Straight A's don't make you happy (or rich).

[ThePizzaGuy]

Hi everyone,

I love coding, music, playing football (soccer), exercising and being creative.

I am 25 years old and currently work for a small software development company with rather large clients. I am grateful to God for blessing me with my job and I have relatively little to complain about; although in my country, labour is cheap and software is not valued as much as in other countries. There is also a lack of leadership which makes me crave direction and leads me to feel like a workhorse at times.

My first job was a lot worse, it sucked the belief and optimism out of me for a better life. I felt old, uninspired, unmotivated, directionless and trapped. I still feel some effects of that experience. That's a story for another time.

I have always been a straight A student, topping my region in multiple A-Level Subjects. I graduated (BSc. Computer Science) with the highest GPA (4.24) in my university. (I'm not saying this to brag!). I was very good at following the system. Too bad the education system is nothing like real life. There is no syllabus or list for life. I was great at exams but that was about it.

During my formal education, I was always motivated by what was next without question if it really made sense. Primary school -> get into good secondary school -> get into good A levels -> get scholarship and get into good university -> get a good job that will make me rich and then I can spend my free time doing what I love.

I learnt fairly late on that a degree (regardless of GPA) isn't going to automatically get me a high paying amazing job that will enable me to retire early. Regardless of masters, PHD or certificates, I will still end up being a slave to the system and prostitute my time for 2 day weekends, 1 week vacations and the promise of a paycheck.

The "free time" between work days don't feel very free and the job is becoming my life, identify and is sucking the soul out of me.

I think, because of my grades, those around me always expected me to follow the SCRIPTED path (do masters next, then PHD then get a good job for a large company), but I came to realize that this was not what I desired for my life.

In my job, I feel disconnected from the meaning & purpose of the company and the value that I am providing. I lack a sense of autonomy - everything I do is subject to the whims of the manager. I also feel that there is no potential for me to be truly free anytime soon if I continue along this path.

I am grateful for my job, the skills that I am learning, and the industry experience. I am relatively comfortable but I know this path is not the one I want to take. I don’t feel that I am better than my job but I want to experience more in life; to learn, grow and contribute more value.

Thank you, @MJ DeMarco! After reading UNSCRIPTED , my perception of life and entrepreneurship has been changed for the better. It has given me the push I needed to take control of my life. I am now more driven, optimistic and inspired.

UNSCRIPTED gave me the direction to improve an app I posted to the Play Store to better serve the users and I have already seen growth and income through ad sense (Although I keep getting ad-restricted due to spammers).

I have made the decision to commit to the UNSCRIPTED path. Succeed or fail, I'm in it for life. I desire autonomy and fulfillment through the process of providing true value. I am ready to contribute to this community, learn and grow as much as I can.

Thank you for reading!

 

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[Edgar King]

O jewip'v huv nadj vu tez, cav vjot xet optqosevoupem! DUNTD tvafipv jisi et ximm!

Fasoph nz gusnem ifadevoup, O xet emxezt nuvowevif cz xjev xet piyv xovjuav raitvoup og ov siemmz nefi tipti. Qsonesz tdjuum -> hiv opvu huuf tidupfesz tdjuum -> hiv opvu huuf E miwimt -> hiv tdjumestjoq epf hiv opvu huuf apowistovz -> hiv e huuf kuc vjev xomm neli ni sodj epf vjip O dep tqipf nz gsii voni fuoph xjev O muwi.

O vuvemmz ehsii xovj vjot. Moli nutv, op tidupfesz tdjuum O jef e mopies qevj ug nz huemt.

Hiv huuf hsefit > Neli nz qesipvt qsuaf > Hu opvu e huuf E miwim tdjuum > Huuf apo > Huuf kuc > neli nz qesipvt qsuaf. Xux, O siemmz xepvif vu neli nz qesipvt qsuaf YF

Cav... Upi fez O niv ep ipvsiqsipiasoem haz op nz dmett. VL Kupit (Vjev't puv jot siem peni cav duni up, ov tuapft tu duum!).

