This Is Your Wake Up Call
Apr
My thoughts pertaining to the rat race, the 9 to 5, or the choice we make to spend our lives working in a cubicle are simple. It’s dead wrong.
My feelings towards spending 40+years doing something we dislike brings out some of the strongest emotions I have:
- Anger
- Fear
- Desperation
- Bitterness
- Anguish
The thought of working my life away in an unfulfilling job is something that’s constantly on my mind. What if I can’t get out of my job? What if I don’t have what it takes to break free? What if I’m 65 and still working a miserable job?
These questions strike fear into the very center of my heart.
A Call To Action
Last week, I went to the library and checked our The 4-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss. Now, I realize that I may be the last person in America to have read this, but it has really shaken me up.
I had purposely been avoiding reading this due to all the hype. Everything I had heard about this book talked about how revolutionary it was. I prefer not to get sucked into that stuff, because it’s often just marketing hype and bullshit.
I can see now that it lives up the rave reviews.
Right now, it’s 11:30pm and I am beyond tired. I was laying in bed reading the book and was overcome with emotion. I actually got myself so worked up that I couldn’t go to sleep, although my body was begging me to.
My mind is racing with thoughts of breaking free from the 40 year employee trap. There are so many thought provoking points in this book that get my heart racing and my mind moving into overdrive, that I find that I have a hard time unwinding after reading it.
The Flood Gates Open
Now, I’ve read many self-help books in my life. Books like Think and Grow Rich, Unlimited Power, How to Win Friends and Influence People, and Crush it.
While these are all incredibly powerful books, none of them have had such an impact on how I look at life as The 4-Hour Workweek has.
As a side note; As inspirational as this book is, I can’t honestly say that I am on board with everything he teaches here. It’s the “don’t waste your life” message that really reaches me.
As I read through the book, a few things really stood out and screamed “WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH YOUR LIFE”!!!
“Most people will choose unhappiness over uncertainty”.
Think about it. How many of us are afraid to leave a “secure” job? How many of us will choose to play it “safe” by working for someone else our entire lives?
We are in essence enrolling ourselves in a lifetime subscription to mediocraty.
Do we want to enjoy our lives right now while we’re young enough to enjoy it or do we want to spend 90,000 hours of the best years of our lives working an unfulfilling, meaningless job?
“He had always been terrified of plane turbulence, as if he might die with the best inside of him”
Do you have this feeling? It doesn’t have to be related to a plane crash, but rather the feeling in general. Does the thought of death scare the shit out of you, not because of the pain you might suffer through, but rather because you haven’t lived enough?
Me too! There is no worse feeling than feeling like we are missing out on life-just watching it pass us by.
I hate flying, more specifically being in turbulence. It’s not the fear of crashing and dying a fiery death but rather that I will be missing out on life. I haven’t lived enough yet!
“What is the post of gold that justifies spending the best years of your life hoping for happiness in the last”?
This hits the nail on the head. We all think that we are going to work hard, save a bunch of money for retirement, and then retire and enjoy the good life. Well, for me, the good life is NOW, not when I’m too old to fully enjoy it. It’s completely backwards.
Why are we spending the best years of our lives working miserable jobs just to “enjoy” our golden years? It’s fucking idiotic!
What’s even scarier is that there is a fair chance that our health will be too poor to allow us to enjoy our retirement or that we will be dead. Talk about getting screwed!
You spend your entire life busting your ass and waiting for retirement and you die before you get there. FAIL!
“The worst case scenario is living a tolerable and comfortable existence doing something unfulfilling”.
How true is this! 95% of are doing something unfulfilling. Why? Because we have to pay the bills. Why can’t we do something we love AND pay the bills? We can, but we aren’t. I know I’m not…not yet anyway.
There is no rule that says we can’t love our jobs, love our life, and make enough money to never have to worry about money.
“Most who avoid quitting their jobs entertain the thought that their course will improve in time or increase in income”.
Are you guilty of this? 4 years ago, I thought I would be doing something else. I thought I would be working in a field I love, making plenty of money and enjoying my life.
Strike 1!
