A couple of weeks ago, I saw an article on the BBC news website about Ian Usher, who decided to make a clean break after splitting up with his wife, having emigrated to Australia 6 years ago from the UK. He did this by putting his entire life up for sale on ebay! Yes, everything – his house and all its contents, his car, motorcycle, Jet Ski and parachuting equipment. He even included aspects of his lifestyle such as an introduction to his friends and a two week trial run at his job in a rug store – so he really was selling it all.
He states his reason for doing this on his website (http://www.alife4sale.com/index.htm) and the main driver is to do with moving on from all reminders of the life that didn’t work out with his former wife. This is despite the fact that he enjoyed his lifestyle and job in Perth, and had great friends. Before the sale went through he wrote on his website:
“On the day it’s all sold and settled, I intend to walk out of my front door with my wallet in one pocket and my passport in the other, nothing else at all”
Now, we’ve all probably had days where we’ve felt like doing this – but how many of us would actually go ahead and do it? Mr Usher is clearly hoping that selling his life will be the major cathartic experience that enables him to move on psychologically and start to live his life again. I sincerely hope that it works out this way for him, but there is a fine line between healthy unloading of issues and running away from them - it will be interesting to see how he feels a few weeks / months into his new life.
Interestingly, Mr Usher is not hanging around – since selling his life he has launched a new website which focuses on his new life (http://www.100goals100weeks.com/index.php) where, as the address indicates, he has laid out 100 goals to achieve in 100 weeks. Now, this is a move that we could all probably learn something from - because by giving himself clear (mostly) achievable goals he has restructured his life in a way that will stretch him to seek new experiences and learn new skills. All of which is great provided that it’s anchored by an overall goal or vision of the kind of new life that he wants to lead.
Of course, Ian’s position is rare because he is unencumbered by the responsibilities of a steady job and a nuclear family, which makes it easier for him to do this than for most of us. But he’s earned that because of the huge risk he’s taken and I wish him luck over the next 100 weeks…..and I hope that Richard Branson is at home when Ian calls by to meet him!!
http://www.100goals100weeks.com/goals_List.php?page=1
