As part of the inspiring force to help you ‘take the leap of faith’, we will be conducting mini interviews featuring global entrepreneurs who have designed the life of their dreams. Because we are all busy traveling, working, and having loads of fun, it is a short list of questions that will hopefully give you a quick glimpse of others “Living the Life”.
Our third mini-view comes from lifestyle designer Greg Rollett, who is running several cool projects at a time: Rock Star Lifestyle Design, Rock For Hunger , and Gen-Y Rock Stars. Greg lives in Orlando, Florida and helps to inspire a variety of people to find a mission they are passionate about and share it with others. He challenges you to “begin doing something that you not only love, but that makes a difference in the world.”
How did you know you didn’t fit in to conventional society?
I actually started my first business my senior year of high school and they let me out of school 2 hours early to do it. That first business, a record label, was really the first step towards doing something different. After high school I wanted to go to a music engineering trade school, but didn’t have the money. After 2 semesters of watching my friends in school I decided to give it a kick.
From there I got into Internet Marketing, SEO and all that good stuff that none of my friends or family understood a word of. I knew from there that I had found something fun and exciting that I could immerse myself in. Now a few years later I found my way into the Internet Business to let me work on Social Change stuff. I guess its a fun time to be someone like this!
What do you currently do & please describe a brief roadmap of the haphazard leaps of faith that got you here today…
I currently have way too much on my plate, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. My main sources of income come from social media consulting and 2 membership websites, one for young professionals and one for indie musicians. These sites allow me to do some of the things that I enjoy most in life which is teaching and helping others live the rock star lifestyle! It has also allowed me to be a part of an amazing group called Rock For Hunger, where I work the Homeless Lifestyle Design Program to help local homeless find a mindset and get back on their feet.
My roadmap keeps getting new stops, detours and fun rest stops along the way. Being married with a mortgage meant that I had to keep my day job until a replacement income came in. That part was tough to juggle, between long nights, no personal/family time and really just a burnout, I needed to start working smarter. I started turning down consulting gigs that were no longer fun and disassociated myself with some people that didn’t share my same vision.
Business plans were changed, business models were changed and ultimately I needed to create something that could run while I was out saving the world! I still don’t have everything figured out and I still have many business goals and ideas to continue my own rock star path.
Your most life changing travel place & why?
I am definitely not as cool as you and Cody and some of the LIP’s that I read about everyday. I mostly stay here in Orlando, helping my local community grow. When I do get out I love adventure sports and am planning a trip to Costa Rica for a week of volunteering and a week of surf camp.
The biggest life changing travel I have done would have to be my honeymoon trip to St. Lucia. Being on an island, seeing the cultures and having a chance to do things with no technology was just mind blowing. I honestly couldn’t see myself not checking my iPhone every 10 minutes, but the feeling of not having to rely on these devices and actually have personal conversations is a heartwarming feeling.
Encouraging words you would pass on to readers: If you could have had someone there when you took the leap of faith, what would you have needed to hear the most?
Through reading sites, books and talking to people over the last year or 2, I really changed my outlook and my life. When I was playing in a band I was always waiting for the weekend, for the next show. When I had a 9-5 it was the same way. That is not really living life. I work really hard, sometimes 60-70 hours a week, but they are for things that I care about, that I am using to make a difference and wouldn’t trade for the world.
Some other advice is that the lifestyle change wasn’t just mental. For me it took changing eating habits, getting back into fitness and working on my business that really aligned everything in the right direction. Most things can be taken in steps, as long as there is action and a desire to see the results of those actions.
Contact Greg!
Rock Star Lifestyle Design – http://www.rockstarlifestyledesign.com
Gen-Y Rock Stars – http://www.genyrockstars.com
Rock For Hunger – http://www.rockforhunger.org
& Keep on Rockin’ Your Lifestyle!!