10 years ago, I thought I would be sitting atop the world of high finance, driving a black BMW M3, living in a luxurious home, and living the good life.
Strike 2!
15 years ago, I thought I would be an experienced world traveller, living day to day, enjoying nature, climbing mountains, and having a peaceful existence.
Strike 3!
I’ve got news for you, if we don’t make it happen for ourselves, it will NEVER happen. You will become a corpse sitting in a cubicle. Get out now!
“People say that what we are seeking is a meaning for life. I don’t think this is what we’re really seeking. I think what we’re seeking is an experience of being alive”.
How often can you honestly say that you truly feel alive? I can’t remember the last time I felt it. It’s heartbreaking that we don’t feel it more often (or at all). We all feel temporary motivation or inspiration, but that’s different.
We are all so caught up in life’s everyday grind, that we never take the time to experience life, let alone live it to the fullest.
“A deferrer is someone who saves it all for the end only to find that life has passed them by”.
Are YOU a deferrer? What are you waiting for? “Someday” will never come and you will be gravely sorry that you waited to enjoy life. Incredibly sad. I am 100% guilty of this cardinal sin.
At almost 40, I have not enjoyed my life even 10% of what I could have. This is something I cannot change, but what I can change is the future. So can you.
“If tolerating a punishing work environment is a prerequisite for promotion, could it be you’re in a game not worth winning”.
This is brilliant. Many of us will deal with shitty bosses, office politics, back stabbing, and other office bullshit just to get a 3% raise each year. It’s insanity to me. The 9-5 prison sentence is NOT a game worth winning.
There is no winning. How can working for someone else, building their business, and making them rich be a winning solution? It’s not.
“Retirement as a goal is flawed because it is predicated on the assumption that you dislike what you are doing during the most physically capable years of your life. Nothing can justify that sacrifice”.
Think about this for a moment. We think of retirement as an escape from our working lives. If we need an escape, clearly we are not passionate about what we’re doing. People working meaningful jobs, jobs they love, don’t need to look forward retirement.
Why should we be any different?
“The opposite of happiness is boredom”.
I love this quote. As Tim says “Excitement is the more practical synonym for happiness, and it is precisely what you should strive to chase. It is the cure-all”.
When is the last time you thought about what excited you? Probably a long time ago, if ever. We all think about what would make us happy, but what does that really mean? It’s far too vague.
Think about what gets your heart racing with anticipation, what shoots you out of bed without an alarm each day, what inspires you to do what you do.
Therein lies your answer. Now go do it!
“Our culture tends to reward personal sacrifice instead of personal productivity”.
How many times have you heard “he’s such a hard worker” or “he needs to man up and get a real job”? This is how we think-most of us anyway. I think it’s a complete crock of horseshit.
Why are we sacrificing our happiness for anything?
I love my family more than anything in this world and feel like I have sacrificed a great deal, but there is no need to. Why can’t we ALL be happy? Why does one have to suffer in order to provide a better life for the rest? Makes no sense.
Open Your Eyes Up People!
As you can see, I have extremely strong feelings on this matter. It consumes my thoughts each day.
My goal is to get you to open your eyes and ask yourself these same questions. Maybe then, you will take action and make a change.
Statistically, less than 1% of people will take the wisdom of a book like The 4-Hour Workweek and apply it. Why? Because it’s hard. It requires getting WAY out of your comfort zone and doing things that you never thought you were capable of.
So what! Don’t you think the payoff will be worth it?Are YOU worth it?
If you don’t do it now, you probably will never do it. Seriously, do not waste another minute of your life being miserable.
Now ask yourself these 3 questions:
- Do I want to work hard, scrape by, save as much as I can, and retire at 65? Or do I want to build something for myself right now, love what I am doing, and enjoy my freedom?
- Do I want to be the richest person in my nursing home or do I want to create wealth now and enjoy it while I can.
- Can I make a change in my life right now that will help lead me to what I want out of life?
WTF Are You Going To Do Now?
Are you going to finish reading this post, maybe leave a comment, and then go find another “helpful” article? Yes, you probably are.
