After writing the book, I sat down and took a crack at outlining what going Against the Grain and finding Freedom required of me.
I wanted to retrace some of the steps I took and reflect on the path I've carved out for myself. And I realized there was one question I always asked myself when I had to make any significant change or hard choice.
The question that requires me to stay true to myself every time…
"Will this give me more autonomy or less?"
It's a question only I can answer.
So through the years, with all the tough decisions and the unexpected changes, I developed five guiding principles to help me navigate uncertainty and stay on the path called Against the Grain. And if you're considering making significant life changes to create more autonomy, I thought hearing what worked for me would help.
Guiding Principle #1: Listen to Your Authentic Self
Think back throughout your life. What experiences gave you goosebumps? Look for threads that tied those experiences together.
For me, the first moment I remember was when my teammates elected me as co-captain of my high school football team. Knowing they believed in my ability to lead the team had me at a total loss for words. Being promoted to Plant manager had the same effect. But being handed the keys to my very own World Gym gave me the largest goosebumps I ever experienced.
My purpose has always focused on helping others improve their lives.
And as I say in the book, "The minute you speak words about doing something outside Society's norms, and listen to that little voice in your heart that gives you goosebumps, the naysayers will come out of the woodwork."
I believe those goosebumps are a message from your authentic self telling you to pay close attention! So embrace what gives you goosebumps. Use them to help discover your calling.
Guiding Principle #2: Develop the Discipline to Put Work Before Pleasure
Take an honest look at your life thus far. Have you embraced hard work in your life?
When my father pulled the sheets off my bed every Sunday morning in the fall, I knew I wouldn't be hanging out with my girlfriend or watching the NFL football game. Instead, I’d be lifting heavy logs and getting stronger. And that actually helped me be an even better football player. So I got up every weekend and embraced the work.
Putting work before pleasure became my superpower. It was this discipline that allowed me to find Freedom. It's important to ask yourself if you’ re ready to sacrifice short-term pleasure for your long-term happiness.
Your answer will help you make those tough decisions and usually goes hand in hand with Guiding Principle #3.
Guiding Principle #3: Make Friends with Fear
I believe with all my soul that a racing heart and a stomach full of butterflies is a higher power showing me the path to personal growth.
If you have NO fear in your life, you've probably stopped growing.
I remember the moment when I renamed fear to excitement. I had just handed in my notice as Plant manager without having any consulting clients set up. I didn't know how things would work out, but I knew deep down that I would do whatever it took.
It was a monumental mindset shift for me.
I learned that initiating that kind of growth begins with changing the way I live day-to-day.
Guiding Principle #4: Learn to Live Beneath Your Means
When I left my corporate job and started a small consulting company, I became intimate with my monthly financial budget. As a family, we had to figure out exactly what our monthly expenses were, and sometimes decide what we could live without.
When I bought a failing World Gym, I had to understand the monthly revenues and expenses for the business clearly. And cut back even further on our living expenses to ensure the company would survive.
The amount you're willing to scale back and sacrifice financially in the short-term will reveal how committed you are to finding autonomy in the long-term.
Ultimately, learning to live beneath your means will help you overcome the most significant obstacles along the way. This leads us to my last guiding principle.
Guiding Principle #5: Persevere in the Face of Obstacles
** Spoiler Alert: There's no such thing as "instant success." **
There's a common joke called, "the 10-year overnight success" in the entrepreneurial world.
It'll often take someone ten years of slogging away, building their business, and even being on the brink of total failure at times. Then finally, they gain traction and build authority – and people start calling them an "overnight success."
But no one saw the struggle, tears, and how close they came to quitting during those ten years. (Usually, because successful people don't like to reveal the mess behind the success.)
I remember when we finally opened the doors to our first Sola Salons Studio when the Covid pandemic struck. It had taken over two years to find the site and complete the buildout of the salon studios. We only had 4 of the 20 studios rented, and the government forced us to shut down.
We still had to pay all our monthly bills while we wondered how long the shutdown would last. It would have been so easy to think the Gods had conspired against us and given up hope about the business succeeding. Little did we know that the pandemic was going to push stylists toward Sola. Our set up was perfect for increased safety and a one-on-one experience.
So when your logical brain says, "Move on, this just isn't working!" but your heart says, "We're almost there, don't give up!" listen to your heart.
Every. Single. Time.
Life will always give you one last big hurdle to overcome before you get to taste the fruit of your labors.
Society wants you to believe that the more money you make, the more things you can buy. The more things you buy, the higher up the social ladder you'll climb. But none of it will lead to the Freedom you desire. So stop believing those lies. Don't fall into the trap.
Take a minute and think about your own guiding principles. How would you design your life around them?
Journal or jot a few down on paper right now.
Even better, shoot an email to Craig@CraigAPerkins.com and share them with me.
Make sure there's something there that gives you goosebumps.