Erika & Mike of the Master Cleanse

By Slava | March 28, 2011 at 11:55 pm | 9 comments | CC Features

When travelling on public transportation passengers often keep to themselves as uneventful rides take them from A to B. However, one day, Erika’s ride was far from uneventful when she spotted Mike as he got on the train. The two eyed each other but never said anything. When they got off the train they walked in their own directions, wishing they had said hello to one another. Twenty minutes after getting off the train, they ran into each other on the street. They took it as a sign and started chatting; chatting turned into lunch, lunch turned into dinner and many telephone conversations followed.

That was 4 years ago.

Today, Erika and Mike travel the world and work on their respective businesses. Mike Olaski is a successful entrepreneur who has launched multiple websites, products and campaigns. His most popular site, The Master Cleanse, is a large online community that has over 60,000 members. Erika Dolnackova is a life coach with a coaching practice that allows her to travel the world and take her clients with her. Her clients love the fact that Erika is always available on Skype but her location is often different and she always has an exciting travel story to share.

From Canada to the US, Europe and Central America this couple keeps busy. We caught up with them in Costa Rica where they currently reside. Working and playing hard, Erica and Mike stay on top of their games by surfing, riding their bicycles and eating well. Most importantly, they get the peace they need to focus on their businesses.

How did your lifestyle of working while traveling the world come about?
Erika: For me, it was by meeting Michael because he already had the lifestyle. He would go places for “seasons”, three months at a time. And for that reason we had a long-distance relationship for a while. After I launched my own business and transferred from style coaching to life coaching, that business really allowed me to go places – either with him or without him. As nice as it is, it took me a while to get used to it – it’s definitely different and it took us about three years to get synchronized and be able to do everything together.

Mike: If I were to take you all the way back it would be to have a lifelong desire for change and challenge, but even more so that I have always had an intense desire to do “whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted”. As childish as that seems, that’s exactly what I have designed to allow for in my life (the ability to be free to play and be happy as a child). Of course this was just a subconscious emotional tug, that became focused through my studies, and crystallized by one particular book, called “Multiple Streams of Income”.

I already knew, I could do whatever I wanted, but after reading that book, I began to build the framework for what would later allow for me to do it whenever I wanted. I began to implement changes in my life. First, I began working on my belief systems, actively choosing those that worked for my plan, and not against it. Second, I organized both my intentions and my actions around activities that were not only completely aligned with my passions in life but also would result is some sort of produced asset that could generate income passively. Eventually, my daily needs were met, without my need for “work”, or at least the work as most people understand.

Where were you living and working before you decided to move to Costa Rica?
Erika: I was at home – in Europe, with my family and getting out of Vancouver because I was there for almost 10 years. My sister had a baby, and it was really nice to spend some time with them.  I reconnected with some old friends, and received a lot of positive feedback about my work. It was great to get used to coaching online.

Mike: During the six months Erika was in Europe, I travelled from Florida to my Dad’s wedding in Calgary, took a brief stop back in Vancouver – with a detour to Saskatoon, my home town – then back to Florida. Then six weeks in Costa Rica, where I was laying the basics of where we would live for our next season. I surfed everyday for 6 weeks on that trip. The last month before coming back here to meet Erika was spent all over the place over Christmas. Vancouver, Calgary, Canmore, Whistler. That’s a lot of cities in 6 months, which made for more travel that I like.

You both travel a lot, but how do you choose where you want to work from and how much time to spend in each place?
Erika: (Laughing) I get lazy about that. I leave it up to Michael because I’m very easy going and can enjoy any place. Home is a state of mind. Also, I am confident in Michael because we are very similar and I know he will choose well. Good people, good food and a relaxed environment is mostly what I look for.

Mike: My intention is to own three to five small resorts in my favourite places in the world. Costa Rica is topping that list currently. I plan to have “shops” set up in each location, so I can plug in when I land an be ready for the next season. The “shops” aren’t just about work – it’s about the lifestyle.

