The Alternative Lifestyle Site

Energy Series 16: Do It Yourself

Quite a long time ago I stopped waiting for someone else to ‘fix’ things for me and began to take a lot more responsibility for myself. That included my lifestyle choices and their impacts on my pay packet, my quality of life, the environment and my future.

During my years living in a big city, working full time, raising children as a single parent and living in rented accommodation the seeds of wanting something better were planted. Many, many years later a lot of those seeds have begun to sprout and a big part of the reason for that is because I began to do things for myself. Today, that includes building my own home, home educating my son, generating my own power. It’s not always easy… or simple but it’s always really worthwhile and incredibly empowering. Why not check out this idea for your life?

I hope you enjoy the video and don’t forget, if DIY appeals to you – check out the product reviews category to your right and see if anything appeals to you. In fact, use this as an opportunity to take your first action. Who knows where it might lead you?

Alternative Livelihood: Time For A New Career?

Have you noticed the media recently? Have you noticed what all the politicians are talking about… non-stop?

• Yes, it’s the economy.
• It’s the recession.
• It’s employment figures or unemployment figures I guess.

All this talk of lack and loss and downturn really got me to thinking about people and their work. This in turn got me thinking (once again) about purposeful employment, right livelihood, living your passion. I’m not really one to sit around too long moaning about how bad things are and I love to find ideas that inspire people to begin looking at things in a slightly different way and this post is the result of me looking for a way to do just that.

Now, there is another reason I’m bringing all this up. Well actually, there are a couple of other reasons if I’m honest. The first is my partner.

• He began a new job just before the whole credit crunch thing began and now he is realising that he doesn’t really, really love where he works. Not too many other options around for him right now due to the global financial crisis and rising rates of unemployment. However, he does have another option. His passion is the environment (one of the reasons I love him so) and he is a really, really good people person, writer and networker in his field.
• Can you see a small opportunity jumping up and down in front of him?
• He can and a few years ago he had a website created and he did some freelance work in his field. His mind is now turning back towards doing something similar should he find himself unable or unwilling to remain in his current employment. Pretty cool.

The second is you. Do you have a hobby? Do you have an interest that you really, really like to learn about, talk about, read about, write about? You could turn that into another source of income. Even if it were part-time … even REALLY part-time to begin with. Who knows where it might lead you?

Utilising the Internet can really jump start your move towards creating a new career for yourself and moving into a more fulfilling alternative livelihood. Yes I know you’ve probably heard all that before and I’m sure you’ve also heard how so many people begin new online businesses all bright eyed and bushy tailed only to fail miserably. I used to be in that category but now, thanks to Bob Yeager and his W.E.S.T program I have all the skills, tools, insights and support I need to really make something happen online.

Now maybe you are interested and maybe you are not however, there are a couple of things you could do to see if this is something for you. Maybe, it’s something for someone else you know rather than for you. Send them here if that is the case.

• If you are unsure of your passions in life I have written a FREE e-course titled 5 Steps To Discover Your Life Purpose, which may help you out. I hope so and do let me know if you decide to take the course. I love feedback.

• Once you know what you LOVE take a look at the WEST program – I’ve done a bit of training and education over the years and this program is the most comprehensive I’ve come across. If you have a burning desire and the commitment to see it through, then WEST is for you. Just click on the “W” banner there to your right to get more information.

Using the Internet is easy. Utilising Internet Marketing is another kettle of fish altogether. There is so much hype out there, business coaching is essential in the brave new world of 21st Century online marketing and you really have to do your homework not to be taken for a ride by the unscrupulous.

• There are free programs out there, Ed Dales Thirty Day Challenge is one I participated in and it was a great insight into what is needed, what I didn’t know yet and really gave me a taste for what is possible. If you want to test the waters I can recommend it. I don’t think you will create a huge income but it will get you started.
• When you are ready to get serious and begin to create a sustainable, alternative livelihood and career for yourself, take a good hard look at the WEST program. I am a student right now and already my whole view of the online world and my role in it has changed for the better.

I hope if you are thinking along these lines I’ve been able to give you some useful information. I hope you join me as a student on the WEST program. Good luck and I hope to see online soon.

Energy Series 15: But I’m Renting Is No Excuse

I can vividly recall living in Sydney in various flats, units and houses, working full time and raising my two sons as a single parent. I was luckier than most in that their Dad was (still is) a great person and took an active role in their upbringing. However, there was no way that I could afford to purchase my own home in Sydney – even all those years ago!

