Jump from humdrum to happy

Let go, dive into your new life, and just see what happens, says Mike Lewis Picture / Getty Images

Mike Lewis inspires people to move from the job they’ve found themselves in to the life they want.

At first, all Mike Lewis ever intended to do was live out his own story of a life-changing decision and it's positive consequences. Before he knew it, however, this outgoing, gregarious Californian and former growth equity investor's move had become a movement — and it's one that continues to gain pace as he inspires thousands of people all over the world to share their own narratives of moving from the job they've found themselves in — to the life they really wanted.

Even now, after this huge success, Lewis is very modest about the phenomenal effect his jump — as it's become known, at the age of 24, has unleashed.

"I always thought that if I could just help a single person find the key to unlocking their ideal life, I'd be very happy," he says. "No one should need to do this alone."

A keen squash player in his spare time, Lewis says he'd long had a feeling that although he was doing extremely well in the finance sector, working 12-hour days, it simply wasn't what he truly wanted to be doing. He lived — while thriving professionally — with this emotional conflict for a number of years, and when he read about a Wall Street banker who'd left her job to become a professional cyclist — eventually competing in the London 2012 Olympics — he felt compelled to track her down.

"I really wanted to hear her story, in her own words, and sure enough, it convinced me that in time I could make my own jump."

Encouraged by his close friend Corey Griffin: "He really believed in me," says Lewis, May 2014 saw him leaving his own position in Boston, and finally following his dream of playing competitive squash on the international circuit.

In the US where it's a niche sport, he often has to explain squash, but in New Zealand it needs no introduction, with household names such as Dame Susan Devoy, Ross Norman, Bruce Brownlee and Leilani Joyce taking their place in our local hall of fame.

On his way, Lewis began recording stories of other jumpers, often those he heard while staying in hostels, or couch-surfing in the homes of friends, contacts and friends of friends, over the course of 16 months.

The world tour was an epic adventure, which ultimately took him to more than 50 countries. Having visited New Zealand first-off, for training in Auckland, he returned and won his last tournament in Christchurch — having also spent time in other local towns, including Palmerston North, Queenstown and Invercargill.

"New Zealand gave me my start That's why I made a real point of coming back, and it was great to catch up with the folks I met on my first visit. It's such a friendly place, everyone is very generous and I just love it."

Sadly, Corey Griffin died in an accident just three months into Lewis' new life, which was enormously sad but he remained a driving influence. Lewis still acknowledges him as a prime source of empowerment, asking other jumpers to support the Corey C. Griffin Charitable Foundation, which is dedicated to helping Boston children succeed in life, regardless of their backgrounds and circumstances.

I always thought that if I could just help a single person find the key to unlocking their ideal life, I'd be very happy

Mike Lewis

A few short years since Lewis first set off, things have continued to spiral exponentially and these days he continues to gather jump stories, overseeing a growing virtual community that keeps in close contact via podcasts, a video channel, Twitter and Facebook.

In addition to that, there's a Jump Club, which is a mix of speakers, music and beer, and he's also established a curated community collaboration with Huffington Post, whose founder Arianna Huffington was an early enthusiast of the whole jump concept. Lewis will soon be embarking on a world tour to promote his book, When to Jump.

With a foreword by Facebook chief operating officer Sheryl Sandberg, a cousin of Lewis, whose own grandparents made the jump from Ukraine to the US in the early 1900s, it's an addictive read with one inspiring experience after another from jumpers around the globe.

Almost all have worked through the four basic stages that Lewis has defined.

Number one, he says, is listening to the "little voice". That's the one that plays in your head, quietly, but persuasively, defying you to put your dreams on hold forever, as you continue the safe life you know.

Next comes the "make your plan" phase, wherein you begin to look seriously at the whys and wherefores of taking the plunge. There can be loads of reasons for hesitation — often financial ones, which need to be addressed. Of course, there's also the matter of comfort zones — and teaching yourself not to be scared of change.

This stage leads into what Lewis calls the "let yourself be lucky" moment, when you feel ready to let go, dive into your new life, and just see what happens.

Naturally, that's followed by "don't look back", and this can apply whether the outcome is initially positive or not.

From Jeff Arch, a karate school owner who became an Oscar winning Hollywood scriptwriter, to Kelly O'Hara, an advertising professional who now advocates for sexual assault victims, and Greg Klassen, a former garbage collector who moved into making luxury furniture — plus dozens of others in between — the people whose narratives make up the book all have a significant experience in common.

While making the jump is the hard part, Lewis says it doesn't even need to be a big jump. You simply do what you can. He says that the thing which ends up making you happy might ultimately be a variation or even an absolute departure from what you originally thought you were going to do. And that's not necessarily a bad thing, as we all need to be flexible in this ever-changing new world.

whentojump.com

When to Jump (Hachette) is out now