Hey guys! Sydney from Untemplater here and boy am I excited to be an official Yakezie Network Member! It has been an eye opening roller coaster ride for me over the last six months and I wouldn’t have come this far without you guys, so thank you!
So What Exactly Is Untemplater?
Untemplater is a lifestyle blog with the goal of building a thriving community for everyone who has ever sought more out of life. There’s no reason anyone has to stay stuck in a template lifestyle, wasting away from the daily grind, and putting all dreams aside until the conventional retirement age of 65.
I really believe in Untemplater’s motto, which is “Work where you want… Live how you want…Be who you want to be.” On the site you’ll find all sorts of fun and helpful topics including entrepreneurship, personal finance, mobile lifestyle, and self-improvement. Although I’m the resident/principal author for Untemplater, I welcome guest contributors several times a month to share their own stories, experiences, and expertise because there’s so much we can learn from each other! If you have an untemplate adventure of your own that you’d like to share, please drop me a note. :) If I can do just one thing right with this blog, I want to help more people discover how to shatter the template lifestyle and find the careers, relationships, and adventures that make them come alive!
Calling All Captains
So you may not know this, but the site was born back in January 2010 by six entrepreneurs. Untemplater took off like a rocket ship, and meanwhile so did the entrepreneurial careers and lives of the six founders.
As a result of all of these personal changes, the site started to get dusty towards the end of last year, which I can completely understand now that I know how hard it is to run a business and a website while simultaneously working other jobs and dealing with life changes. Anyway, something had to give, and Untemplater started quietly calling out for a new leader to step in and take the wheel. Untemplater was like a deserted treasure ship who needed a new captain to come aboard, pull up the anchor, scrub ‘er down, and set her sailing on a new course.
Around this same time, I happened to be doing some soul searching. I was trying to figure out why I felt happy, yet somehow unsatisfied – like I wasn’t getting enough out of my life. But I just couldn’t put my finger on what was missing… When I heard about the opportunity to take over Untemplater, I admit it didn’t even occur to me it could be the answer and missing piece I was looking for.
Doubts And Fears
Instead of jumping up at the opportunity, I let my mind get flooded with intimidating doubts and fears. My prevailing thoughts were that my experience was nothing like any of the founders, so why would any of the readers care what I had to say? I made other excuses to myself like the fact that I’d started a craft blog last year and gave up before it even made it off the ground. I couldn’t dedicate myself to that project and failed, so I figured “why let history repeat itself?”
I allowed more insecurities about my past to rise up and started recalling humiliating memories of being the last kid picked for teams in gym class, getting bullied at school, always being the quietest one in the room (even though I was always quite rambunctious at home), and just feeling like I never quite fit in with everyone else. If I wasn’t popular as a person, how could I run a blog?!
I tried to forget about the opportunity, but Untemplater kept calling my name, and fortunately I started to listen. It took some time but I started to squash my fears one by one. I was encouraged by friends including Sam, whom I really admire and respect in the blogosphere and as a mentor, to just go for it. Sure I didn’t really know how to do half the things I’d be doing, but the idea of taking the reins and running my own website didn’t seem so impossible anymore.
Reboot, Get Ready, Go!
One by one, my doubts and fears were replaced with excitement and adrenaline. In this process I decided to start a new chapter in my life and become Untemplater’s captain while simultaneously creating my own business. Change isn’t easy though, and to be frank it was one of the most challenging periods in my life the first few months.
Even though I was making a little bit of progress each day, it felt like I was trying to walk through wet cement with a blindfold on most days. I even got so stressed out that my back and neck almost crippled me at one point, but I didn’t give up because I was on a mission. I made some changes in my life and ultimately overcame those physical pains – thank goodness!
Learning, Changing, Adapting
Fortunately there was only a small amount of backlash from a few cranky readers when I officially took over Untemplater earlier this year, and it ended up being a good thing because it helped me grow a thicker skin. Criticism keeps me on my toes and motivates me to continually look for ways to make both the site and myself better.