Living in rental accommodation does limit what a person is free to do regarding energy saving initiatives. For example one can’t just go out and put extra insulation in the roof or install double glazed windows for example. All of that is perfectly true but there are still many, many things an energy conscious or environmentally aware renter can do that will make a big difference to their consumption and to how much money they are paying for their utility bills.

My journey towards living a more sustainable lifestyle certainly began all those years ago as I discovered how awful it was to live in a home facing the western sun during an Australian summer. My need to save money through good energy management was certainly borne out of living in an expensive city and raising children. My lessons were deeply felt and now that I am in a position to share some of what I have discovered – I get to share them with you. I hope you are are enjoying them.

Alternative Livelihood: Internet Marketing

Many people are looking at living in “Alternative” ways and for many finding another way to make a living, one that gives them autonomy and freedom of choice is high on their list of priorities. For lots of us, the Internet with all its possibilities is very appealing. People are starting on-line businesses at an unprecedented rate.

But beware! It can be a very frustrating process, beginning, learning, apply and hopefully succeeding in the online world. After too many years of spending lots of time attempting to discover the secrets to Internet Marketing, I enrolled in the WEST program. Aimed at empowering those interested in building their own internet business, by giving them the information, tools and strategies to succeed, WEST has been the very best investment of my time… EVER,

I recently had an article approved over at EzineArticles.com explaining some of the tips and tricks of SEO and Keyword Research that have helped me get my sites ranked on Google and others. Follow this link to read the article. I hope it helps.

If you think this is the kind of information you need, click on the “W” banner there on the right and get some FREE tutorials and information about the WEST Program.

Permaculture, Youth, Music and the Future of Mankind

I was checking out some of my regular RSS feeds this evening and came across this great one on The Permaculture Research Institute of Australia site. There is a good post on the site explaining just who and where these images were taking place so if you would like more information about Quail Springs, CA head on over and take a look.

For now though, the YouTube is too good not to share.

Do you think I over did it with the heading for this post? Upon reflection, knowing what I now know and feeling what I feel about the Earth… nope, I got it just right! Love to hear your thoughts. Post a comment, share an experience. Go on, I dare ya!

Energy Series 14: Standby…

You may have already heard me suggest that you turn off your appliances when you are not using them. Well, today I tell you why that is a good… no, why that is a great idea and I think your wallet and your bank account are going to agree!

Now, if you like this video and you think it added some value to your life and would like 19 MORE – subscribe in the box to the top right of this page and I’ll send you 20 video’s from the Energy Series that will start saving you money and energy right away.

The Shame of Environmental Politics and Big Business

This morning I read a great piece in The Age newspaper, that comes out of Melbourne, Australia.

It was written by Alan Gray, editor of Earth Garden magazine and Green Power Today (available from Earth Garden Books). He put his case against the recently announced Carbon and Emissions Trading scheme (called the Australian Carbon Trust), and I was so impressed with it I thought it was well worth providing you with the link to the article, so you could read it for yourself. The reason I like it is that he provides us with a simple, real life example of what some people are doing and what the potential impact of this proposal will in relation to his example.

Here are a couple of quotes from the article to whet your appetite and the link to the full piece is provided below.

The new Australian Carbon Trust announced by Rudd on Monday is a bureaucratic Band-Aid made to look like the Government is dealing with this issue. The trust is a poor response to this problem because it would force households or businesses to pay twice: once when they make the carbon reductions, and again when donating to the trust.

Contrast this with large polluters who won’t even pay once because of their massive “compensation payments”, or corporate welfare.

I really don’t think there are very many thinking people out there who believe for one minute that “band-aid” solutions are what is required in response to the looming impacts of climate change, but here is the government of an educated, politically active, western country attempting to hoodwink their populations by delivering a policy that is, frankly, absolute rubbish! Grrrr, I don’t usually get so irritated but this morning they really found where my goat was tied up!

Here is another quote from the article which appeared in The Age:
As the draft legislation stands, none of the contributions made to date by householders by paying for GreenPower will count towards reducing Australia’s carbon cap. All these existing voluntary reductions will simply ease the pressure on big polluters — they will have to cut less because we have all cut more. Stinks like a tip full of methane, if you ask me. And experts, like Richard Denniss of the Australia Institute, predict that the GreenPower scheme will die overnight if the legislation is not amended. Why should householders reward the shareholders of giant electricity companies by making the cuts the companies should make?

Talk about pulling the rug out from under the feet of people who are voluntarily (and in large numbers) choosing to make choices that will benefit themselves, the whole of the community and the environment. Shame on you Prime Minister, Shame on you.

http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/the-little-green-car-that-pays-for-itself-20090507-awk6.html?page=-1#