The City of Angels: How Los Angeles Teaches You to Follow Your Dreams & Keep them Alive - Part 2

Welcome back to my purpose and passion pursuing tour of Los Angeles where we discover how the City of Angels can encourage you to follow your dreams.

In Part 1 we looked at how pursuing your ambition is integral to creating a fulfilled life. We also discussed how letting go is an important part of creating space for the new life you want to manifest.

In Part 2, we focus on believing you can make money doing what you love and understanding the concept of 'this or something better'.

** Believing that you Can Make Money Doing what You Love **

There are a lot of people in LA who are doing jobs to pay the way until they're 'big break' comes along. They're the bartenders, receptionists, limo drivers and they're playing the waiting game. But at least they're still in the game.

A majority of people don't ever pursue their dreams or will give a new venture a half-hearted go and if they don't make money straight away they give up.

Or alternatively they've got a whole bunch of money beliefs getting in their way of achieving both prosperity and passion.

In my case I used to believe that you had to work hard in order to make money.

I made great money in my marketing career and whenever I dabbled in what I was truly passionate about I didn't make a cent! And it's no wonder based on that belief. So in my mind, that meant: what I knew = money, but what I loved doing = working for no financial reward.

Sure there was enjoyment in the action, but I'm going to be honest with you. I'm someone who likes nice things, I like to travel, go to great restaurants, have financial freedom, drive a cute car - basically I want it all.

The cracker was that when I first started my career I was trying to make money and not meaning. Then when I tried to do meaningful work, there was no money. So the *evidence* and I'm big on evidence, indicated that I couldn't have it all.

Then I realized that my thinking and belief system were all screwed up. I had given up too easily and assumed money and meaning couldn't go hand in hand.

And then I turned to a little something I call the 'power of one'. Finding just one person to prove to me, in other words provide 'evidence', that a passionate and prosperous life was possible.

In reality when I was honest with myself those individuals aren't that hard to find, you just need turn on the TV, read a newspaper or talk to a few people. There are people everywhere that do what they love and live an abundant life.

Sure I could have been one of these people who said, "Oh that's alright for them...they had" insert whatever excuse I can muster up, "but I..."

Then I realized there was no, "But I". I had 0 excuses. All I had done was give up. So I jumped back on the dream boat and instead of paddling up stream, I went with the flow and everything fell into place. Just an aside, you can definitely make a living doing what you love. But your dreams don't necessarily have to be related to your career. You may be more than happy to continue on with your regular job and your passion becomes your hobby and that's great too.

OK onto L.A. lesson # 4.

** This or Something Better **

Talk to any L.A. dreamer and you will be sure to hear that rejection played a big part in their pursuit of passion.

There are endless auditions, idea pitches, castings, discussions and deals on the boil. And you'll hear a lot of the time things don't always work out the way people would like them to.

But even then the Los Angelinos say it's OK, because it's simply a case of 'this or something better'.

When I was 24 I was in a job that made me extremely unhappy. I remember going for an interview and I was desperate to get it because I wanted out of that place.

A few days after the interview I found out I didn't get the job and I was shattered. It wasn't so much about the job, it had more to do with the fact that I was counting on that role as my escape route.

At that stage I hadn't cottoned on to the 'this or something better' concept.

Fortunately, a week later I went on another interview and ended up getting a job that was so much better and offered double the salary.

Like the L.A. locals I now know 100% that if the situation doesn't work out the way I want, it's because there's something much better around the corner.

And in that realization I also understood the benefit of not being attached to the outcome, let me tell you, when you think like this it takes a load off.

Sure you may still feel a little disappointed but you know that everything is going to work out and there is something really freeing about that.

Now, let's add another aspect - timing.

As I mentioned previously, I can be a little impatient, I want it and I want it now! But things don't always happen in our time.

Five years ago I wrote a book and sent it to agents to see if they were willing to represent me. I had a few agents interested which was exciting. It was a case of, "They like me, they really, really like me".

Well in the end they didn't like me that much because nothing become of it.

Around the same time, I also tried a few other ventures to do with writing and speaking and they never quite got off the ground.

But I look back and I'm thankful they didn't and here's why. I had to grow up and grow in to my purpose and in the end that took a few extra years.

So everything turned out as it should have.

So forget the smog and traffic of L.A. and celebrate the lessons the City of Angels can offer.

They sure know how to have and hold onto a dream and make it a reality,

They get that sometimes it may seem like you have to let go of a lot and make big sacrifices to pursue a passion. But in reality when they get to the other side and look back they weren't really missing out on much at all and what they gained was more than they could have ever imagined.

Many who have achieved their dreams feel blessed to be so well rewarded for their work, they're proof that when you do what you love the money will come.

And they go with the flow, knowing if a situation doesn't turn out, it simply means there's now plenty of space for something better to come your way and the timing is perfect.

May your life be filled in L.A. style inspiration!