Today, we’re diving into the transformative power of life in Italy, how traveling has impacted us, and how this journey has been nothing short of magical and eye-opening. There are so many experiences in Florence that we can’t wait to share with you. But it’s not just about the places we visit or the things we do there; it’s about personal growth. You will experience the unexpected as you are immersed in the art, food, and history here.

We also explore the beauty of Florence and the profound connections we forged with each other during our trip. Listening to passionate chefs speak about their craft made us feel truly alive. Tune in to learn more about The Ultimate Italia Experience!

What you’ll hear in this episode:

[0:00] Travel, relationships, and personal growth.

[2:25] Italy trip experiences and emotions.

[7:50] Exclusive experiences in Florence, Italy.

[10:50] Travel experiences and personal growth.

[15:50] The beauty of Florence, Italy and human connection.

[18:15] Travel experiences and personal growth.

Get more information about Rob + Kim’s Italia: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/6352c7416c4cf33281b5ee8f

Get additional podcast content here: https://www.patreon.com/fridate

Get the Vision Board Course for Couples: https://fridateacademy.thinkific.com/courses/Ultimate-Vision-Board-Couples

Work One-on-One with Rob Here: https://nextchaptershow.com/coaching/

Connect with Rob on Instagram: @robmurgatroyd

Connect with Kim on Instagram: @kimmurgatroyd

The post 523: A Magical Journey of Transformation and Connection in Italy appeared first on The FriDate Blog.

In today’s episode, we kick things off by discussing the all-too-familiar feeling of being overwhelmed and caught in the never-ending hamster wheel of life. But fear not, because we quickly segue into a thought-provoking conversation about doing work with personal meaning.

Next, we take a delightful detour into the enchanting world of Italian culture, flirting, and personal enrichment. Rob shares a fan’s praise for our authentic and educational Italian culture promotion – no exaggeration or judgment here, just genuine love for the beauty of Italy.

We’ll also be delving into Rob’s creative process, where he consistently asks himself, “Why does this matter?” whether he’s crafting TikTok videos or coaching people to redefine their own success. Personal authenticity and creating meaningful content is so important. We can’t stress enough how vital authenticity is in both business and personal relationships. We’ll share some personal experiences to illustrate the value of being true to ourselves and pursuing work that matters!

So, there you have it – a sneak peek into what awaits you in this episode of Fri-Date! Tune in now!

What you’ll hear in this episode:

[1:00] Kim discusses feeling like she’s been running on a hamster wheel

[2:50] Rob shares a message from a fan

[4:40] Rob reflects on asking himself “why does this matter?” throughout his work

[6:50] Rob reflects on how they’ve designed their company to inspire people to redefine success for themselves

[10:50] Rob ponders cultural flirting

[14:40] Kim emphasizes the importance of asking yourself, “why does this matter to you?”

Get more information about Rob + Kim’s Italia: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/6352c7416c4cf33281b5ee8f

Get additional podcast content here: https://www.patreon.com/fridate

Get the Vision Board Course for Couples: https://fridateacademy.thinkific.com/courses/Ultimate-Vision-Board-Couples

Work One-on-One with Rob Here: https://nextchaptershow.com/coaching/

Connect with Rob on Instagram: @robmurgatroyd

Connect with Kim on Instagram: @kimmurgatroyd

The post 522: Italian Culture, Flirting, and Finding Meaning in Your Work appeared first on The FriDate Blog.

We’re diving into the adventure of moving to Italy, sharing our own experiences and some valuable logistical tips to make your Italian dream a reality. First, we discuss the logistics and visa requirements for moving to Italy. Kim and I have had the pleasure of working with an immigration attorney to build a course to help guide you through the legal aspects of moving to Italy. In this episode, Kim provides a high-level overview of the visa options as well as paths to citizenship. Consulates have strict requirements for visa applications, so you’ll need to come prepared to avoid complications.

Speaking from our own journey, we talk about the cultural differences and expectations you’ll encounter when you move to Italy. We’ll help you avoid constantly questioning why things are done a certain way in Italy and instead, embrace the system and find workable solutions to make your transition smoother. Beyond that, language barriers can be daunting but learning Italian to connect with the local community is so important. We share our recommendations for effective language learning AND building community in Italy.

