Do you want to fulfill your dreams, but do not know where to find the money for them? Ian Asher didn't know either. And then he thought of selling his life - all, entirely. She bored him to death anyway. And guess what, I sold it!
Like all normal people, Ian Asher dreamed of happy family and interesting work. Like many, alas, Asher had neither one nor the other.
Ian was almost 50. And he worked as a carpet salesman in a small shop in Australia (carpets did not bother Ian at all). And when his marriage (which, unlike the carpets, he worried about) finally fell apart, Ian plunged into a deep depression. Here in depression, full of hatred for himself and his life, he found the perfect way out. Sell your unfortunate life on an online auction.
The "Life of Ian Asher" lot, which he posted on eBay, included his house with all the furniture and appliances, a car, a motorcycle, a jet ski, parachuting equipment, workplace and getting to know all colleagues and friends. The description of the lot ended with the words: "My life is enough for me, I no longer need it." The starting price was $1.
A week later, by the end of the auction, Ian Asher's property was only his passport and the proceeds from the sale of life 305 thousand dollars.
“I always dreamed of adventure,” recalls Ian, “but in reality, it was dreary to work in one place without any special events. I decided to do everything I dreamed of.”
Ian Asher made a list of 100 goals and gave himself 100 weeks to achieve them. After that, he bought a plane ticket and flew to Dubai to reach his first goal - to go skiing under the scorching sun. For the next two years, Ian traveled non-stop: he ran with the bulls on a holiday in Spain, swam with white sharks in Africa, and in Japan with whales. He learned how to fly an airplane, walked along the Great Wall of China and saw with his own eyes all the largest waterfalls in the world. In London, Ian talked with his idol - entrepreneur Richard Branson. And in Hollywood, he starred in a small role in a movie. At the same time, he had to convince the producers for a long time that he was not thinking about an acting career, and was ready to act completely free of charge.
Two years and $270,000 later, Ian Asher found himself completing 93 of the 100 items on his list. On the remaining desires (for example, "learn to understand in a dream that you are sleeping" and "plunge to the bottom of the ocean to look at the Titanic"), Ian decided to spit. Instead, with the last 30 thousand, he bought himself a tiny abandoned island off the coast of Panama, built a house on it with his own hands and settled there. Much of the time he lives with his beloved woman, Moe, whom he met while dog sledding in Canada. Ian and Mo visit Canada periodically and recently founded a small publishing house there that publishes children's books. It is with the help of him that Ian is going to earn money: "I will never return to my usual job," he says.
Now, four years after the sale of his former life, 50-year-old Ian is absolutely happy. He has written several books and is now talking to producers about a possible Hollywood adaptation of his story. "I'm incredibly happy about it," he says. "But you know, it's even more amazing to me that sometimes strangers and talk about how my story changed their lives. They have made their own lists of goals and live to achieve them. I think the world would look very cool if everyone pursued their goals."
What happened to the "old life" sold at auction? Asher knows nothing about it at all. But he hopes that his old life pleased the one who bought it.
Ian Asher was born in Darlington, UK. The mature life of the British took place quite far from his home - in the city of Perth, Western Australia. There he lived with his wife Laura, working in a small shop selling carpets. In his incomplete 50 years, Ian was terribly dissatisfied with his own life and dreamed of adventure and travel. Soon, his marriage, which lasted six years, also gave a crack - Laura left her husband, which broke his heart to smithereens. However, it was this last blow that was the reason that motivated him to change his life. And so, in 2008, a desperate man found a rather unusual way out of this situation - he decided to sell his failed life on the eBay online auction.
Ian Asher
The lot that really appeared on the online auction, which was called “ The life of Ian Asher ", included a house in Perth city with all appliances and furniture, a used Mazda car, a jet ski, a motorcycle, skydiving equipment, a workplace in a store and even getting to know all his friends and colleagues. The description of the lot put up for sale ended with a short phrase: “ I've had enough of my life, I don't need it anymore". With him, Ian wished to leave only a wallet, a passport and a few backpacks with personal belongings. He wanted to completely get rid of everything that would remind him of past failures.
The starting price of the lot was $1. A week later, the Briton had 305 thousand dollars from the sale of his life. According to Ian Asher, when the sale took place, he did not immediately understand what to do next, but he always had a dream to travel the world. Then the daredevil made a list of 100 extreme goals that he volunteered to carry out within 100 weeks.
