Book Review: X Marks the Spot
Crystal posted this on April 15, 2008
In my most compelling recurring dream, I wake from a nap just in time for an international flight that I’m not prepared to catch. My bags aren’t packed, my guides and maps aren’t marked—nothing is ready. I had this dream 2 or 3 times a week and it was always the same: my desperate rush to pull it all together and a too-late-so-sorry arrival at the gate while the plane is taking off.
After a month of restless sleep and heartache, I planned a response to the apparent lesson. The next time I found myself in the dream, I picked up my passport and purse and walked right out the door. No luggage or maps or snacks or books or anything I typically take when I travel. That time, I caught my flight. And I haven’t had that dream again.
Sometimes I wonder if I have the nerve to really do that. My usual process for trips, projects, grocery shopping, etc., includes plenty of preparation: thoughtful planning, detailed lists, and a search for good advice.
This is likely why I enjoyed X Marks the Spot, where Lea thoroughly documents how she and her husband take on living and working from locations all over the world. Full of resources, lists, charts, and stories, it’s a useful guide for anyone aspiring to an independent, mobile workstyle.
My Review
Rather than write a play-by-play of her book (she has that on her blog), I’ll share a broader view. It holds plenty of lessons on setting and achieving goals—something all of us can benefit from, no matter where we’re headed next.
- Ask (and answer) questions
Throughout the book, Lea shares questions she and her husband ask during the planning and execution of their travels. From “Do we want to do something completely different?” to “So where to next?”, it’s clear that their new nomadic life is a thoughtfully considered quest, as our own Life Adventure can be. She helps us along with questions for reflection, such as “Where would you rather be?” and “Why not you?” - Sum it up
My favorite parts of the book are Lea’s lists. Almost every chapter is complemented with boxed, bulleted, and/or numbered lists of lessons, beliefs, facts, and questions. They are an effective break from—and work well in tandem with—her narrative, and a confirmation that valuable clarity can come from distilling our discussions (both inner and outer) to a handful of key points. - Stand your ground
Lea and her husband met with resistance from friends and family when they shared their idea to “do something completely different”. They also have their own doubts from time to time. The book has numerous suggestions for dealing with naysayers and doubters (even when it’s you
). - Build a plan
If you’d like to read a practical example of planning a major life change, their story includes detailed accounts of critical planning elements like: getting started, uncovering hidden issues, working with finances, setting milestones, and preparing for contingencies. - Track your progress
Whether you maintain a journal or diary, or chart hard data, it’s critical to log the ups and downs as you take steps toward your goals. My planner and journal resuscitate me on deflated days, when I feel I haven’t accomplished anything. Pages of checked items and “Atta girl!” moments prove that I’m moving forward. As travel diary, journal, checklist, and guidebook, X Marks the Spot clearly reveals their progress. - Learn from mistakes
From overpaying for accommodations to choosing (and fleeing) a less-than-ideal location, Lea and her husband made their share of mistakes. The important thing for them—and for us—was recognizing the underlying issues that led them astray and using feedback to move forward on a better path.
With all of that, X Marks the Spot is more than a travel guide, a personal narrative, and a how-to for dreamers like me. It’s a blueprint to taking on your biggest dreams, even if they don’t include be-bopping all over the globe.
And what about you?
If your work is tied to where you live, imagine for a moment that it isn’t—will you:
- Move out of the city? Or into one?
- Enjoy being a snowbird? Or escape wicked summer heat in a mild northern climate?
- Take the opportunity to move wherever, whenever?
- Savor the option to stay right where you are, somewhat immune to the whims of your local job market?
Whether we choose to travel or stay put, X Marks the Spot is a useful guide to finding our way to and through our next adventure.
Click here to buy this book from Lea at Location Independent Living
Note: This is not a sponsored review, but I would receive a small commission from your purchase of this book or ebook. If you would prefer I didn’t, buy direct from LIP.
Et tu? How are you progressing toward your Big Dream? Do you have a tried and true process for reaching your goals? Lemme know down below!
Tagged with: book review · books · Going NoWare
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9 Responses to “Book Review: X Marks the Spot”
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Thanks for a smart, quick overview geared to your readers of a book I’d never have looked at otherwise (unless it had that magnificent photo on the cover!)
It’s a good reminder of what I have that is so-so-so great, and how living/working/loving in my hometown of LA offers me international travel within 10 miles in any direction. It also reminds that we can learn a lot from a section of a book even if we don’t adopt the entire life-plan.
Good catch!
Hi GirlPie, and welcome! Very glad you liked it.
Particularly, I think the bits on dealing with dream naysayers and the importance of communication in a relationship are useful for anyone. If nothing else, it’s just a darned good story
And how cool that you are so very close to being anywhere! I just showed a visiting friend how I could essentially walk to anyplace on the planet: An easy walk to a bus line that terminates at a DC Metro station that is also an Amtrak station. From there, metro to National Airport or a commuter train to BWI airport. Metrorail, planes, and trains to anywhere in the world I wanna go. You and I are truly blessed/lucky to have that kind of access.
Thanks for your comments!
Hi Crystal - thanks so much for the great review. The way you’ve extrapolated the lessons from the book to other situations is very smart!!
Also, I love the way you dealt with your dream…having a planned response - that’s something I’ve never tried for a dream before.
Thanks again…
Lea
Lea’s last blog post..Professional Branding & Company Logos
[...] Neill’s words—which headline the Finance and Money chapter of X Marks the Spot—got me rethinking poverty mind. And not in terms of [...]
Hi Lea!
My pleasure, thanks so much for the great book! I’ve heard from Brett Legree [ http://6weeks.ca ], et al that it inspires.
As for dreams, I can’t manage all my dreams, but that one was clearly trying to teach me something. I believe the lesson was: “Stop preparing and get going! You’ve got everything you need.”
Good luck with bringing conscious thought to your subconscious mind
It’s worth the effort!
And thanks for coming by
Crystal’s last blog post..Picking and Poking at Poverty Mind
Thanks for the great review. I really like the way you explained specific parts instead of just giving us a full word for word translation of the book.
That was a great review! Very nice separation of points. Thanks for posting!
Recent blog post from Roger Hamilton: Who fancies gambling some money? [Nigel 'Car Crash' Grainger]
I don’t travel as much but this book was helpful to me also.
That dream sounds very similar to the dream I think most everyone has had - waking up late for a final exam that you didn’t study for.
Travel or whatever, I do think the “just do it” idea is great. I haven’t read the book but I am “amazon-ing” it right now based on your great review. Thank you!