If you’re dreaming of a life in Italy, this episode is a must-listen. We’ve got all the insights and advice you need to turn that dream into reality. Don’t miss out!

What you’ll hear in this episode:

[2:25] How people often prioritize long-term goals over short-term enjoyment

[5:35] The importance of living intentionally and designing one’s life

[8:25] How people often try to have it all, but ultimately, they can only have what’s most important to them

[8:40] The importance of identifying priorities and pursuing them

[15:25] Rob’s retirement goal: automate income through investments, freeing time for enjoyable pursuits.

[18:10] Kim’s upbringing in New Hampshire and how it differs from the lavish parties and expensive taste

[22:20] A course that can help individuals clarify their vision and purpose

Get more information about Rob + Kim’s Italia: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/6352c7416c4cf33281b5ee8f

Get additional podcast content here: https://www.patreon.com/fridate

Get the Vision Board Course for Couples: https://fridateacademy.thinkific.com/courses/Ultimate-Vision-Board-Couples

Work One-on-One with Rob Here: https://nextchaptershow.com/coaching/

Connect with Rob on Instagram: @robmurgatroyd

Connect with Kim on Instagram: @kimmurgatroyd

The post 520: Your Path to Moving to Italy appeared first on The FriDate Blog.

For us, a month in Mykonos allowed us time to truly relax, visit local farms, be beach bums and actually unwind and be on holiday. It took us out of day-to-day life, exposed us to things that are new and different than the other 11 months per year. It gave us inspiration for new businesses and seeds for new passions.

The Common Traveler

This year I’ve watched many of my social media friends come to Italy, spend just a few hours in Florence and say that they saw everything. Cue a massive sigh from Michelangelo and his famous friends. Maybe they saw the famous Ponte Vecchio bridge, took pictures of the Duomo, ate some pasta, cooled off with gelato and walked past the fake David in front of Palazzo Vecchio, assumed the real one looks the same (so why bother with the line, right?).

This is the most common type of traveler. Their goal is to make the most of their trip and see as much as possible in the shortest amount of time. I understand getting the bang for your buck. Travel is expensive and you want to see as much as you can. But is seeing the highlights of a city really bringing you the value? You go home with a few pictures, a t-shirt of David blowing bubblegum and vague memory of the pasta dish you ordered at the tourist trap.

This may sound harsh, but from my perspective, you’re missing the point of what travel is all about. When you travel, you have an opportunity to grow, learn about a new culture, develop new passions, get inspired to try something new and it can completely shift your lifestyle and bring a deeper sense of joy and passion to your day-to-day life.

How can you do that in a day? How can you do that on a tour of 100 people with a tour operator spewing facts in an earpiece? That’s not engaging. And, from the look I see on most of the exhausted tourists faces, it’s boring.

Action vs. Observation

Think back to school. Where did you learn more and have more fun – Biology CLASS or biology LAB?

Hands down, the studies are clear – you retain more information, have clearer memories and more FUN when you DO THINGS vs. observe. And yet, on vacations, the average tour is observational only.

However, immersive experiences are hands-on, interactive and ACTION oriented. When you engage in a new, hands on experience, studies have shown it gives your brain rest, improves your mood and challenges your brain to work in a different way.

Plus,immersive experiences provide a new perspective and tap into all of your senses – what you see, the sounds you hear, the new tastes and smells and most importantly, how it makes you feel.

Lifestyle Changing Immersion

A friend ours used to eat every meal in a restaurant. Life was busy, building a business takes a lot of time and bandwidth and cooking was the last thing on their mind. Then, he visited Italy. Instead of seeing the sights, he did a hands-on cooking class and learned about making pasta from scratch. It was meditative and fun. It inspired him. Then, he traveled to another region, and learned from a local piazzolo about the art of making pizza, the importance of fresh, quality ingredients and how to properly cook a pizza in a wood burning oven.

Fast forward a few years, he has tapped into a new passion for cooking. He now cooks and eats most meals at home, from scratch (including pasta), and has a real, wood fire pizza oven at him home in the USA. How do you think this improved his overall life and fulfillment?

This didn’t happen because he took a few photos of a major landmark. He immersed himself into an experience and it quite literally, changed his day-to-day life. Additionally, this new passion has brought massive joy and created an entire new dimension to his lifestyle.

