Three minutes and four questions that changed everything (including my business)

It was 11pm and I had no idea that inspiration was about to hit. I went upstairs to brush my teeth just before going to sleep.

The previous day a friend of mine, and a fellow entrepreneur, shared a writing exercise to discover what you really want.

Having nothing better to do for three minutes (and my mind tirelessly looks for something to do, something to think of, even when teeth brushing), I thought I’d give it a try, but instead of writing, I’ll think about it in my head.

So I started by asking myself:

“What do I want?”

“I want a successful business. I want to be helping many, many people live a better life.”

Ok, I thought, fine. Next question.

“What do I really want?”

“I want a much bigger audience. I want to stop playing small. I want to write a book.”

Ok. We’re going into the big scary goals part, I noticed. But this wasn’t a surprise. Writing a book seems like a calling. There are a few existing ideas and one outlined, handwritten draft. Next question.

“What do I really, really want?”

“I want to make Hollywood movies. I want to make movies that are beautiful in the way they are made, movies that have inspiring interiors, amazing landscape, alluring cities, beautiful colours… and all of that beautifully shot, so that people will feel drawn to my movies. The movies will almost magnetise a massive audience.
But it’s not all about beauty… there’s something else. Something even more important entirely. The movies in themselves reflect beauty to attract more viewers, but the characters and the plots in themselves will inspire people how to be happier, how to live a better life, how to feel fulfilled and alive. How to discover what’s missing and go from inaction to action, from dreaming to doing.”

Woah. We’re going there. I started feeling this bit of anxiety that you feel when you’re stepping outside of your comfort zone. This dream of making movies has been on my mind for years, but I almost never talked about it. To anyone.
It stayed safely within the zone of “a dream that I want, but I’m too afraid to do anything about it, so I’ll store it safely at the back of my mind and will keep quiet, so that noone will ever find out”…

This exercise was getting interesting. But my toothbrush has not started vibrating yet announcing the end of brushing, so I wasn’t going to stop. Next question.

“What do I really, really, really want?”

“…I want to help people be happier.”

This is what it boils down to.

The toothbrush announced the end of session and I went back downstairs.

The three minutes and those four questions have stirred something inside me so much so that I went to bed, but didn’t go to sleep. Instead, I opened Notes on my phone and started typing.

I typed for another half an hour tirelessly, creating a plan of what I want to do next.

Because forget Hollywood for a second. My inspiration: I want to help people be happy.

And it might not happen for a while yet that I will have the access, the connections and the sheer will of power to get in to California and make movies.

But I do have Internet, I do know how to create an online program and reach thousands of people. I do know that. And that’s enough to start inspiring happiness. So why not use those skills for good?

If I don’t start now, it’ll always be in the realm of that scary goal that I have, but don’t do anything to make it happen…

And if right now you’re wishing you had your inspiration, your epiphany about what your life purpose is and what it is that you really, really, really freakin’ want?

Believe me, this realisation of my purpose was not just enclosed in this single 3 minute moment. Everything in my life has been leading up to it. But as Steve Jobs said: it’s easier to connect the dots when you look back.

And the moment I looked back and I SAW how everything I was doing, everything I was interested in, everything I wrote that I didn’t publish because it was not related to interior design… All of that was revolving around inspiring happiness.
From the moment I realised that, I knew I had to take action on my inspiration. And that everything will change.

I’m standing here (well, actually, sitting), in front of you, and I am HAPPY to announce that I am taking action. When I woke up the next morning I was so excited to get to work that I couldn’t remember when was the last time I’d be so excited right after opening my eyes. Because the answer is: not even on Christmas! (And those who know me well know that I LOOOVE Christmas.)

Inevitably, this site will be changing and so will the contents of my blog posts. I still truly believe that Interior Design and changing the environment around you can and will change your life for better, and I will continue to improve Dream Home Course as a way to make your life happier. But there will be more. Much more. I want this place on the Interwebs to become THE go-to place for inspiration on increasing your happiness level and improving your life.

THIS is where the scary dreams that seem to be stored far, far away inside your head, where nobody can hear or see them, will start coming out to the light, the sunshine, the sweet spot of excitement and possibility.

I know that this is not for everyone, and so if this doesn’t speak to you, I thank you for having been on this journey with me so far. Truly: thank you.

But if you’re intrigued and want to see where this journey takes us, I would be honoured to have you on board (make sure to sign-up for email updates below to get more stories and tips). Stay with me and together we’ll increase our happiness levels to more than we dream possible.

Because if there’s one thing I know is true is that we are capable of MORE than we give ourselves credit for.

With so much love,

P.S. I obviously cannot recommend highly enough asking yourself (in writing or in your head) what it is that you want, followed by as many questions with an addition of the word ”really” as it will take for you to get to the bottom of your desires.
If you’re doing it in your thoughts only, make sure you write down the end result, so that you can’t move this insight inside your head into that dark hole of oblivion. Taking action starts with realising what you want. Be brave.

P.P.S. Oh and if you do recall a dream of yours that’s been hiding deep inside you, but you haven’t told anyone in aaaages, do leave a comment and let us know. It’s a safe space. And maybe what we all need is a safe space to practice talking about what would make us happy. If you feel so inclined, leave a comment and share.

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