Hi, I’m Dylan Potter. I’m a husband and father who left behind the 9-5 lifestyle many years ago for something a little more invigorating, like starting a lifestyle business!
While I’m always learning and experimenting, I feel that now is a great time to start giving something back, so I’m exploring the world of blogging and podcasting in order to interact with people like you.
I’d like to think that working in both the corporate and academic world, manufacturing and retailing my own product, investing in early-stage start-ups, trading a variety of financial vehicles, living abroad for nearly a decade, travelling throughout Europe and Asia, and all the craziness in between that led to where I am now, has taught me a good deal about what it takes to start and run a successful, location independent business.
This site is my platform to interact with, assist, teach, and learn from those of you who are either interested in exploring the option of starting a lifestyle business, or who have already got your own thing going.
I’m glad you’re reading this, and I hope you’ll be inspired to pursue your own entrepreneurial goals.
How did I get from there to here? (The boring bits)
I first caught the entrepreneurship bug when I read a book about real estate investing in high school. Shortly thereafter, I attended a weekend seminar on entrepreneurship at a local university with one of my best friends. We both knew then and there that we wanted to own our own business. I was 17.
Like most wantrepreneurs, I eventually went to college and never acted upon the urge to start my own business (aside from a small, lawn maintenance gig I started in my hometown).
After studying finance and economics in college, I landed my dream job with a well-known investment firm prior to graduation, but soon became bored with the corporate lifestyle. So I returned to school on an all-expenses paid academic scholarship to get an MBA. Again, more finance!
It was during this time that I began doing a bit of original research, working as a grad assistant, and experiencing life as a budding academic; getting paid to learn and help others at the same time…what’s not to like?
Yet, upon completion of the MBA, I took another corporate finance job, only to get bored once again (I’m a glutton for punishment). Around this time a friend told me about a local community college that was looking for a business studies instructor–within a couple weeks, I had secured the position and began teaching courses on statistics, business law, intro to business, entrepreneurship, financial statement analysis, etc.
That was fun, but I wanted more.
So I went back to grad school again to pursue another degree, this time in divinity, at a local seminary, during which time I continued teaching business courses and held a role as a parish clergyman for four years. (I know, right?)
Once again, I caught the study bug, and moved to Europe with my wife (brave soul!) where I completed a PhD at the University of St. Andrews, Scotland, the third oldest university in the English-speaking world. (No, I don’t know Prince William; he and Kate graduated shortly before I arrived.)
I was fortunate to secure another position as a professor in Singapore prior to graduation, where I taught and lived with my family for two years. It was during this period that my entrepreneurial dream took off, and my life has moved on quite a bit since then, but I will share more about the details on the first episode of my podcast.
That decision to take action on my dream was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. It took me just two months to exceed my income as a professor, but this really isn’t just about me, because I’m a firm believer that you can do it too.
Even if you don’t want to quit your job and become a digital nomad, do give yourself permission to start thinking about how you can use your current skill set to build a business.
Ok, Dylan Potter, so what’s the point of the Lifestyle Business Guy blog and podcast?
My view has always been that learning is worth sharing…that’s why I liked the academic world, because sharing things of value with others gives them the potential to create something new and valuable on their own. I suppose this is as good a time and place to share the little bit that I have learned with a small portion of the world who can read this website and/or hear my voice.
I’ve owned and launched a number of online businesses. Some endeavors were more successful than others–some are still my main source of income while others just died–but they’ve all been amazing learning experiences that I hope to share with you.
It has been a crazy ride, sometimes exhilarating, other times terrifying, but never dull.
“If you want swashbuckling action in your life, become an entrepreneur and give it a go.”
-Richard Branson
If I’ve learned one thing in life it is this: Nobody will fault you for trying something new as long as you call it an ‘experiment’. That’s what I’m asking you to consider.
Experiment.
Try something new.
Put yourself and your idea out there and see what happens.
My hope is that, in some small but positive way, I can inspire you to start your own business.
It doesn’t matter whether you are 15 or 75, where you came from, whether you’re single or married with kids, or what your fears are…all you need to do is to keep an open mind about what could be possible. I’m going to do my best to help you along the way and to learn alongside you as I interview other successful lifestyle business entrepreneurs.
Sound good?
Lifestyle Business Guy is my humble attempt at giving something back and learning something new, so I hope you’ll subscribe to my podcasts, read/contribute to the blog, and generally, put me on your short list of things to check out on a regular basis.
Thanks so much for checking out this page and for sharing it with people you know…here’s to a great friendship!
Every best wish,
Dylan