Standing Up and Not Making Sense: The Pursuit of Freedom
Jul

This is a guest submission by Eugene from RealityBurst.com
The School Years
I’ve always fallen into things.
From the very beginning, schoolwork came easy to me. And I became really good at providing exactly what the teachers/professors wanted while putting in minimal effort.
This allowed me to get into honors programs in school. Followed by honors and AP classes in high school were honors programs in college. Followed by the opportunity to get my Masters degree in accounting within my 4 year stay at the university.
I fell into it all. I stuck with it all. Because it “made sense.”
Post-School, Pre-Job
One graduation and a month and a half of travels later, reality set in. I had school loans I needed to pay off and no plans of making money. I had to get a job!
While this was, in all honesty, a miserable time, one thing stuck with me from this period. It was a conversation with a business owner.
His story was so similar to mine it was uncanny. He too studied accounting. He too didn’t feel like sitting for the CPA exam. It went on and on. Until at the end he told me “you’re just like me, you want to do your own thing…you’ll figure it out.”
But at the time I hadn’t figured it out. I needed a job. So on a drive home one night, when I had to pull over the car for my drunk friend to “get some air”, I fell into one.
When he got back into the car he suggested that I apply for a job at the place whose parking lot he had just decorated with his dinner. So, on a whim, I did.
It didn’t really take me very long to get sick of that job…
The Job Years
I became an accountant for one of the largest real estate field services companies in the country. Although I lasted over 2 years there, it was a terrible time.
I was surrounded by people who were very negative. They talked behind each others backs constantly and threw each other under the bus with no after thought. And as much as I tried to avoid the behavior, it’s very contagious.
Quite frankly it was a massive culture shock moving from working with people who were smarter than me for 4 years in college to people who “have always done it this way.”
Did I mention the bosses that would lie straight to my face after saying “you’re probably smarter than me” …well yeah…then don’t lie to me!
The Thought Transition…
I quickly realized that this job wasn’t the job for me. This place wasn’t the place for me.
I wasn’t doing myself any good. I wasn’t doing anyone else any good either. What good am I providing to anyone working in a job I hate? What people am I really helping?
To kill off some of the boredom of my job I began reading blogs. I started one soon after.
It was yet another culture shock!
Connecting with like minded people sparked something in me. These were people that truly wanted to help each other. People building a community around a common goal. People that genuinely wanted to help, not throw each other under the bus.
I realized that I don’t have to go the normal path of working my way up the ladder in a dead-end job (assuming there was even a ladder to climb up on).
I read of other people’s experiments, failures and successes. And I wanted to experience it for myself.
A few months after starting my first blog I realized what my mission was: to create my own reality; one not dictated by a thankless boss. I transitioned into Reality Burst, the blog I have now.
One of the first things I did was interview over 40 bloggers to analyze their successes and aspirations. This only motivated me more.
I saved up enough to pay off my school loans, and enough to go a few months without a paycheck, and quit my job.
FREEDOM!
And Now…
Over the past few months I have been planning and scheming my world takeover!
But seriously, freedom isn’t as “free” as most people would think. It’s easy to daydream about a life with no job. But the reality of no steady income (and in my case no income at all) is far more serious than your imagination will allow you to think.
Luckily I have no debts to pay off, and no family to support (a major reason I decided to do this now). And the seriousness of the situation is nothing I didn’t expect.
At the moment I am working on a few niche sites to establish “passive” income down the line, starting a service business related to Internet marketing, and hopefully a few digital products will come along the way.
This is definitely overwhelming, and a lot of work.
Many people say that you should stick to one thing and perfect it. But I don’t have the patience or attention span for it. I don’t want to keep my eggs in one basket. I want to keep myself interested in every project by working on multiple projects.
I am trying to establish a business where I call the shots and a lifestyle where I no longer fall into things. A lifestyle where I decide where I’m going and what I’m doing. A lifestyle that doesn’t necessarily make sense to anyone else, but it’ll make sense to me.
On a side note: It only took the replacement at my old job about a month to see the environment and quit. A far smarter man than I was J.
Eugene Farber is in the pursuit of creating his own reality. He recently quit his job to take charge of his life and start his own business. You can follow his journey at RealityBurst.com and on Twitter @EugeneFarber.

Graham Lutz
Eugene – You’re right to decide to do this now. With no kids and no debt, there will never be an easier time to make the sacrifices necessary to succeed.
Eugene
Hey Graham, that’s exactly what I was thinking. It will only get harder to do something “crazy” later on.
Graham Lutz
It’s true, and I can tell you from experience – having a 3 yr. old, 2 yr. old, and 2 month old makes changing course much more difficult!
Eugene
Yeah, I can only imagine! When you have kids they have to become the focus of your life…I can be selfish for now 🙂
Tim Webster
Congratulations, sir! You sound like you’d really enjoy the posts from Emilie at http://www.puttylike.com – It’s all about ‘multipotentialism’ which is basically what you’re talking about. Lots of areas of interest at once.
