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Lost kid defies the odds, lands his Dream Job, and hates it...

AceVentures

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I'm 27 years old and 2 years into my "big-boy job" as a Petroleum Engineer. Paid off all by debt. Managed a decent amount of savings (in the eyes of the poor boy growing up with the mom that works at Dunkin Donuts). One thing I do, I avoid getting married, I avoid getting anyone pregnant, and with my poor upbringing and studies of Stoic Philosophy, I avoid the Sidewalker dreams of shiny things. I avoid the nice car, I avoid the fancy house, and I avoid the parties so I can stay shredded. In my mother's eyes, I've "made it". I broke the poverty cycle, I immigrated from Iran, to Canada, to the US. Despite all the odds, I got out of drugs, I saved up working at the pizza shop, I made straight A's, I got the scholarship, I got into the program, I hustled and begged for a job, and now? I got the big boy job... And I could care less about the "career".

Is this all there is? Did I beat the odds so I could slave my time for money? What about freedom and living a badass lifestyle? What about being able to tell my mom she can quit her shitty minimum wage job and live in a nice house with no mortgage? That she can marry whoever the F*ck she wants, not because she's broke and needs help. That she can go gardening and forget her pains? When will I be able to tell her she can stop shopping at Marshalls and Ross? That she doesn't have to get a panic attack at the restaurant, picking the cheapest item on the menu? What about myself? What about travelling the world, driving nice cars and banging the hottest babe? Oh nonono, forget all that buddy boy, now that you've made it, you're smart! You've evolved from the Sidewalker to a Slowlaner. My mom, my sister, myself, my dreams? They'll have to wait and HOPE. Now, I get to read books on index funds and how to live off pennies so I can save for an early retirement. Now I read blogs on FI/RE (financial independence, retire early) and hope that one of those blogposts motivates me to want to model after them. The tragedy? I F*cking hate every one of those guys. What a crappy model! I studied to become a problem solver, and now I spend every day solving problems about rocks and fluids. Why can't I solve my own problem of gaining FREEDOM? Is this all there is?

I stay uplifted, I work, I gym, I avoid the alcohol and the hamburger with friends that are only interested in partying. I slowly isolate myself further from the crowd. I keep banging my head against the wall, scouring through books, scouring blog posts on the web, YouTube gurus with get-rich-quick schemes that I can never believe enough to buy, but that I believe enough to keep indulging in the self-help porn.

Until one day... a little over a week ago, I discover MJ DeMarco's UNSCRIPTED . I also find another book on index funds. I devote my entire Sunday to begin "reading a new book". Despite my gut feel, I decided to begin with UNSCRIPTED instead of the shitty index fund book.

WHAM BAM I learn about the SCRIPT. Holy shit, did MJ write this book for ME? How is it that every friggin word that I'm reading resonates with the core of who I am? This is the best book I've ever read... and I cannot put it down. 1 week in, and I'm 75% through the book. My entire being is driven to detach from this shitty SCRIPTED life. My challenge? I'd like to quit my job and begin devoting 100% of my efforts toward my ambitions as an entrepreneur. I don't want a "get rich quick" scheme. I just want my time back, so I can devote it more intelligently instead of at the office. 1 week in, and I can't get anything done at the office... Nothing is important anymore. Nothing is as urgent as I thought it was. The only thing that matters, is breaking free, regaining my TIME, and pursuing life's next obstacle - adding value to the market place while ensuring a CENTS model that can liberate me.

My challenge? I'm still on a student visa here in America. If I quit, I must leave the country. My challenge? I don't have it all figured out yet. I don't have a business plan with an outline of exactly what I'm going to do and "how I'm going to transition into my next income source while minimizing risk and increasing my likelihood at success". What a load of crap. I'm more motivated than ever to take risk. I know it's not smart. I know it. I know I should be working on my dreams in the evenings/weekends until I can figure it out. I know I'm just pumped because I just started reading this book, and that any decision I make today will be premature.

But I have enough saved to cushion the blow. I have enough saved to last me for a while until I figure out the next gig. I don't know what the next gig is, but with my time back as my agent, I can solve my problem a lot faster than while solving partial differential equations in space and time about the movement of hydrocarbons inside porous media...

