It's a pleasure to meet all of you finally. I won't waste too much time on my story because it's boring.
I followed my passion straight into culinary school and the restaurant industry. I wanted to become a famous chef and restaurateur with loads of Michelin Stars and other accolades. I subscribed to the dogma that gets force fed to you in the restaurant industry: work your a$$ off and put the restaurant before your own needs and you will rise fast. Slave away for 80 hours a week while making nearly minimum wage for the promise of a bright future in the industry. I was on this path for almost 10 years and it almost managed to kill my passion. Now I work in the pest control industry and actually enjoy cooking again.
In the past year, my wages have grown 70% and every step of the way I thought the same thing: I would finally be happy if I could just make $X/hour. But every raise has come with a numb, empty feeling and a boss acting like I now owe them something. I got married recently and money became a huge focus. We live in a city near San Jose California, one of the most expensive places to live in the whole country. My wife and I don't want to be apartment dwellers for the rest of our lives- we have dreams of houses and kids and starting our own business.
Every day on my way to and from work I listen to financial audiobooks about money-management and entrepreneurship. Last week I finished The Millionaire Fastlane and I just started listening to Unscripted . MJ's writing and overall message has left a huge impression on me compared to the other books. His words ring true to me and inspire action. I hope to use this forum as a tool to continue my education as I go on this journey towards a new life. A life where I don't trade my valuable time for money and don't answer to my schmuck boss.
-Eric
I followed my passion straight into culinary school and the restaurant industry. I wanted to become a famous chef and restaurateur with loads of Michelin Stars and other accolades. I subscribed to the dogma that gets force fed to you in the restaurant industry: work your a$$ off and put the restaurant before your own needs and you will rise fast. Slave away for 80 hours a week while making nearly minimum wage for the promise of a bright future in the industry. I was on this path for almost 10 years and it almost managed to kill my passion. Now I work in the pest control industry and actually enjoy cooking again.
In the past year, my wages have grown 70% and every step of the way I thought the same thing: I would finally be happy if I could just make $X/hour. But every raise has come with a numb, empty feeling and a boss acting like I now owe them something. I got married recently and money became a huge focus. We live in a city near San Jose California, one of the most expensive places to live in the whole country. My wife and I don't want to be apartment dwellers for the rest of our lives- we have dreams of houses and kids and starting our own business.
Every day on my way to and from work I listen to financial audiobooks about money-management and entrepreneurship. Last week I finished The Millionaire Fastlane and I just started listening to Unscripted . MJ's writing and overall message has left a huge impression on me compared to the other books. His words ring true to me and inspire action. I hope to use this forum as a tool to continue my education as I go on this journey towards a new life. A life where I don't trade my valuable time for money and don't answer to my schmuck boss.
-Eric
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