What do you consider difficulties for professional nomads such as yourself?
Erika: (Chuckles) Unreliable Internet? Definitely. I’m at that stage with my business where everything I do is online. The move can sometimes affect my clients, because of time difference and other factors. Packing is another thing – deciding what to bring is always difficult. I am learning to become more minimalistic – it’s definitely a learning process.  I think we both struggle with that. But the excitement of going to a new place always outweighs the struggles.

Mike: Definitely two major difficulties has been unreliable services and a lack of having everything from my “home” office due to travel baggage limits. But that comes with experience, and frankly, resources. Besides that, the incidentals of the travel. Keeping work data secure by backing up regularly – online services help – and managing the residency black holes one can fall into including health insurance. But, true to form, I am taking these difficulties and identifying solutions to them. I truly believe the world is now Hyper-National, and those who have the information on how to navigate the loop holes will be able to break free from the “problems” and realize all the opportunities that come with this lifestyle.

What is it like to work, travel and spend all of your time together?
Erika: It’s interesting. Every place we go to, we are not only exploring the place but each other. Here, for example, we are on different schedules. Mike is a surfer and he has a “surfing schedule” he works around. My schedule on the other hand, revolves around my clients. But it really allows us to develop the skill of managing our relationship and our emotional body. We also learned to seek and respect each other’s opinions but that it’s okay to disagree.

Mike: It’s saturating to be sure. Which I like. When we are apart for six months, then together every moment for three. We really reach a new level in our relationship in both circumstances. As our individual resources unfold, we’re finding more space in bigger apartments, or different likes and hobbies that take us into our own worlds for a while, giving us a break from one another. Breaks are very important. I cherish my alone time.

I believe this to be a viable alternative to the time spent away from one another in the typical lifestyle -that of the office/commute variety where at least 30% of each others time is spent away. So if I were to craft a road map to living and working together, it might include: One – Finding a way to spend two hours of the day alone or away from your partner. Two – Find a way to spend a few weeks/months a year away as well. Too much of anything is…too much. Balance is key.

What do you enjoy most about being your own boss?
Erika: What I love the most is that it empowers me. When I get to help somebody to get their life on track, it powers me as well. This constant world of positivity I try to install in my clients rubs off on me as well. When a person comes to me with a challenge they need to overcome, while I am helping them get over it I also learn along the way. Seeing a person regain their focus and energy, to see them have that “spark” in their eyes again.. it’s special. It’s definitely my favourite part of what I do. I am also able to work around my natural rhythm and cycles, and work when I’m most productive.

Mike: My life revolves around one question, “What if?” What if I had enough income to allow me to quit working? What if I could learn to surf at 36 and surf everyday? What if everyone was able to benefit from their knowledge about their own desires, passions and expertise like I have? I feel like I am coming into my own and that has been due to this process. And from that I feel compelled to help others do the same. We’re living in amazing times. I believe that it was no coincidence that I found myself with these passions and desires, at a time that allowed me to perfect the process of uploading my knowledge to the “Central Repository”, the “New Infinite Library” of the internet, where the whole world can now access my knowledge.

Do you have any recommendations/suggestions for those who wish to live like you?
Erika: The first thing is one of my favourite quotes from Wayne Dyer: “Start to be more independent of the “good” opinions of others”. There’s always going to be people telling you that you CAN’T do something.  If you are stubborn, use it to really hold on to your passion. Also, find the people who inspire you and get in touch with them – talk to them, let them influence you because they are living proof of what is possible. You will be surprised at how these people started out, and how they were no more fortunate than you. They just worked hard at it. Do that thing you love every day, and throughout the process, really choose the people you surround yourself with.

Mike: Two things…

One. When in an emergency, it’s often suggested to first ensure your own safety before attending to others, such as placing the oxygen mask on yourself first before helping even your child. Why is this? Simply because if we’re all busy worrying about each other, we may find ourselves unable to help anyone at all. Be selfish. Get to know yourself. Trust yourself. And above all forgive yourself.

Two. Craft your dream life. Take ownership over it. Say after me: “I am responsible”. It’s yours, and you can do ANYTHING you want and WHENEVER you want, but wanting isn’t enough. Intention is better. But you must ENGAGE. Meet your dreams halfway. It will make the dreams much more vivid, and cause the reality to arrive that much more quickly.

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