it could be a few weeks, it could be a few months. I’ll stay until feel I’ve seen and done enough or something pulls me to another Central American destination. I think Panama might be next.
To everyone that voted, thank you so much I really appreciate your involvement, ideas and suggestions. Also if you’re ever anywhere nearby, let me know it’d be great to catch-up over a beer or two.
As I boarded my flight from Pearson International Airport a few hours ago, I noticed something I wasn’t previously aware of. That is, that your experience of a new country (depending on flight connections) often begins in the departures lounge of the country that you’re leaving. Gate E68 in Toronto had a sprinkling of North American looking passengers wearing Roots sweaters or Lululemon training pants, but it was dominated by people with much darker complexions and hair, many of them conversing in Spanish. Having not yet been to any country in Central or South America my mental model matched these passengers to a possible extra list for the tv series Narcos. My exposure to a new culture, language and people had started a full eight hours before I expected that it would. Writing this now, I guess this is pretty evident but it’s something I will be more conscious of when I fly in future.
Sitting in aisle seat 9D (always choose an aisle seat, you get more leg room by stretching into the aisle, it feels less claustrophobic and you don’t have to bother people when you want to get up), I’m reflecting on the last four months I’ve had in Canada, and I’m feeling pretty grateful. I stayed with my brother and his family who have recently emigrated from South Africa. In addition to some great QT with the family and my nieces, my sister in law and I scoped, developed and launched a new online business. I did two snowboarding trips, loved my time at Crossfit Col, explored some vibrant new cities and made some lifelong friends. I also started writing a book and I’m about 25% of the way through the first draft. I can say that writing is a rollercoaster of days where I felt like Jeffery Archer and words just flow out and other days I can’t seem to string a sentence together. I am planning to make some time over the coming weeks to carry on with this writing project.
Over the last month or so I have been lucky enough to have been given some pretty clear signs about what my next Freedom Fighter project needs to look like. I continually get requests from people asking me to help them build a web-based business. We are close to concluding our first Freedom Masterclass, where six people committed to a 6-month program to achieve some goals in their lives. This class has been really successful and we have created a great space for our members to be draw inspiration from each other and accomplish some pretty amazing things in their lives. This masterclass again showed me that there was a demand for a practical “how to guide” on building, launching and marketing an online business.
So? So I have been scoping a program to help anyone that wants to start an online business and work together with a group of like-minded people through the entire process from idea to niche identification, site building, accepting payments and marketing right up to getting customer number one. If you are serious about starting an online business and would be interested in a program like this, please reply to this email and let me what your thinking is and how far along in the process you are. (If you know anyone that you think might benefit from this program please feel free to pass this email onto them)
As always thanks for your support and following my journey. ✌️
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Since writing the above on the plane, I’ve arrived in San Jose and it’s been great so far. People drive too fast, there is litter on the streets, and the buildings are scruffy and in need of maintenance. It’s completely different to Toronto, but there is an energy here that most first world countries lack and – it feels good to be back on the road.
Below is the view from where I’m staying in the city it’s beautiful. Tomorrow headed to the beach ?
