What Can YOU Do in Six Months?
During the course of my career, I’ve often found myself telling people aloud (and myself, quietly) that if they’d leave me in a room with a door for 6 months and nothing else to do, I could do that and save us tons of money. Never once have I lobbied seriously for that position and I think there are two simple reasons: 1) If someone were to say, “you’re on,” I’d have to give up a job I know and don’t mind for a new one requiring yet-unknown skills. 2) I might fail.
I might have to learn something new and I might fail…
Wow…
Most people know that know me would not be surprised to hear me encourage them to try something new. And, I might tell someone not to worry about being wrong, or failing from time to time. I’m inclined to tell them to go ahead and fail but make sure they try.
But I just said that “I might have to learn something” and “I might have to fail” are the two reasons why I, myself, have not pursued opportunities that I believed in.
Is it time for a gut check? I’m not sure. I’ve challenged my brother to join me in a race to $1,000,000. I did this without a well-thought-out plan. So how do I get from there to here? For starters, I realize that every single day is important. I’m trying not to go through a single day without attempting to set wheels in motion or at least throwing a little money in my “Million Dollar Pile.” As I sit and think of other ways to get from here to $1,000,000, I think about what I might need most.
Time. It’s relentless and we all have the same amount of it but we don’t all make the best use of it. Thinking about those that impress me, people that are financially independent, I believe they all have something in common - they don’t have day jobs. Mine’s a commitment that remains necessary. I don’t even dislike it but in order to reach my first million dollars, I have to make the best use of my time while I’m not there. Those people that spend their days and nights working from home and hanging out with family, or travelling, or learning, have it good, don’t they?
Well, “leave me in a room with a door for 6 months and nothing else to do, I could do that.” It’s not different in life. I might have to learn something new and there’s a chance I might fail. Look - I earn about $70,000/year working at my job. It sure feels like if I didn’t have a job to go to but the paychecks continued rolling in for six months, I could produce new systems of earning. My work would be near family members and perhaps it’s not 8 hours in a row but two hour spurts, 4 times a day. Give me a year, instead. Now it seems even more feasible - and more risky - and a deeper hole I’d find myself in if I fail. But why not try?
Right now, it’d be a leap of faith but my confidence is only sprouting. I’m growing every day.
Have you earned any money today?