What you should do, and I cannot urge this strongly enough, is to take time for deep self reflection. What are you getting out of life right now? What do you really want? Most of us cannot answer these questions truthfully.
If you aren’t happy, WTF are you going to do about it???
It kills me to see people every day that clearly hate their jobs and/or lives. WHY? There is no reason at all that we can’t live our dream life. Will it happen overnight? Of course not. But it will NEVER happen if you don’t make it happen.
Now get up off your ass and go create your best possible life!
David Damron
If you haven’t don’t ferris’s dreamlining worksheets, it should be a top priority.
Google “Tim Ferris Dreamlining” and a link to his blog post with the pdf should be there.
Email me if you can’t find it and I will try to track the link down.
David Damron
LifeExcursion
Steve
Thanks David, I will check it out now.
Joe Barlow
Wow, that’s a very inspiring post! I’m currently reading THINK AND GROW RICH, and just crossed the halfway mark last night, but haven’t gotten to THE 40-HOUR WORK WEEK yet. As you said, the hype put me off a bit. But after reading this post, I think I should probably check it out.
I came to many of these same conclusions a few months ago, and have implemented a three-year plan to escape my current indentured servitude, or job, or whatever you’d like to call it. I have laid out monthly goals and definite timelines for each step, and am determined to meet them. Life’s too short to deal with this type of corporate hell. Ugh.
Thanks for the post,
-j.
Steve
Thanks Joe,
Think and Grow Rich is an incredible book and should be a prerequisite for high school and college students.
Not many people will plan out their job departure like you, so kudos. Just stick to your plan the best you can and those 3 years will fly by. Without a plan or goals, those 3 years would feel like 10.
Benny
Steve!! Glad to see you back writing. You said somewhere you’re not a great writer but this you are! This post had me hooked.
So many things I can relate too and want to comment on.
The 4HWW has woken many people up, including myself. The title is misleading of course. I think that’s what throws many people. My fiance said, “oh I don’t like that book” just because it talks about working only 4 hours a week. I tell her that’s not his point. Even HE doesn’t work 4 hour a week. The point is to find ways to enjoy life now and not when you’re old and gray.
I love this quote that you mentioned. “People say that what we are seeking is a meaning for life. I don’t think this is what we’re really seeking. I think what we’re seeking is an experience of being alive”. Have you seen the full version of it? I have that taped on my wall right above my computer screen. I love that quote.
I love this line you wrote..”Do I want to be the richest person in my nursing home …”. Brilliant.
Do you visit his blog?
After reading your post I feel like I want to re-read the book again.
Excellent post. Will RT for sure.
Steve
Benny,
Thanks for the kind words.
You make a good point about the title of the book. I’ve come across similar reactions where people think it’s a get rich quick thing or it completely unrealistic. His points are very valid; work hard now to build an asset that can be leveraged and enjoy your life. Why wait until we’re old to experience life? It doesn’t make any sense at all.
I haven’t seen the whole quote, but that’s so funny that you have it on your wall. It’s a wonderful quote and is so true.
I have spent some time on the 4HWW blog and am slowly getting through it. I’m still rereading the book too.
Benny
The whole quote is…”People say that we’re searching for the meaning of life. I don’t think that’s it at all. I think that what we’re seeking is an experience of being alive, so that our life experiences on the purely physical plane will have resonances within our own innermost being and reality, so that we actually feel the rapture of being alive.” – Joseph Campbell
I found that quote in “Between a Rock and a Hard Place”, the story of Aron Ralston. Great book.
The blog is full of great content. He doesn’t post much but most of the time it’s timeless material.
I’ve got to reread 4HWW again now. 🙂
Steve
That is a great quote! Aron’s story is very inspiring as well. I’ve never read his book but have heard his story several times.
Riley Harrison
Hi Steve,
A masterpiece of a blog. I celebrate envy. Whenever I feel envious, it’s telling me to examine my life and see what’s missing. And then do my due diligence to see if I was just caught up in the moment and felt envy for the wrong reasons or is there really something to be learned and gained from this emotion that will enhance my existence. Tim’s book also affected by profoundly and I’m trying to figure out how to implement all that I learned. Wish you the best.
