The Voluntary Life

Preparing for a life of travel involved getting rid of anything that I could not take with me in one suitcase. One big source of clutter to address was clothes. My clothes took up a lot of space, yet I hardly ever wore many of them. As part of my extreme decluttering, I got rid of every item of clothing beyond a minimal set that would fit with my one-suitcase plan. The process included making an inventory, deciding what to keep or get rid of, and selling or giving away a huge amount of clothes. Whether you plan to travel or not, this episode will give you some food for thought about changing your approach to clothes. Show Notes: Previous Episodes on MinimalismHome Inventory App (Mac)Job Free by Jake DesyllasListen to Episode 239

This week’s episode is about how I implemented Zero Data: having all my data in the cloud. This has been an essential part of adopting a digital nomad lifestyle but is also relevant for anyone who wants a more minimalist, clutter-free life. I digitised any kind of data that could be digitised, such as music, movies, photos, books, and documents. Once digital, I moved all my data into cloud storage of one kind or another. Then I got rid of all data clutter that was part of my stuff. I got rid of all my CDs, DVDs, Photos, spare computers, etc. Now all my data lives in the cloud. In the episode, I explain how I implemented a zero data system, and I outline some of the key issues to address. These include privacy (encryption), backup, redundancy, and sync vs archive. Show Notes: Article: Zero Data: Thoughts About Sync, Storage, and BackupTVL Episodes on minimalismGoing Paperless Part 1 and Part 2Cloud Music: iTunes Match, Apple Music, Spotify, Google Play MusicCloud Movies: Netflix, iTunesCloud Storage: Dropbox, Google Drive, iCloudCloud Books: Calibre E-Book ManagementCloud Notes: EvernoteEncryption: SpiderOak, Boxcryptor, FileVaultBackup: Crashplan, Backblaze, Time Machine, SuperDuper Listen to Episode 238

I had a lot of fun talking with Brian Sovryn on the Sovryn Tech Podcast. In this episode, we discuss my lifestyle of perpetual travel and minimalism, and the technology that makes it possible. Show Notes: Sovryn Tech Episode 165Fujitsu ScanSnap S1300i Mobile Document ScannerCalibre E-Book ManagementEvernoteVoiceDreamAirBnBUberGoogle TranslateKeyboard MaestroMac Power Users PodcastTripAdvisor Offline GuidesTripItBecoming An Entrepreneur by Jake DesyllasJob Free by Jake Desyllas Listen to Episode 237

The Free State Project is a social experiment encouraging 20,000 people interested in "liberty in our lifetime" to move together to New Hampshire. The idea is to create an intentional community of like-minded people who are interested in personal and political liberty. By concentrating people with similar values in one place, the aim is to have a greater impact on the local culture and thereby generate more freedom. In this episode, I interview Stephanie Murphy and Brian Sovryn—two members of the Free State Project— about their experiences in New Hampshire as part of this community. Show Notes: The Free State ProjectJob Free paperback editionStephanie Murphy VoiceSovryn Tech PodcastPorcfest Festival Listen to Podcast 236

In this week's episode, Brett Veinotte from the School Sucks Podcast and Jake Desyllas from The Voluntary Life discuss the process of upgrading and maintaining positive habits. Topic covered include: Habits may seem trivial, but the are the most important part of a productivity systemTwo approaches to change: slow and steady vs. New Year's resolutionTriggers for activating habits vs. friction against habitsHow do we do it? morning routine, 7 Weeks (Android app), Jake uses Way of Life (iOS)No matter what else is going on, do the simple things; even though these seemingly minor habits are the first thing that fall by the wayside when we're really busyJake: "Habits dramatically reduce the amount of willpower and brainpower required to get things done. Once you have implemented a habit and can do it on autopilot, you conserve willpower and brainpower, helping you get more done."Willpower is a scarce resource; it degrades decision to decisionIdentifying resources beyond willpowerJake: "Habits are easiest to adopt when they are simple to understand, when you minimize any friction at the start of the action, when there are clear environmental triggers that tell your unconscious to start the habit, and when you have feedback (rewards) for completion."Show Notes:School Sucks PodcastWillpower by Roy BaumeisterThe Power of Habit by Charles DuhiggManage Your Day-to-Day by Jocelyn GleiJob Free by Jake DesyllasAl Switzler Ted Talk Listen to Episode 235

This week's episode comes from Joshua Sheats, host of the Radical Personal Finance podcast: "Most of us in the Radical Personal Finance community are pursuing our own financial independence. And most of us want to get there as quickly as possible. But, most of us only have one idea of one way to get there. Did you know there are a bunch of different ways to go job-free and gain financial freedom? I'm excited to bring you my interview with Jake Desyllas, author of "Job Free: Four Ways to Quit the Rat Race and Achieve Financial Freedom on Your Terms."" Show Notes: Job Free by Jake Desyllas Radical Personal Finance Podcast Listen to Episode 234

