Umemployed. Love it. My journey into the Fastlane.

[Ninjakid]

So decided to take a break from my work today to share this with you guys. I'm not trying to boast about my accomplishments, I just hope this post can inspire/motivate at least one of you.

I came to the realization a little while ago that I've changed my lifestyle dramatically from a few years ago. I guess I've been so busy hustling that I've never really stopped to take a look at my own progress.

I haven't had a job in nearly a year, and I never plan to. In fact, I mentioned earlier that I was looking to get a job temporarily, but either I wouldn't get selected or the place would be too far of a commute. I think it worked out for the best though, because not being able to get a job got me to where I am now. But currently, I still can't get a job but for an entirely different reason: I'm too busy.

Yeah, I love the look on most people's faces when I say that.

But I wondered if people have noticed that I can afford to live very well despite not having a job and not being on unemployment insurance.

I don't like to say how much I make, but at the moment, I make more than most of my friends with full-time jobs. I wake up whenever I feel like, I'm my own boss, and I can take time off anytime and go anywhere anytime.

Now, at 21, I'm living the way I wanted to a year and a half ago, when I first decided that there was nothing I wanted to do more than be an entrepreneur. Back then, I had no idea how, no idea what kind of business I wanted to start, no mentors, and pretty much no supporters. Of all the people in my life, I can count on one hand all the people who believed in me. Some of my relatives even tried to have an intervention with me and tell me why what I'm doing won't work, to which I was like "I'm doing it anyway." Even today, a lot of people don't know what I do. They just think I'm unemployed and looking for a job.

To be honest, up until about 3-4 months ago, I was just doing a lot of screwing around. I didn't know how to get started, so I would just read, read, and read; study, study, and study. There were a lot of people I learned from, and people who inspired me, but I've never had a mentor; I went out and learned all on my own. I preferred it that way because I'm the type of person who likes doing everything his own way, and never following anybody else. That said, sometimes doing everything your own way means you're fending for yourself. I got frustrated with my lack of progress and sometimes it just felt like I was going around in circles and not accomplishing anything. It wasn't until I decided exactly what I wanted to do and have a clear plan that things started to come together for me. When I had my plan of action, I worked on it tirelessly. Even now, I usually work about 14 hours a day running my start-ups, but you know what, there's nothing I would rather be doing. People are surprised when I tell them that I love what I do. Because to me, it's not even like work. It's fulfilling my mission and passion. I guess it's also easier to love what you do when you know you can do it of your own accord.

I will make my businesses extremely successful, and that's why I spend so much time with them. But that said, I'm happy to be where I am now. I've realized that my mindset has changed, and I've developed exponentially more confidence knowing that I am able to be financially independent; and not having to rely on a job or having to structure my time to suit a company's needs. Also I know now, if shit hit the fan and my businesses failed, I could easily redo it.

Guys, I am where I am now for one simple reason: I chose to be.

A year and a half ago I decided the things I want are to have my own business, be my own boss, and be financially independent. I knew that I had to have that kind of lifestyle, and nothing was going to make me shift from that purpose. So I embodied that lifestyle. Once I started living as if that was my current reality, it became a reality. I stopped looking for jobs, I stopped procrastinating, and I started looking for streams of income without being employed, and working on my business. And I enjoyed it. I developed a sense of comfort. I let go of the anxiety of not knowing where your next dollar will come from, and started embodying the spirit of an entrepreneur. "Working a 9-5 is not an option, I'll be an entrepreneur or nothing." This do or die attitude was the feel I needed to thrust myself into the fastlane.

Again, I write this because I can relate to a lot of you who have had a tough time making the full shift from employee to entrepreneur. I was having I tough time too even 6 months ago. Now I'm relaxed, but full of fire and ambition. My advice I can offer is probably nothing you haven't heard before, but I will tell you this: have a clear vision in mind, and make that vision your reality. Tell yourself there is no other option. Tell yourself that this is how your life is, and this is just what you do, plain and simple. Don't wait for something to happen. Don't wait for the outside word to give you permission. Start right where you are NOW, and make it happen.

Good luck everyone.

P.S. I believe much of my inspiration comes from the people on this forum. Reading people's stories has been a huge inspiration to me, and constantly reminded me that what I wanted to do was possible. Thank you all.

 

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[Draven Grey]

I made the shift 10 years ago and will never look back. Even the years without a solid plan, all the bills were paid. Money, at least enough to live on, is easy to come by. Now on to focus on perceived needs rather than what I think people need (haha!) and making wealth easy to come by. I wish I had started at your age. But I'm glad that I finally understand what needs to be done, regardless if my age.

 

[Ninjakid]

I made the shift 10 years ago and will never look back. Even the years without a solid plan, all the bills were paid. Money, at least enough to live on, is easy to come by. Now on to focus on perceived needs rather than what I think people need (haha!) and making wealth easy to come by. I wish I had started at your age. But I'm glad that I finally understand what needs to be done, regardless if my age.

Once you make the shift, and start to enjoy it, it's like nearly impossible to go back. It's stressful sometimes, but the benefits far outweigh everything else.
Good on you for going through with it, man.

 

[Harry321]

I made the shift 10 years ago and will never look back. Even the years without a solid plan, all the bills were paid. Money, at least enough to live on, is easy to come by. Now on to focus on perceived needs rather than what I think people need (haha!) and making wealth easy to come by. I wish I had started at your age. But I'm glad that I finally understand what needs to be done, regardless if my age.

For someone starting out, I've got a few long-term business plans, but nothing to cover the bills at present without a full-time job. With your experience, what is the easiest way to come by bill-paying money?

 

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[gostorm21]

Reading people's stories has been a huge inspiration to me, and constantly reminded me that what I wanted to do was possible.

