Thinking about reading Be A Free Range Human by Marianne Cantwell?

Want to make money doing what you love? Marianne Cantwell absolutely believes that is possible for you to quit your job and live a wonderful life as a Free Range Human. As a Free Range Human, you get to lead a life where you are able to do work that you love, in a way that suits the lifestyle and still get paid. If that sounds interesting to you keep on reading to check out my full review below.

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Thank you to Kogan Page for sending me a free copy of Be A Free Range Human.

For the purpose of this review, I read the second edition of the book (published in September 2019).

The book contains 4 parts:

Part One: Get ready for the ride
Part Two: Creating your free range life – How to decide what you really want
Part Three: Think like a free range human
Part Four: Build your free range escape hatch

Part One: Get ready for the ride

This part of the book is very short and quickly looks at the idea of a ‘safe job’ and breaks down why having a job isn’t always the smartest idea. For many people, a job is seen as secure, whilst being self-employed or running your own business is risky. However, Marianne challenges this and poses a wonderful question

“do you want to feel secure, or be secure?”

Part Two: Creating your free range life – How to decide what you really want

For some people the drive to leave their 9-5 is strong, but they don’t necessarily know what they want to do instead. In this part of the book, there are a number of exercises to help you uncover what you love, dream bigger and spot your superpowers (aka strengths).

Some people may have one thing they love and want to build a career around, whilst others have multiple passions and want to combine their loves. Marianne suggests three different approaches that can work for someone who fits in that box: bespoke career, portfolio career and the evolving career.

This is a book that is designed to help you to action and so towards the end of this part of the book, you are encouraged to start a project.

Part Three: Think Like A Free Range Human

In order to be a successful free range human, you are most likely going to have to change your thinking. Part of this is breaking down myths that are holding you back (such as not being experienced enough) and also beginning to open your eyes to a new way of working.

Now whilst Marianne doesn’t set a blueprint for what a free range business looks like (as it is meant to reflect you) she does she five common free range business types. They are:

Services
Virtual Products
Advertising
Physical Products
Events and Experiences

This part of the book also shares stories of other Free Range Humans so you can hear their own free range story.

Part Four: Build your free range escape hatch

“Free ranging is about creating your ultimate life…. Freedom and fulfilment and great income. No compromises.”

Now it is time to make it happen. You’ve done the soul searching, you built the right mindset and you’ve even put something out there to ensure right now this is the thing for you. By this point, you are clear about what you want and it is time to turn it into a reality.

Marianne writes about practical things such as quitting your job and how to combine travel and work. Then there is a lot of information around the marketing side of your business. She talks about your branding, selling, attracting clients, building your status, writing copy and all the other essentials things you’ll need to build this new life for yourself and get paid.

Then there is a short epilogue to leave you motivated to really embrace this journey and way of life.

FINAL THOUGHTS FROM CHARELLE

I loved this book and I wish I had read the book when I first heard about it. I was hooked from the preface where Marianne shares a very honest account about what happened after the book was originally published.

“I felt like I was suddenly at the centre of (and one of the accidental founders of) a scene that I would never have chosen to be a part of in that form.”

In the last few year becoming a ‘lifestyle’ entrepreneur has become increasingly popular. Everywhere I look there are people selling thesse formulas for success based on a blueprint and that isn’t the point of being a ‘lifestyle’ entrepreneur. You are meant to be creating something that works for you and I feel like Marianne really does encourage her readers to take the advice from the book, but ensure they are using it in a way that fits for them. Even though travel is a key part of Marianne’s life (she shares that the book was written in multiple countries) and no point is she saying that you have to become a digital nomad and live the #laptoplifestyle.

Marianne says “the free range approach is all about crafting something to fit your personality and priorities” and if you follow the action points in the book you will find out more about you and what is important you. You’ll then be in a place to make money on your own terms.

WHO WOULD I RECOMMEND READS BE A FREE RANGE HUMAN BY MARIANNE CANTWELL

As the title suggests this book has been created to help people to escape their 9 to 5. So if you have a day job that you hate then this book definitely will be helpful to you. However, it would also be a great read for someone who has is currently self-employed or has a business that isn’t necessarily working for you. By reading the book you might realise you can pivot or make some changes to help your business support your lifestyle better.