THAT is exactly how an immersive experience can change your life.

Our Experiences

Rob and I have been traveling in an immersive way for almost twenty years. Whether it’s finding the local, restaurant with no-electricity and no sign in Mykonos, learning how to blend wine in France or being invited into Nonno‘s kitchen, on a lesser known Sicilian island, so he can show us how Granita and Gelato are very different – our travel is always immersive. We know how important this type of travel has in changing our life, and we want to share this style of travel with as many people as possible.

Over the last five years, we’ve brought full, immersive experiences to our Work Hard Play Hard and Platinum Experiences, such as driving a Ferrari in the city in which they’re created, on our way to a private lunch at Chef Massimo Bottura‘s villa. Sounds bougie, but there’s so much more depth to the flash. As we drove, we stopped along the way to learn how the local parmesan and balsamic vinegar are made. And, not just any factory, we learned from in the exact places that the famed Chef sources his ingredients.

We cracked open a wheel of parmesan, taste-tested the multiple aged options, and went through a similar process with the vinegar. Seeing the process, the art and the time that goes into these ingredients elevated our understanding and gave us much more appreciation for the meal that we devoured.

That’s just one, simple example.

Rob & Kim’s Italia Experience

Since moving to Florence, we have changed so much. The daily immersion is causing us to question so many aspects of our life and make positive changes. We’ve never been happier, more fulfilled and enjoyed our life more than we do today.

And, we want to share this life with people who are ready for a shift. We realize that not everyone can move to Italy, but you can visit us! We are dedicated to creating bucket-list, immersive Italy-based experiences for our upcoming Rob & Kim’s Italia Experiences in October 2023 (2 spots left) and May 2024 (Early Registration is OPEN!).

Our Experiences aren’t your normal vacation. And, they’re not for everyone. If you’re looking for the cheapest way to see the most, we’re not for you. If you prefer to just snap the sights and move on, again, we’re not for you.

But if you’re looking for an experience that will make a lasting imprint on your life, bring you new passions, joy and a new perspective – then we’d love to see you in Italy.

The post Travel Can Change You, If You Let It appeared first on The FriDate Blog.

Join us as we celebrate our 500th episode milestone! In this episode, we deviate from our usual podcast flow to embark on a journey of self-discovery through a series of intriguing questions. Get ready for a captivating episode filled with personal anecdotes, laughter, and surprising insights.

Join us as we take turns asking each other thought-provoking, funny, and sometimes challenging questions. From reliving cherished childhood memories to sharing our hidden talents, and relationship milestones to our favorite pop culture moments, we leave no stone unturned.

This special episode blends lightheartedness and introspection, showcasing our genuine bond and the magic that comes from years of friendship. We invite you to witness our unique personalities, quirks, and passions on full display. Prepare for a rollercoaster ride of nostalgia, playful banter, and unexpected discoveries that will leave you with a smile on your face.

Whether you’ve been with us since day one or are just tuning in for the first time, this milestone episode promises to be an absolute treat. It’s a testament to the enduring connection between us, our unwavering commitment to spreading joy, and our deep appreciation for the power of love, laughter, and genuine human connections.

What you’ll hear in this episode:

[2:20] What do people often get wrong about you?
[7:25] What has been the most game-changing in your life?
[12:15] What Rob’s currently struggling with.
[16:55] If you can spend one month anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?
[22:20] What new behavior or habit has most improved your life?
[24:40] What do people pay too little or too much attention to when they’re trying to do something?
[30:40] How do you attract amazing things in your life?
[36:20] What unusual thing do you do?
[41:30] Nature or nurture for you?
[45:05] If you could give a ted talk and it had to be for something you are not known for what would it be?

Get more information about Rob + Kim’s Italia: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/6352c7416c4cf33281b5ee8f

Get additional podcast content here: https://www.patreon.com/fridate

Get the Vision Board Course for Couples: https://fridateacademy.thinkific.com/courses/Ultimate-Vision-Board-Couples

Work One-on-One with Rob Here: https://nextchaptershow.com/coaching/

Connect with Rob on Instagram: @robmurgatroyd

Connect with Kim on Instagram: @kimmurgatroyd

Listen to the Next Chapter Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/next-chapter/id1657736966

The post 500: Celebrating Cinque­cento with a Deep Dive into Our Lives appeared first on The FriDate Blog.