« I always dreamed of adventure, - recalls Ian, - but in reality, I worked drearily in one place without any special events. I decided to do everything I dreamed of»
Shortly after compiling the list, he bought a ticket to Dubai and went to fulfill his first dream - to go skiing under the scorching rays of the sun. For the next two years, he pursued his goals without interruption. One of Ian's most dangerous adventures is running with the bulls at a Spanish festival in Pamplona. According to the Briton, he saw a film dedicated to this bright festival as a child and promised himself to get to it. That is why it became one of the main desires on his list, although participating in this, according to him, was quite scary.
To Dubai
Usher cites his most exciting experience as a dive off the coast of Okinawa, Japan, where he was able to swim up close with the whales. The daredevil swam with white sharks in Africa, walked along the Great Wall of China, learned to fly a plane, skydived at night, enjoyed the beauty of all the largest waterfalls in the world and got himself an octopus as a pet.
Jump from the Artyubi Bridge
Aiguille du Midi
in Italy
In London, another dream came true - he managed to talk with his idol, the famous British entrepreneur Richard Branson . In Hollywood, Ian persuaded the producers to give him a small role in the film. At the same time, he convinced them for a long time that he would be filming completely free of charge and did not even think about an acting career.
Ian and Richard Branson 2009
In Cannes
Two years and $270,000 later, Ian Asher found himself completing 93 of the 100 items on his list. The remaining targets appear in the list with the mark “in progress”. Temporarily unfulfilled dreams include diving into the wreck of the Titanic, jumping a car from a pier into the water, meeting five Yen Ashers, learning to lucid dream, investing $50,000 in cancer research, and being present at the birth of your own child.
In Spain
In London
Asher is confident that all his dreams will come true, it's only a matter of time. Yen bought himself a small island off the coast of Panama and built a house there with his own hands. Life on the island completely satisfies him, after long months spent traveling, he can finally get some rest.
The island and the house of Jena
Ian's beloved woman, Mo (Maureen Boxa), a 38-year-old Canadian who learned about the brave Briton from the news, helped to completely heal the emotional wounds of Ian. In a letter she wrote to him, there was a proposal to add a dog sled competition in Canada to her wish list. Ian accepted her proposal, not even suspecting that this woman would become the love of his life. Most of the time, Mo lives with him on the island, sometimes they travel to Canada, where they recently founded a publishing house that publishes children's books. It is it that should become the main source of income, Usher is not going to return to his usual job. (Nothing lasts forever and since 2013 Ian has been dating Englishwoman Vanessa Anderson)
Yen and Mo
Ian and Vanessa
Many, like Ian, would like to live interesting life and travel more, but it's all about the fear of changing and breaking ingrained habits. For some, only severe stress becomes a catalyst that can take you out of a half-asleep existence and force you to do some kind of non-standard act that radically changes your life, for example, apply for an annual multiple visa and travel around countries for a whole year, relying on luck and poor knowledge of the language. all this time, Ian kept a blog in which he described in detail all his achievements.
Christmas Island
Uluru in Australia
Very soon he had great amount fans who were inspired by his story and changed their lives. One of the items on the wish list was " To write a book ". And indeed, at the end of his long journey, Usher finished his autobiographical book " Life is sold ”, which has already become quite popular in the world today.
Such an unusual story could not but affect the interest of Hollywood filmmakers. The film rights to the adventures of Ian Asher were bought by Disney for $356,000. The Briton hopes that in the process of creating the film, he will act not only as a consultant, but also play a small role in it. In the near future, Ian plans only to fish, build a house and enjoy the sunsets on the ocean.
After the events that radically changed his life, he says that he never regretted the decision: “ Last years became the most amazing adventure in my life". The Briton, who risked everything, admits that while he has something to do and he is absolutely happy, but everything can be, perhaps one day he will again have a desire to put his life up for sale. Ian Asher has become a very popular personality, inspiring many people to the same heroic deeds. As the Briton who risked everything says, the main thing is to take the first step, then it will be much easier.
In 2013, Yen returned to the auction - and once again, Usher puts his own life as a lot. For some 160,000 pounds sterling - which is about half the cost of far from the most luxurious London house - anyone can go to Usher's personal island and forget about all the hardships of the life of an ordinary office clerk. The restless craving for wandering again calls Asher himself on the road - he has enjoyed the delights of a settled life to his heart's content and is now going to continue exploring the unusual corners of our planet.
in China in December 2014
No one knows how things are today with the owner of the life Ian Asher bought in 2008, but the Briton himself hopes that his “old life” brought more happiness to the one who bought it than to himself.
