That detour led to riches but it also robbed you of your time
I grew up as a shy, sheltered introvert. I wanted to play video games professionally. That would have totally been my passion.
Know what I ended up choosing to get into? Sales.
Sales is a terrible, hard, uncomfortable place for a shy introvert to be. I spent my first few years hoping nobody finds out that I was a sham. It was easily the furthest possible profession from what I was passionate about. A pure money and time play. I later learned to love it but that was far after the decision to step into discomfort.
My wife and I bought our house (mortgaged - soon to be paid off in full) at 22/23 years old. Owned our car in cash. Got married. Honeymooned in Hawaii. We ate out whenever we wanted to and traveled all the time and went camping all the time and lived our lives however we wanted to, because we could choose to do whatever we wanted from a huge buffet of options that cash allowed. Best years of our lives in our leisure hours because I chose to make money during my working hours. When we had our fill, we decided to slow down and have two kids (that we planned and tried for). Now it's a new adventure.
All of our friends who did what they were passionate about couldn't believe the things we could afford to do. It's now over 10 years later and TO THIS DAY most of them are still behind where we were back then. One of them is considering buying a house, maybe, in the next few years, if they can find the cash. They'd also like to have kids, one day, maybe if they get that promotion on the horizon. But hey - at least he's doing what he loves, right?
Now I'm taking the time to try the bigger play - entrepreneurship. It means years of hardship to hopefully hit even larger levels of wealth than before. When it works out it will mean even more options than a sales career allowed. More travel, more options, more fun, more life.
I look at life as having two parts to it - working hours and leisure hours. The way I see it, all effort you put towards your working hours is equal. Whether you are flipping burgers or selling 6 figure solutions or playing guitar or building a business - it's income generating hours and effort. Leisure hours are where you get to spend the fruits of your working hours. The more you earn, the more you can play.
Personally I think it's INSANE to try to turn your leisure hours into income hours. You're shooting both feet doing this. You make nothing during your work hours so you can do nothing in your leisure hours. And that's what you strive for on your death bed?
I'd rather work my a$$ off, through any discomfort, while I'm on the clock so that I can play my a$$ off with my family when I'm off the clock.
Work hard.
Play hard.
If you'd rather work light, play light - well, go nuts. I'll send you a post card from Hawaii with a guitar on the front - I hear you're really into that kind of thing.
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