Ohayou,

It certainly has been a busy week so I am going to begin by reflecting on the week that has gone by.

Looking at the action plan I had set for days 6 to 10, plus two days for the weekend actually bringing it to day 12, I am quite happy to say that I am on track and have completed everything I wanted to do thus far.

• I have spoken to my bank and devised an appropriate ‘asset sale collapse strategy’.  As expected, they have refused to lend me any more money for the purpose of renovating my home to maximise sale price.
• Business is starting to get back into full swing and things are certainly buzzing along.  Several people have in fact contacted us for quotes (perhaps it’s their new year resolutions too) and currently have a few projects on the go and more quotes to do this week.
• Our social network based iPhone app has been upgraded to iOS7, submitted to Apple and is now in the process of being approved.
• Touched base and had an initial conversation with ‘G’ explaining to him my intentions.  It was a fantastic conversation full of energy, excitement and absolute positiveness.
• Told my parents of my goals for 2014 as well as asking for some assistance to help with staging my house ready for maximum sale price – especially as the bank will not lend me any more money as well as my available personal funds running very low.

What I have discovered over the past few days is that I am certainly one lucky guy to have such a supportive and wonderful network of friends and family.

I suppose you only really get to notice this during times of personal need and change.  From time to time it’s quite easy to doubt yourself and your plans but with everyone is being so positive and telling me to reach the stars, surely the decisions I plan on making in 2014 will be some of the best ones I make in my life!

It was actually very relieving being able to speak to my parents, grandad and my brother and getting their feedback on my ambitions.  I am very content knowing they are always going to be there to support me and want me to do what is best for me.  I love them so, so much.  They certainly agree that at my age, I should be taking the calculated risks I believe I should be taking, which I suppose is good because 2014 is certainly gearing up to be one of those big risk taking years!

It was also wonderful speaking to ‘G’ during the week and hearing his excitement of being able to work more closely with him on several business ventures.  To be honest, ‘G’ is one of my biggest inspirations to date and to miss an opportunity to work with him on a grander scale would probably be one I will regret for a long time to come.  On top of that, ‘J’ and I have built up such a great business along with some powerful software assets – giving up and throwing them away now without realising their full potential would be an absolute sin.  Surely some of these can be better realised on an International stage?  Who knows?  However what I do know is that I am keen to give it a real good shot and find out.

So now I have the support of my family and friends and know that I can sell my assets in order to achieve the freedom I need to think clearly and be a true entrepreneur – it’s time for the next phase.

Day 13 to 19.

• Day 13 – get together a plan on what I need to do to spruce up the house (as well as budget) so I can better communicate this to my parents as I need assistance.
• Day 14 – Call ‘G’ again to start planning out the future plans.  Make sure I start writing all of this down to factor them as goals that need to be achieved this year.
• Day 15 – My last day being under 30 years old.  I will use this day to break the news to my partner about my 2014 plan.  This is probably the toughest part of this whole ‘zero to a million’ exercise, especially letting her know that the house she is currently staying in will be sold in order to free myself from debt and for me to start my new life.  This will absolutely test our relationship and I am sure some answers I have been asking myself for several years will be answered.  Wish me luck on this one!
• Day 16 – I turn 30.  I will eat cake.  And lots of it.
• Day 17 – Start doing a few things around the house as per my Day 13 plan and start touching base with a few real estate agents to get a gauge on costs and a few strategies such as ‘furnishing a house’ before sale, should it be done private or auction etc.  Have a nice birthday dinner with my friends.
• Day 18 and 19 – Go to the Australian Open with a few friends and continue on house clean.  Use this weekend to not only plan next week’s action plan but also start getting together a high level plan for the next 3, 6 or even the whole 12 months.

Having said all that, I must think about a quote a good mentor of mine – let’s call him ‘R’ once told me – “some of the  best decisions you make in life are unplanned”.  So I must make sure that during this year, yes make sure I create plans but try not to go overboard.  I should also try and just let life just take it’s course.

So that’s about it for now for the big update – expect a few smaller posts over the next couple of days.

In the meantime, as I was on my way home some time earlier this week, I heard a cool song on the radio (which I promptly ‘SoundHounded’ to get it’s details, being the geek I am).  This particular song has such a nice lyric and really touched me that day.  So I thought it would be a great way to finish off this post.  In fact, I see it as a motivational anthem to my ‘zero to a million’ journey.. so please take time to read all of the following.  Perhaps it might start giving you inspiration to do something more with your life too?  Enjoy.

“Breakaway” Lyrics – By Kelly Clarkson

Grew up in a small town
And when the rain would fall down
I’d just stare out my window
Dreaming of what could be
And if I’d end up happy
I would pray (I would pray)a

Trying hard to reach out
But when I tried to speak out
Felt like no one could hear me
Wanted to belong here
But something felt so wrong here
So I prayed I could break away

[Chorus:]
I’ll spread my wings and I’ll learn how to fly
I’ll do what it takes til’ I touch the sky
And I’ll make a wish
Take a chance
Make a change
And breakaway
Out of the darkness and into the sun
But I won’t forget all the ones that I love
I’ll take a risk
Take a chance
Make a change
And breakaway

Wanna feel the warm breeze
Sleep under a palm tree
Feel the rush of the ocean
Get onboard a fast train
Travel on a jet plane, far away (I will)
And breakaway

[Chorus]

Buildings with a hundred floors
Swinging around revolving doors
Maybe I don’t know where they’ll take me but
Gotta keep moving on, moving on
Fly away, breakaway

I’ll spread my wings
And I’ll learn how to fly
Though it’s not easy to tell you goodbye
I gotta take a risk
Take a chance
Make a change
And breakaway
Out of the darkness and into the sun
But I won’t forget the place I come from
I gotta take a risk
Take a chance
Make a change
And breakaway, breakaway, breakaway

You can listen to “Breakaway” – By Kelly Clarkson here – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-3vPxKdj6o