When a family collapses at the age of 50 and work cannot be called a favorite, one gets the feeling that life has been lived in vain. That's how the story began Jena Ashera, a man famous for sold his life. No, he did not make a deal with the devil and did not even go into voluntary slavery. He put up for auction his own worthless (as it seemed to him) life, valuing the lot at $ 1. What came of it - read on.
Under the "Life of Ian Asher" lot, everything that the man owned at that time was put up for auction on eBay: a furnished house, a used car, a hydro and a motorcycle, in addition, intangible things were also sold - a workplace in a carpet store (this is where Ian worked ) and contacts of his friends. It is interesting that in just 7 days a buyer was found and bought the life of a daredevil for 350 thousand dollars.
Left with money and a passport in his pocket, Ian began to make plans for the future. There was nothing left to lose, and he went on a journey, promising himself that in the next 100 weeks he would do 100 incredible things. In fairness, it is worth noting that Ian managed to realize almost all of them. Of those that are still marked "in progress": diving to the sunken Titanic, trainings that allow you to have lucid dreams, searching for and meeting five namesakes, and being present at the birth of your own child.
By the way, the dream of becoming a father is not unreasonable. Ian was lucky in Canada to meet a woman with whom he has been living together for several years. Yen himself has tried a lot over the years. The Briton, who lived in Australia, began his journey in Dubai. Here he rode in a ski resort in multi-degree heat. Afterwards he visited different countries world, including London, Spain, Japan, China and many others. He made incredible dives under water and swam with whales, took to the skies on a plane and skydived, participated in national festivals and even starred in a cameo role in a Hollywood movie.
Having enjoyed his travels in full, he "settled" on one of the islands in the waters of Panama. He built a house here and lived a happy family life. By the way, the island cost about $ 30 thousand, not so much for the opportunity to make dreams come true! Asher now makes a living publishing children's books, and recently released an autobiography (which, among other things, has been translated into Russian). In addition, Disney bought from him the rights to film the story of his life for an impressive amount. Remembering the years that have passed since the fateful deal, Ian admits that he does not regret anything and feels boundless joy that he decided to take such a step!
After moving to Australia, 48-year-old Briton Ian Asher dreamed of a happy family life and favorite work. Instead, he sold carpets for five years while his wife filed for divorce. Sinking into a severe depression, Ian made the best deal in history: he decided to sell his life on eBay
From what was included in the lot "The Life of Ian Asher": a house with all the furniture, a car, a motorcycle, a jet ski and parachuting equipment. As a bonus, Ian offered to meet his loved ones and his job as a carpet salesman. “I’ve had enough of this life, I don’t need it anymore,” ended the description of the lot. Bidding began with one dollar, and ended in the amount of 305 thousand dollars.
Left with one passport, Ian began to think about what he would do next. “All these five years I dreamed of adventure and travel, experiencing only one feeling because of this - longing,” Ian tells me. My new life Asher began by making a list of 100 goals he decided to achieve in 100 weeks.
Photo courtesy of Ian AsherHaving received the money, Ian immediately bought a ticket to Dubai: the first goal was to go skiing under the scorching sun. For the next two years, Asher traveled non-stop, racing with bulls in Spain, swimming with white sharks in Africa, and whales in Japan. I saw all the largest waterfalls in the world, learned how to fly a plane and walked along the Great Wall of China. In London, Ian fulfilled an old dream: he met with the legendary entrepreneur Richard Branson. “We chatted with him for half an hour in the car on the way to the airport,” Yen says. “He turned out to be a completely down to earth person.” In Hollywood, Ian starred in a small role in a movie. “I barely passed the casting,” Ian recalls. - I was asked a lot of questions about my plans for a film career until I shared my story with them. I said: “Guys, I don’t need money, I just want to act in a movie.” As a result, Ian got a role in the film "Vault".
He doesn't hide the fact that this trip was partly a way to deal with a midlife crisis.
“At first it was difficult for me to get used to a new way of life, to be on the road all the time,” says Ian. - But this banal phrase is true: the most difficult thing is to take the first step. Once you stop thinking about something and just do it, everything becomes much easier. And when you can’t control events and you lose your fear, that’s when the most amazing things happen.” By the way, Yen managed to achieve the most original goal: to collect five Yen Ashers in one place at once.
Ian hardly mentioned his painful divorce. He became sad only once: during a visit to the Grand Canyon, Usher was the only traveler without a partner.
He does not hide that this trip was partly a way to cope with a midlife crisis. “All my peers were buying sports cars on these occasions,” Ian says, “so at least my crisis was exciting and unusual.”
