If your life is out of alignment with what’s truly important to you, it’s always going to feel icky.
Check in with yourself.
==> Are YOU feeling angst about an endless list of “to dos”?
==> Do you own a bunch of “stuff”, much of which does nothing for your soul?
==> Ever feel like you’re caught in a status quo race to a finish line your heart really isn’t in?
If you see yourself in any of this, it can be hard to let yourself see it. It can be scary to admit. But, trite as it may sound, only the truth can set you free.
It’s time to be really honest with yourself.
No, you’re not alone … though there’s no real comfort in that. Knowing that others also feel “icky”, does not help you one bit.
*** Let’s do far better than that. ****
Because until this changes, you’re never going to experience the true freedom that life has to offer. And it’s never too late to start.
Take this a little quiz:
Which of the following best describes YOUR personal philosophy?
1. Resourcefulness and efficiency rule. 2. Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. 3. Bigger is always better. 4. Luxury at all costs.
In our comprehensive Nomadic Living 101 Program, we include this question in our Module 5 assessment. It’s just one of the tools we use to help our members get clear on which of the following is their number one priority: Affordability, Versatility, Simplicity or Luxury.
Module 5 is titled ‘Wheel Estate: Selecting the RV that’s Right for You’ … and choosing an RV isn’t unlike other life decisions. Like everything, selecting an RV can be done in a way that’s aligned with your priorities, or it can be done in a way that’s misaligned with your priorities.
Unlike an RV dealership, we are not here to sell you an RV.
Our sole intention is to help you hit the road, and to do so in the most aligned, sustainable, fun way – for YOU.
It’s all about learning what you need to learn, and finding what’s right for you.
This is a journey that applies both on and off the road. We help you figure this out. It all starts with clarifying your true priorities.
Once you’re crystal clear on your priorities, make aligned decisions, and take aligned action to support those decision … life rapidly gets better.
Simple? Yes.
Easy? Not necessarily.
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. It’s all about getting to the bottom of what’s best for you, what’s true for you, what’s unique to you, and setting yourself up with the support that is going to best help you create this, ASAP.
It’s about doing life your way, owning what’s truly important to you, and putting the wheels in motion (get it? 🙂 ) to create and live a life you love so much you’ll never need a vacation.
So, how does YOUR life reflect your personal philosophy?
Which areas of your life do you recognize are out of alignment with your personal philosophy? What changes do you see need to be made to live your truth, your way, every minute of every day?
Well … this 43-year-old “girl”, professional speaker, digital nomad pioneer, and business owner of 14+ years who presented 5x in 5 days to audiences of 200+ per day … was amused that he would use his stage in this way.
Unprofessional at best.
While I’m not sure who said them, two quotes came to mind for me in that moment:
1.) “You never look good trying to make someone else look bad.”
and,
2.) “There’s no such thing as bad publicity.”
Unlike most other RV trainers and speakers who focus only on the mechanics of things and don’t address the real, practical issues related to RV life, I speak and coach and teach on all the thing … from finances, meals, health, relationships, safety, and so much more.
After I delivered my speech at the Supershow each day, my partner Carl joined me on stage for the Q & A portion and together we answered all kinds of questions:
>> How do you get your mail? >> How long do you generally stay in one place, and why? >> What advice do you have about downsizing? >> Why did you choose the RV you did? … etc…
Another notable difference is that most RV trainers in the industry are gray-haired white men, as was the man who chose to speak about me from his stage.
Thankfully, he of course does not represent all seasoned RV professionals.
Imagine my delight after receiving this today from Dave, the Florida RV Supershow Director who took the risk to have Carl and I as new presenters:
“Tara and Carl bring so much experience and knowledge to living on the road and that really comes across in their seminar. This was the first year we included Nomadic Living as a topic at the Florida RV Supershow in Tampa, and based on the size of the crowds alone, it was a hit!
