Reading the MFL book really struck a chord with me, the idea of becoming phenomenally wealthy, while still young enough to enjoy it.
My dad was an business owner who was widely admired by friends and colleagues for running his own business much of his adult life. He was the mentor that people would go to for advice about business, etc. He wasn't the typical Chamber of Commerce or Rotary cheesy networking guy, but instead liked to hold court in his own office. He loved sales and was shrewd with vendors, and he always profited. He saved every penny, had no debt, and always paid off mortgages in a few years. I always thought he was awesome, and I couldn't wait to find my own niche and be just like him.
At one point in my early adulthood, I went to work in his business to learn "how to run a business". It was during that time that I realized that his "success" was actually more "stability" than anything. It became very clear to me that, while he loved selling and profiting, he loved the structure and stability even more. He and his employees always arrived by 7:45am to start the day promptly at 8:00. And at the end of the day, everyone had to report back to the office before 5:00 to ensure that no one was slacking off at the end of the day, even if their late afternoon sales or service calls were closer to their homes than back to the office.
It became very clear to me that while he was able to amass a nice nest egg through the years, he couldn't get away from the structure he created. He actually created a "job" for himself. Monday through Friday, 8 to 5, year in and year out. Weekends were spent relaxing at home.
He did what he loved, running his business, until after normal retirement age. Then he had to stop working because he got sick. He died 2 months later. It hit me, as I was helping my mother get things in order, that their nest egg was nice, but what good did it do him if he never let himself enjoy it?
He was proud to see my business start to take off a couple of years before he died, but I can almost hear his scoffing at the idea that I would want to grow it, sell it, and enjoy my Fastlane wealth. Sometime when I get bogged down in working in my business, I remind myself of dear old dad, and his 30-year job that he created for himself, and it always brings me back to the reality that, while I will always admire his work ethic and ability to sell, I won't let myself end up like that, working till I can't work anymore, much less enjoy the Fastlane lifestyle. I remind myself to work on my business, instead of getting too wrapped up working in the business.
dpj
My dad was an business owner who was widely admired by friends and colleagues for running his own business much of his adult life. He was the mentor that people would go to for advice about business, etc. He wasn't the typical Chamber of Commerce or Rotary cheesy networking guy, but instead liked to hold court in his own office. He loved sales and was shrewd with vendors, and he always profited. He saved every penny, had no debt, and always paid off mortgages in a few years. I always thought he was awesome, and I couldn't wait to find my own niche and be just like him.
At one point in my early adulthood, I went to work in his business to learn "how to run a business". It was during that time that I realized that his "success" was actually more "stability" than anything. It became very clear to me that, while he loved selling and profiting, he loved the structure and stability even more. He and his employees always arrived by 7:45am to start the day promptly at 8:00. And at the end of the day, everyone had to report back to the office before 5:00 to ensure that no one was slacking off at the end of the day, even if their late afternoon sales or service calls were closer to their homes than back to the office.
It became very clear to me that while he was able to amass a nice nest egg through the years, he couldn't get away from the structure he created. He actually created a "job" for himself. Monday through Friday, 8 to 5, year in and year out. Weekends were spent relaxing at home.
He did what he loved, running his business, until after normal retirement age. Then he had to stop working because he got sick. He died 2 months later. It hit me, as I was helping my mother get things in order, that their nest egg was nice, but what good did it do him if he never let himself enjoy it?
He was proud to see my business start to take off a couple of years before he died, but I can almost hear his scoffing at the idea that I would want to grow it, sell it, and enjoy my Fastlane wealth. Sometime when I get bogged down in working in my business, I remind myself of dear old dad, and his 30-year job that he created for himself, and it always brings me back to the reality that, while I will always admire his work ethic and ability to sell, I won't let myself end up like that, working till I can't work anymore, much less enjoy the Fastlane lifestyle. I remind myself to work on my business, instead of getting too wrapped up working in the business.
dpj
Dislike ads? Become a Fastlane member:
Subscribe today and surround yourself with winners and millionaire mentors, not those broke friends who only want to drink beer and play video games. :-)
Membership Required: Upgrade to Expose Nearly 1,000,000 Posts
Ready to Unleash the Millionaire Entrepreneur in You?
Become a member of the Fastlane Forum, the private community founded by best-selling author and multi-millionaire entrepreneur MJ DeMarco. Since 2007, MJ DeMarco has poured his heart and soul into the Fastlane Forum, helping entrepreneurs reclaim their time, win their financial freedom, and live their best life.
With more than 39,000 posts packed with insights, strategies, and advice, you’re not just a member—you’re stepping into MJ’s inner-circle, a place where you’ll never be left alone.
Become a member and gain immediate access to...
- Active Community: Ever join a community only to find it DEAD? Not at Fastlane! As you can see from our home page, life-changing content is posted dozens of times daily.
- Exclusive Insights: Direct access to MJ DeMarco’s daily contributions and wisdom.
- Powerful Networking Opportunities: Connect with a diverse group of successful entrepreneurs who can offer mentorship, collaboration, and opportunities.
- Proven Strategies: Learn from the best in the business, with actionable advice and strategies that can accelerate your success.
"You are the average of the five people you surround yourself with the most..."
Who are you surrounding yourself with? Surround yourself with millionaire success. Join Fastlane today!
Join Today
