[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.0.89″ make_fullwidth=”on”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text] Evan C. Carmichael created this website with the simple goal of wanting to inform and entertain you, give you a lift and make you smile. Mark is just a regular guy, a fun loving student in the school of life, where each day holds another lesson, and all of the people and events, both good and bad, are potential teachers and opportunities for self-growth. He believes that the “Three L’s” – love, laughter and learning – are pathways to a happier and more meaningful journey. Before he retired from the business world to write and enjoy life more, Evan worked very hard as an entrepreneur to build several successful businesses. Later he became a published author and lecturer on the topics of business success and goal achievement. A near-death experience changed his outlook on life. He was working too much and he kept getting sick. Eventually he got pneumonia and could hardly breathe. This brush with “game over” made him realize how short life is, and it put things into perspective about what really matters versus what is simply running on the treadmill. He no longer lectures about business or sells training courses or services. Although he understands that many people are addicted to the adrenalin rush of busy-ness, he personally sees much of it as kind of a glorified rat race on a golden treadmill while life passes quickly by. Evan has had his fill of that and believes that nobody looks back on their life and wishes they had spent more time at the office or in meetings. But…each to his own. As Christopher Morley said: “There is only one success – to be able to live your life in your own way.” Some people escape the treadmill and earn a good living by working on their computer in the comfort of their own home or while traveling to fun places. One famous example is John Grisham who earns an estimated $25 million per year in royalties simply by writing stories. Many people enjoy financial freedom by creating websites or by turning their fun hobbies into sources of income. Life doesn’t have to be a rat race. As a writer and photographer, Evan spends his time on a kind of a paid vacation – enjoying nature, traveling and visiting new places, reading and writing, and creating websites. This is, for him, a happy life with virtually none of the hassles of a typical business: no clients or employees, no deadlines or meetings, no suits or commutes, and no demanding people he has to answer to. Life is good. He is the proud father of two great kids, enjoys nature photography and vacation travel, and currently lives on a farm on the west coast of the U.S. where he tries not to take himself too seriously and is known for saying, “I’m just trying to be the person my dog thinks I am.” Evan’s current “work” is to study joy and happiness and how to change stress into success, and to share his observations with others. It’s a tough job but somebody has to do it. The articles and ideas on this website could have been put into a book and sold, but Mark wanted to give something back to life and he decided to make it all available here for you to read and enjoy for free. Have a great day. [/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]