Raving evaluation forms show the audience really liked the topic, the information, and the way it was presented. Tara and Carl bring their first-hand knowledge to a lifestyle that many people are interested in as possessions are being scaled back in exchange for life experiences. I recommend including this seminar in your lineup and I look forward to having Tara and Carl return as Supershow presenters in the future.”
~ Dave Kelly, FRVTA Marketing Director
We are excited and determined to be actively changing the narrative and helping woman and couples of all ages to experience the freedom of Nomadic Living.
And, oh, we are just getting started….
TALK TO ME:
==> Are YOU a woman in a male-dominated industry?
==> How do you respond when someone uses their “stage” or their “office” or their platform to try to belittle you or make you look bad or incompetent?
==> Are you amused? Are you angry? Perhaps a bit of both?
After much thought, preparation, practice and planning, I stood on stage as the only female speaker at the 2019 Florida RV Supershow a few weeks ago, presenting on the topic of Nomadic Living.
Making my way into a male dominated industry has definitely been interesting and, for the most part, it’s honestly been delightful. As a whole, my experience of RV culture has been that it’s full of kind, generous, friendly people.
That said … I had one rather unsavory experience that, I think, is important to share.
On this particular morning, after having presented my Nomadic Living seminar (I had the 10am spot, for 5 consecutive days) I walked into the seminar room, both to hear one of the other seminar speakers present, and to collect any of my remaining flyers while I was there.
As I walked in, the man at the front of the room was talking about ME.
During his introduction, he remarked, “The girl who leads the morning seminar didn’t clean up after herself. There are flyers on your seat that are of no use to you.” <<< word for word.
I was stunned, and a bit irked. But, more than anything, I was amused.
While there were flyers for all kinds of things in the room (mechanical resources, RV tour companies, and the like) he made a point to mention mine – and me.
Well … this 43-year-old “girl”, professional speaker, digital nomad pioneer, and business owner of 14+ years who presented 5x in 5 days to audiences of 200+ per day … was amused that he would use his stage in this way.
Unprofessional at best.
While I’m not sure who said them, two quotes came to mind for me in that moment:
1.) “You never look good trying to make someone else look bad.”
and,
2.) “There’s no such thing as bad publicity.”
Unlike most other RV trainers and speakers who focus only on the mechanics of things and don’t address the real, practical issues related to RV life, I speak and coach and teach on all the thing … from finances, meals, health, relationships, safety, and so much more.
After I delivered my speech at the Supershow each day, my partner Carl joined me on stage for the Q & A portion and together we answered all kinds of questions:
>> How do you get your mail? >> How long do you generally stay in one place, and why? >> What advice do you have about downsizing? >> Why did you choose the RV you did? … etc…
Another notable difference is that most RV trainers in the industry are gray-haired white men, as was the man who chose to speak about me from his stage.
Thankfully, he of course does not represent all seasoned RV professionals.
Imagine my delight after receiving this today from Dave, the Florida RV Supershow Director who took the risk to have Carl and I as new presenters:
“Tara and Carl bring so much experience and knowledge to living on the road and that really comes across in their seminar. This was the first year we included Nomadic Living as a topic at the Florida RV Supershow in Tampa, and based on the size of the crowds alone, it was a hit!
Raving evaluation forms show the audience really liked the topic, the information, and the way it was presented. Tara and Carl bring their first-hand knowledge to a lifestyle that many people are interested in as possessions are being scaled back in exchange for life experiences. I recommend including this seminar in your lineup and I look forward to having Tara and Carl return as Supershow presenters in the future.”
~ Dave Kelly, FRVTA Marketing Director
We are excited and determined to be actively changing the narrative and helping woman and couples of all ages to experience the freedom of Nomadic Living.
And, oh, we are just getting started….
TALK TO ME:
==> Are YOU a woman in a male-dominated industry?
==> How do you respond when someone uses their “stage” or their “office” or their platform to try to belittle you or make you look bad or incompetent?
