Be a free range human: escape the 9-5, create a life you love and still pay the bills

Acknowledgements

Prologue

Introduction

From beach to boardroom

What I do now (work or pleasure?)

Jobs are so last century (welcome to free ranging)

What this book is not

Who am I to write this book?

How to read this book

Part 1. Get Ready For the Ride

Get set up to get the most from this journey.

1. What your school career adviser never told you

The 'safe job' myth

Myth buster

Free range third way

2. Why this matters now

What would you do if you had only one life?

Notes for Part 1

Part 2. Creating Your Free Range Life (How to Decide What You Really Want)

Dream big, discover your strengths and find out what to do when you want to do everything. Figure out what you really want.

3. Why doing what you love is not negotiable

The two-step strategy

4. Dream big - then get off your butt and do it

How to quit your job, write a book and get on TV (while baking cakes)

Dare to dream

5. Defrosting - your secret weapon in figuring out what you want

Is your GPS out of whack?

6. How to create your perfect 'career' when you want to do everything

The 'one thing' myth

Myth buster

7. Spot your superpowers

Average is no longer an option

Weaknesses are just strengths in the wrong environment

How to use your strengths to find your thing

Free Range Profile Benny's Story: Travel the world, learn languages, and make a living from your blog

8. Taking free range action

The 'endless research' myth

Myth buster

Free range third way

Notes for Part 2

Part 3. Think Like a Free Range Human

You don't need oodles of experience, a wildly original idea or even funding. How to start for under £100 (and find out if your idea will work within two weeks). Decide on your new free range career.

Free Range Profile Peter's Story: From T-shirts to US$100k without an office

9. Why you don't need an original idea

The 'originality' myth

Myth buster

Free range third way

10. Why you don't need oodles of experience (what you have to offer other than your CV)

The 'oodles of experience' myth

Myth buster

Free range third way

11. What a free range business looks like (or: what can I do other than start a cafe?)

Four free range business types (plus one extra option)

12. How to free range-ify your idea

13. How to start for under £100

14. How to know if your idea will work (test your idea in seven days)

How to know if your idea can pay enough

How to know if people will really pay for what you have to offer

Free Range Profile Susan's Story: From idea to income in 10 weeks

Notes for Part 3

Interlude Free Range Reality Check

A rush of inspiration and free range thinking (how to overcome those 'reasons why not' and make anything happen).

15. Meet the people who don't want you to escape the career cage (or: the beige army unmasked)

16. What to do with those reasons why not

The 'not for the likes of me' myth

Myth buster

Free range third way

Free Range Profile Jon's Story: How to quit your job, move to paradise and get paid to change the world

Notes for Interlude

Part 4. Build Your Free Range Escape Hatch

Get started, get known fast, and start earning that free range income (even while still in your job!). An unconventional guide on how to build things up, stand out from the crowd, and then escape the career-cage trap in your 10 steps to freedom. Discover how to earn the income, get the lifestyle and break free (on your terms).

17. Making a living without an office (or a boss)

18. Why you don't need a business plan (or an MBA)

The 'research' myth

Myth buster

Free range third way

19. Why you don't need to appeal to everyone

Big lives come from bold steps

20. How to decide who gets to give you money

From burnout to brilliant: a real life turnaround

How to choose your niche

21. How to brand like a rock star

The power of branding as you

Your brand is more than a name

22. How to stand out from the crowd

How to stand out (by being more you)

Free Range Profile Connie Hozvicka: I earned more in one month than I did in three months in my job

23. How to do the Free Range Faststart

Meet the Free Range Faststart

Choosing your Faststart partners

24. How to get clients without paying for advertising

Old versus new marketing

Seven steps to a hot email relationship

25. Instant status

Status hacking 101

Three pillars of instant status

26. How to communicate in an unsucky way

27. Why you don't have to be an all-rounder (you don't have to do it all alone)

28. How to sell without selling your soul

The four e's of selling without selling your soul

29. Get comfortable with setting your salary

30. What to do when you get stuck (when to give up and when to give in)

31. How to live and work anywhere

Focus on the advantages

Travel checklist

32. How to quit your job: 10 steps to freedom

Notes for Part 4

Epilogue

Index