Do You See a Fork in Your Own, Personal Road to Financial Freedom?
We all know people who appear to travel a very straight road in life, at least where their careers are concerned. They seem to know exactly, early in life, what they want to be when they "grow up", and often that's exactly what they end up doing for 30, 40, or even 50 years.
Life itself sometimes throws a roadblock in front of our plans... we get married, have kids, and decide to spend the next 5 or 10 years at home as a hands-on mom or dad... our company downsizes and we lose our jobs, or maybe we experience too much stress and are forced to resign for health reasons...
Then there are those of us who aren't quite that sure of their chosen careers, to begin with. We might start out in one field, decide it isn't for us, after all, and re-orient ourselves onto a different path. Sometimes this happens while we're still young, and it doesn't make that much of a difference in the long run. In many instances, though, people decide to change their lives mid-stream... chuck their careers even if they're highly profitable, and try their hands on something they love to do, even if it means tightening their belts a little.
Who is to say which way is "better"? I don't think there is a "better" or "worse". Some people feel trapped by their jobs, and count the days until they can retire... while those lucky (or courageous) enough to have escaped the rat race, doing what they love to do, are full of zest and joie de vivre. Conversely, the steadily employed have a paycheck coming in at the end of the week, or month... while the self employed might love what they're doing but often lack that sort of security, at least until whatever business they've chosen to build becomes successful enough.
Fortunately, there is a way to travel the middle lane: Start a business of your own on a part time basis, while still enjoying the security of your full time employment and weekly or monthly paycheck. With a business of your own you'll be able to aim for the ultimate goal... financial freedom and true independence, but working towards it part time until your success allows you to quit your job and work only for yourself.
Life is a gamble in many ways. There aren't any guarantees for happiness, success, even good health and ultimately, life itself. We can only do the best we can do, and be the best we can be...
Life itself sometimes throws a roadblock in front of our plans... we get married, have kids, and decide to spend the next 5 or 10 years at home as a hands-on mom or dad... our company downsizes and we lose our jobs, or maybe we experience too much stress and are forced to resign for health reasons...
Then there are those of us who aren't quite that sure of their chosen careers, to begin with. We might start out in one field, decide it isn't for us, after all, and re-orient ourselves onto a different path. Sometimes this happens while we're still young, and it doesn't make that much of a difference in the long run. In many instances, though, people decide to change their lives mid-stream... chuck their careers even if they're highly profitable, and try their hands on something they love to do, even if it means tightening their belts a little.
Who is to say which way is "better"? I don't think there is a "better" or "worse". Some people feel trapped by their jobs, and count the days until they can retire... while those lucky (or courageous) enough to have escaped the rat race, doing what they love to do, are full of zest and joie de vivre. Conversely, the steadily employed have a paycheck coming in at the end of the week, or month... while the self employed might love what they're doing but often lack that sort of security, at least until whatever business they've chosen to build becomes successful enough.
Fortunately, there is a way to travel the middle lane: Start a business of your own on a part time basis, while still enjoying the security of your full time employment and weekly or monthly paycheck. With a business of your own you'll be able to aim for the ultimate goal... financial freedom and true independence, but working towards it part time until your success allows you to quit your job and work only for yourself.
Life is a gamble in many ways. There aren't any guarantees for happiness, success, even good health and ultimately, life itself. We can only do the best we can do, and be the best we can be...