==> Are you amused? Are you angry? Perhaps a bit of both?
After much thought, preparation, practice and planning, I stood on stage as the only female speaker at the 2019 Florida RV Supershow a few weeks ago, presenting on the topic of Nomadic Living.
Making my way into a male dominated industry has definitely been interesting and, for the most part, it’s honestly been delightful. As a whole, my experience of RV culture has been that it’s full of kind, generous, friendly people.
That said … I had one rather unsavory experience that, I think, is important to share.
On this particular morning, after having presented my Nomadic Living seminar (I had the 10am spot, for 5 consecutive days) I walked into the seminar room, both to hear one of the other seminar speakers present, and to collect any of my remaining flyers while I was there.
As I walked in, the man at the front of the room was talking about ME.
During his introduction, he remarked, “The girl who leads the morning seminar didn’t clean up after herself. There are flyers on your seat that are of no use to you.” <<< word for word.
I was stunned, and a bit irked. But, more than anything, I was amused.
While there were flyers for all kinds of things in the room (mechanical resources, RV tour companies, and the like) he made a point to mention mine – and me.
Well … this 43-year-old “girl”, professional speaker, digital nomad pioneer, and business owner of 14+ years who presented 5x in 5 days to audiences of 200+ per day … was amused that he would use his stage in this way.
Unprofessional at best.
While I’m not sure who said them, two quotes came to mind for me in that moment:
1.) “You never look good trying to make someone else look bad.”
and,
2.) “There’s no such thing as bad publicity.”
Unlike most other RV trainers and speakers who focus only on the mechanics of things and don’t address the real, practical issues related to RV life, I speak and coach and teach on all the thing … from finances, meals, health, relationships, safety, and so much more.
After I delivered my speech at the Supershow each day, my partner Carl joined me on stage for the Q & A portion and together we answered all kinds of questions:
>> How do you get your mail? >> How long do you generally stay in one place, and why? >> What advice do you have about downsizing? >> Why did you choose the RV you did? … etc…
Another notable difference is that most RV trainers in the industry are gray-haired white men, as was the man who chose to speak about me from his stage.
Thankfully, he of course does not represent all seasoned RV professionals.
Imagine my delight after receiving this today from Dave, the Florida RV Supershow Director who took the risk to have Carl and I as new presenters:
“Tara and Carl bring so much experience and knowledge to living on the road and that really comes across in their seminar. This was the first year we included Nomadic Living as a topic at the Florida RV Supershow in Tampa, and based on the size of the crowds alone, it was a hit!
Raving evaluation forms show the audience really liked the topic, the information, and the way it was presented. Tara and Carl bring their first-hand knowledge to a lifestyle that many people are interested in as possessions are being scaled back in exchange for life experiences. I recommend including this seminar in your lineup and I look forward to having Tara and Carl return as Supershow presenters in the future.”
~ Dave Kelly, FRVTA Marketing Director
We are excited and determined to be actively changing the narrative and helping woman and couples of all ages to experience the freedom of Nomadic Living.
And, oh, we are just getting started….
TALK TO ME:
==> Are YOU a woman in a male-dominated industry?
==> How do you respond when someone uses their “stage” or their “office” or their platform to try to belittle you or make you look bad or incompetent?
==> Are you amused? Are you angry? Perhaps a bit of both?
Whenever you want it to! Sign up and within one business day you’ll get your Members Only log-in info to access the program right away. Move through the modules at your own pace.
Won’t an RV dealership answer my questions?
You can certainly ask, but keep in mind that nomadic living is not their expertise. We believe that only people who are actively doing it should be advising others on how to do it. In fact, we now partner with select RV dealerships to provide their customers access to Nomadic Living 101. So if you ask, perhaps they’ll offer to sell you our course!
What makes you guys different?
