Hi, I’m Jef van de Graaf
In 2014, I sold all my belongings and flew to Tokyo, Japan to start the greatest adventure of a lifetime.
I had no plans and less than $3,000 in savings.
To earn a living, I became an English teacher and grew a small school with 65+ students.
However, teaching English was neither my passion nor the career I wanted forever.
I continued my journey but I felt lost, without a clear destination, alone with the world and a bicycle.
While cycling between cities, I struggled with life’s toughest questions:
“What am I doing with my life? Does money really buy happiness? Why is my butt so sore? Do aliens exist? Can cats see ghosts?”
As I explored exotic places, discovered strange cultures, and encountered beautiful people ― an answer slowly emerged.
Life is a beautiful mystery, meant to be experienced no matter the pleasure or the pain. If there’s a meaning to life, it’s to uncover our gift, so we can give it away and make the world more wonderful.
What will you contribute to the world?
I started this blog to share my thoughts, experiences, and wisdom to help others discover their ‘spark‘ (I hope Disney won’t mind borrowing that idea).
Now, despite looking like an inspiring religious figure (you know who I’m talking about), I can neither walk on water nor perform miracles.
Instead, when it comes to building a business without money, traveling to the far reaches of the world, or creating a nomadic lifestyle ― you may find something here to guide you along your journey.
Latest Articles & Writing
Collection of work on personal growth, inner happiness, and business success.
More about Jef
Before I left Canada, I pursued a BSc. in Biomedical Sciences and Psychology to better understand our potential as human beings. Instead of becoming a doctor, I wanted to experience the real world, beyond textbooks and degrees.
While cycling throughout South East Asia, I discovered my passion for business. I’m now part solopreneur, part digital nomad. If I’m not exploring new places, I’m busy building businesses while helping others achieve their dreams.
START YOUR OWN WEBSITE
Do you want to start a blog or build a business and need a website?
From aesthetics to custom coding, I run all the design on Jefvanderaaf.com.
If you want something similar, I can set you up with a WordPress website on the Genesis Framework.
I have subscriptions to premium plugins to get your new WordPress website running quickly and effectively.
When I set up your WordPress website, I will
- Offer branding and design advice
- Develop a custom WordPress website
- Automate Backups
- Optimize site speed
- And much more
I also provide a crash course on how to use WordPress so you can get the most out of your new website.
Ready to get started?
GET A PERSONAL COACH
Coaching is more than giving advice!
If you want my help to:
- Listen to your situation
- Diagnosis any problems
- Make recommendations based on my diagnosis
- Assist with making and implementing an actionable plan
- Establish an agreed-upon commitment on weekly actions and milestones
- Facilitate learning and teach you how to solve similar problems in the future
- Permanently improve your effectiveness in life and business
I’d be happy to set up weekly or monthly coaching sessions with you.
However, due to my current workload, I may not be able to help everyone at once.
For now, the best thing to do is get in touch and tell me about your situation via email or instant messaging. Tell me how you think I can help you in 4-sentences or less.
I’ll respond to your message within 3 to 5 business days and either set you up with my coaching or introduce you to the resources that will hopefully be helpful.
INVEST IN MY FIRST BOOK
I’m finally writing my first book!
By the end of 2021, I’m going to write and publish my first book ― but, I need your help.
My first books is an open source project.
This means anyone can contribute to the ideas and participate in it’s creation.
However, before you think I’m too damn lazy to write my own book, I’m not.
I want to write a book that actually gives meaning to people’s lives. And the only way to do that is to get their insight on what they want to learn from me.
So, if you want to support this project, I invite you to become one of my Pre-Order Investors.
A-B-C Newsletter
Sent once a week, each newsletter analyzes habits on business and life, offers strategies to improve them, and ends with a thought-provoking question for you to chew on.