In this episode, we take you through the remarkable transformation from grueling 12-hour days in a physical business to the freedom and flexibility of the life we’ve created. Our focus wasn’t tied to a specific location but centered around creating a lifestyle that truly resonated with us.

As we embarked on this new chapter, questions started to arise. When would our pursuit of success reach its endpoint? How would we afford the lifestyle we envisioned? To be honest with you, in the relentless pursuit of financial stability to support our desired lifestyle, we found ourselves caught in a never-ending cycle, longing for more.

It was at this point that we realized the need for change. We paused, took a step back, and began evaluating what we genuinely wanted our lives to look like. From there, we embarked on a profound journey of shedding the excess and material possessions we had accumulated over time. This process allowed us to strip away the superficial and focus on what truly mattered.

Join us as we uncover the power of reevaluating priorities, letting go of societal expectations, and embracing the essence of true joy and fulfillment. Our story will inspire and provoke thought, reminding you that recognizing when “enough is enough” empowers you to initiate change and create a life that aligns with your deepest desires.

What you’ll hear in this episode:

[2:11] Why we’re here today.
[4:38] The transformation from 12 hour days in a physical business to virtual business.
[7:11] The basis of Rob’s dream of success.
[11:40] He didn’t care where he lived, he just wanted the lifestyle.
[13:34] Living in excess: When does it all end? How do you pay for it all?
[16:10] In this effort to generate the income that I felt that I needed to live the lifestyle that I thought I needed, work started to erode my life.
[20:35] What do we really want our life to look like?
[23:38] The process of stripping off all of the things we had purchased.
[26:01] When enough is enough, it’s time for a change.

Get more information about Rob + Kim’s Italia: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/6352c7416c4cf33281b5ee8f

Get additional podcast content here: https://www.patreon.com/fridate

Get the Vision Board Course for Couples: https://fridateacademy.thinkific.com/courses/Ultimate-Vision-Board-Couples

Work One-on-One with Rob Here: https://nextchaptershow.com/coaching/

Connect with Rob on Instagram: @robmurgatroyd

Connect with Kim on Instagram: @kimmurgatroyd

Listen to the Next Chapter Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/next-chapter/id1657736966

The post 499: Prioritizing Happiness: The Story of Our Move to Italy appeared first on The FriDate Blog.

Are you feeling unfulfilled in life and wondering why? Are you tired of constantly chasing after more and still feeling unsatisfied? In this episode, we’ll inspire you to find true satisfaction in life by understanding the limits of your desires. We’ll provide you with powerful insights into why it’s essential to figure out why you want something and ensure it aligns with your values and goals.

We’ll also break down your life into two categories, business and personal, and explain why it’s easy to give more attention to one over the other. But we won’t stop there. We’ll empower you to find contentment in what you already have and stop the constant chase for more. Redefining success is the key to living a fulfilling life. It’s not about material possessions or societal norms but aligning your actions with your values.

What you’ll hear in this episode:

[1:00] Greek Easter 

[2:25] Basta Cosi meaning

[5:40] Where does satisfaction come from?

[7:10] Bandwidth eroding 

[10:20] Extrinsic vs Intrinsic happiness

[12:00] Life is about the simple things

[14:20] Finding a balance 

[17:00] Where you live dictates more than you may think

[20:15] Rob’s workbook

Get more information about Rob + Kim’s Italia: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/6352c7416c4cf33281b5ee8f

Get additional podcast content here: https://www.patreon.com/fridate

Get the Vision Board Course for Couples: https://fridateacademy.thinkific.com/courses/Ultimate-Vision-Board-Couples

Work One-on-One with Rob Here: https://nextchaptershow.com/coaching/

Connect with Rob on Instagram: @robmurgatroyd

Connect with Kim on Instagram: @kimmurgatroyd

Listen to the Next Chapter Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/next-chapter/id1657736966

The post 497: Basta Così: Finding True Satisfaction in Life appeared first on The FriDate Blog.