Unlike RV dealerships, who are obviously there to sell you RVs … and unlike nomad lifestyle YouTubers who typically earn affiliate marketing commission on the products they promote through their channel (things that may or may not be right for your specific needs) … our ONLY singular agenda and mission is to help you get on the road. Our one-track focus is to provide you with the knowledge, guidance, and tools to live it and do it in a way that fits your unique style, preferences, needs, hopes and dreams. In the words of Frank Sinatra, to do it yooooour waaaaaaay.
What makes your course different?
Most other RV trainings or speakers or guidebooks focus only on the mechanics of things but they don’t address the real, practical issues. We do. In addition to mechanics, our course covers all aspects related to the small everyday decisions that add up – like managing finances, meals, health, relationships, safety and so much more.
Another notable difference is that most RV trainers in the industry are gray-haired white men. We’re changing the narrative, helping woman and couples of all ages to experience the freedom of nomadic living.
What could be better than a vacation?
When everyday life is so life affirming, gratifying, and joy-filled that you don’t need a vacation. With this freedom-based lifestyle, there will be no need for escape. At the minimum, if you do take a “vacation”, there won’t be an ounce of dread or remorse when it’s time to return to your everyday life.
What if I still have questions after I’ve gone through all the modules?
If after going through the program you still have related questions that we have NOT answered, reach out and we’ll personally ensure you get your answers. Our commitment is not only to answer all the questions we know you have (because we had them too) … we also answer all the questions you don’t know to ask (because, well, it’s sure hard to find answers to questions that you don’t know you don’t know, right?)
Click HERE to learn more about all the course details and explore the possibilities for YOU.
“Are you going to die on the side of the road in an RV?”
I had a very unusual (read: odd) experience while leading a Nomadic Living seminar at the Florida RV Supershow in Tampa. During the Q&A portion of the seminar, a young woman in the audience raised her hand and asked me a rather interesting question.
Her question was about “exit strategy” and our retirement plan. For context, understand, that the speech I had given prior to opening up the stage for questions, had been filled with stories and sentiments about how much Carl and I love the nomadic lifestyle and see no end in sight to this way of living.
The exchange with her began with her asking: “What’s your exit strategy? Like, what about retirement? What’s your retirement plan?”
We were asked many questions during the Q&A, to include:
==> How do you get your mail?
==> How long do you generally stay in one place, and why?
So again, what she asked was: “What’s your exit strategy? What about retirement? What is your retirement plan?”
Something in her tone made it immediately clear to me that her question had deeper implications than what was presented at the surface … but, so as not to be presumptuous, I began by approaching her question literally.
I replied:
“Good question. I shared earlier that Carl is a remote-working corporate employee. He has a 401k through his company. Since 2004, I’ve been an entrepreneur with my own company. I rolled an old 401k I had from the job I had prior to starting my business, into an IRA, and I contribute to it every year. Does that answer your question?”
She replied: “No, I mean, when you retire, are you going to buy a house and settle down? What’s your plan for that? I assume you’ll be buying a house and settling down at some point, right?”
This made me smile inside, especially given how many aspiring retirees were there in the seminar, eager to sell their house and enjoy the freedom of the “golden years” traveling full-time in an RV as soon as they could make it happen.
“Ah,” I said. “Got it. What Carl and I are doing breaks the mold on what’s expected or traditional, and I fully understand that it can be confusing for others to imagine a lifestyle that goes against what’s typical or considered normal. I so appreciate your question and I hear where you’re coming from.”
I continued, “I have owned property in the past, and I have since sold it. As I shared earlier in my speech, Carl and I absolutely love this lifestyle and we see no end in sight to nomadic living. So we don’t currently have any plans to buy property or to live in one place anytime soon.”
Now, prior to the Q & A, I shared in my speech the story of how Carl and I had gone about making the decision to let go of our apartment to embark on a “nomadic living experiment”. In the story, I had explained that this left us just 60 days to downsize, get ourselves into an RV, and on the road.
