I can’t afford to follow my dream….
“Dan, In a recent 48 Days Online Radio Show you said, “Choose the life you want first. Find the community where you’d like to live. As important as I think work is, I still see it as simply one tool for a successful life. Map out the ideal life, then find or create work that embraces that life.” My question is this: At 42 years old, with a $40,000 per year salary, $20,000 dollars in consumer debt, no retirement money saved whatsoever, and getting older every day, how can I afford to choose the life that I love? How will I ever get ahead now?” Chuck
Chuck,
How can you afford to choose the life that you love? How can you afford NOT to? I have to believe that finding your ideal life releases more freedom and more money. Staying in something unfulfilling stifles your best resources. Being in a job that you don’t love is obviously not using your best talents and passions.
We often assume that if we did what we loved, our income would be less. Why do we think that? Would I make more money as a college professor because I could be in a tenured position and it’s a responsible thing to do – or as an author with no salary and no guarantees but it’s what I love to do?
Every day you spend knowing you are off track is a day squandered – that could have been spent living a better life. Working in something that is less than what you love is like driving a car with dirt in the gas tank and a block of wood under the accelerator.
Kent Julian was a youth pastor – respected and paid well. But he knew he had more to offer. Today his speaking and training business provided a bigger impact and an income several times what he previously experienced. He couldn’t afford to NOT follow his dream.
Kimanzi Constable says he was living a life he could best describe as “existing.” He says he wanted more but he was listening to the fears and negative voices of other people. He was overweight, bored and over $100,000 in debt. In the summer of 2011 he clarified his dream – quit his day job, lost 160 pounds and moved his family from Milwaukee, Wisconsin to Maui, Hawaii. NOT following his dream was killing him.
We have hundreds of similar stories in the members of 48Days.net community.
You don’t have to burn any bridges to do the dreaming and planning – get clear on what the ideal would be — then all you have to do is create a plan of action, complete with a timeline. Sometimes we talk about “paying the price” for success. Personally, I think we pay a much higher price for mediocrity in our lives.
Sincerely, Dan
AWW! I can vouch for the fact that anything is possible if you want it bad enough!
Love this! Kent & Kimanzi’s stories are truly inspiring.
This is exactly why I decided to pursue my training as a coach and start helping others. I was in the same boat as you Chuck years ago. In tons of debt and with the feeling I would never get ahead. But I knew I had to find a way. I started reading, learning and looking for answers and solutions. The more I looked the more I learned. The first step to change is making the decision to change and to say enough is enough. Enough excuses. If others can do it why can’t I? You can change your path Chuck by deciding to take action, work hard, get out of debt, pursue your passion, join a mastermind group, join the 48 days.net community. Being surrounded by a community that are pursuing and living their dream will help you see opportunities and ways. People in those communities want you to succeed and share their wisdom, knowledge and more. I’m in that community so feel free to reach out. Now go change your life!
Dan, your book and 48 days.net have been a HUGE part of where I am today. Thank you 🙂
Dan…thanks for all your coaching, mentoring, and friendship along the way. I’ve learned so much from you about business and life. I still can’t believe how great this journey has been and how much better it’s going to get!
Keep living out your 48 Days vision!
This all seems so great in theory, but if you have a family, how do you just quit? How are the bills paid? I am a home school mom, no college education and totally clueless about what I really want to do with my life outside of homeschooling, but feeling like I am wasting away not finding more of myself & passions. My husband is a supervisor in a manufacturing environment, but his passion is training leaders and teams to be their best. His current job has no appreciation for this, as he has tried so many times to extend himself as a team encourager and trainer. He would love to quit and do something near to his heart, but how and where does he start when the debt is so great and we are paycheck to paycheck? It often feels hopeless.
LouAnn it’s not hopeless. I have a wife and three kids. We were $180,000 in debt to the IRS and living far below paycheck to paycheck. I don’t have a college degree or any special skills. All I had was a desire to improve our lives and stop existing. My father died suddenly at 54 and I said enough!
I self-published a book that flopped. I became a student of my dream and researched it as much as humanly possible. That book went on to sell over 30,000 copies. I was where you are now and I did it in the same situation you are in now.
It feels hopeless until you realize you have the power to do something about it! Is it easy? Heck no! Will it take time? Absolutely! To get money you’re going to have to develop a side hustle. For me it was cutting grass, cleaning houses, and odd jobs. For you guys it might be different but any extra income will help you now and give you a little bit to invest in your dream.
You said your husband does training. Has he thought about approaching other companies about training? In the last two weeks I’ve had two coaching clients land contracts to train at companies on their skillset. Those contracts were for $1,500 each. If he identities a local company where he can talk to a real person, researches how his training will benefit that company, puts together a little presentation he can land a contract.
Once he lands one and rocks it he’ll get referrals or be able to leverage that into more contracts. You land a few of those and your whole life is changed. You can start building a business that supports your family.
If you ever want to talk it through reach out to Dan, Kent or myself ([email protected]). It can be done!
Thank you so much! I read this to my husband. It is so hard to muster up the confidence to step out and do something risky, but I am committed to encouraging him. In the meantime, I have been looking for work in the evenings…anything to help pay down our debt or set aside enough to start something. I plan to give him your email address. His name is Vince. It may go to your spam since it’s unfamiliar…[email protected]. Thanks again!!!! 🙂
Cool, I would be glad to point him in the right direction and give him a little pep talk 🙂
LouAnn – I believe that pride and fear are the two biggest obstacles to our moving towards and reaching our dreams. Kimanzi’s example is just one story of many where people were willing to take a risk. There is no guarantee of outcome, but staying put in circumstances that do not bring you to your desired future is accepting, at its worst, failure, or, at its best, just getting by.
Do not let the lack of a degree slow you down. I love to tell people that I have a PhD. Public High-school Diploma. I learned my trade from my Dad, and from some men that were willing to share and mentor. I have found that most people are willing to help with advice, ideas, direction, and, maybe most important, encouragement. We just have to have the guts to ask.
If Vince has a passion, it will (or should) be so obvious that it is contagious. Some employers may not recognize it or appreciate it. However, if it is his “light”, it will shine through and be obvious to those that care and need what he has to offer.
Back to the pride and fear thing. I think, no, I believe, that we spend too much time trying to convince or impress people that either don’t care or don’t get it. Our network of friends and influencers needs to be focused. Not in a self-serving, self-centered way, but in a way that our passion not only fills us, but provides or adds value to others. By the mere fact that you reached out in this group tells me that “you have it”. When you add value to others, people know it. Then, they will start seeking you out. It takes time, effort, commitment, and guts. The reward, however, is that you are being your best, living your dream, and making an impact in the world. Not just for yourself, but also for others.
You can add me to the list of people who will listen and take steps with you.Feel free to contact me at [email protected].
As it was said to Esther in the Bible; “How do you know that you weren’t born for such a time as this?”
Repeating from Kimanzi: “It can be done”.
Wow!!!! Thank you! I am going to send this to my hubby. I appreciate your insight as well.
You are welcome!
This is really telling for me. I have a situation somewhere between the two you referenced in the post…but we are making a change. We’ve tried several things and one or two worked for a season but they weren’t my passion. Now we are ready and can’t wait for Coaching with Excellence in May.
Troy – there is SO much power in clarifying your dream. That clarity fuels a plan and overcomes perceived obstacles.