Fame if you win it,

Comes and goes in a minute.

Where’s the real stuff of life to cling to? 

                                - Louis Armstrong

Let’s talk about climbing ladders.

Those alluring, shimmering ladders which pull us in with promises of fame and glory, but which, if we’re not too careful, can be slippery and greasy and end with us landing on our rear ends with a cold, hard thud.

See, there’s a widespread view that climbing certain ladders and reaching the top rung leads to more than just the prize at the top of the ladder.

This view says that the top of the ladder means you’ve made it.  That you can breathe a sigh of relief, crack open a can, sit back and enjoy the vista.

But I don’t think life works this way.

Here’s my take:

If you climb the social ladder, you might end up with lots of friends.

If you climb the career ladder, you might end up in an awesome job.

If you climb the financial ladder, you might end up with the green stuff burning a hole in your pocket.

And if you climb the housing ladder, you might end up in a bloody big house.

But if you’re looking for a happy life – a life where you can breathe out, relax, have ease & joy & peace & calm – then I don’t think you’re going to find this at the top of any of these ladders, however much the prevailing wisdom says you will.

To be clear:

I’m not saying that ending up in an awesome job or having loads of money stops you from living a happy life.

And I’m not telling anyone what ladders they should or shouldn't climb.

What I’m saying is if you’re climbing these ladders in order to find more happiness, peace or calm, you might need to revisit your master plan.

You don’t have to look very far to find people who are popular, successful and rich - yet completely miserable - to see the truth in this.

Bottom line:

What most people crave most in life (happiness and peace of mind – that’s my take) simply isn’t found in the realm of acquisition and climbing metaphorical ladders.

It’s found somewhere else entirely.

This idea takes centre stage in Issue 15 of New Escapologist, a print journal (that’s right - real, physical pages!) published by writer, editor and comedian Robert Wringham.

Escapology is the art of getting out of things.  And New Escapologist is the journal of the art of getting out of things.

As Robert writes on his website:

We don’t think it’s shameful to want enough time in life to read library books, laze around, throw parties, go for walks, pursue our own creative projects or (heaven forbid) better ourselves. 

We refute the notion that being a successful worker-consumer is the height of it all.

And inside the hallowed pages of Issue 15, you’ll find the first of what will be a regular column from Yours Truly.

I’m joining the ranks of previous contributors to New Escapologist like Alain de Botton, Richard Herring and Will Self.

Which, I have to say, has got me very excited!

I’ll be writing more about this over the next couple of days.

If you’d like to pick up a copy in the meantime, here’s the link:

https://newescapologist.co.uk/product/issue-15/

That’s all for today.

- Tom

p.s.  To celebrate my first column, I’m adding a valuable Brucie Bonus into the mix for anyone who buys a four issue subscription to New Escapologist by my self-imposed deadline of 8pm UK time on Wednesday 20^th December.

That bonus?

A free, 30 minute Escape the Matrix Zoom call with me.

An Escape the Matrix call is not a coaching call.

I think of it as a consulting call for anyone plotting their very own escape (in whatever form) and who’d like to pick my brains on anything escape-related.

That could be my experience of quitting my job, the trigger that took me from mulling quitting to actually quitting, starting from scratch in copywriting, setting up a daily newsletter, building that newsletter, posting & growing on LinkedIn, moving into coaching, my thoughts on coaching courses, finding your passion, following your gut, making difficult decisions, or anything else you’d like to talk about.

It really is up to you.  The call is yours.

And, there is no time-limit to schedule the call.  You can cash in your chips whenever you want.

If you use this call carefully to mine my brain for what I've learnt over the last couple of years, or even what I'll learn over the next 1, 2, or 3+ years (if you decide to schedule the call in the future), the value could be off the charts.

I don’t know why I’m being so generous with this bonus.  Perhaps I’ve been brainwashed by all the Christmas lights and merry music around London over the last few days.

What I do know, though, is this:

I won’t be making this offer again. 

This newsletter is still small, but it’s growing.  And as new readers join, I can't keep making this offer.  I simply won't have time to jump on half hour Zoom calls and share my pearls of wisdom with every Tom, Dick and Harry.

So if you want to take me up on this offer, this is your chance.

Here’s what to do...

Use this link to pick up a 4 issue subscription:

https://newescapologist.co.uk/product/four-issue-subscription/

Then forward me your receipt by 8pm UK time on Wednesday 20^th December.

Do this and an Escape the Matrix call is yours.

But you must send me your receipt by the deadline.  If it comes after – even by a minute, or even by the teeniest, tiniest second – the offer is null and void.

Back tomorrow with more.