Fastlane forum, if you were in my shoes, what would you do? Would you risk the fancy big-wig career and the nice payoff? If it meant you had to leave the country, would you still do it? I wouldn't have to return a shit country, I'd be going back to Canada. I don't quite like Canada. it's cold as hell. And the socialist government will work hard to strip me of my earnings. Are these excuses? Am I just not ready for my "F*ck This Event"? I love America... I want to stay in America, to enjoy the sunshine, to enjoy good climate, to sleep with beautiful Latinas, and to do business HERE.

My gut tells me to stay put, to let ideas stir in the pot a while longer, to remain patient and to plan a proper exit strategy in 2 years. My soul tells me to break free ASAP. It tells me that TIME is my best advantage, and with more TIME on my corner, the creative thinker within can flourish, and I can grow beyond what I have to gain by staying at my job for another 2 years.
 
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astr0

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Yeah, Unscripted is really that great :).

solving partial differential equations in space and time about the movement of hydrocarbons inside porous media
You must be really smart to be able to solve that.

My gut tells me to stay put, to let ideas stir in the pot a while longer, to remain patient and to plan a proper exit strategy in 2 years. My soul tells me to break free ASAP.
Considering that you would have to leave the country if you quit your job and you don't have a plan yet think carefully. You have some time, you have a steady income, you can quit anytime. Don't make impulsive decisions. Get a rough idea of what business you're going to build, start it slowly and quit your job once you ready.

Prepare yourself first.

Welcome to the forum!
 

AceVentures

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Yeah, Unscripted is really that great :).


You must be really smart to be able to solve that.


Considering that you would have to leave the country if you quit your job and you don't have a plan yet think carefully. You have some time, you have a steady income, you can quit anytime. Don't make impulsive decisions. Get a rough idea of what business you're going to build, start it slowly and quit your job once you ready.

Prepare yourself first.

Welcome to the forum!

Thank you astr0. No you're definitely right, and I know that's the smart thing to do. I'll most likely not jeopardize my current situation impulsively - I'll start by executing SOMETHING before making the leap. I was reading through the forums and got inspired by G_Alexander who kept his job while simultaneously undertaking several RE ventures.

Thanks for the warm welcome, I hope to make more friends here :)
 

Silverfox148

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My gut tells me to stay put, to let ideas stir in the pot a while longer, to remain patient and to plan a proper exit strategy in 2 years. My soul tells me to break free ASAP. It tells me that TIME is my best advantage, and with more TIME on my corner, the creative thinker within can flourish, and I can grow beyond what I have to gain by staying at my job for another 2 years.

I'm in the same place as you maybe further down the line, earning a big salary at a big corporation. I also grew up dirt poor, we use to pick beer cans to buy school supplies as a family. You have a big decision to make, after making the decision I wanted my own businesses and control, I was not the same ever again, no longer a good fit for the corporate environment although I still work at the corporation. I am still effective and get stuff done, but it's not the same drive/zeal anymore and I don't like that piece, because I know it's not my absolute best, it's a half way in/halfway out state which I never liked much in any area of life.

Once you realize you are making other people very wealthy via your time/sweat/tears and you have your WTF moment and internalize it , things can't be the same anymore, one way or another your countdown clock has begun as a W-2 employee, you will exit at some point either voluntarily or involuntarily.
 
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AceVentures

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"

Once you realize you are making other people very wealthy via your time/sweat/tears and you have your WTF moment and internalize it , things can't be the same anymore, one way or another your countdown clock has begun as a W-2 employee, you will exit at some point either voluntarily or involuntarily.

Thanks for sharing your story Silverfox. I love what you said about the countdown clock - I may not have it figured out yet, but I know for a fact that this will not be my life.

What about yourself? In what way did you break from your 9-5, or if you still work it, what businesses have you gotten into to gain more freedom?
 

Silverfox148

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Thanks for sharing your story Silverfox. I love what you said about the countdown clock - I may not have it figured out yet, but I know for a fact that this will not be my life.

What about yourself? In what way did you break from your 9-5, or if you still work it, what businesses have you gotten into to gain more freedom?