Thank you for providing that same source of inspiration now that you've gotten to where you want to be. Fantastic story, wonderfully written...and exactly what I needed to read. Thank you

 

[Draven Grey]

For someone starting out, I've got a few long-term business plans, but nothing to cover the bills at present without a full-time job. With your experience, what is the easiest way to come by bill-paying money?

I don't want to hijack this thread, so I'll try to answer your question, and tie it back into Ninjakid's post.

I didn't have the plan of action, or anything even close to the business analysis that TMF provides, and yet the money was still always there when I needed it. I was forced out of a job when I had a back injury at the postal service. For two years, while fighting the Dept. of Labor, I bought stuff from garage sells and sold them on eBay. Eventually, that became too stressful. Since then, I've turned many hobbies into small income makers. But I always approached it as offering something I was very good at in order to fill a need, rather than a desire. Once I distinguished between what I could see, from an experts point of view, was clearly a need, and what the person I wanted to serve perceived as their need, things began to turn for the better.

I've owned a recording studio, and have been a freelance recording, mixing, and mastering engineer. I've been a marriage counselor, spiritual advisor and pretty unconventional pastor. I've been an artist, rock band coach, artist development specialist, and record label owner. I even did pretty well in a few rock bands of my own before finally landing the right team and beginning to build an empire. My wife has a graphic design firm that we started to serve the same musician demographic I was coaching. I've written books, courses, and coaching programs for musicians and bands. And eventually I realized, or rather admitted to myself, some very important things about what my chosen audience actually choose to spend their money on and what THEY believe their needs are. So now I'm trying to figure out how to revamp my current offerings to that crowd, to honor my business partners and add tremendous amounts of value for both my partners and what our clients perceive as their needs. A lot of music business knowledge, or just damn effective business knowledge, that I've built up over the years is being put right into my own group; from music, band, and live production, to stories, art, and film. While building that empire, I make a little money from doing commercial voice overs, graphic design, and teaching singing and screaming -- all of which are still fun hobbies for me. We even had a year and a half run at eCommerce, but our lack of control tanked that business when we lost our main supplier.

The difference with what Ninjakid wrote is that he started out with some very clear guidance and direction. My wife and I chose to leave the rat race of the 9-5, but we all we had were "good ideas" built upon the pursuit of money through our expertise and talent. Sure, we paid the bills, but we've never been truly wealthy -- not yet. We were never headed into wealth with our previous approach. We've had a lot of freedom of time, but not freedom of money. Now I'm 39 and TMF got us to examine everything we're doing, and all of our possibilities from the standpoint of CENTS. It will change things drastically. It already has.

Ninjakid is 21. TMF is a true game changer for him. He's already focused on businesses that have gone through a CENTS analysis, long before I was. He said it well when he said, "It's stressful sometimes, but the benefits far outweigh everything else." I also identify with the phrase, "Leap and the net will appear." It took a lot of times being forced to leap before I believed it. Money is easy to come by. Paying the bills is extremely easy if you're willing. Wealth takes time and smart work.

 

[Ninjakid]

I don't want to hijack this thread, so I'll try to answer your question, and tie it back into Ninjakid's post.

I didn't have the plan of action, or anything even close to the business analysis that TMF provides, and yet the money was still always there when I needed it. I was forced out of a job when I had a back injury at the postal service. For two years, while fighting the Dept. of Labor, I bought stuff from garage sells and sold them on eBay. Eventually, that became too stressful. Since then, I've turned many hobbies into small income makers. But I always approached it as offering something I was very good at in order to fill a need, rather than a desire. Once I distinguished between what I could see, from an experts point of view, was clearly a need, and what the person I wanted to serve perceived as their need, things began to turn for the better.

I've owned a recording studio, and have been a freelance recording, mixing, and mastering engineer. I've been a marriage counselor, spiritual advisor and pretty unconventional pastor. I've been an artist, rock band coach, artist development specialist, and record label owner. I even did pretty well in a few rock bands of my own before finally landing the right team and beginning to build an empire. My wife has a graphic design firm that we started to serve the same musician demographic I was coaching. I've written books, courses, and coaching programs for musicians and bands. And eventually I realized, or rather admitted to myself, some very important things about what my chosen audience actually choose to spend their money on and what THEY believe their needs are. So now I'm trying to figure out how to revamp my current offerings to that crowd, to honor my business partners and add tremendous amounts of value for both my partners and what our clients perceive as their needs. A lot of music business knowledge, or just damn effective business knowledge, that I've built up over the years is being put right into my own group; from music, band, and live production, to stories, art, and film. While building that empire, I make a little money from doing commercial voice overs, graphic design, and teaching singing and screaming -- all of which are still fun hobbies for me. We even had a year and a half run at eCommerce, but our lack of control tanked that business when we lost our main supplier.

The difference with what Ninjakid wrote is that he started out with some very clear guidance and direction. My wife and I chose to leave the rat race of the 9-5, but we all we had were "good ideas" built upon the pursuit of money through our expertise and talent. Sure, we paid the bills, but we've never been truly wealthy -- not yet. We were never headed into wealth with our previous approach. We've had a lot of freedom of time, but not freedom of money. Now I'm 39 and TMF got us to examine everything we're doing, and all of our possibilities from the standpoint of CENTS. It will change things drastically. It already has.

Ninjakid is 21. TMF is a true game changer for him. He's already focused on businesses that have gone through a CENTS analysis, long before I was. He said it well when he said, "It's stressful sometimes, but the benefits far outweigh everything else." I also identify with the phrase, "Leap and the net will appear." It took a lot of times being forced to leap before I believed it. Money is easy to come by. Paying the bills is extremely easy if you're willing. Wealth takes time and smart work.

It sounds like you spent a lot of time going out into the world and actually experiencing things.

 

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