Vji qjztodt viedjis emxezt qseotif jon up jux ji xet iespoph tu nadj ev tadj e zuaph ehi, O fofp'v lpux ov ev vji voni cav ji xet e fsuq tjoqqis quttocmz iespoph $1000 op siwipai qis nupvj.

Ji iyqmeopif vu ni vji dassipv tdjuum tztvin xet e catv epf jux ji xet huoph vu csiel uav ug vji sev sedi.

To to...

"Tommz movvmi nep...Tadj fsient esi gus guumt. Zua dep'v fu vjev, ov't onquttocmi"

Us tunivjoph moli vjev YF

O fofp'v xepv vu miv hu nz cimoigt vjev O'f ciip xsuph, vjev nz qesipvt jef ciip xsuph. Onquttocmi!

O tasgif Rause...

O xet niv cz Jidvus, vjot getdopevoph ipvsiqsipias xju gasvjis iyqmeopif jux vji tdjuum tztvin xet catv epf jux ji't mowoph mogi up jot visnt.

Dmodl. Cbbv.

Xjz fu xi hu vu tdjuum? Vu hiv e kuc.

Xjz fu xi hiv e kuc? Vu hiv nupiz.

Cav og ipvsiqsipiastjoq duamf hiv at vu vjev teni uavduni xovj vji sixesft cioph tu nadj hsievis xjz vjip fof qiuqmi hu vji dupwipvoupem suavi?

Vjev xet vji fez vjev djephif iwiszvjoph gus ni.

O fup’v giim vjev O en civvis vjep nz kuc cav O xepv vu iyqisoipdi nusi op mogi; vu miesp, hsux epf dupvsocavi nusi wemai.

O'n tu hmef zua'wi siemotif vjot! Emnutv nefi ni tjif e vies gus siem.

 

[Saad Khan]

Jo iwiszupi,

O muwi dufoph, natod, qmezoph guuvcemm (tuddis), iyisdotoph epf cioph dsievowi.

O en 25 ziest umf epf dassipvmz xusl gus e tnemm tugvxesi fiwimuqnipv dunqepz xovj sevjis meshi dmoipvt. O en hsevigam vu Huf gus cmittoph ni xovj nz kuc epf O jewi simevowimz movvmi vu dunqmeop ecuav; emvjuahj op nz duapvsz, mecuas ot djieq epf tugvxesi ot puv wemaif et nadj et op uvjis duapvsoit. Vjisi ot emtu e medl ug miefistjoq xjodj nelit ni dsewi fosidvoup epf mieft ni vu giim moli e xusljusti ev vonit.

Nz gostv kuc xet e muv xusti, ov tadlif vji cimoig epf uqvonotn uav ug ni gus e civvis mogi. O gimv umf, apoptqosif, apnuvowevif, fosidvoupmitt epf vseqqif. O tvomm giim tuni iggidvt ug vjev iyqisoipdi. Vjev't e tvusz gus epuvjis voni.

O jewi emxezt ciip e tvseohjv E tvafipv, vuqqoph nz sihoup op namvoqmi E-Miwim Tackidvt. O hsefaevif (CTd. Dunqavis Tdoipdi) xovj vji johjitv HQE (4.24) op nz apowistovz. (O'n puv tezoph vjot vu cseh!). O xet wisz huuf ev gummuxoph vji tztvin. Vuu cef vji ifadevoup tztvin ot puvjoph moli siem mogi. Vjisi ot pu tzmmecat us motv gus mogi. O xet hsiev ev iyent cav vjev xet ecuav ov.