Still responding to her question, I went on to say… “Now, if Carl and I were to decide that we want to return to a house or apartment living, I have no doubt that we could reverse engineer what we’ve done. I’d bet we could even do it in as little as 60 days again. We could sell the RV and find a house or apartment pretty quickly. Does that answer your question?”
It didn’t.
Here’s what she asked next: “Are you going to die on the side of a road in an RV?”
Direct quote. That was her question.
Given that those in the audience didn’t have a microphone, I’d been asked to please repeat each question before I started answering. It was a big room, 200+ people, and I had the mic.
I repeated the question:
“Am I going to die on the side of the road in an RV?”, I said with a smile.
This got a lot of nervous laughter. I paused for a moment to ground myself before I spoke, and then I proceeded:
“Ok. So, I’m really not picking on you. I am fully aware that my lifestyle makes some people feel uncomfortable. It is entirely possible that I will travel and explore for as long as I live and that I may never again live in a house. I don’t know this for sure, and I don’t need to know this now because if something changes, I can always shift things then to adjust. Make sense?”
Seeming somewhat relieved, her reply – I kid you not – was: “Ok, so you WILL settle down at some point and buy a house.”
Slowly … and with a big smile, I said: “Is that what you heard me say?”
The room filled with laughter.
I reiterated to her that, “As radical and confusing as it may seem, I have discovered for myself that living in one place is not something I need in order to feel grounded and at peace with my life. In fact, I am more “settled” NOW than I have ever been, because I am living the truth of what my heart desires.” This got cheers, and “woot-woot’s” and clapping.
I thanked her for her question and moved on to the next question.
The big lesson here has nothing to do with Nomadic Living and everything to do with human nature and how we tend to respond to things that make us uncomfortable. Sometimes people don’t actually want to hear the answer to a question – even if they are the one asking the question.
Sometimes we’re just not able to hear and receive the answer, because our own resistance and fear blocks us from hearing it. We’ve all been guilty of only wanting answers that stay within our comfort zone, answers that keep us feeling safe and help us maintain our current understanding of the world.
I truly applaud her for asking, and for being willing to be seen and witnessed in a state of genuine scratching-her-head I-just-don’t-get-it confusion.
It’s a vulnerable place to be.
By asking, she bravely positioned herself for a breakthrough, a potential shift in perception. In this way, confusion is good news. Confusion sets the stage for new levels of understanding. I suspect, and I hope, that this was the case for her.
I believe everyone laughed because on some level they could relate to feeling that awkward confusion, and mind-scramble. It was honest. Her confusion was genuine, an extraordinary example of something we’re ALL capable of: a deep-seated resistance to changing our thinking.
Thoughts are things. Ultimately, taking responsibility for your life means taking responsibility for your thoughts. And expanding your thinking, will expand your understanding about other people, about the world, and about what’s possible for you.
If you want to change something about your life, change your thoughts. It sounds cliché, I know. But the Truth with a capital “T” is thatif you continue to hold onto old limiting beliefs, and hold firm to your comfort zone, then that will be the truth that you live from and create from.
And truly … the magic happens when you allow yourself to expand into new possibilities and ideas, and when you take aligned action to support this.
Curious? Want to be keyed in to what we’ve learned through our Nomadic Living experience? Claim a copy of my book 10 Things RV Dealerships Don’t Tell You About Nomadic Living. You can download 3 chapters for FREE, or, if you’d like the full book it’s $4.95.
Also, be sure to poke around my website for more ‘Tips from Tara’ and other resources to help YOU create a life and business you don’t need a vacation from.
“A little more than a year ago, Tara Sage and her partner, Carl Oliver, made a fateful decision when they downsized their belongings, ended their lease, bought a travel trailer and hit the road to become full-time RV nomads.
Today, Sage and Oliver are showing others how it’s done through their Nomadic Living 101 video instruction series – while offering RV dealers the opportunity to tap into a revenue source in the process.”
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