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My name is Tony. I'm currently living in the NYC area, but well outside it where the cost of living is cheaper. I went to school for Computer Science and currently hold a B.S. in that subject. Unlike a lot of my classmates I had some really great success right out of school and was hired for a six figure job (hard to believe I know) one year after graduating. It was with a client of mine who I was already charging 120 dollars per hour though so I had a huge leg up and he actually thought I might think the pay was to low. 1 short year later his business closed due to his poor management and the bad economy. I managed to stay on working from home as a contractor with him to keep his clients happy while he layed off nearly everyone else and closed the physical office. I was lucky, but did not celebrate. For the next year I worked from my room in my parent's house and made very good money and still took on consulting jobs in my area. I spent very little and saved as much as I could. I got into investing and read four hour work week and tried some of the ideas there. Ever since I have wanted to start a business but have only had small successes, nothing has taken off.
Back to my story though : I was also realizing back then that the contracting from home "dream" is isolating and while my girlfriend was at work or school I was working from home but it was actually lonely and harder than I imagined. It did eventually end. I consulted, brining in some money (not as much of course) for another stint until I was hired at a startup company making good money again. This time, I hated the culture of the company and things around me were crumbling (family issues, etc.) I wanted to move and to a different area, away from my family. I had substantial savings and I was living at home for too long anyway so I made the leap.
Fast forward to right now. I am living in an area outside the city with very little opportunity to get a "job." In my heart of hearts I do not WANT a "job." I hate the entire setup, office culture, cheap furniture, bad lighting. The one thing I love are the people. I am very social, but hate offices. Therein lies the trouble really. The jobs out here also pay less, so if I take one my ego will feel the bruise. I know a good amount about running my own consulting business but I left most of my clients in my old location and they were all earned by word of mouth, no advertising (sometimes I make the LONG drive to work there for a few days to keep the money flowing.) Thankfully, I also do some remote IT work as well. Many things clients need to not require me to be there in person, and if only I had 40 hours a week at that rate my savings rate would be just fine. Still, I do not want to trade hours for money (but I will if I NEED to) at any rate.
I really do not think money has much to do with success and sometimes I wish life was about more than this work-sleep-work paradigm we have all been forced into since birth. I am not a materialist and have no desire for fancy objects or shows of money. If I had unlimited money I would live much as I do now only I would travel a lot more. I really love working with technology and would explore it no matter if it was paid or not but the whole money thing is such a drag. The one way I can see of really negating the effects it has on my psychology is to beat it with something very successful that will not dominate my life. I do not want power or fame , i just want enough money to live in peace and explore the world, unnoticed for the most part.
Please, if you read all this, drop your name and say hello. I would love it if this forum had a real impact on my life. These days I spend a lot of time reading and it is quite isolating. My girlfriend returns from her job to see me here, having worked maybe 3 or 4 hours on a contract job but never looking very pleased and I think she might see me a lazy. I am lazy, but in the best possible way! I want to work in the smartest way possible and right now something inside is telling me to invest more and more time into novel ideas on starting a business. Afterall, the world of work and drudgery is not going anywhere.
I considered more school for a long time hoping to foster more community with other people who might help me innovate and blend ideas. After looking into the cost versus the reward on a MS in Computer Science I concluded it is not worth it unless somebody else is paying for it. I really love to learn, but it just looks like a rip-off!
I can live maybe another 5 years off my savings and investments with my current lifestyle before I would feel uncomfortable with the amount of money I have. I have no debt, student loans paid off, etc. I have read stories about entrepreneurs working so hard just to get back up to the point of NO DEBT and ANY savings so I must say I am thankful to be where I am now. I just need a little inspiration from the right-minded people, hopefully you find me on here.
What would you do in my position? Feel free to message me, add me, etc.
-Tony
Back to my story though : I was also realizing back then that the contracting from home "dream" is isolating and while my girlfriend was at work or school I was working from home but it was actually lonely and harder than I imagined. It did eventually end. I consulted, brining in some money (not as much of course) for another stint until I was hired at a startup company making good money again. This time, I hated the culture of the company and things around me were crumbling (family issues, etc.) I wanted to move and to a different area, away from my family. I had substantial savings and I was living at home for too long anyway so I made the leap.
Fast forward to right now. I am living in an area outside the city with very little opportunity to get a "job." In my heart of hearts I do not WANT a "job." I hate the entire setup, office culture, cheap furniture, bad lighting. The one thing I love are the people. I am very social, but hate offices. Therein lies the trouble really. The jobs out here also pay less, so if I take one my ego will feel the bruise. I know a good amount about running my own consulting business but I left most of my clients in my old location and they were all earned by word of mouth, no advertising (sometimes I make the LONG drive to work there for a few days to keep the money flowing.) Thankfully, I also do some remote IT work as well. Many things clients need to not require me to be there in person, and if only I had 40 hours a week at that rate my savings rate would be just fine. Still, I do not want to trade hours for money (but I will if I NEED to) at any rate.
I really do not think money has much to do with success and sometimes I wish life was about more than this work-sleep-work paradigm we have all been forced into since birth. I am not a materialist and have no desire for fancy objects or shows of money. If I had unlimited money I would live much as I do now only I would travel a lot more. I really love working with technology and would explore it no matter if it was paid or not but the whole money thing is such a drag. The one way I can see of really negating the effects it has on my psychology is to beat it with something very successful that will not dominate my life. I do not want power or fame , i just want enough money to live in peace and explore the world, unnoticed for the most part.
Please, if you read all this, drop your name and say hello. I would love it if this forum had a real impact on my life. These days I spend a lot of time reading and it is quite isolating. My girlfriend returns from her job to see me here, having worked maybe 3 or 4 hours on a contract job but never looking very pleased and I think she might see me a lazy. I am lazy, but in the best possible way! I want to work in the smartest way possible and right now something inside is telling me to invest more and more time into novel ideas on starting a business. Afterall, the world of work and drudgery is not going anywhere.
I considered more school for a long time hoping to foster more community with other people who might help me innovate and blend ideas. After looking into the cost versus the reward on a MS in Computer Science I concluded it is not worth it unless somebody else is paying for it. I really love to learn, but it just looks like a rip-off!
I can live maybe another 5 years off my savings and investments with my current lifestyle before I would feel uncomfortable with the amount of money I have. I have no debt, student loans paid off, etc. I have read stories about entrepreneurs working so hard just to get back up to the point of NO DEBT and ANY savings so I must say I am thankful to be where I am now. I just need a little inspiration from the right-minded people, hopefully you find me on here.
What would you do in my position? Feel free to message me, add me, etc.
-Tony
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