The Secret Life of Kimi and How She Does it: The Danger of Internet and Social Network Sites

The Secret Life of Kim Boes and how she does it

What is my secret? How can I live the way I do? How can I be everywhere and nowhere and change destinations every 2 - 3 months? 

Graduation Speech 

First, during my studies I already 'taught' finance to several people. I absolutely love finance (one of these rare people) and really wanted these people to understand it as well. Nothing in this world makes me more happy than making other people happy, make sure they succeed and they understand something after I explained them. Why should I keep the knowledge to myself if I can help other people understand it better? Second, I happen to have written an excellent thesis with some very nice research that I will present on the e-Tourism Brennpunkt in Salzburg, Austria next Monday. Along the way I noticed that my academic writing in English is not so bad at all and therefore I am consulting and assisting on various academic papers at the moment. Third, what I also noticed is that with understanding three languages perfectly I can translate Dutch/German text to English without any problem. Fourth, something else is that I do not have a problem doing work you do not need a degree for, therefore, I am, next to all the activities I am doing at the moment, also Delivering The Mail in Hulst. 

Tour Map of our 'Get Lost' Tour in NZ

The Secret of Living Life the Kimi Way

• Work Hard in something you love
• Take all small jobs cause they will give you the base to future success 
• Have a goal, in the not so far future, to work towards
• Take a temporary job to make extra money (even if it might not be your dream job, its only temporary!) 
• Do only what you enjoy doing and never give up no matter what other people say
• Be realistic but always on the positive side of things 
• Luxury is not everything. Remember, that with this way of living you might not have heaps on your bank account but are living the life you always wanted 
• Never give up believing in yourself! 

Best Practise 

• Cried for some weeks because I didn't find a job
• Thought about what I love most and do best and how to combine these two 
• Founded Bacon and Eggs
• Spread the word about what I am doing got me
• Ghostwriter job
• Consulting 3 dissertations 
• One translating job 
• Invitation to present my research at eTourism Brennpunkt conference 
• Awesome website and a big network for Bacon and Eggs Tours 
• Leaving my apartment to work as a temporary postman in The Netherlands
• Buy a ticket to NZ to have a 'not so far in the future' goal
• Do a TEFL course to Teach English as a Foreign Language as Volunteering Work next year
• Brainstorm about the 'Trip of my life around the world without a plane' 
• Have a permanent smile on my face even if I worry or feel sh*t 

Temp Job in AWESOME Berlin! 

This sounds like a lot and it is a lot, I work 7 days a week but believe me, I enjoy every single second of it and I could not imagine a better life than I have now. If this makes people think I am a dreamer, a liar or untrustworthy than I feel sorry for them. Having an awesome life your way is possible, just get out of that comport zone and start living. It might not be easy at first but I guarantee you, after a while you never want something else again!

Ode to Social Media

Again, I have to communicated my thoughts about people that attack one another on the internet. Social Media are there to share information (in the amounts you feel comfortable with) and help each other with anything possible. Please think twice before spreading rumours, negative worth of mouth or accusations. Before you hurt somebodies feelings or effect a company contact them personally. Public attacks might only bother outsiders and you might even negatively effect yourself in the matter. 

I am happy I found a reason to tell something about myself, my life and my company again. Thank you 'forum person' for providing me with some nice content on my blog!

Life Around...The World?

'Home is an invention on which no one has yet improved' 

- Ann Douglas 

The Netherlands vs The World

About a month ago I decided to go 'home', to The Netherlands, where my parents live. I am not entirely sure if this is my main 'home' as I have had many places that I called this over the last years. Also Austria is home and Berlin and I even sometimes consider New Zealand as my home. But basically: For me 'Home' is where my teddybear and my pillow are. These two items are, at the moment, located in my bed in Hulst so I guess The Netherlands is 'Home' for now. 

In order to understand this post better I will have to give you some background information. Hulst is the city I was born and went to school till the age of 15, after that I decided to change and finish my high school in Terneuzen (a city 20 km away from Hulst). After my graduation I lived around many places in The Netherlands and Belgium but moved to Austria about 6/7 years ago. As you can imagine I left many people behind, friends and colleagues, and learned to be a World Citizen. The longest period of time I have spend in Hulst, over the last years, has been about 10 days. I guess you can imagine what a change it is, being here now for 1 month and staying for another 2 months. I went from a World Citizen back to an 'Abandoned by Young People City' Citizen.