This episode is Part 2 of the discussion between Brett Veinotte and Jake Desyllas about using Horizons of Focus for productivity and purpose. In this episode, we conclude our discussion by talking about how to identify your vision for your future, and how to find purpose in life. Show Notes: Episode 232 The Next Level — Horizons of Focus Part 1School Sucks PodcastThe Voluntary Life Productivity EpisodesListen to Episode 233

Brett Veinotte from School Sucks podcast interviews Jake Desyllas about using Horizons of Focus for productivity and purpose. In this episode (part 1) we introduce the concept of horizons of focus and talk about the best ways to identify actions, projects, goals, and areas or responsibility. Show Notes School Sucks PodcastThe Voluntary Life Productivity EpisodesAutomated Mindmaps Using OmniFocusHorizons of FocusListen to Episode 232

I was recently interviewed by Ashe from the Liberty Entrepreneurs podcast about starting a business, selling a business, and financial independence.  We talked about my background, becoming an entrepreneur, selling a company, and life afterwards. In this episode, you can hear about the people and books that have influenced me, and some hacks and suggestions for anyone interested in starting a business. Show Notes: Liberty Entrepreneurs PodcastBecoming an Entrepreneur by Jake DesyllasHow I Found Freedom In An Unfree World by Harry BrowneThe Ultimate Guide to Journaling by Hannah BraimeAnything You Want by Derek SiversLosing My Virginity by Richard BransonGetting to Yes by Fisher and UryListen to Episode 231

My new book,  Job Free: Four Ways to Quit the Rat Race and Achieve Financial Freedom on Your Terms, is now available. I had an amazing experience getting feedback during the writing of this book. 165 people agreed to be beta readers during development. I received edited versions of the manuscript (with detailed comments) back from 85 people. That's a lot of feedback! This episode is about the process of crowdsourcing feedback, using the example of my experience writing Job Free. I describe the workflows, tools and benefits of crowdsourcing feedback. I also tell you all about my new book, and explain how it can help you achieve real freedom in your own life. Show Notes: Job Free by Jake DesyllasBecoming an Entrepreneur by Jake DesyllasPresentation on Four Ways to Quit the Rat Race99 DesignsThe Wisdom of Crowds by James Surowiecki Listen to Episode 230

In this episode, Tuur and Becca talk about life as perpetual travellers, living on bitcoin. They describe how they got interested in bitcoin and how it has become an integral part of their international lifestyle. They also explain how they cope with the roller-coaster volatility of living from bitcoin. Tuur was one of the first investment newsletter writers to recommend bitcoin.  He describes his own journey in the industry, and shares his thoughts about where bitcoin is headed. Show Notes: Previous TVL episodes about BitcoinThe Voluntary Life Community (Facebook Group)Tuur Demeester on TwitterAdamant Research Report "How To Position For The Next Rally In Bitcoin" Listen to Episode 229

This episode shares some fascinating ideas about how to understand culture, identity and civilization. The historian Steve Davies argues that rather than being at the end of a long story of "western civilization", we are at the beginning of something radically new, unplanned and totally alien to the historical cultures of both the "West" and everywhere else before circa 1800. I've summarised these ideas in the podcast, but I also recommend that you watch the thought-provoking lecture by Steve Davies. Show Notes: Stephen Davies on Western Civilisation The Rational Optimist by Matt Ridley Listen to Episode 228

This episode is a review of a fascinating book, The Better Angels Of Our Nature, by Steven Pinker. The following quote summarises the book's main argument: "Believe it or not—and I know that most people do not—violence has declined over long stretches of time, and today we may be living in the most peaceable era in our species’ existence. The decline, to be sure, has not been smooth; it has not brought violence down to zero; and it is not guaranteed to continue. But it is an unmistakable development, visible on scales from millennia to years, from the waging of wars to the spanking of children." Steven Pinker Show Notes: The Better Angels of Our Nature: Why Violence Has Declined by Steven Piner Listen To Episode 227

This episode is about three concepts that I've found helpful for managing money. These concepts are about the big-picture when it comes to money, rather than the details. I think they express the mindset for achieving financial independence. Here is a summary of the ideas discussed: Be Your Own CFO: managing your own money as you would manage the finance of a business.Be Investment-Oriented, Not Consumption-OrientedBe A Passive Investor. I've just set up a Facebook group for TVL listeners. Hope to see you at The Voluntary Life Community on Facebook! Show Notes: The Voluntary Life Community on Facebook How to Be the CFO of Your Own Life by Luke Landes How to Become CFO of Your Life by JD Roth E219 How To Do A Monthly Financial ReviewThe Millionaire Next Door by Thomas Stanley Previous Episodes on InvestingE155: Review of A Random Walk Down Wall Street by Burton MalkielPlease note: I'm not a financial advisor and your money is your responsibility.  Listen To Episode 226

This is a short episode to explain a key idea from economics. Comparative advantage is a simple idea, but its implications are mind-blowing when you really get it. It is a process that most people don't understand, but it is at the root of everything that we create. Comparative advantage is intimately linked to what it means to be human. Show Notes: Economist article on comparative advantageMatt Ridley on comparative advantageListen to Episode 225