Usher achieved 93 goals in two years, spending $270,000
Throughout the 100 weeks, Asher kept a blog detailing the process of reaching his goals. He had a whole army of fans who, like Ian once, felt that life was passing by. One of the hundred items on Ian's list was "Write a book." Towards the end of his journey, Usher completed his autobiography, A Life Sold.
In two years, Usher achieved 93 goals while spending $270,000. The remaining desires like “learning to understand in a dream that you are sleeping” and “plunge to the bottom of the ocean to look at the Titanic” Asher decided to leave for later. At this point, Disney wanted to buy the film rights to his book, and with this money, Ian bought himself a small island in Panama and built a house there (which cost him only 30 thousand dollars). “Yesterday I gathered pineapples and bananas in the garden, so there is something for breakfast,” Ian informs me in a voice happy person who finally feels like he's in the right place. “Life is an experience: even if there is a wrong turn, it will lead you to the right road,” he assures. But everyone must find their own way to achieve happiness. It doesn't come instantly. It’s a feeling that gradually fills you when you constantly do what you love.”
Photo courtesy of Ian Asher
Only recently, Usher managed to be a literary scout and a publisher of children's books, and also met the love of his life, Vanessa, in London. Together they travel the world and run a travel blog. This new Ian Asher is nothing like the man who once became so desperate that he sold his life on an online auction.
“It’s amazing that strangers now come up to me and say that my story changed their lives,” Ian finally tells me, until the connection on the island is completely interrupted. “They have made their own lists of goals and live to achieve them. I think the world would look very cool if everyone pursued their goals.”
Ian Asher is one of the heroes of Alexander Murashev's book "Normal People".
These stories became the basis of a book about the people we all try to be but don't always know how to do.
Like all normal people, Ian Asher dreamed of a happy family and an interesting job. Like many, alas, Asher had neither one nor the other.
Ian was almost 50. And he worked as a carpet salesman in a small shop in Australia (carpets did not bother Ian at all). And when his marriage (which, unlike the carpets, he worried about) finally fell apart, Ian plunged into a deep depression. Here in depression, full of hatred for himself and his life, he found the perfect way out. Sell your unfortunate life on an online auction.
The "Life of Ian Asher" lot, which he posted on eBay, included his house with all the furniture and equipment, a car, a motorcycle, a jet ski, skydiving equipment, a workplace and acquaintance with all colleagues and friends. The description of the lot ended with the words: "My life is enough for me, I no longer need it." The starting price was $1.
A week later, by the end of the auction, Ian Asher's property was only his passport and the proceeds from the sale of life 305 thousand dollars.
“I always dreamed of adventure,” recalls Ian, “but in reality, it was dreary to work in one place without any special events. I decided to do everything I dreamed of.”
Ian Asher made a list of 100 goals and gave himself 100 weeks to achieve them. After that, he bought a plane ticket and flew to Dubai to reach his first goal - to go skiing under the scorching sun. For the next two years, Ian traveled non-stop: he ran with the bulls on a holiday in Spain, swam with white sharks in Africa, and in Japan with whales. He learned how to fly an airplane, walked along the Great Wall of China and saw with his own eyes all the largest waterfalls in the world. In London, Ian talked with his idol - entrepreneur Richard Branson. And in Hollywood, he starred in a small role in a movie. At the same time, he had to convince the producers for a long time that he was not thinking about an acting career, and was ready to act completely free of charge.
Two years and $270,000 later, Ian Asher found himself completing 93 of the 100 items on his list. On the remaining desires (for example, "learn to understand in a dream that you are sleeping" and "plunge to the bottom of the ocean to look at the Titanic"), Ian decided to spit. Instead, with the last 30 thousand, he bought himself a tiny abandoned island off the coast of Panama, built a house on it with his own hands and settled there. Much of the time he lives with his beloved woman, Moe, whom he met while dog sledding in Canada. Ian and Mo visit Canada periodically and recently founded a small publishing house there that publishes children's books. It is with the help of him that Ian is going to earn money: "I will never return to my usual job," he says.
Now, four years after the sale of his former life, 50-year-old Ian is absolutely happy. He has written several books and is now talking to producers about a possible Hollywood adaptation of his story. “I’m incredibly happy about that,” he says. “But you know, it’s even more amazing to me that sometimes strangers come up to me and tell me how my story has changed their lives. They made their own lists of goals and live to achieve them. I think the world would look very cool if everyone pursued their goals."