Kim and I have been sharing our journey on this podcast, bits and pieces spread between various episodes. However, I recently had the opportunity to share my story in depth while being interviewed by my friend Chris Harder for his podcast. I feel that the way Chris structured the interview and crafted his questions allowed me to express my story in such a relatable and clear way.

Since the release of the episode, I have received overwhelmingly positive feedback so I wanted to share this with all of you to create a deeper connection with you! I hope this episode will help you better understand my vision to help others reach their next chapter.

This is a repost of my interview with Chris on https://chrisharder.me/rob-murgatroyd-the-chris-harder-show-episode-730/

Get more information about Rob + Kim’s Italia: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/6352c7416c4cf33281b5ee8f

Get additional podcast content here: https://www.patreon.com/fridate

Get the Vision Board Course for Couples: https://fridateacademy.thinkific.com/courses/Ultimate-Vision-Board-Couples

Work One-on-One with Rob Here: https://nextchaptershow.com/coaching/

Check out other blogs: https://fridate.blog/

Connect with Rob on Instagram: @robmurgatroyd

Connect with Kim on Instagram: @kimmurgatroyd

The post 495: Fighting for My Dream Life – My Interview with Chris Harder appeared first on The FriDate Blog.

The Italians know that one of the most important rituals of humanity, longevity of life and true fulfillment is eating together. 

The riposo or long lunch with family/friends is a tradition, if not an art form in Italy. The riposo is essentially the Italian equivalent of a siesta, a midday break when shops close and workers go home to have a long lunch or even take a refreshing nap before heading back out to finish their day. Long lunches are an integral part of local culture and are not compromised by obligations such as work.

This may puzzle or annoy the American arriving at a shop at 1pm only to find it closed until 4pm. However, if you can look past your own inconvenience and think about the positive impact this can have on a community and families. 

The working mothers head home to make a delicious pranzo for their children, home for lunch from school. The working fathers get to take a break from their lavoro (job) to enjoy time with their family, a beautiful lunch and most likely a nap. Employees arrive back to work, refreshed, fulfilled and ready. Isn’t that an important tradition worth a little shopper inconvenience?

As an expat living in Italy, we learn to adopt this strategy ourselves, taking a midday break for lunch, connecting with friends and family, or even a nap, senza (without) the guilt.

The Italian Long Lunch is an Artform

On the weekends, long lunches are transported from the city streets to the Tuscan countryside often with tables of 10-20 amici e bambini (friends and children) gathering to celebrate nothing more than a beautiful day with their family and friends. 

These long, countryside lunches unfold as if there’s a director in the wings. 

As each family arrives, you hear “Ciao Amore” senza any reference to their tardy arrival. Each guest is, of course, impeccably dressed, as if there’s a spring countryside lunch section of the local department store Rinascente. Their children gather excitedly and together explore the gardens or vineyards. To the joy of the parents, not one child is asking for an electronic device. 

As the wine glasses are filled, no one wonders who ordered it, however their review will be provided after the first few sips. At the perfect moment, il cameriere arrives and orders are placed – pasta pesto, pomodoro or ragu for the ragazzi. Then the antipasti, primi and secondi are carefully discussed, as if it’s a matter of national security. 

Finally, the selections have been made and it’s back to the conversations. The conversations range from the new seasonal foods that have appeared at the market and local politics, to recanting stories from the past or making group travel plans for the summer. There is one subject that is considered brutta figura if brought up at the table, and that’s… business. 

Il cibo arrives in perfect Italian timing, as if the director in the wings gently says, cue the gnocchi. Nothing is rushed. The conversation and vino flows effortlessly. You hear the adults suggest to the children, mangia per favore. The children oblige. They eat, then play, then eat, then play. They’re free to explore, roll down the grassy hills and just be kids. Until… il dolce arrives, often it’s gelato on a warm day. 

Before you realize it, four hours have come and gone and the cafe has arrived. There’s only one thing left to discuss, what will you eat for dinner.

“A tavola non s’invecchia” (At the table, one does not grow old.)

The post Life Lesson from Italy: The Art of the Long Lunch appeared first on The FriDate Blog.

How We Found our Zone of Genius

Using the Zone of Genius formula, we asked ourselves the following questions and wrote the answers on the white board.

