When we are young we are often asked: What do you want to be when you grow up?
Most of the time, we don’t know exactly what is it exactly that we want to do, but early in life, we can start figuring out what is it that we don’t want to do.
One of my cousins studied to be a dental hygienist. She worked in the industry for a couple of years and now she does something else. Many years ago, when I asked her about her job, she told me that she liked it, but I am not so sure. Was it that she liked her job or her job security.
Don’t get me wrong. My cousin used to live in Venezuela, and to have any kind of job security is of extreme value, especially in a poor country such as Venezuela. Having the status of being employed is a status symbol all on its own. Maybe she did like her job, but if I was a gambling man, I would say she was on it because of the job security.
But many of us don’t live in a poor country. We live in North America, a place full of opportunities, a place where you can make your dreams come true. Yet, many people end up doing jobs they don’t necessarily like, because of the job security, or because those jobs represent some kind of status symbol.
How to find what you want to be
Think about the people you admire. What is it that they do that pick your interest? And then, how can you do a version of what they do that applies to your life.
For example. Let’s say I admire the writer Stephen King. Then I could take some writing classes, start a blog, write articles for magazines and newspapers and finally write my first fiction or nonfiction book.
I think it’s important to separate in your mind the things you want to do and the things you are led to believe you want to do. For example, everyone speaks of having a “good union job.” Well, this is great to pay the rent and put food on the table, but a good union job is not necessarily what will make you jump out of bed with enthusiasm.
I was unemployable
As I look into my life, I know that I don’t like to have a boss. That made it difficult for me to have a job.
The next thing I noticed, is that I like to do creative stuff, so I ran a dance school for several years. Then, I had a photography business for a few more years. Now, I am a blogger and a podcaster.
Not everything you do have contributes directly with your goals.
For many years, I worked as a real estate investor. This was not my dream, but it was making good money and I was using that money to finance my dreams.
At another time of my life, I was an Uber driver. No, I didn’t love being an Uber driver (although, I am still grateful for the opportunity), but being an Uber driver gave me lots of flexibility, to read, write, take photos, dance, etc.
Whether directly or indirectly, I have always strive to follow my dream of liberty and flexibility.
Indirect contributors to reach your goals
Investing
Money is very important in our life. Having F&ck You money allow us to say “no” to unappealing options.
It’s important to learn to invest and manage our money.
Since I arrived in Canada, I started investing. All I was able to invest at that time was $25/month. Even when I didn’t have enough to buy food and pay for tuition, I always managed to save. Now, twenty-two years after my arrival, I am financially independent, and I only do the thing that I like to do, reading, writing, podcasting, spending time with friends.
Frugality
One of the biggest impediments to reach our goals is our spending habit.
We are constantly manipulated by society and by the media to spend more than we can afford. You are constantly asked to buy the latest electronic gadget, the bigger house, the luxury car, the vacation you can’t afford. And then you realize that you are a prisoner of your job, a slave of your consumption, and you cannot quit that job you don’t like and follow that other thing that you love because you have a big mortgage to pay, car payments, you have to keep up with the expectations of your peers.
By living a frugal life, you are giving yourself many options in life. You can move from one city to the other, you change careers, you are not attached to a relationship for convenience, you have way more flexibility and freedom.
My friend is prostituting herself
One of my friends told me that she doesn’t like to be frugal because she doesn’t like to limit her options. She likes to buy whatever she wants regardless of the prices.
What this friend didn’t mention to me, but I know, is that she is married to a man she doesn’t love anymore, she is attached to him because he’s the high earner and without him, she would not be able to spend as she does. In short, my friend is prostituting herself in order to continue her spending habit.
Ancient philosopher and being subservient to the king
The philosopher Diogenes was eating bread and lentils for supper. He was seen by the philosopher Aristippus, who lived comfortably by flattering the king.
Said Aristippus, ‘If you would learn to be subservient to the king you would not have to live on lentils.’
Said Diogenes, ‘Learn to live on lentils and you will not have to be subservient to the king”.”
Support this blog
You can support this blog by:
- Using our Amazon Affiliate link.
- Subscribing to our YouTube Channel.
- Subscribing to our podcast through your favorite podcast app.
- Making a donation of $1, $2, or $5.
- Subscribing to our newsletter. We send one email every Sunday with a summary of the week.