Charles Driscoll

Lifestyle December 9, 2016

Borderland (standing on the edge)

You can see the walls and wire in the distance; heavy defenses with the threat of injury if you choose to go further into the borderland.

the unknown.

Your friends told you “don’t go”. Your parents say “it’s dangerous” but you know that the only wrong move would be to “make no move at all”. The consequence of staying put equals death to your soul, the consequence of leaving into the unknown is a definite resistance from many around you who tell you they have your best interest in mind. You are in the borderland.

This choice to shift places or “step across the border” in your life may never take place geographically. It doesn’t have to.

There are so many daily “uphill battle” choices to make that require a movement of mind more than of location. Maybe it’s the choice to quit your day job and start your own business, or the choice to end an unhealthy but familiar relationship. Maybe it’s choosing to forgive and put justice second, or a choice to shake up your daily routine, leave the familiar behind and find more fulfilling and purpose orientated ways to spend your time.

No doubt if you manage to live a few decades more you will likely come to regret things you did NOT do far more than things you did. This process can involve reaching out to your inner child and listening to why you may not have the confidence to take these important next steps. You can click HERE for a brief overview of the “inner child” concept.

Lifestyle December 8, 2016

4 ways to electrify/ passionate living

There is a light bulb in your brain, full of potential to shine, radiate light, creativity, and ideas. But without electricity flowing into it, it will remain a dull, unlit, useless piece of glass. How can we find our way back to passionate living? In my own experience, traveling has helped me find new, creative and helpful thoughts that have pushed my personal development further ahead causing a “breakthrough” in my emotional gridlock or triggered an avalanche of business ideas that are just waiting to hatch into success.

I ask myself why it is so easy to have these thoughts and feelings while abroad and so difficult when I am in my hometown back in The States? Is it really the new sights, smells, and experiences that cause this inspiration? (It’s true well-made tiramisu and flavored polish vodka do inspire) but maybe it’s something more… something else that happens to me while traveling that “allows” these new and fresh thoughts? To oversimplify… Make useful space in your life. Here are 4 ideas to add electricity to that bulb in your brain.

1. Leave. There is nothing like “leaving” that can free your mind. The old adage “out of sight out of mind” certainly holds true in this area. When you do not see your office, have business phone calls, or a “to do” list staring at you from the fridge it becomes much easier for your mind to create its own independent fresh thoughts. Leave your familiar surroundings and DON’T plan every moment of your travel. Don’t plan to sit idle in the sun on the beach ALL day either. Make sure there are a minimum of a few hours each day unscheduled and unplanned to walk around, observe, reflect or read a book that will not only entertain but inspire.

2. Be intentional about having quiet time. The second best thing to leaving the distractions of life behind is making time to be quiet. It requires much more discipline to schedule quiet time and observe these holy hours while at home surrounded by the distractions of your daily routine than it does while traveling. If you commit to the idea of setting aside a bit of time each day to have NOTHING scheduled You are on your way to exercising your mind in a way that will bring new experiences (internal and external) into your life.

3.Prioritize a healthy emotional state. There is nothing that can sabotage creativity and motivation faster than unhealthy relationships. These kinds of relationships oppress and distract our minds. They don’t allow much “space” for dreaming up the next million dollar invention. Or more valuable yet, the next steps towards self-awareness and understanding.

4.Pursue an art. Studies have shown that art in a variety of forms increases intelligence, emotional well-being, creativity, attention, and cognition. There is an exploration that takes place in art. While we create, we explore our emotions and minds to find “something” to say. Whether it be with a brush, a voice, and instrument or a pen. It will start you down a path of exploring corners of your mind you may not have visited for a long long time.

Money November 18, 2016

Travel savings with deal sites like Groupon

Who doesn’t like to save money while traveling and having a great time? I use Groupon or sites like it for huge savings during my trips. Groupon and LivingSocial, among others, are available in nearly every country in the world now. Although there may be strict terms to follow, spending a short amount time on one of these sites before I travel has saved me quite a bit of money or raised the standard of food I eat or experiences I can afford. Here are a few tips

better food-lower prices

When I plan trips I try to arrange at least one meal a day through deal sites. This way I still leave room in my schedule for spontaneity with eating choices, but also know I have paid appx. 50% of what I would’ve spent buying this meal without any discount. This is especially useful if I’m only in a town for a few days and may not have a chance to find my favorite corner cafe at an affordable price before I leave.

A variety of tours and experiences may be discounted as well. These tours are often overpriced in the first place. But when I factor in the “deals” discount it’s often still LESS than choosing a tour I would find walking down the street.

The map view of Groupon is particularly useful if I know what area of the town I”ll be staying in. If the “deal” I want is on the opposite side of town, I usually reconsider.

I try to buy only deals I know will be convenient to use. Watch closely as some deals terms only allow use on certain days of the week or only with a reservation.

When I’m using discount sites in a foreign language I can easily translate the entire page inside of Google Chrome. I can simply right-click on the page and choose “translate to English”. I use Paypal to pay whenever possible to avoid paying any foreign transaction fees.

*note, each Groupon site requires a separate username and password

Click HERE for a handy link to sign up for Groupon USA
Click HERE for a handy link to sign up for Groupon Poland
Click HERE for a handy link to sign up for Groupon U.K.
Click HERE for a handy link to sign up for LivingSocial USA

Lifestyle October 12, 2016

Bin there done that (grain bin to Big Bin Studios)

Some may only see an antiquated, small (by today’s standard) steel grain bin on an old farm in rural Michigan. Maybe the only future for this bin is at the steel recyclers? These old grain bins are often recycled into new steel, but this one became Big Bin Studios.

It was during my high school years that I took an interest in sound engineering and recording. When I was 19, I decided to study abroad in Ireland(I will write a post about this in the future as well). I returned from my studies with a plan to build a professional recording studio, but I didn’t have enough money to rent a commercial space and buy all the gear I needed. I started looking at alternatives and the old empty grain bin in the middle of the farm came to mind!

Construction begins

The bin was only exterior steel shell 25′ in diameter and a cement floor. I knew its days of usefulness for storing grain were behind it so I borrowed a torch and started cutting a hole for a door in the side. That choice started a 3yr construction project and my challenge to see this structure, not as it was, but rather for what it could be.

Me, after cutting the door frame into the bin

Click the image above for a video tour on YouTube

Step by step, the staircase was built. Wire was pulled through the walls and scaffold was brought in to hang drywall on the ascending cathedral ceilings. Next, paint, carpeting, heating and cooling and finally sound and office equipment were installed.
A skylight filled the space where the grain used to pour in.

I read many books during this time about construction. A very helpful book was “How to build a small budget recording studio from Scratch”. Click HERE for a link. This book, among others, gave me a variety of tips on soundproofing techniques, acoustic panel construction and wiring methods. Family and friends and plenty of “sweat equity” helped complete Big Bin in appx. 3 years. Since then many locals artists have recorded their albums here with me. Since it’s construction, this unique office and recording space has been featured in many newspapers across the USA.

Things are not always as they seem

In those days there was no book written on how to transform a grain bin into a usable workspace. (I see these guys offer plans HERE, though.) Looking back, I was reminded how important it is to not limit myself and only FOLLOW what someone else has already done. I need to keep my eyes open to resources I already have in front of me even if it means using those situations or objects in an unconventional way and dreaming beyond what others have already seen.

I’d love to hear what you guys think of this place, or if there are any questions. Let me know about some steps you may have taken to use a situation or thing in an unconventional way? Post in the comments below.