I’m new to Steemit. I’m eager to learn.

But I wasn’t always so eager. I wasn't always all there, to be honest.

I used to be a disaster despite a comfortable 1st world upbringing. Let me explain … but first the thumbnail pic ...

When I was a kid, I had a Plan A. The plan was to join a band, become successful, and live an orgasmically good, sexy life happily ever after.

Then, at the age of 22, I realised I hadn’t struck worldwide success and fame. In fact, I was still a virgin.

So, I gave up on that "rock star" idea.

I didn’t have a Plan B

So I found myself freelancing for magazines, newspapers, marketing companies, design agencies in London.

At least I wasn’t working at the same place all the time, I’d tell myself. And, I was working on a computer most of the time so at least I didn’t have to communicate with my work colleagues, I’d tell myself.

I was in a bad place and it was about to get worse

The work was boring. And, I looked at people in their 30s, 40s, 50s, and 60s, who had those “better” jobs. They were over-weight, bitter, bullying and, bad-tempered. They didn’t look happy. I didn’t want to end up like them.

Office work seemed to me much like a prison. In fact ...

And the people of my own age in these offices seemed better than me at everything. Better at doing the job. Better at getting on with people at work. Better at relationships outside work.

Or maybe everyone else is just better at hiding the despair I'm feeling?

It was as if I was sleep-walking. The months and years rolled past. I was unable to distinguish one job from another. Unable to distinguish one year from another.

I crammed onto underground trains at Finsbury Park every morning and along with millions of other people going to work in central London.

I didn’t have any ambition or aspiration other than to make my life as comfortable as possible and to have a good time.

This involved getting drunk with my friends, smoking marijuana, watching TV, and hitting on girls.

I was successful at getting drunk, smoking marijuana, and watching TV. However I was never successful with women.

When I got home from work in the evening, I’d roll a large one and turn on the TV. Weed, beer, and soap operas were my constant companions.

During the weekends, I’d drink more, smoke more, take more drugs (ecstasy and cocaine), and try to meet women.

Lack of motivation, cigarette smoking, over indulgence in alcohol and drugs, bad diet, lack of exercise, and, above all, negative thinking, all took their toll.

I continued like this. For. Ten. Years.

The breakthrough

Something I did one day, when I was browsing the Internet hoping no one would see what I was typing, changed everything.

One day, I entered some words into a search engine that would change my life.

The words I typed in were: how to get laid.

I ended up on a site about picking up girls. Arriving this website changed my life (but not in the way you think).

There were two thoughts that flashed through my mind:

This website must be making a shit ton of money
And, I wonder if this works?

The seduction website made several references to neuro-linguistic programming (NLP). So NLP became my next port of call.

I never bought any pick-up products. But it piqued my interest and set me on a path of learning, reading, researching, and discovering that eventually led me to a better place.

I went from NLP to psychology, to Buddhism, Taoism, meditation, affirmations, positive thinking.

My diet and exercise regime improved, I started drinking less alcohol, I stopped smoking cigarettes, I almost completely stopped taking drugs. For the first time in decades I was clear of the continual dope haze.

It took a long time (and I'll tell you more in Part #2), but I was eventually able to set up my own business, make enough money to stop working, and travel the world.

It's as good as being a rock star. Better, in fact, as rock stars only have fun for a few good years in their 20s. I get to have fun in my 30s, now in my 40s, my 50s, my 60s, my 70s, etc., as long as I'm blessed with good health.

Now I'm living in Chiang Mai, Thailand. The photo above is of me in Phuket last year. I'm probably going to go there again in August.

Now I'm enjoying contributing to Steemit. I love disruptive, decentralized, new technologies. And I love the vibe here.

I will contribute more about creating and growing online businesses, travel, and happiness.

Please join me. Why don't you follow me? It's going be fun.

You can do it

Do you know what would really make me happy? If somebody is helped or inspired by my story and resolves to do it themselves.

I love to help people build online business, earn passive income, and increase the love, health and happiness in their lives.

You can do it. If I can, believe me, anyone can.

Shout outs to my friend @livenowandwow who's joining me on this Steemit journey. And @ck-cake and @fredrikaa who inspire me here (there are many others).

Keep Calm and Steem On!

Peace!

rielx