Moving to the Dominican Republic was nothing short of hectic. We put all of our stuff in storage, left the dog in good hands with family, and left our car and belongings behind for paradise.(By the way, I plan to return for my dog- I miss him too much!) My husband and I brought ONE suit case each and an open mind as we transitioned into island life. It’s amazing how much stuff you tend to collect compared to how little you need to live. I couldn’t believe how smoothly it all went despite my lack of sleep to make it happen.
We arrived at the airport and were greeted by the wonderful Dominican people. We paid a $10 tourist visa on the spot (bring cash with you if you plan to come). Thankfully our luggage did not get lost and our driver was there waiting for us to take us from Santiago to Cabarete. The drive was nothing short of spectacular. We drove through the mountains while enjoying the beautiful scenery and realizing that we were in a foreign country. As a city girl I’m always so happy to see horses, donkeys, cows, and even chickens and my husband is extra amused to see my reaction. He grew up in South Africa so he is not as excited to see a horse or a cow as someone from Miami might be.
Our condo is spectacular. We are on the beach and walking distance to all the shops and restaurants. Getting to see the ocean every day is a privilege I have not taken for granted a single day. You have to be disciplined and focused to move to paradise and work with the pool facing you and knowing that all the friends you just made are at the beach kite surfing. We would love to be on the beach all day everyday but we have too many people to serve. We are so committed to our team and our goals that we are able to stay on track without flinching.
In fact, I have been more focused than ever. To my pleasant surprise, our condo came with a cleaning service. In the states I prided myself on cooking, cleaning, and running a successful online business on my own. In Cabarete, I pride myself in being extra productive because I have seen the power of outsourcing. Last week Monday, while the wonderful lady swept, mopped, etc I completed a day’s worth of work. I could not believe how much I got done in so little time. Imagine all the money I have missed out on because of doing certain tasks myself that could easily be delegated to someone else!
It was in the Dominican Republic where I learned that I was never meant to be a housewife. When you work from home it is easy to get your roles and priorities mixed up. It is easy to walk away from the computer and your work because you have to do laundry or the phone is ringing. Here my eyes have been opened that I can be successful at being a wife and being a business woman as long as I am able to delegate a few tasks. I learned first-hand the power of team work and of always finding ways to add people to my team. The more my team grows, the more I can grow as a person and in my business. I still cook and clean as needed but those tasks no longer impact the growth of my business. It’s not beneath me to do it, I just got smarter about how I utilize my time.
Having help was like adding another day to my week. My productivity has skyrocketed and my stress is GONE. Imagine a life where you get more done in less time and feel better about it. Imagine a life where you help more people because you served them directly with your services or simply employed them. Imagine a life where you can be anywhere in the world and serve people all over the world thanks to the leverage the internet offers. All of that is possible. The best advice I can give you is to outsource work in your home and your business to make room for what you are really good at. And if you are stuck in one area, hire a coach or a mentor to help you.
Until next time, I want to remind that you can have it all as long as you work for it all. Anything is possible as long as you put in the effort. Never settle on your dream life! Also, don’t forget to type in your name and email address to never miss and update from me and my adventures.
God bless,
Ilean Harris
P.S. Are you an entrepreneur & want to join me in paradise to mastermind for 5 days?
Due to popular demand, you can now bring your goals, your laptop, and your bathing suits to take your business to the next level in the Dominican Republic.
The all-inclusive 5 day Paradise Mastermind is for entrepreneurs who want to work with me on a one-to-one basis to successfully market their online business.
Click here schedule a complimentary phone conversation with me to learn more about my 5 day mastermind in the Dominican Republic.
Remember that these complimentary sessions are for entrepreneurs who are serious about being successful in their businesses and are ready to take their online marketing to the next level- who have the resources available to invest in themselves and their business.