Riley
Steve
Thanks Riley!
I too was profoundly affected by the book and it’s overwhelming all the emotions mixed with the action we need to take. So many of us are playing life not to lose, when we should be playing to win. We are not living, but rather we are simply alive. We HAVE to change this.
David
Love this book. I’ve also read Think and Grow Rich and a few other “success books”, but when I read The 4 Hour Workweek it hit me a little harder as well. The way Ferriss makes me say, “Why am I putting up with this shit??”.
That book actually did lead me to take some action in my life and it resulted in a decent sized failure of a business idea. Glad I read this post because I hadn’t really reflected on that failure until now.
Steve
David,
I love that you took action towards your dreams. So what if you failed, everyone does. I know for a fact that you are building several businesses now and I have no doubt that you will find success and happiness one day.
Harriet`
Hi Steve,
I haven’t heard of this book at all but I’m gonna check out Google Books in a sec and see if they have it, it sounds like a really interesting read!
Harriet
Steve
Harriet,
Definitely check the book out, it may change the way you look at the direction of your life!
Steve
Brad,
Definitely read this book! It will get you really thinking about your life and what you are doing to live the life you want.
I’m of the belief that we ARE in cells/prisons that we’ve created for ourselves. Life isn’t about shuffling papers for 8 hours each day, it’s about love, passion and excitement!
Kathy
Unhappiness over uncertainty. Yep, I get that. So many of us, (me included at the moment) are paralyzed at the prospect of change. Even if that change means success. Maybe even more so if the change means success.
I was with you on not reading the book. Too much hype for me too. Now I guess I gotta get it. Off to Amazon.
Nice post.
Steve
Kathy,
I’m in the same position. The fear of the unknown keeps me from quitting my job today although it is killing me. What if I can’t provide for my family? What if I am not good enough at this to succeed? Without fear, imagine what we could accomplish…
Adrienne
You think you’re not a good writer? Now who is kidding themselves. You rocked this post and kept me interested in every single word.
And I KNOW you know I relate to every single thing you said. Plus, I’ve read them all and they’ve inspired me to keep pushing forward.
I have NO doubt Steve that you will succeed at whatever you are doing to get yourself out of that rat race. You are a man on a mission and will not quit until you have reached that place. I’m sure you have plenty of support behind you as well and I can’t wait to read the post where you have told your boss adios!!! It’s coming and I don’t doubt that it’s sooner than later.
Really enjoyed this one and thanks for sharing. Love to read about other people and their journey’s but also enjoy hearing from you. Welcome back!
Adrienne
Steve
Adrienne,
Thanks for the kind words. I have a long way to becoming a great writer, but I do know that I speak from the heart. This post meant a lot to me because Tim’s message hit me so hard. I felt like all the things I feel and often don’t communicate are what this book is all about.
All I know is that I won’t stop doing what I’m doing until I’m able to walk away from my job and am able to start living life on my own terms.
Justin | Mazzastick
Steve,
I haven’t read the four hour workweek yet. I feel a strong inclination to do so after reading your post.
I have always preferred being self-employed as opposed to working for a bovine master.
More people are waking up to the fact of working until you retire and then just do nothing until you dies is a recipe for an early grave.
That model never suited me either. Great Post.
Steve
Hey Justin,
I’m glad you were inspired to read the book. You won’t be disappointed.
The whole “work your life away in hopes of better days in retirement” is a death sentence. It’s a complete farce and I’m glad I finally truly understand this. Far too many will never think twice about spending their entire lives doing something unfulfilling. It just so sad that it happens.
Anthony
“What do you really want?”
Exactly. That’s the million dollar question, literally.
Marco Lee
I think most people don’t really know what they want. Haha They won’t even stop to think about it. The better question that Tim really asked is “What excites me the most?” 🙂
Steve
Marco,
I love that question. When most people ask themselves “what would make me happy”?, they don’t really know how to answer that. We are much more likely to know what excites us!
Marlon @ productivity bits
Steve,
I have read the 4HWW. Or, I thought I have. It gave me some a-ha moments. But I didn’t have the same bursting passion! Re-reading the book is in order. It’s there in my shelf. I must re-read it!