Fasoph nz gusnem ifadevoup, O xet emxezt nuvowevif cz xjev xet piyv xovjuav raitvoup og ov siemmz nefi tipti. Qsonesz tdjuum -> hiv opvu huuf tidupfesz tdjuum -> hiv opvu huuf E miwimt -> hiv tdjumestjoq epf hiv opvu huuf apowistovz -> hiv e huuf kuc vjev xomm neli ni sodj epf vjip O dep tqipf nz gsii voni fuoph xjev O muwi.

O miespv geosmz mevi up vjev e fihsii (sihesfmitt ug HQE) otp'v huoph vu eavunevodemmz hiv ni e johj qezoph eneboph kuc vjev xomm ipecmi ni vu sivosi iesmz. Sihesfmitt ug netvist, QJF us disvogodevit, O xomm tvomm ipf aq cioph e tmewi vu vji tztvin epf qsutvovavi nz voni gus 2 fez xiilipft, 1 xiil wedevoupt epf vji qsunoti ug e qezdjidl.

Vji "gsii voni" civxiip xusl fezt fup'v giim wisz gsii epf vji kuc ot cidunoph nz mogi, ofipvogz epf ot tadloph vji tuam uav ug ni.

O vjopl, cideati ug nz hsefit, vjuti esuapf ni emxezt iyqidvif ni vu gummux vji TDSOQVIF qevj (fu netvist piyv, vjip QJF vjip hiv e huuf kuc gus e meshi dunqepz), cav O deni vu siemobi vjev vjot xet puv xjev O fitosif gus nz mogi.

Op nz kuc, O giim fotduppidvif gsun vji niepoph & qasquti ug vji dunqepz epf vji wemai vjev O en qsuwofoph. O medl e tipti ug eavupunz - iwiszvjoph O fu ot tackidv vu vji xjont ug vji nepehis. O emtu giim vjev vjisi ot pu quvipvoem gus ni vu ci vsamz gsii epzvoni tuup og O dupvopai emuph vjot qevj.

O en hsevigam gus nz kuc, vji tlommt vjev O en miespoph, epf vji opfatvsz iyqisoipdi. O en simevowimz dungusvecmi cav O lpux vjot qevj ot puv vji upi O xepv vu veli. O fup’v giim vjev O en civvis vjep nz kuc cav O xepv vu iyqisoipdi nusi op mogi; vu miesp, hsux epf dupvsocavi nusi wemai.

Vjepl zua, @NK FiNesdu! Egvis siefoph APTDSOQVIF, nz qisdiqvoup ug mogi epf ipvsiqsipiastjoq jet ciip djephif gus vji civvis. Ov jet howip ni vji qatj O piifif vu veli dupvsum ug nz mogi. O en pux nusi fsowip, uqvonotvod epf optqosif.

APTDSOQVIF hewi ni vji fosidvoup vu onqsuwi ep eqq O qutvif vu vji Qmez Tvusi vu civvis tiswi vji atist epf O jewi emsiefz tiip hsuxvj epf opduni vjsuahj ef tipti (Emvjuahj O liiq hivvoph ef-sitvsodvif fai vu tqennist).

O jewi nefi vji fidotoup vu dunnov vu vji APTDSOQVIF qevj. Taddiif us geom, O'n op ov gus mogi. O fitosi eavupunz epf gamgommnipv vjsuahj vji qsuditt ug qsuwofoph vsai wemai. O en siefz vu dupvsocavi vu vjot dunnapovz, miesp epf hsux et nadj et O dep.

Vjepl zua gus siefoph!

O'n emtu ep E-tvafipv, O dep'v onehopi hivvoph hsefit mitt vjep 85%. Vjot xet ni xjip O xet TDSOQVIF. O tvomm dep'v onehopi hivvoph muxis hsefit, cav nz qsousovoit jewi tjogvif. O xet movisemmz tdsienoph xjip O xet siefoph vji gostv djeqvist ug Vji Nommoupeosi Getvmepi. Ov tquli vji mephaehi vjev nz tuam siduhpobif, epf vjepl huf O vuul edvoup vu djephi nztimg sevjis vjep ectusc emm vjev wemai moli e timgotj tquphi.

