The Long Game

Let’s have a chat about the long game.

I know people who’ve spent years talking about things they’d like to do but never started because they’re afraid of failing or simply don’t know where to begin. Others don’t know what they want to do and it all becomes too daunting. Then there are people who like the idea but aren’t prepared for the work involved. Social media hasn’t helped, with grifters taking advantage of people by selling courses and schemes promising easy money. They’re selling you a shortcut that doesn’t exist. With AI and the tools now available, I don’t think there’s ever been a better time to build your own business, product or service. But you still have to put in the work and be prepared to commit to the long game.

For me, it starts with something you’re passionate about or at the very least interested in. You don’t have to have it all worked out. You just need to take that first step and start learning as you go. But give some thought to what you’re working towards and the life you want to build, because the road ahead will be long and brutal. When things go wrong or take longer than you expected, you need a reason to keep going. If you’re not passionate about what you’re doing, it’s going to be hard to stick with it.

HaveAChat.AI, Authenticated Intelligence, Driving About, Hangabouts, education, product development and manufacturing are all connected and part of the long game. I believe you need to do the work yourself before you can teach others about it. That’s why I’m out doing rideshare, starting as early as 1:30 a.m., taking people to the airport and learning how the industry operates. The conversations have been amazing. I’m meeting people from all walks of life who are working incredibly hard and hearing what they’re doing, their thoughts on AI and their hopes and concerns about where things are heading.

For some people, rideshare could be a way to get the family into an electric vehicle and help pay it off. For others, a few hours on a Saturday or Sunday morning could bring in extra income to help cover household bills and mortgage repayments. If you’re a full time carer looking after a loved one, you might only have certain hours when you can get out and earn an income around your commitments at home. That cash flow can make a difference, whether it’s helping you get through a tough period or giving you room to build something of your own.

There’s also the opportunity to develop your own services. Some passengers would prefer a woman driver for their own personal reasons and I believe that’s a service desperately needed. I’m exploring how we can offer this service through Driving About, starting with a woman driver ourselves and giving other women the training, tools and booking app to build their own businesses providing driving services for women.

Across Australia, there’s also scope to offer more than transport from one place to another. That could mean taking someone to hospital for treatment or a medical appointment, waiting for them and stopping off on the way home for a visit to the pharmacy, supermarket or just to have a cup of tea with a friend. Those ongoing services could help older people and others who need extra assistance maintain their independence, get out and about and stay connected with their community.

Regional towns offer another opportunity to combine private driving with services for local businesses and households. Someone could work within a 25 or 50 kilometre radius of their town, carrying passengers and delivering food, medication, tools, parts or other supplies. I’d like to explore how combining those services could help people build a business around the needs of their community.

For me, I work sixteen to seventeen hours a day, seven days a week. I’m not advocating that everyone do this, but it’s what I do. That includes running the businesses, building these platforms and being the main carer for Mum. I love what I’m doing, but there’s only so much time, money and attention I can give each part at once. I’ve been battling the flu for the past six days and that alone has put me behind where I wanted to be. Maybe it’s a reminder to slow down and have a rest.

Things won’t always go to plan and I’ll keep sharing what I’m doing as I’m able to. For me, it’s quality over quantity. I’m not going to put just anything out there to meet a posting schedule. You need to listen to your gut instincts and your body too. If you’re worn out, take a break, slow down or do something different for a week.

That’s something I need to make room for myself. I love getting out around six in the morning for a four kilometre walk, but over the past year I haven’t been able to do that with my personal commitments. I miss the fresh air and the time to clear my head. Mum is my number one priority and everything else has to fit around caring for her. I’m working out what works best for me around that, including making time to look after myself too.

That’s also why I’m building this in a way that suits the life I want to live. I love travelling, meeting people and having the freedom to move around whenever and wherever I want. If you see me on video, there’s a 99.9% chance that’s my digital brother from another mother. We’re building my digital self with our AI, using my own verified content, knowledge and experience. It’s something we can keep developing and adding to as we continue to evolve. I don’t have the time or interest in standing in front of a camera making videos. For me, that energy is better spent doing the work and documenting it so others can learn from it.

I’m not interested in building a personal brand. What matters to me is what we’re building for Australia and what I can leave behind for others to learn from and build on. In fifteen years, I’d like to look back and feel proud of what we’ve done and fulfilled by the contribution I’ve made. Hopefully I’ll still be adding to it well beyond that.

This is just the start of the conversation. You’ll hear me talking a lot about the long game and cash flow as I share what we’re building, what I’m learning and how it all develops over time.