I’m working a lot more hours nowadays, yet I’m having so much more fun compared to when I was working less! It’s still a challenge adapting to being busier though and I’m still trying to find the right balance between my day job, side jobs, blogging, cleaning, running errands, spending time with my loved ones, keeping up with friends, eating healthy, helping my parents, studying foreign languages, improving my photography and computer skills, decluttering, and finding time to meditate. Phew! I’m out of breath just writing all those things down, which reminds me – I forgot to include exercising!
My life has changed so much this year. I’m so glad I squashed my fears of running a blog, and finally feel that I’ve found the answers to a lot of my soul searching. Even though I can’t say I’m a tech, lifestyle, or entrepreneurial guru right now, I believe that if I keep learning, changing, and adapting…someday I’ll get there.
Here’s to a long, fun, and fortuitous journey!
Best,
Sydney
Add me to list of people who are also glad you overcame your fears, Sydney! I love what Untemplater has become and look forward to following the next steps of your journey! Welcome to the group!!!!
Thanks so much SoOverDebt! That means a lot! It feels great and I’m looking forward to all of the next steps too!
A big welcome to the Yakezie Sydney! I am very glad you’ve taken over Untemplater because it was one of my favorite sites, and it was seriously sucking some wind back in November 2010-Jan 2011 when there were no posts!
It’s always fun to read other people’s stories on how they are doing things a little bit differently. And of course, it’s fun to read how some people are doing things conventionally too, because conventional ways seem to be unique now that everybody is doing things differently!
I’m very glad you are getting a lot out of blogging and enjoying the community. Keep the ship going! And if you start getting overwhelmed, take a break, and we’ll help out!
Best, Sam
Thanks so much Sam. Your support of Untemplater has been huge and you’re one of my biggest inspirations to work hard and continually face new challenges.
I’m glad that “sucking wind” post hiatus is past too and hope to keep the current momentum going strong. :) Blogging has changed my life in such a good way and I’m planning on keeping the ship going for a long time. Thanks so much for all of your encouragement and for building Yakezie into one rockin’ network!
No problemo! It would have been a gosh darn shame to let Untemplater go under. There were way too many Chef’s in the kitchen. I’m excited to watch and participate in the growth of Untemplater again!
It feels great getting the site active again and interacting with so many people. I’m learning so much while I’m helping others too. I love win-wins. :)
I enjoy your blog Sydney! You will make an excellent addition to the Yakezie network!
Thanks a bunch MoneyIsTheRoot! I enjoyed your member post. Go Gammas!
I’d love to hear more about how the opportunity arose? Did they contact you, did you contact them?
Sam and I have been fans of the site for a long time. He introduced me and encouraged me to go for it. I’m so glad I did!
Great stuff. I really enjoyed Untemplater when launched, and am enjoying it with you at the helm Sydney!
It’s a great place to read about fun and interesting lives.
That’s great to hear Peter! There are countless ways to untemplate and I love how creative people are.
I too find that working more leaves me more fulfilled than working less, even when I barely have time to sleep. I’m so glad you decided to go for it and take over the reigns. Welcome to Yakezie!
Thanks LaTisha! It feels so good to be active and productive! At first I was anxious the extra hours would bring down my happiness levels but I was wrong because they have gone up!
Welcome to the network Sydney. Your blog is full of inspriation. I really appreciate you sharing your story, and like Andrea mentioned, thanks for overcoming your fears.
I really like you life motto. In this day and age people are so afraid to be true to themselves because they are worried about what people think. What they don’t realize is living this way is only going to leave them full of regret when they are older. Thanks for inspiring all of us to hold our head high and be who we are and strive for our dreams.
Thanks so much Miss T! It makes me so happy to hear that. Life is too short to live with regrets and hide from who we are. Even if we fail, it’s better to have tried and learned something, than to never try and forgoe a shot at success!
Welcome to the network, Syndey. I really like your blog’s message, and agree with the idea of getting more out of life than staying with what one is ‘supposed to do’, which is grind away working until older, while working for others. Life is short, get the make the most of it and do it your way.