Julia Hayes
Hi Steve,
Lots to think about here. One of the main thrusts in internet marketing is the idea that you give up your job, make money while you sleep and spend your free time on a yacht in the Bahamas. Unless you’re doing something that excites you, even a life of luxury can be dull and boring.
So given that when we leave full time/safe employment, we take ourselves with us, it’s a good idea to practice being excited now. Now is all we have.
Previously I had a job where our salaries were never paid on time – there was always the risk they wouldn’t be paid at all….and that reduced the fear of going broke in a new business. So I’m grateful they helped me take the plunge. I agree happiness=excitement.
Your blog is very enjoyable and personal. Thanks.
Steve
Julia,
Although I have yet to live the fabled “Internet lifestyle” of sitting on white, sandy beaches while listening to sounds of the waves as well as the sounds of passive income rolling in, I have read many times that it does get boring. That’s why it’s so important to have a passion for something that will get us out of bed each morning; a greater sense of purpose.
We will be motivated to go shopping or sailing for only so long before the novelty wears off.
I love Tim Ferriss’ comment about excitement being synonymous with happiness. So true.
Thanks for reading-hope to see you around 🙂
Julia Hayes
Steve,
“the smell of comments in the morning” , “the sound of passive income rolling in”.
I have a book ‘I Never Metaphor I Didn’t Like’ – you could have helped write it.
Shopping? Once I was in the famous Harrods, London. I was told I could have ”anything” I wanted in the shop. That day, I couldn’t find anything. That’s life. When you can have it all you have a chance to know you don’t necessarily want anything material.
Now, if I could just have that chance in Harrods one more time….
Mike Hammar
If we wait until retirement to enjoy ourselves, there may not be enough of ourselves to enjoy
Steve
So true. The thought of grinding out another 25 years in a soul sucking job scares the shit out of me. What If I die before then? Will I actually be able to enjoy my live at age 65 or 70? Will I be in good enough health to have a good quality of life? Scary….
BethanyBob
Hi Steve —
I discovered your blog a day or two before my mom’s guyfriend passed away of a heart attack. So while I was already seeking to escape the grind and stop wasting my life away, his untimely death helped to cement my resolve — and encouraged me to start working to help my mom escape the grind, too.
She’s a lady, so I can’t reveal her age, but she received a Bachelor’s Degree in Wildlife Management many, many moons ago. She is now making less than $12 an hour as a 9-to-5 admin assistant. She has always wanted to travel, or at the very least settle down with her own house. Now that her guyfriend is gone, she’s essentially homeless, can’t afford rent, has no savings, and has a car that barely gets her from Point A to B.
I guess she has mentioned to her friends the idea of selling everything and hitting the road: these friends have said that she’s crazy and should stay in the state to be close to me and my son. I kind of want to slap them silly, and have all but given her permission to get out of dodge. I’m passing on blog articles from you and many of your colleagues to try and inspire her. I think it’s working. *fingers crossed*
I love her. I’m tired of seeing her unhappy and her dreams go unfulfilled. The people who perpetuate the status quo (despite being unhappy in their jobs, too,) really make me angry when they try and tell us that, “This is just the way it is.” No. I refuse to believe it!
So, thank you, Steve, for providing this wake up call and this wonderful website. I’m not sure where we’ll go from here, but it’s a start in the right direction.
Mwahs,
— BethanyBob
Steve
Bethany,
I definitely feel for your mom here. That sounds like an awful situation and unfortunately, it is happening to millions or people. They live mediocre lives, work lousy jobs, and have no savings. It’s incredible sad and what’s worse is that society tells us that this is what we should do.
There is no security in putting your future and your finances in someone else’s hands. My mother had a very similar life. She worked for menial wages her whole life and retired on nothing more than a tiny pension and Social Security. She now lives with an elderly woman in a small apartment because that’s all she can afford. It kills me to see that. She would be so much better off living near her grandchildren, but she simply cannot afford to move.
I’m so sick of people thinking that we need to follow the status quo, it’s complete bullshit. I hope your mom finds happiness, whatever that looks like for her.