Before I ever learned about intentional goal setting, I was already chasing dreams — I just didn’t realize that’s what I was doing.

I had a strong inner drive for independence.

I wanted to earn my own money, stop relying on my parents, and leave my small hometown to explore the world and build a life on my own terms.

One summer, I took a job on a tiny island in the North Sea. It wasn’t glamorous, but for me, it meant everything:

My first job away from home.

My own apartment.

My first real step toward freedom.

That summer, I also met my now-husband. He was a customer at the shop where I worked, and his snack bar was just across the street.

I had this instant feeling: I’m not leaving this island without meeting him.

That was 29 years ago — and we’ve now been married for 14 of those years.

Soon after, I started working with him in the snack bar.

It was a small, seasonal business, and the island came alive only in the summer.

And yes — it wasn’t always easy.

While everyone else headed to the beach to enjoy the sunshine, we were in the kitchen — often hotter than outside.

But then something important clicked in my mind:

While they were here for two weeks of vacation, I would stop working in October and not start again for five months.

Most people couldn’t imagine that kind of rhythm — but it worked for us.

So why would I complain or fall into that summertime sadness when I was living the best life — a life on my terms, or better yet, on our terms?

Together, we’ve built a life shaped by what we value most: freedom and flexibility.

We work part of the year and spend the rest abroad.

And now, growing my online business is helping us create even more of that lifestyle — one that brings both financial and personal freedom.

We’re not special.

We simply kept taking the next step toward each dream, even when the path was uncertain.

So here’s what I want you to know:

You don’t need to have it all figured out to start.

You don’t have to compare your goals to anyone else’s.

And it’s never too late to begin.

Your business might start small — but with intentional goal setting and a clear commitment to your vision, it can grow into the life you truly want.

Cheers,

Katja

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