Thanks Squirrelers! I hope more people seek out their passions in life and in their careers. I’m the type that believes there’s nothing wrong with “9-5” work when people are in jobs and industries that they love. I read posts all the time about lifestyle bloggers who think all of corporate America is evil, but I disagree. People that are miserable going to work everyday, and have no interest in becoming their own boss or a digital nomad, just haven’t found the right industry or career path yet, or they may just have a horrible manager! Once we find our true calling in whatever shape or form, work no longer feels like “work,” it feels FUN! :)
Congrats on becoming an official member! Now the REAL fun begins! :)
I love the fact that you want to teach people to open their eyes to other retirement methods. There’s really no need to work the daily grind for 45 years… why not do it in 10 years? Or come up with a different plan? Love it.
Thanks LifeAndMyFinances! Yes there are endless options and possibilities and it’s so exciting! There are too many amazing opportunities out there for people to stay miserable and unhappy. It takes a lot of hard work to switch career paths, or move to a new country, or get a PhD, or become an entrepreneur, but anyone can change their life around if they put their mind to it.
Welcome, Sydney. The Untemplater premise is very compelling. Thanks for sharing your story. I look forward to checking out the blog.
Thanks! And congrats on becoming a recent Gamma Member too!
Hi Sydney, I reallly appreciate stories of overcoming one’s fears. Yours was inspiring. Thanks for letting us in on what the title means. Now that I get it, it’ll be easier to spell!
Overcoming fears really is extremely liberating! Hehe glad you understand the spelling now. :) Thanks Barb!
When you are doing something you like to do, it doesn’t feel like work. Overcoming fears or making changes is rewarding in itself, but it motivates you to try more. Success encourages success. Welcome
“Success encourages success” <– I love that! Thanks Krantcents, you've been a great supporter!
Hi Sydney, welcome aboard! We don’t have enough lifestyle blogs yet and I love your site.
I’m also a big fan of your motto (…work where you want, live how you want…). Now I just have to convince my wife it would be fun for us to spend the winter working from Tahoe…..of course she’d never see me as I’d be out skiing every afternoon and playing poker at night :).
Thanks! Tahoe is so beautiful all year round. I love it up there too. You should do it! Maybe try convincing your wife to go up for a month first at the start of the season and then if you get snowed in you’ll just “have” to stay. :)
Hi, Sidney…. I’ve tooled around Untemplater a bit. Interesting community of commenters…
thanks 101 Centavos
I always thought that is what Untemplater meant, but I’m glad to see I was right!
Right indeed! :) Glad to hear more people understand the name and motto.
Welcome Sydney, I didn’t realise that you had taken over which I guess means I don’t stop by often enough…. Am going to try and change that.
Thanks that’d be great Forest, stop by anytime! :)
I never saw Untemplater before your command. But you are rocking it. With such powerful founders, I can understand your hesitation and fears. Glad you took the reigns and started a whole new adventure. You remind me of Star Trek’s the Next Generation’s new Captain Jean Luc Picard. Hard to compete with the original series, but great things can happen after a reboot as you’ve shown. Keep up your great work. I’m confident you will take the blog to heights the founders never dreamed of. Engage!
It is quite a tall order for Sydney, but I believe she can do it. There were too many cooks in the kitchen at IMO, with a lot of strong personalities. I’m happy Sydney has revived Untemplater, and I look forward to her long term success.
Thanks Sam! It is a lot of work but I’m having fun and learning a lot.
Thanks Buck! Engage! is right on. Now I feel like going to watch some Star Trek. :)
Welcome to the Yakezie!!
I am glad you wrote a member post; I remember visiting untemplater and being confused as to who the contributors were. I am looking forward to visiting again now that I understand the backstory some more:).
Thanks Amanda! I’m glad it all makes more sense now. :)
Welcome to the Yakezie, Sydney! I enjoyed the story, I found it inspiring and congrats on the success. :)
Thanks a bunch! Yakezie is awesome!
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Sydney,
It is interesting to hear about the history of the blog. I can tell that you view Sam as a mentor. Your writing style is very similar and for the first month or so of reading your blog actually thought you and Sam were the same person. It confused me a little to say the least. And in case you are wondering, I enjoy your writing very much.
Haha that’s so funny especially since I think my writing style is so different from Sam’s. It’s quite a compliment though so thank you! :) -Sydney
I can’t believe it’s been like 2.5 years now since I became a Member and published this post. Gosh time really flies. It really doesn’t feel like I’ve been blogging for 3 years now! I need to celebrate my blogversary more often so I don’t lose track! :)
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