the art of pausing

025. be prepared to lose the fire.

“Nobody is thinking about you. They're too busy thinking of themselves.” — Ryan Holiday

It feels weird to stop, to be paused in one location indefinitely.

It's been nine weeks since I arrived in my new location, my new playground. "Home sweet home," I think to myself as I ride my bike along the concrete path here in Northern New South Wales. For the last five years, my main existence was as a traveler. When I wasn't traveling, I was working to save for more travel. People constantly asked me, "Where's next?" I never had a direct answer, but I knew that my hard-earned money was going to build out my storybook of life, which was 90% travel-based stories.

Now I find myself being challenged daily in a whole new and unique way. In the years prior, my challenges were where I would sleep that night, what adventure or mountain to tackle next, and how I would get there. I battled with being alone for so long that I'd question everything, including why I was even here. But then I’d reach the top of the mountain, watch the sun rise, warming my cold cheeks, and crack a little grin, thinking to myself, "This is why you do it."

Seven weeks ago, I launched a custom van fit-out business called Freedom Fit Outs. It was an idea I had been thinking about for a while, but it demanded one thing from me—to not move. That thought alone scared the shit out of me. I knew this going in, and I was ready to put my passport back in the top drawer and go all in on Freedom Fit Outs. I can't remember the last time I went all in on something, but it felt right, and it still feels good. I was blessed to come across a gentleman who had recently packed up his van business to move internationally with his beautiful little family. He chatted with me for hours, leading to me scoring my own workshop to start this new and exciting venture. One thing that stuck with me during one of our many chats was, "It's going to be a lonely road, and you will lose the fire in your belly from time to time, but whatever you do, just hold on because you have to remind yourself why you're out here in this shed." At the time, I was oblivious to the idea of the fire going out in my belly. It was my dream—how could that happen? But then I remembered all the long days I spent working and training for hours on end for my next race, often losing that spark in my belly for my love of running.

Freedom Fit Outs is no different. I've only been running this business for basically 3 seconds in the grand scheme of things, but I know days will come when the fire drops out. It won't go out completely, but the flame will be a small flicker.

So heres to pausing and leaning into new challenges in 2024. Like how the hell do you run a small business?

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Journal prompt: When was the last time you went all in on something?

Big love,
Jono