Back to the 'Normal' World

Being back in the city I was born in is interesting. Let's say; I enjoy the conversations with my parents and the temporary work in doing next to Bacon and Eggs Tours. Apart from that; Being back here made my think about my life more than ever. And the thought are, sometimes, shocking and there have been many moments I thought: Kim, seriously, what did you do with your life!

Being here confronts me with the people that stayed here, with their marriages, their children, their relationships, their homes and houses... It confronts me everyday with all the things I do not have and makes me wonder if I did the right thing. There has never been a stronger moment in my life than now where I can't help but wonder: Is my life how I really want it? 

Yes, I do not want to swap my life with any of my former class mates that have all the security of a  family, home and job. I admire them for being able to cope with it, to take care of their relationships and all the things that come along with it but I, no, Im not ready for that. I might not be made for that, at least.... not now.

An Alternative Lifestyle

I have chosen, myself, all the paths I went over the last couple of years. Of course I sometimes  wish I had it done a different way but I am happy with all the things I did, the choices I made because they made me into the person I am today. I might have chosen an alternative route, an adventurous route, a challenging route which sometimes worries me. But I absolutely love my life at the moment!

Bacon and Eggs Tours

Bacon and Eggs Tours represents everything I am. A relaxed company, made out of love for Travelling and New Zealand, made for all those people who want to learn about this countries culture and nature and are, just like me, a little adventurous. Having your own company is for sure not easy and I experience that everyday. It worries me, stresses me and gives me sleepless nights BUT it also makes me laugh, makes me happy and very proud of myself for getting through even if when it gets tough. Being back in Hulst, back 'Home' makes me fight more for my company and my lifestyle and every time I have to listen to the question marks about my life from the people around me it makes me want to fight more, and never, really never, wanting to give up the awesome and amazing life I have. It might not be a secure way but it for sure is an awesome and adventurous way! 

Never give up your dreams, they might be 'weird' to the world around you but they are your dreams. Admire them & never let them down!   

Who Moved My Cheese

What would you do if you weren't afraid? - Dr. Spencer Johnson 

In 2006 I started a relationship from which I knew it was not as it should be. However, I did not stop it. I put in more and more effort to try to change this person. In April 2010 I finally ended it and did not understand why I hadn't done it earlier. Of course I was devistated, cried for days and thought it was the end of my life! This person, this place, this house had been my life, my solid ground. 

Today, I understand why I kept doing it for so long. I was afraid of change. 

The funny thing is that I have been moving around the world quite a lot over the last couple of years. I tried many different things. Worked in restaurants, did a snowboard instructor course and worked as one for five seasons, studied different things and lived in five different countries. Apparently, I am not afraid of change. However, in this relationship I was. In April 2010 I decide to go to New Zealand even if I was afraid. I tattooed 'What doesn't kill me makes me stronger' on  my back and went for it. Today, I found 'New Cheese', good tasting 'Cheese', interesting Cheese, Cheese that makes me happy and I would not have found this 'Cheese' if I didn't decided I needed change. 

However, I see many people around me staying at the same place, hoping to come back to the same over and over and over again. But life changes, people change, jobs and university change and we shouldn't stick our head in the sand but face it. Be honest to yourself and think for one minute what you would have done if you hadn't been afraid for change. Maybe change job a long time ago or end the relationship you are in? Even small changes can make you feel fresh again or give you new energy.

When I came back to Austria in October after three months of being in New Zealand and an awesome trip to Thailand, my friends told me I had changed, and I did. I see things different now, I am far more relaxed and see new possibilities and found new interests. Today, I am working hard to start my own company, I'm enrolled in a Master in Digital Marketing, smile way more, enjoy life much more and have an awesome boyfriend! 

Of course I have been thinking about my life a lot over the last months but it really made me realise how it all developed after reading this awesome book. Some of you may know that I am a book worm and love to read. I am also aware of the fact that not the whole world shares this passion with me, however, the next book you have to read! It only takes about an hour, is easy to read and will change the way you think. Who Moved My Cheese?: An Amazing Way to Deal with Change in Your Work and in Your Life

Go for it and let me know what you are planning of changing ;)