So here is a quick video in response to this awesome post by Chris Jordan. Here is a quote from my comment over there:
Dude i am on the same wavelength as you. I just graduated college and too many of my peers are jumping into the corporate world and just becoming a cog in the wheel. It is amazing. It is almost like it is expected. Go to school for 16 years then get a job, grind your head against a desk because you hate your job for 30 more years, and hope you saved money so you can “retire.”
Thats a hunk of BS. The 9-5 is the biggest MLM structure on the planet. Why build someone else’s dream when you can build your own.
That old plan isn’t for me.
Seriously guys, pick up Crush it and the 4 Hour Work Week and do something you love.
{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
Vision is what progresses us, but sensibly you can make more progress if you accept balance for a short time – work for 3-6 months and save sensibly – this doesnt make you a cog, but get out while your still you.
Whats your vision Nicholas?
Woody, my path was a bit different. I started a business in college. Doing something that was OK, Email Marketing for Real estate. I worked my ass of, ask my former roomates. I enjoyed it enough to stick with it and pay the bills and I am now rethinking things. In 2010 I will either outsource it or sell the company.
This video was quick and targeted at a few people specifically. However is becoming more apparent as books like “Crush It” come out that anyone with a bit of tensity and tech savvy can make good money by leveraging the internet and their passion.
Passion shines through every time.
I totally understand, getting your feet on the ground after college is VERY important. But those hours after work, I’d suggest you start hustling towards making your passion something sustainable.
Just this past week I have spoken with 5 different people I went to college with and all of them either HATE their job or are having a hard time finding one.
Working for a job you hate is never worth it, ever. It is just sad to see that we as a socity have accepted this as the norm.
My Vision is that people do what they love regardless. Life is too short to be unhappy.
Ya’ll should check out Hugh MacLeod’s blog gapingvoid.com. He talks about what he calls “the sex and cash theory” there (also in his book “Ignore Everybody”). You may have already heard of it, but he talks about trying to balance the desire to “go for broke” entrepreneurship with the real world needs of like you know, eating and shelter and all those menial sorts of things. Kind of, do the cog thing to pay the bills but always be working on your “exit strategy” ala 4 hr. work week.
As for me, I could have stayed a cog. I made 6 figures in medical sales before I made the jump. Lots of people think that’s enough. But what I really wanted was sovereignty over my time- and the only way you get that is by working for yourself. Put that in your pipe and smoke it friends
Presumably though you saved some from the 6 figure job to get you on your way. I don’t think its even a 4 hour work week I want, I quite like working, I just want to be self driven.
Woody- you are correct. I live debt free. I save. I make money work for me not against me. This is my life and I am the creator of my experience here- meaning, I recognize the need to restrain ego and focus on long term goals. I also like working- sales is as close to working for yourself as you can get without actually doing it. But still not the same as being in charge of your own time- Some people find it too risky. But rethinking risk is necessary too. I am a big fan of Rich Dad/ Poor Dad philosophies. If I could talk to my 23 year old self- I’d sit me down and make me understand the concept of leverage and money. I didn’t learn without some trial and error. Lots of errors :>). Also when I was 23 the possibilities for wealth creation online did not exist- or I should say the possibilities were there, but internet accessibility was mostly for techies. Not so anymore. You whipper snappers have so much potential at your fingertips. So maybe you have to be a cog for a little bit to take care of business- just don’t lose sight of your long term goals/exit strategy. My advice is go do the things you love and create a life for yourself that allows you personal sovereignty. Debt = slavery!
Okay I’m hopping off soapbox now:>) Good luck to you all!
All good Jennifer I agree with you. I am 23 and am hopefully on the right path
Im with you on the vision of doing what you love, and I have a similar earner to your email marketing and randomly I find my self in the same re-evaluation place as you. Its securing the essentials that allows us to scope out what we really want. Too many people work to get paid and live 40 hours of misery.
In 2010 we should all try and find the thing we love to do and do that instead!
amen
Nick, Thanks for the great response and for getting a conversation started. While a believe in the theory that Tim Ferris put out in his book, my post was not to advocate a four-hour work week. Rather, I am hoping that 2010 is the year of visionaries and new ideas (in industries other than tech). I’m not advocating quitting a job to go for broke with an entrepreneurial idea. I’m advocating working hard on being smart. Being smart may in fact be working a regular job. But being smart is also setting things in motion before and after working hours to build your own something, so you can one day get out of the grind. Like Gary Vaynerchuk says, don’t go home and play Madden for four hours.
Woody makes that a great point by mention of balance. You have to be able to pay bills, etc. My definition of a “cog” is someone who gets up, goes to work, goes home and simply accepts things for what they are – always. Totally complacent. Many are okay with that, and that is what I hope will change. It is a leading cause for a lack of progress in America.
I have ran my own business for nine short months after working regular jobs for seven years following college. My experience this far has shown me that there is no such thing as a four hour work week. Maybe there is one day, but I’m working harder then ever before. But I’m happy. Balance, and “regular jobs” got me to this point. Now all I can do is execute on the many visions I have.
Thanks again for the response and for starting some GREAT conversation here!
Excellent stuff Nicholas.
Thanks. Bought some stuff through your affiliate link.
I can’t agree more. Don’t become a cog in Yet Another Big Dumb Company. Not the way to go. Getting out of the old way of doing things came a little late for some of us.
Perhaps the banging your head against a keyboard is a good sign that something is wrong and that you’re not such a cog after all. Use it as inspiration, read those books and do something for yourself.
Some just take longer to figure this out than others.