Amazingly enough, while Brenda was here for a week and we were out hiking, dining and playing, I also managed to read a book in it´s entirety so I could send it back with Brenda. It was a light-hearted, fun book that had a great message. It was the The Undomestic Goddess by Sophie Kinsella.

A great story about a 29-year-old high powered lawyer in London who has sold her soul to the law firm she aspires to be a partner in, and then makes one fatal mistake that not only loses her the partnership but gets her fired. She ends up as a domestic maid in a small English countryside village, learns how to cook gourmet meals and falls in love.

However, she is exonerated at the end of the story and needs to make a difficult choice. Does she leave this idyllic life, baking bread, hanging out at the pub with her lover on the weekend, suntanning in the garden and having a life to herself, or does she go back to the grind of sleepless nights, constantly ringing cell phones, non-stop meetings and endless deadlines?

Although the story is a bit far-fetched at times, it raises a great question for everyone. What sacrifices are you willing to make to have the amazing life you want? Will you work your tail off for 30 or 40 years to retire at 65 and hope the company is around to give you that pension? I bet you lots of people right now can´t believe that their retirement dreams have been decimated by the economic plight of many companies. All that work, all that money, all those dreams…gone!

On the other hand, do you give it all up, live a carefree life globe-trotting around the world and not have a plan for when you finally can´t do it anymore? Every one I know could earn more money. Every entrepreneur I coach has potential they are not using. Every day I ask myself this question: What am I willing to do to create my amazing life and what do I say, “no way” to.

You need to ask yourself the same question. Otherwise, you may find that you have sold your soul and you´re resentful or you missed the boat and you´re now sorry. This is a regular check-in for me. I suggest it be for you too.