When Talent Meets Opportunity:

There are blogs to read regularly and blogs to pop in on occasionally. In Search of a Life Less Ordinary has been one of those on my regular feed and read. So much so that in some ways I felt knew Russell without ever having met him.

Yet what I didn’t know was the part Russell’s blog played in his personal transformation. From the outside it all looked so easy, in reality it was nothing of the sort. This story is a lesson in personal discovery, courage, creativity and sheer staying power. One that has inspired me and one I am sure will inspire you too.

It all started with a journey

Russell is British and it was whilst living and working in Basingstoke that he met his Australian girlfriend, now wife and the desire to live abroad first took hold. They decided to move to Canada in 2003, living first in Vancover and then Ottawa where Russell worked as a public servant, a role he admits he found less than inspiring. In 2006 they moved to the Northern Beaches area of Sydney, Australia. In some ways this was an easy move but it still took Russell time to adjust and begin to feel “settled”. Now with the exception of the high cost of living, they thoroughly enjoy the lifestyle aspect of Australian living.

The birth of a blog and a writing career

Initially Russell continued his career as a public servant in Sydney, but found the job and work environment was just not a fit for him. With a brutal daily commute and a job that gave little pleasure Russell’s saving grace was his writing. He wrote for his blog and also found other opportunities and outlets for his creative writing talents.

Russell’s now highly successful blog had humble beginnings originating in the early days of their expat life in Canada. In the days before Facebook and Skype Russell says, “It was my way of talking about the experience of living abroad and sharing that with everyone back home.”

At first the blog was about Russell’s expat experience, then it expanded to include travel related experiences and stories. Now, people read the blog for the expat and travel connection or just because they like reading about someone who has done something different and is striving to create a life less ordinary.

The transition to full time writing?

As we talk, Russell’s passion for writing, for the creative process that this entails comes through loud and clear. He sounds happy and enthusiastic, energised by his chosen career but this hasn’t always been the case. In his blog post “How Writing Saved Me” Russell talks about how low he felt as he struggled to find purpose and meaning in a life centred around his “ill fitting” career.

Russell explains: “I reached a real low. I was doing so much to find something that would be better, life and career coaching, I even went to see a psychologist because I thought that there must be something wrong in my head. But actually the solution was right in front of me.” Writing!

As a result Russell decided to quit his job and took a role with a social media company that he had freelanced for. Sadly the company hit financial difficulties and Russell was soon out of a job. Scary times, but as is so often the case when a path based on true passion and talent becomes clear, the very next day he was offered freelance work by another company. Russell took the plunge and decided to go it alone and as if to affirm his decision another offer of work came rolling in.

Russell began to feel that his business dream could become a reality. His wife agreed to support him for six months and the rest is history…

Lessons Learned….

About the blog: “I learned that it was slow burn not instant success. It took time to build the connections and get engagement. It takes time and patience and a recognition that sometimes its important not to push too hard there is only so much one can do.”

Conversely it is always worth reaching out to people. One example that paid off splendidly was an email to Ariana Huffington that resulted in a regular feature on The Huffington Post with some spectacular results. Russell’s article “4 Ways Living Abroad Changes You … Forever” attracted over 83,000 likes and 13,5K shares. I can’t help reflecting that you never can tell when and where the breaks will come from, but for anyone feeling like “giving up” this should inspire them to continue to blaze the trail.

But blogging and article writing are not the total story. Russell also runs “The International Writer”, a business content writing service, providing engaging content for websites, social media and content marketing. Russell loves working with brands and agencies campaigns to promote products and services.

The creativity that comes from writing is one source of inspiration, the other is Russell’s dream of creating a location independent business. “I want to not have to work from, or travel to, an office”. Russell loves the lifestyle achieved by working from home; being able to swim in the morning, drop his son off at crèche, take time for lunch with his wife. It is a business that enables a lifestyle and that is worth a lot.

Learning from the Challenges Along the Way

• Understanding where the free line should be: “People are always asking me to do stuff for free.” It has been important to learn how to weigh up the requests, find the best fit, and ensure that time is spent on content that will have the right exposure and maximum impact e.g. The Huffington Post!

• Overcoming other people’s negativity about the decision to do his own thing. Comments such as: “You’re too old, won’t make enough money, will jeopardise your career longer term, you’re going to struggle to make it a success.” Were never helpful.

• Working to stay personally motivated and disciplined. No rushing off to the beach for five hours just because you feel like it, tempting though that must be!

• Finding ways to face and then overcome ones own fears is very important.

• Learning to handle the regular highs and lows that comes with running your own business.

Advice to Share:

Get wise to the online systems and apps that will help you to do things efficiently and most importantly save you time!

Mistakes Along the Way:

Not having a calendar and schedule for the blog. “I tended to just write what occurred to me”. Russell felt that his blog didn’t have the sense of story, of building over time. Now he has a list and knows what topics lie ahead.

What do you love most about what you do?

“The fact that I can work doing something that is a passion for me. I can write and that is my business. It can be scary and challenging but I am my boss, I can create and this is what then provides for my family and that is very rewarding.”

Thanks to Russell Ward for sharing his insights. You can connect with Russell via the links below.

In Search of a Life Less Ordinary.

The International Writer.

Facebook The International Writer

Facebook In Search of A Life Less Ordinary

Twitter