"Quit your job and back yourself." That's the first thing Patrick Keating says in this episode — and after the life he's lived, he means every word.

I'm Mr Hodge, a former UK teacher who swapped the classroom for the road. On Lessons Beyond The Classroom I sit down with people living life on their own terms — and today's guest is one of my best friends in the world.

Patrick has spent 15 years travelling the world studying martial arts — Muay Thai and jiu-jitsu across Thailand and Brazil, living with shamans in the Peruvian jungle, yoga in India. He then built a career as a carpenter in New Zealand, hated every second of it, and last year sold every tool he owned to reinvent himself into online sales and back himself completely.

We go deep on freedom, health, reinventing yourself at any age, honouring your lowest moments, and why quitting the life everyone told you to want might be the best thing you ever do.

If you're stuck in a job you hate or scared to step into the unknown, this one's for you.

Today's homework: what's one thing you'd do if you backed yourself completely?

Find Patrick: @patrickkeating33 on Instagram.

(0:00) Quit your job and back yourself (0:48) 15 years travelling the world (3:34) How martial arts changed him (4:16) First Muay Thai fight in 2 weeks (5:05) Finding himself in the mountains (7:16) Quitting carpentry & selling tools (8:41) Burning the boat to back himself (9:47) Reinvent yourself every 7 years (10:49) Pillar one: freedom (11:33) Why health is everything (12:11) Generosity & giving it all back (14:07) If you're stuck in a rut (14:46) Honouring your darkest moments (15:34) Kill the version holding you back (16:47) Don't listen to your teachers (17:59) The "blinkers off" analogy (19:10) The coolest place he's been (20:00) His most powerful moment (22:31) Mr Hodge's flying fish moment (23:49) Where to find Patrick & outro

Class dismissed.