Finding Purpose

I have a podcast, as some of you may know, called Clock Out! Vicarious Life. Creating that platform for storytelling came to me through a source greater than myself (as a lot of my courageous ideas do) about nine months ago. When the idea first came, I was wanting to do something different with my career, but I didn’t know what that was. I wanted to shift into something less social and more creative. Out of no where, the idea came to create a show where my guests and I could inspire others to be courageous and intentional with their lives. I wanted to find all of those people who others likely “lived vicariously through”. Clock Out was a challenge to listeners to find unconventional ways to create income, so they could be free to do what they really wanted in life, whatever that may be. I was sure it meant they had to have no ties, though. The idea was there, the name was chosen, the logo was created. All of it flowed out of me with ease, a sure sign I was on the right path, but something about it was feeling forced. I had it right, but something felt ingenuine. I couldn’t put my finger on it, but moved forward with the idea anyway.

The word that was burning into my skull at the time of creation of the podcast was freedom. All I could dream about was freedom and everything it represented to me. I was reminiscing on times in my life when I felt free. I was taking trips across the country to learn new things and escape from my normal day-to-day routine. I was ditching work to get into the mountains, just me and my dogs, to roam free as I did when I was a kid. I was even rebelling against silly things like shoes and bras!

Then, I took it really far and bought a 1976 Volkswagon Westfalia (campervan bus). I intended to use it as my traveling podcast studio. I saw images of myself, bright green bus full of beagles, cruising down the highway, ears and hair blowing in the wind. I would travel to various places to interview nomads, gypsies, and free spirited souls, who clearly had it all figured out. The best part of that story is that I purchased the bus in Florida, which is literally on the opposite side of the country. I planned a glorious Thelma and Louise road trip with my best friend, so we could drive it home together…free as birds, no bras or shoes, and on our own schedule. We would stop where we wanted, when we wanted, and arrive home refreshed, invigorated, and full of stories to share for many generations! Well, that plan didn’t come to fruition. The Universe had a hand in it a few times, begging me not to go forward with that ridiculous idea, but my brain took over and I forced the idea, ignoring all the signs from the Universe. My best friend, Jackie, and I were already in Florida for a conference and intended to ditch our flight home to drive the bus back. The seller was having issues with the bus, but I still bought the stupid thing and it broke down 100 miles outside of Fort Lauderdale. This is where my poor innocent husband was drug into my freedom adventure because Thelma and Louise didn’t have a clue what to do, or how to get it home. Brandon, my handsome Saint of a husband, flew to Florida to bring it home, while Thelma and Louise took a flight home, tails tucked, to take care of the day-to-day operations back in Montana. Brandon ended up having to get a Uhaul truck with a toy hauler to get the freedom vessel home. So, that wasn’t my proudest moment, but it was worth sharing for the sake of storytelling.

Now, back to the podcast and where I’m going with this story. In July of 2022, I released my first episode. (Yes, my poor husband had to drive the Uhaul with no air conditioning 2700 miles in the dead of July) I explained that I was working towards financial freedom myself, so I could live a life on my own terms. I talked about how I got to the point I was at financially, and how it had set me up to live off my passive income alone. I spoke of all the obstacles I overcame in my life to get to a point where I was healthy, happy, and set up for the future. I wanted to find guests like myself to discuss the path they took to get where they are, and I did. To date, I published 17 interviews. The people I talked to are nothing short of amazing. Their stories are inspiring and educational and uplifting. I leave every single interview feeling fulfilled and beaming with passion for life.

For my 17th episode, I brought a gentleman named Derek VanLuchene onto the show. I wasn’t sure why because he didn’t fit the financial aspect of the show. I reflected on that before asking him to be a guest and realized that many of my guests didn’t have the financial element. They all had lives they were living on their terms, but most didn’t really have the financial element figured out. Maybe they did, but they didn’t focus on it? I had to do some pondering. I sat back and reflected on all the interviews I had done and what the message coming through really was. I thought back on Cassie and John Wick Episode 11 Clock Out! Vicarious Life and realized neither mentioned money once, but they had done amazing things for their community, for non-profits in other countries, etc. They weren’t free of all obligations driving carelessly down the highway with no shoes or bras, with no purpose other than freedom,

With that insight into my own show, I interviewed Derek to hear about how and why he created his non-profit organization Ryan United. Money wasn’t mentioned once and he is anything but free from a schedule. It took me months to get him on the show because he was in D.C. one day, Salt Lake the next, etc. He certainly wasn’t free and having all the fun. Instead, he was working selflessly for over a decade to educate law enforcement on how to deal with child abductions. He was advocating for victims of violent crime, so they are cared for and represented in the justice system. Why? His kid brother, 8 years old at the time, was abducted and murdered by a repeat sex offender in 1987. Derek was 17 years old when he lost Ryan. Derek became a police officer almost immediately out of high school. He worked as an investigator at the Department of Criminal Investigations. He served in some capacity of law enforcement his entire adult life until something greater than himself whispered to him that he was intended for more. Ryan United was born from that and money had nothing to do with it. Purpose. Derek's Interview

That interview changed me. I left that interview feeling fulfilled, sad, amazed, inspired, angry, and peaceful. I got a good look at what purpose is and started researching obsessively. I reflected back on my podcast and realized it was full of people working towards purpose, not financial freedom. My guests were at various stages of discovering their purpose, but they were on the path, none the less. Purpose is all about service to the greater good, It is love. It is giving. Money is merely a resource for service to others. Money, time, and energy. The episodes that really resinated with me all had purpose and service tied in. Jessica Picker, former Miss Montana, served for years full time. She sacrificed her personal life for many years to serve the state of Montana in many capacities. Jessica Picker's Interview.

My podcast was never about freedom. It was always about purpose. That is what I was chasing. What is my purpose in life. Why is selling real estate unfulfilling now? I used to love it! I helped people in so many ways. I loved seeing families get into homes. I loved investors winning and building their financial freedom. I loved educating people on home ownership and creating generational wealth. I was meant for more, though.

Derek’s interview gave me the last bit of courage I needed to start working towards my own purpose. After hearing his story, the light bulb came on that I didn’t need to create a new income producing career. I had a voice in my head telling me to “let go” of real estate for years. I heard over and over again, “use your voice” from something greater than myself, but I didn’t know how to do that because real estate was how I made money. I was so wrapped up in the resource, rather than the purpose that I was being weighed down from moving forward. Fear of the unknown held me back. Comfort of the known kept me paralyzed. My podcast, this blog, speaking to groups of people is my purpose right now. There may be more for me later, just as there often is for everyone. Purpose comes when it is needed. It changes. It shifts. I morphs because the greater good needs different things at different times. Right now, showing others how to find and move towards their purpose, is my purpose. I am merely the voice for the information. My guests’ stories are shared through me and my platforms. My own story of change over the years is a voice to reach for your highest potential. Why? Because that is all of our overall purpose! We are here to reach our greatest potential and to serve others; that is PURPOSE.

“Clock Out!” means let go of conventional thoughts. Let go of what society trains you to think you have to do in life. We are all meant for greatness in whatever we do. Explore and discover your purpose. Think outside of the box.

“Vicarious Life” is so appropriate. I don’t want to live vicariously through someone having fun. Fun only lasts so long. Passion is where it is at. Passion is found in purpose. I want to find purpose, so I am fulfilled and giving back to the greater good. That is a life worth living vicariously through!

What is your purpose? How do you find it?

“The purpose of life is a life with purpose!”