1. “What do I most love to do? (I love it so much I can do it for long periods without getting tired or bored).”
2. “What work do I do that doesn’t seem like work ?”
3. “In my work, what produces the highest ratio of abundance and satisfaction to the amount of time spent?”
4. “What is my unique ability?” (What can I do that others are unlikely to be able to do at this level?)

When we started this process, we had ZERO idea where we’d end up. But, by question #3, the picture was clear. Our Zone of Genius will have something to do with Italy. Let me break it down for you.

Question 1: What do I most love to do? (I love it so much I can do it for long periods without getting tired or bored).

If you watch ANY of our social media, you can see that we just can’t stop sharing about Italy. The food, the wine, the culture, the lessons we’re learning and we LOVE sharing it. Probably oversharing it for some of your liking but. It definitely checks the box of something we most love to do and don’t get bored.

Question 2: What work do I do that doesn’t seem like work ?

Talking about Italy and planning our upcoming Italy Experience does NOT seem like work. It’s a DREAM to share everything we love.

Question 3: In my work, what produces the highest ratio of abundance and satisfaction to the amount of time spent?

This is where things get interesting. When we talk about abundance and satisfaction for the time spent. Again… Italy checks the boxes. We are currently working on a guidebook series for traveling to Italy and have an Italy event planned.

Once the guidebook series is available and live, we know that we will see our guidebooks in the hands of tourists in the city… talk about satisfaction! And, with the value we plan to provide – the abundance of love and money will be organic!

For our events, we absolutely LIVE for the looks on peoples faces when they experience something for the first time. We love watching our guests drop into the experience and open up in a way they never thought possible from travel. Bringing that LOVE to Italy is a literal dream come true!

The Law of Compensation (from the book, Go Giver) states “your income is determined by how many people you help and how much you help them”. We know the impact of our experiences. We know how it fuels inspiration, connection, appreciation and innovation. The VALUE we provide goes far beyond your average travel experience. Our immersive experiences will change your life. As we build these Italy experiences, we don’t stress about the compensation, as we know that they’ll eventually there will be a wait-list, and we will be rewarded.

Question 4: What is my unique ability?” (What can I do that others are unlikely to be able to do at this level)

When I watch videos on social media, and the travel-influencer says “I spent two days on the Amalfi Coast, let me show you all the secret spots you must go to.” – I think to myself, “You couldn’t even scratch the surface in two-days, let alone find anything secret.” Most travel-influencers social media is copy-cat at best. They spend a day or two in a location, hit the already known spots, share beautiful videos and BOOM – thousands of views.

That is NOT what we do. It’s NEVER been what we do.

In 2006, Rob and I started a travel company called Jet Set Life. We traveled around the world, pre-social media, and shot our own travel show for YouTube. We also created digital travel guides. We did 20 destinations, had close to 3 million views on YouTube and hosted a video-travel podcast. We did this for almost a decade before shifting gears. It was so much fun to spend weeks, sometimes a month in one location and dive deep. And… even with all of our research, connections and treking… we still didn’t have a locals perspective. But, our lists were pretty damn good, and we’ve been in this travel game a long-as-time… like almost 20 years long. All of this experience has paved the way for what we are about to do.

So our unique ability that sets us a part from the rest? We have 20 years experience in travel curation, deep connections, we actual live in Italy AND we’ve written 20 guidebooks. I’d say we’re made for this.

What’s Next for FriDate Italia

The first phase of our new brand, FriDate Italia will be GROWTH through social media. We will be pouring out valuable and inspiring content, growing an audience of Italophiles that LOVE all things Italy, want to travel in Italy and are interested in our expat perspective on this beautiful country.

As we grow our audience and find our people, we’re busy behind the scenes writing our first 3 books that will be launched, most likely in 2024 on Amazon.

Then, we MIGHT start a FriDate Italia podcast, offer FriDate Italia workshops and a few other things we have ideas for… but nothing can happen without the audience! So before we dive into product creation, that’s our first step.

We hope us peeling back the curtain and showing you how we apply the lessons we learn to our life and business helps you do the same for yours!

P.S. If you play a game of Stupid Idea Time: Genius Zone Edition, please take a photo and tag us on Social media!

The post Finding our Zone of Genius lead to FriDate Italia appeared first on The FriDate Blog.