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- Sep 3, 2013
- 54
- 107
Let me start by saying that I have followed this forum for a while now and have gained a ton of useful information. For that, I am extremely grateful. I have not given an official introduction to who I am so here we go. I apologize for the long post ahead of time.
Today is my 27th Birthday. This was the day that I had set for myself four years ago to be a fully self - employed millionaire. I have not met that goal in any way shape or form.
Let me give you some background. I have a degree in Electrical Engineering. I was a mediocre student, not because I did not understand the material, but because I was not interested in being tied down the rest of my life and working for someone else. My parents wanted me to get the degree so I did. I refused to get internships even though they were offered to me many times. I would always make an excuse (generally ridiculous) as to why it would not be possible to do so.
I had a dear friend who had connections in Dubai. Through her I was offered a very high salary overseas. I was thrilled by this at first but let my condemning thoughts get the best of me and turned it down. "It's so far from home and family." "My fiancé will leave me (she wouldn't as she is the most supporting person in my life and got pissed when I turned it down)." "Its too hot"(yes really). All the while I was working as a bagger in a local grocery store. The same place I had worked for the last 10 years. I had had enough so I quit to pursue my wantreprenurial dreams.
I took 2.5 months and what little savings I had and convinced myself I was going to make it big. I could barely afford the bills. This was my time to make something happen. Did I? Of course not. Instead I dreamt of what could be. I sat in front of my computer all day, staring at car configurators and watched YouTube videos of actual successful people taking delivery of their brand new Porsches, Ferraris, and the like. Every one of those days I said "I will start today." "I will change today." "Today is the day." Bullshit! Nothing happened except wasting of valuable time.
Fast forward a year and a half. I am managing all of the computer systems and hardware for a small manufacturing company for $14 an hour. I have 50k in student loan debt, 6k in CC debt, and a car payment on a Camaro I bought a month before I graduated college. I am the epitome of a sidewalker. I blame no one for this but MYSELF. I AM the CAPTAIN of MY OWN SHIP and as such only I can remedy this and climb out of the pit for which my slowlane self belongs.
I read TMF and then recently I read it again. This time it clicked. It has changed my views on life and the world. I am following the owner of the company I work for and watch how he runs his business. I am constantly finding ways he can increase revenue and have become somewhat of a valuable asset to him by solving problems quickly, economically, and efficiently. I have essentially begun restructuring his company to move it into the modern era of technology. Although the pay is low (just negotiated a raise), I am learning how to provide value. I am constantly evaluating everything to see if it can be made better. It used to be about chasing money and taking the easy way out. Now it is 100% about value creation.
I am in the process of validating ideas and will post a progress thread soon. In the mean time this current position allows me to pay my bills and to continue learning while working on my fastlane business.
Today is my 27th Birthday. This was the day that I had set for myself four years ago to be a fully self - employed millionaire. I have not met that goal in any way shape or form.
Let me give you some background. I have a degree in Electrical Engineering. I was a mediocre student, not because I did not understand the material, but because I was not interested in being tied down the rest of my life and working for someone else. My parents wanted me to get the degree so I did. I refused to get internships even though they were offered to me many times. I would always make an excuse (generally ridiculous) as to why it would not be possible to do so.
I had a dear friend who had connections in Dubai. Through her I was offered a very high salary overseas. I was thrilled by this at first but let my condemning thoughts get the best of me and turned it down. "It's so far from home and family." "My fiancé will leave me (she wouldn't as she is the most supporting person in my life and got pissed when I turned it down)." "Its too hot"(yes really). All the while I was working as a bagger in a local grocery store. The same place I had worked for the last 10 years. I had had enough so I quit to pursue my wantreprenurial dreams.
I took 2.5 months and what little savings I had and convinced myself I was going to make it big. I could barely afford the bills. This was my time to make something happen. Did I? Of course not. Instead I dreamt of what could be. I sat in front of my computer all day, staring at car configurators and watched YouTube videos of actual successful people taking delivery of their brand new Porsches, Ferraris, and the like. Every one of those days I said "I will start today." "I will change today." "Today is the day." Bullshit! Nothing happened except wasting of valuable time.
Fast forward a year and a half. I am managing all of the computer systems and hardware for a small manufacturing company for $14 an hour. I have 50k in student loan debt, 6k in CC debt, and a car payment on a Camaro I bought a month before I graduated college. I am the epitome of a sidewalker. I blame no one for this but MYSELF. I AM the CAPTAIN of MY OWN SHIP and as such only I can remedy this and climb out of the pit for which my slowlane self belongs.
I read TMF and then recently I read it again. This time it clicked. It has changed my views on life and the world. I am following the owner of the company I work for and watch how he runs his business. I am constantly finding ways he can increase revenue and have become somewhat of a valuable asset to him by solving problems quickly, economically, and efficiently. I have essentially begun restructuring his company to move it into the modern era of technology. Although the pay is low (just negotiated a raise), I am learning how to provide value. I am constantly evaluating everything to see if it can be made better. It used to be about chasing money and taking the easy way out. Now it is 100% about value creation.
I am in the process of validating ideas and will post a progress thread soon. In the mean time this current position allows me to pay my bills and to continue learning while working on my fastlane business.
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