Jumping Aboard the Steem-ITrain

My Name is Ivan Vujosevic, on IG/Snapchat @das_ivan.

This will be my journal if you will. I read a ton about psychology, philosophy, neurology, and love. So that's what most of my articles will probably be about. I am on a quest to find the meaning to this game, to figure out the question - "What is your definition of a life well lived." Then I plan to live it. That's my fascination. I was turned on to steemit by Zach Goulet (@web-gnar), and that's the short version.

The long version is...About a year ago I had almost everything, or better said - I thought I had everything. I had a financial services business that was growing (my second one), a day job that was paying me well and letting me come and go as I pleased, and a girlfriend I was absolutely head over heals for. And, in a period of 6 months. It all came crashing down - sorta.

My girlfriend at the time left me to go back home. My business, which was in its first year became profitable enough for me to live off of, so I resigned from my day job to work on it full time. Soon, it was growing faster, I was having more and more free time as things began to settle into place. Eventually, I had so many systems in place, that I was working 2-3 hours a week while making close to $100k a year. I could travel anywhere, do anything, and no one could tell me different. It was almost euphoric. About two months after I had reached this point of freedom, I was traveling through Greece while working remotely, reading a book called '7 Habits of highly effective People.' One thing you must know about me, is I read...a lot...a whole lot. Usually a book a week, maybe two. One of the exercises in the book was to write your own eulogy and live by it for a week. So I did. And my life was never the same again.

It took me maybe 5 hours before I sat at my Airbnb in Athens almost to tears. I sat there, realizing, I hadn't been living a good life up to that point. A fulfilled life. A joyous life. A life full of wonder, excitement, adventure, and awe. I had lived a life chasing a dream that was not my own. To build a company then travel the world. I happened to excel in investing and finance, so that's the road I took. But I never stopped and asked myself...does this really make me happy? Can I really do this the next 40 years of my life? I had never really put someone above myself, until my last relationship. For me, it was type of love that if it had to be you or them to survive, you know you'd choose them, because living in a world without them would be a waste. I also realized I had never truly been enthusiastic, or wise, or kind, or generous. I had only done it, but only when it was self-serving in some nature. Even if it was just for the credit.

So when I came back from Greece, I thought about it for a month, and in June 14th, 2017, I dissolved my business, sold all my stuff, broke my lease and left Austin, TX. I had no idea where I was heading, or why. I just knew, that I needed some alone time and I needed to figure me out. No Social Media, No TV, just me and books. So I camped everywhere I went; Austin, El Paso, Tuscan, Phoenix, Tombstone, Sedona, Jerome, Nevada, San Diego, Orange county, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Malibu, Ventura, Big Sur, San Francisco, and Yosemite.

I don't know what I am running to or from. I have currently settled in fairly well in the greater Los Angeles area for the time being while doing some interviews. I am not sure what I am looking for in terms of a job, but after almost 90 days of traveling, writing, and reading. I am ready to start a new life. I really enjoy helping people find their true calling and sense of self. I wish more people lived a life they wanted, and not the life given to them. So my articles will most likely be my thoughts on dissecting my own behavior, hopefully they will give someone the tools to help themselves.

• Ivan