Thorth
New Contributor
Hello Fastlaners!
My name is Thorsten, I’m a 29yr old German living and working slowlane in Switzerland.
After school I studies process engineering and graduated with a good MSc. After always being exposed to the slowlane mind-set, studying and getting a good job was always a sure thing.
I finished my master thesis at my current employer, a high-tech textile mill in Switzerland (yep, that exists). I was offered a contract right after my studies and in the meantime work as product and market development manager in the technical business unit.
I really like my job and the social aspects of my team a lot and considered myself lucky to have found a work situation like this. It was not until I moved in with my girlfriend until I realized the flaws. Since my girlfriend currently doesn’t earn any money extra, we’re living on my salary only (2people and a dog). We love travelling – and used to travel a lot - and going out, but now my salary doesn’t even cover all the regular costs that come up every month, let alone extras like travelling. Add 1.5hrs of commute to the 10-12hr business day (we work/study far apart and live in the middle), then there is not too much ease left.
While knowing that this is just a temporary situation and that all will work out fine once her studies are over, this situation was a revelation for me (or rather us). I didn’t go to school for 13 years and to university for another 5+ yrs just to barely survive on my salary while living on a budget for everything and having to think about every purchase couple of times - without even having the time to enjoy it then…
We decided to find a way to change our situation to the better. Due to the long commute and the short free time outside of work, audible was the first go to. And lucky enough, the MFL was our first purchase here.
It was mind-blowing. MJ’s description of the slowlane was quite precisely outlining all our beliefs and we often looked at each other abashed when we discovered how naïve our thinking was. The slowlane was so deep a part of me that I never thought about the things MJ kept shooting at me. If I did the simple math before, I could have noticed way earlier that this life is a dead end.
Both of us not stupid (at least in an educational sense), and very ambitious, we decided to change our situation and aim for the Fastlane.
Since my girlfriend played with several entrepreneurial ideas in her mind for years and just lacked the final push to get going, we decided to start one of her projects first. There will be a small launch in her home country soon (basically testing the water) that we plan to back up with bigger production volumes once it gains momentum. Future plans then include to expand to central Europe where we live now.
During the starting time, she will continue and finish her studies. Afterwards the business should already be able to support our living reasonably. We then plan to both focus full-time on the Fastlane as soon as the earnings allow it.
As side project and to learn something new, we’re working on a website for a particular target group. This group is not huge and the project is not meant to generate profit. But it targets unfulfilled needs and supports our learning process.
Audible also is still part of my commute and this forum has plenty of recommendations for what to listen to next.
Long story short: Slowlaner(s) that set the signal to the Fastlane.
My name is Thorsten, I’m a 29yr old German living and working slowlane in Switzerland.
After school I studies process engineering and graduated with a good MSc. After always being exposed to the slowlane mind-set, studying and getting a good job was always a sure thing.
I finished my master thesis at my current employer, a high-tech textile mill in Switzerland (yep, that exists). I was offered a contract right after my studies and in the meantime work as product and market development manager in the technical business unit.
I really like my job and the social aspects of my team a lot and considered myself lucky to have found a work situation like this. It was not until I moved in with my girlfriend until I realized the flaws. Since my girlfriend currently doesn’t earn any money extra, we’re living on my salary only (2people and a dog). We love travelling – and used to travel a lot - and going out, but now my salary doesn’t even cover all the regular costs that come up every month, let alone extras like travelling. Add 1.5hrs of commute to the 10-12hr business day (we work/study far apart and live in the middle), then there is not too much ease left.
While knowing that this is just a temporary situation and that all will work out fine once her studies are over, this situation was a revelation for me (or rather us). I didn’t go to school for 13 years and to university for another 5+ yrs just to barely survive on my salary while living on a budget for everything and having to think about every purchase couple of times - without even having the time to enjoy it then…
We decided to find a way to change our situation to the better. Due to the long commute and the short free time outside of work, audible was the first go to. And lucky enough, the MFL was our first purchase here.
It was mind-blowing. MJ’s description of the slowlane was quite precisely outlining all our beliefs and we often looked at each other abashed when we discovered how naïve our thinking was. The slowlane was so deep a part of me that I never thought about the things MJ kept shooting at me. If I did the simple math before, I could have noticed way earlier that this life is a dead end.
Both of us not stupid (at least in an educational sense), and very ambitious, we decided to change our situation and aim for the Fastlane.
Since my girlfriend played with several entrepreneurial ideas in her mind for years and just lacked the final push to get going, we decided to start one of her projects first. There will be a small launch in her home country soon (basically testing the water) that we plan to back up with bigger production volumes once it gains momentum. Future plans then include to expand to central Europe where we live now.
During the starting time, she will continue and finish her studies. Afterwards the business should already be able to support our living reasonably. We then plan to both focus full-time on the Fastlane as soon as the earnings allow it.
As side project and to learn something new, we’re working on a website for a particular target group. This group is not huge and the project is not meant to generate profit. But it targets unfulfilled needs and supports our learning process.
Audible also is still part of my commute and this forum has plenty of recommendations for what to listen to next.
Long story short: Slowlaner(s) that set the signal to the Fastlane.
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