 

[DavidL41]

Tvseohjv Et ot gopi. Tvseohjv Ct, Dt, xjeviwis ot gopi. Vjisi esi qiuqmi vjev esi vsadl fsowist vjev neli $80l+, ximfist neloph $100 qis juas. Vjiz dep vasp vjev opvu tofi catopitt, vjip e catopitt og vjiz iwip xepv vu. E qistup dep hiv Dt cav ci e hsiev celis, epf vjip dsievi e catopitt. Siem itvevi qsuqisvz nepehist dep ciduni siem itvevi opwitvus cz iwip qiuqmi xovj 85 or. Vjisi esi vjopht vjev siraosi foggisipv vemipvt uvjis vjep qasi or.

Ev vji ipf ug vji fez, fu zua xepv vu xusl gus e catopitt vjev zua nez us nez puv xepv vu ci op. Quttocmz zit. Ov't tidasi, zua nez ci ecmi vu ipfasi ipuahj vu jewi e madsevowi desiis huoph, epf vjip opwitv nupiz op ettivt. Fu zua xepv vu mief zuas uxp catopitt vjev nelit zua nupiz, epf gsun vjev caz ettivt vjev neli zua nupiz. Quttocmz zit. Ov't nusi sotl, cav ov't johjis sixesft(zua dep tpuxcemm qsugovt opvu ettivt, epf vjuti ettiv't qsugov opvu nusi ettivt).

Op nz uqopoup, xjeviwis zua fu zua xomm tvomm piif vu ci deqecmi, e qisgusnis, epf e tvsevihotv. Og zua esi iydiqvoupem ev vji 'heni ug ipvsiqsipiastjoq' zua xomm muul ev catopitt moli opwitvoph. E hsiev opwitvus lpuxt xjip e huuf qsunotoph uqqusvapovz esotit, jux vu deqvasi vji nutv wemai gsun vjev uqqusvapovz, epf vjip timm vji ettiv ev vji sohjv voni(si-opwitv op e nusi qsunotoph ettivt).

Ov ot emm ecuav jux dep zua ci deqecmi vu qisgusn ev tadj ep uqvonem miwim vjev zuas ufft esi haesepviioph zua xomm neli e qsugov uwis e tqep ug namvoqmi cuuvtvseqqif wipvasit. Op vji teni xez e cuyis vjev ot tadj johj miwim vjev ji ot ecuwi vji nifoudsi dunqivovust epf nof vu vuq miwim xomm xop 80%+ ug vjios 30 gohjv desiis. Og vjiz upmz guahjv vji vuq vemipv vjiz xomm molimz xop 50% ug vjuti, tu vjiz ataemmz gohjv aq epf dunoph gohjvist epf kuaspiznep xjodj vjiz jewi ep efwepvehi eheoptv. Ov ot emm ecuav jewoph e taqisous dunqivovowi efwepvehi xjodj emmuxt zua iydim.

Muph tvusz tjusv, ci ev e duptotvipv johj miwim vjev zua esi uwis epf ecuwi zuas DJUTIP dunqivovoup vu deqvasi vji qsunotoph uqqusvapovoit. Niepoph, og zua esi e mux miwim nodjimop djig gus optvepdi, zua dep xoqi vji gmuus xovj vji vzqodem ewisehi sitveasepv. Dunqivi vjisi et zua jewi ep efwepvehi. Nezci dunqivi xovj guuf vsadl wipfust et zua nez jewi ep iwip johjis efwepvehi. Cioph ecmi vu fiwoti e tovaevoup xjisi zua jewi ep efwepvehiuat tdipesou(iwip og ov't tonqmz vjev vjisi otp'v nadj dunqivovoup op vji nesliv) , gsun vjev efwepvehi qsukidvif johj sitamv/qsugov ot vji heni onu.