Thanks for the post. I’m currently in the same boat, but haven’t taken the plunge yet. =)
Eugene
Thanks Tim! Sounds interesting, I’ll have to pop over there and check it out. I’m in no position to tell anyone what they should or shouldn’t do with their lives. I can only speak from my own personal experience. And my experience was that quitting was one of the most nerve-racking things I have ever done…and exhilarating to no end!
Tim Webster
All good man. I think what you’ve done and are doing is inspiring! It’s always good to get together with like-minded people and circulate ideas. I reached out on Twitter (@techsocialinc), we’ll have to jam and bounce ideas/strategies/goals around.
I’ll get at you next week if you’d like! Enjoy your holiday weekend!
King Author
It great to see you’ve decided to break out of the 9-5 routine and seek success somewhere else. The time is Now..like Eugene said, and it’s time to get Serious about your goals and dreams.
Amber-Lee Dibble
Eugene,
How inspiring and I’m heading over to Reality Burst dot com so I can be part of cheering you on! (Loved your top pic, by the way!) ~Take care and looking forward to knowing you. ~Amber-Lee
Eugene
Hey Amber, I appreciate it! Top pic is courtesy our esteemed host Steve, so he gets all the credit for that one 🙂
Riley Harrison
The most significant variable that affects my moods is whether I feel free and have choices or constrained and victimized. Being free in all aspects of life is something we should all strive for. We all need to do our own thing. Good post
Riley
Eugene
Thanks Riley! I agree that we should all strive for that, unfortunately I don’t think we can ever truly be completely independent given how many outside forces affect our lives each day.
Justin | Mazzastick
Hey Eugene,
That’s why I prefer to work alone or maybe with a small group of like minded individuals.
When we get a job we don’t have any say as to who works there or who we work with.
Jobs and schools have the exact same structure.
Eugene
You’re absolutely right about the job and school connection. It almost feels like the majority of the population is being herded by some outside force through structured establishments like schools and jobs. And very few people ever feel uncomfortable enough to try to do anything about it.
Julia
Hi Eugene,
I am right there with you. Today marked the last day of school (I am teaching in Costa Rica) and I decided I don’t want to continue with teaching there or anywhere as of right now. I want to travel and find a way to make it happen. I am applying for the types of jobs I can do from anywhere in the world without a lot of computer knowledge – but I am fast learner! and I also don’t have a ton of money to live off of right now. I taking random jobs and hoping to make my dream of world travel a reality. More power to us! I will be following you…
Eugene
Hey Julia, Thanks for the support! I’ll make sure to add your blog as one of my regular stops to follow your journey. Sounds exciting! I wish you the best of luck!
Hector Avellaneda
Right on Eugene! I remember a few months back when you shared with us that you were quitting your job.
Although I am also looking forward to the day I am still not able to quit my job as I am still paying off the credit card debt and student loan debt I incurred while I was in college.
I remember there was a point where I was just so frustrated because I had so much credit card debt and student loan debt to pay off that it seemed that no matter how much I tried to paid it off, I was making no progress.
I had no financial intelligence back then, like i do, and that is one of the reasons why I am now so close to paying it all off. In fact, it was the precisely that fact that I had no financial intelligence the reason why I was making no financial progress.
I know there are tons of young professionals in the same shoes I was back then, I know because I had friends who were (and a lot of them still are) up to their eye balls in debt, and I always hear the stories of college grads who are working in restaurants.
In the end, it make absolutely no sense to get a job, unless you really do want to pursue a career.
A job will never make you rich and will never allow you to live a lifestyle in your terms and your time frame.
I’ve actually already written my resignation letter and have time stamped it for July 14, 2012 – my 26th birthday.
It’s going to be the best birthday gift I will have ever given myself!
Eugene
Wow! Congratulations Hector! I know you’ve been looking forward to that day. That does sound like an absolutely amazing birthday gift.
And debt is no match for a guy with drive like yours. I know you can do anything you put your mind to.
Hector Avellaneda
Absolutely! I can;t wait for that day, although it can always come a lot sooner than that!
Derek Potocki
Good and bold move on your side. You can always go back to some kind of job if the money gets tight. I never understand why people think in such extreme ways and limited options.
Like “I quit the job, it’s a life threatening move and scary”. It doesn’t have to be that scary if your mindset is, “I can always go back, if business doesn’t work”. I mean we have to eat, right? I met some people that went back to a job after they couldn’t make it in business. I wish you the best, of course. But still, a job should be the last line of defense, because a job has a low fulfillment factor.
Good luck with your niche sites:)
Nice post.
Derek
Eugene
Thanks Derek. Low fulfillment factor for sure! And that was exactly my train of thought…I can always go back. And if I do have to go back, at least I’ll go back to a new job…so it’ll be fresh and exciting at first (for at least a week or two :)).
