Admitting the Problem
My ideal state, my issue with getting there, and an assessment of where I'm at.
He sips his coffee and closes his last remaining NBA Top Shots tab.
So I'd rather be Jonathan Bales than Tim Ferriss.
That's where the meandering thoughts from my first post got me.
I'm not alone.
Everyone wants to be successful and wealthy, in both time and money.
Some just wish to do so through more traditional means. You know, like a 9-5 that provides benefits and a steady paycheck?
Yeah, I'm living that life now. I'm incredibly fortunate. But not satisfied. It's not that I'm Alexander Hamilton or anything..I promise my standards are much lower.
You see, I'd just rather spend my days flipping sports highlights and betting player props than suiting up and taking the water cooler by storm.
"But you can't just do that," my mom yells from the other room.
"You don't get it, Mom. You can make money doing anything on the internet!," I yell back.
"It's a scam," she confidently concludes.
My mom isn't alone. We've been conditioned to believe there is one way to do life and work.
Finish high school, go to college, get a job, get married, buy a house, have kids, work for 40 years, retire....and boom.
The order may change, the variables too, if ever so slightly, but the original recipe for the American Dream comes with too few unique flavors.
The internet has started to change that. I can pluck a dollar from the wallet of someone in Asia just as fast as I can hand one to my neighbor.
It's all possible now.
Former TV stars can make money shooting 10 second videos on Cameo. People stream their Call of Duty sessions on Twitch. And don't forget OnlyFans.
The Boomers might not like it, but you don't have to play Doctor or Lawyer to make a living anymore.
But back to me.
How might I go about living an unconventional life?
Any time I envision breaking the mold...I end up falling into a cycle like this.
Yeah, dude. It's that bad. I have literally zero grit and as a result, I have a real job.
Now real jobs ain't so bad. Sometimes I'm content.
But then like once a week something like this hits my inbox.
And like a Phoenix from the ashes, my heart jumps from my chest, onto a metaphorical desk, a la Dead Poet's Society. Oh Captain, My Captain.
This sense of urgency isn't anything new. I've been pestering my social circle with these empty threats for years.
"I'm just going to quit and travel."
"I'm done, I'll figure it out."
I've said it all. But I've done nothing.
Insert another friendly reminder from someone who has made it.
The latest, from James Clear's most recent newsletter.
“Instead of working toward retirement, work toward your ideal lifestyle. There is usually a path to get there in a few years instead of a few decades.”
You got me, James.
That lifestyle, as described in my first post, is one with more freedom. The ability to wake up wherever I want, whenever I want, and do whatever I want.
I'm not seeking escape from my bills and financial responsibilities. I just want to pay them with money earned on my own terms.
Even still, I'm not ready to quit cold turkey. The identity I seek is likely a few years away. But an honest glimpse into my current state might let me better create a plan to get there.
So here it is - an honest assessment.
I'm a little overweight, have a bad beard, and live with my parents (all part of the plan, baby!)
I'm an aggressive investor, owning shares in Square and Facebook, but also Dinosaur Skulls and CryptoKitties.
I'm in good shape financially for my age, but am still obligated to pay off a decent chunk of student loan debt.
And I REALLY want to grab more control over my everyday.
That's it.
That's the tweet.
Stick around to see if I can do it.