I still work at the 9-5 , I have a rockstar reputation there with a majority of the people there, especially management. I have done developed/great things while there and almost each one of them is thankful for it. I am given great leeway with my hours/projects as respect for my past/current solutions. I do not have a bad boss/gossip/culture or any of the typical bullshit, I am looked at as leader/trend setter. I am a very driven individual I will do whatever it takes and with my combination of talent for my area. I have produced some wonderful results. At one of my previous companies I had a big hand in developing/rolling out a solution which increased the export side of the business from 200 million to 700 million in a span of a few years. When I left, they were very thankful for that and offered me pretty much anything I wanted when I decided to leave, I still left it was time. My time in the corporate world has been by and far very positive, I had nothing but success.

In the end though, you still have to be there 8 hours or so and as we say in Mexico and popularized by a very popular song, "Aunque la jaula sea de oro, no deja de ser prision", "Even if the cage is made out of gold , it is still a prison". I have other commitments , so I cannot leave the job at this point , I don't have a successful business yet. Although I am weighing if I want to pay the price and leave the job anyway to force myself to do something as I am good under pressure and when against the wall, but the price is high and I don't mean money wise, but still weighing it carefully, it should not be rash decision.
 

AceVentures

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I still work at the 9-5 , I have a rockstar reputation there with a majority of the people there, especially management. I have done developed/great things while there and almost each one of them is thankful for it. I am given great leeway with my hours/projects as respect for my past/current solutions. I do not have a bad boss/gossip/culture or any of the typical bullshit, I am looked at as leader/trend setter. I am a very driven individual I will do whatever it takes and with my combination of talent for my area. I have produced some wonderful results. At one of my previous companies I had a big hand in developing/rolling out a solution which increased the export side of the business from 200 million to 700 million in a span of a few years. When I left, they were very thankful for that and offered me pretty much anything I wanted when I decided to leave, I still left it was time. My time in the corporate world has been by and far very positive, I had nothing but success.

In the end though, you still have to be there 8 hours or so and as we say in Mexico and popularized by a very popular song, "Aunque la jaula sea de oro, no deja de ser prision", "Even if the cage is made out of gold , it is still a prison". I have other commitments , so I cannot leave the job at this point , I don't have a successful business yet. Although I am weighing if I want to pay the price and leave the job anyway to force myself to do something as I am good under pressure and when against the wall, but the price is high and I don't mean money wise, but still weighing it carefully, it should not be rash decision.

Good on you for making strides in industry! You must be a "rising star" or a "high potential" individual as flagged by management :p. And I have to agree with you: my time in the corporate world has not been bad either! I have a great understanding boss that gives me plenty of leash to work on projects at my own pace. I'm encouraged, invited to key strategy discussions, and considered for growth/training opportunities. I'm not working any tight deadlines at the moment, and the work is pretty fun. The only issue, as you've raise yourself, is the golden cage. This path won't lead to an exponential earnings potential - only linear progression at best.

Again, thanks for sharing your story! Just read your intro, seems like we're in a similar age group, although you have significant more work/business experience than me. Looking forward to reading more of your posts on the forum and seeing you grow.

Cheers!
 
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XxThelionxX

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I had this same situation but on a much much smaller scale. What happened was that everyone told me not to do it and I did it anyways. If I would have listened and maybe thought things through. It's like I was in a haze. An entrepreneurial high of some sort. Fastlane is a game changer and it does just that if your not careful. Sure I'm able to go back to my old job if I wanted to, but it was a good decision even though it was mindlessly. I ended up alright and able to go back if things went south. Maybe this will help you even though it is a much much smaller scale

But I'll add this anyway...
Sorry, But the Forum Can't Make Yo...-Life-Decisions-For-You!!.33485/&share_type=t


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

MJ DeMarco

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WHAM BAM I learn about the SCRIPT. Holy shit, did MJ write this book for ME?

I did.

Would you risk the fancy big-wig career and the nice payoff?

Keep the job, work a hustle on the side. Only quit the job when the promise of the business exceeds the job.

Thank you for the great story, you see the Scripted scam as it is presented, perpetrated, and gobbled-up by the masses.
 

ericaung

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I did.



Keep the job, work a hustle on the side. Only quit the job when the promise of the business exceeds the job.

Thank you for the great story, you see the Scripted scam as it is presented, perpetrated, and gobbled-up by the masses.
I dun think can start business in USA while on a student visa.

It is common problem with immigrants. It is not only in USA but also in other countries like Singapore
 
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