Jens P. Berget
Hey Eugene,
What an awesome story. I’ve been following your amazing journey, but I didn’t know the beginning. We’ve been doing a lot of the same things, even though I’m sort of still stuck, and I have major debt, and a family (wife and two kids), I truly understand what you’ve been through.
I would love to read more about your projects and the niche sites your are creating. I have so many things to learn.
There are so many people that are making it on their own, and it’s a great inspiration to see you step up and take that decision and follow your heart and your dreams.
Great story.
Jens
Eugene
Thanks Jens. Unfortunately I haven’t reached the point where I can say that I am a “success” quite yet. I’m just living off of savings for now. So hopefully some income starts kicking in SOON.
Once I see things start to work I will definitely share what worked for me.
Kris
If you have an accounting skills you have mad skillz to really help people out, use that knowledge to inspire, motivate and stabilize people who are struggling to keep it all together.
It always baffles me with that people with REALLY USEFUL skills ditch them all and think filling the internet with E-books on everything from painting pretty faces to buying fish in Thailand is a better way to go.
Accounting is a solid skill that could literally change lives. If you want to have an impact on the world look at that. Most people could do with a little financial kick in the pants. Most people don’t know their housing costs should be around 35% of their household budget, most don’t know how or don’t have the time to track expenses…households are falling apart because they lack the basic skills.
What are you doing?
Eugene
I am currently building some niche sites. And am in the pre-launch phase of launching a service business. It doesn’t really have it’s basis in accounting but I’m sure those skill will come into play.
The problem with accounting int he corporate sense was that it wasn’t very fulfilling. So I had to give it up.
Steve
Kris,
Since when is accounting motivational and inspiring? I’ve been in finance for 9 years and I can honestly say that it is neither of these things. Not even close. Eugene, like many others, is not fulfilled by his profession. Just because he has a background in a useful field, it doesn’t mean he should stick with it.
If he hates it, he needs to go find something he loves to do. Of course he will keep his skill set and it will be useful in other areas of his life. If he chooses to help people out with their finances, then great. If not, there are plenty of other CPA’s who will do it.
Kris
I didn’t say accounting was exciting…but what you can do with it is.
Yo can help small business get set-uo and make sure they have the knowledge to succeed. You can help families get things under control so they lose their house.
You can help students find creative ways to fund their education…
The list is long.
With the world falling to it’s knees I think now is not the time to be selfish and jump ship….I for one do not need more empty content on the net. It has all been done.
Steve
Sure there a lot of things one can do with an accounting degree or anything else. The point is that if you are not happy what you are doing, then you owe it to yourself to find something that will. I don’t care about a bad economy, the stock market getting pounded, or the price of gold. If you are passionate about something, you CAN make a living doing it.
As far as empty content, I agree that the Internet is plagued with useless blogs, shady scumbags trying to get rich easily, and littered with more regurgitated waste than at a bulimic dinner party.. This isn’t one of them though.
Kris
Not always true about passion and income… nice theory but IMHO it is just not always realistic and perhaps quite naive… Just my thoughts though…
You say potatoe and I say tomatoe…or something like that.
Steve
Realistic for who? If we don’t think something is realistic, how are we ever going to achieve it? I hear what you’re saying and many people do fall victim to thinking they can just follow their passions and the money will come. That’s not how it works though.
For every 100 people that think that reality has to be what society tells us it is, there is 1 person who calls bullshit.
Eugene
For some reason the Reply button doesn’t show up for your last comment so I’m responding to one of the comment above.
But I’m right there with you calling bullshit.
I blog to share my thoughts. They are not always marketing, business or internet related. My blog isn’t really as focused as this one, and that is why Steve is having so much success — the drive and the focus.
But I also don’t try to sell any get-rich-quick schemes or anything.
My goal is to help people and businesses but in a different way. I want to help them get online, create internet identities, and save money in their marketing efforts. So I would still be helping them out financially…but not by crunching numbers…by doing something tangible.
I enjoy working online because you build something up and see it grow, it is measurable. Accounting involves making entries for numbers that don’t even mean anything.
Accruals? I’m estimating money that hasn’t come in or gone out. It’s all bull.
So yes, I ACTUALLY want to help people instead of doing an empty, thankless job that at the end of the day doesn’t even feel real to me.
Benny
Great to hear more about your story!
Going out on your own is definitely hard but will be more rewarding in the long run if everything goes well!
You replacement lasted a month? That place sounds horrible!
Enjoyed the post! Now we just need to catch up with Danny with more of these guest posts. 🙂
Eugene
It’s going to take a lot of work to catch to him. I guess this is a step in the right direction (one of about a thousand).
Yes, my friend that still works there texted me when the new guy quit. I almost felt bad for finding it so amusing.