Slow Down

workaholicI’ve noticed something really unique since quitting my full-time job in the auto industry to focus on writing.

Life has slowed way down.

And I couldn’t be happier about it.

The Grind

I remember waking up at 6:30 a.m., rushing through the bathroom to get ready for the day, eating a quick breakfast, and then scurrying off to the bus stop or my scooter, depending on the weather.

It was then 10 hours of grinding work at the day job, managing clients and technicians, filing paperwork, making difficult phone calls, checking survey scores, controlling work flow, and checking over the repairs we were performing.

Every day seemed to blend into each other. Mondays were the worst. I had a full weekend to myself, with just enough of a taste of freedom to know that I liked it much better than the daily grind. Going from freedom and time to focus on passion projects to working for others quickly soured my mood. But I dealt with my “case of the Mondays” every single week, and before I knew it Friday would roll around and it was back to freedom for a couple of days (unless I worked Saturday, which was often enough).

The weekends would come and go so fast. I would finally catch up on everything that had been neglected during the week, but before I knew it Sunday night had come and it was time to ready myself for the week.

And the weekends rolled into the weeks rolled into the weekends rolled into the weeks.

Life was moving way too fast. 

But no longer.

Slowing Life

I’ve noticed since quitting the daily grind and focusing on things I truly enjoy that not only is life so much better, but the days move by much slower. The hours no longer melt together into a glob of crappy days.

Whereas before it was running around all day putting out fires, it’s now getting up mid-morning, checking and responding to emails. Then it’s moving on to getting in a solid two or so hours of writing about investing, saving, or the pursuit of freedom.

Next might be an afternoon workout followed by a shower. Then some reading, which might include an annual report, a transcript of a conference call, a new book, or a blog. I’ll generally do more writing in the late afternoon after giving my brain a break.

Now, I’m not financially independent yet. My portfolio is spitting out less than $6,000 in passive dividend income right now, which is nowhere near enough to sustain even my frugal lifestyle. But I think I’m about as close to financial independence as it gets without actually crossing the finish line. And I say that only because even if I were earning $30,000 in annual dividend income tomorrow I’d wake up and live my life much in the same way I’m living it right now. I’d probably find more time to volunteer and help the community, but other than that the writing, reading, managing investments, and spending time with family would be much the same.

And now that I’ve gotten an extended look at what financial independence looks like, I can tell you with 100% confidence that life isn’t just better: It’s slower. Not only do you have more time once you no longer deal with a daily grind, but the time you now enjoy passes by slower.

Walking Versus Running

Think about that. You have on one hand slaving away at the 9-5 till 65, collecting your paycheck as you go which you use to spend on too many goods and/or services that you don’t need and don’t make you happy, which then tap you out and require you to go back to work to earn more money. Your life is a blur because you’re running faster and faster and faster, never catching up. Never having enough. Never escaping the rat race. Time flies by, and one day your time is up. The clock stops ticking, and all you can do is look back on your life and ponder what you would have, could have, done differently.

On the other hand financial independence gives you the opportunity to not only enjoy your life and pursue whatever it is you want to with no regard for money, but you’re no longer grinding away on the rat wheel. You can leisurely walk about life at your own pace. You can slow things down around you. No longer will you be racing down the freeway on your way home at 80 mph trying to swerve around people you hate, even though you never met them. You can walk, bicycle, scooter, or bus around if you live in an area that allows that – and actually watch the world, be a part of the world, no longer running through it like you’re trying to win a race.

Life is not a race. It’s a journey. And it can be a most wonderful one once slowed down enough to actually enjoy it.

I remember Monday mornings and looking at the time as I would clock in: 7:30 a.m. The race to Friday was on! How fast could I make the week go by? What could I possibly do to placate myself? How could I possibly make it five more days?!

But I did. I made it five more days. And then five more weeks. And then five more months. And then five more years. But if I’m just “making it”, what’s really left? Who am I? What am I good for? What do I want out of life? And where do those days, months, and years go when they’re gone? How can I get them back? You mean to tell me my youth and time is gone forever once spent? No!!

There’s Another Way

But there’s another way. Living only for today seems awfully fun on the surface, but living for today over and over again means you’re mortgaging away your future, spending time you don’t even have yet. And while a little delayed gratification can change that around, it’s important to realize that delaying gratification isn’t really delaying anything at all. Because what could be more gratifying than owning your own time, doing what you want to do in life, and slowing down time?

And slowing down time is exactly what I’ve done recently. I spend time with my little newborn niece who was just born less than two weeks ago. I no longer run around like a crazy man to and fro, from task to task and job to home and back. I move slower now. I’m less stressed. The sun is brighter, the wind crisper, and the colors brighter.

For instance, I spent the early part of yesterday making the 1+ hour drive down to Ann Arbor to take some pictures for an upcoming article, walk around, take in the sites, and catch lunch with my best friend. I wasn’t on a schedule. I got in as many pictures as I could, sucked up the energy of the city, and left when I felt ready. I then drove home to have dinner with the family, where we ate, made fun of each other, and laughed. Tonight I’ll be going to a Detroit Lions game because my aunt scored free tickets to the first preseason game from work. I have tons of energy for this because I’m not completely worn out from 50+ hours of grinding work. And no schedule means I’m not looking at the clock, trying to soak up all the fun before I have to crawl back to wage slavery.

I work out when I have the most energy. I eat when I’m hungry. I sleep when I’m tired.

And when  you create your own schedule you naturally prioritize the things you enjoy the most, and spend the most energy on these projects. For me, that’s writing, managing investments, and spending time with family. But the amazing thing is that when you commit all your energy to projects you enjoy, you get them done way faster than you ever thought you could.

I used to write posts on this blog when getting home at 6:30 p.m. after working for 10 or so hours. I was tired and worn out. So sometimes I would sit there with the laptop in front of me, a blank page staring at me. But I had no idea what I wanted to write about. I was still stressed out and my brain was fried. How could I write? No, how could I not write? I love writing, not everything else I’m doing. How can my job rob me of the energy to do something I enjoy?

Then I would stress out, lose focus, calm down, regain focus, and lay my ideas and emotions out for you readers. But that took a lot out of me.

Being Passionate

Now I write with 100% concentration and energy and get articles out that are twice as long in half the time. And before I know it I’ve said all I can say and the clock is telling me it’s only 2 p.m. Hmm. Time for a jog.

This article is not meant to brag of my new found freedom. This article is meant to inspire you to get your butt in gear. I’m not free yet, so don’t mistake my words. But even if my portfolio were spitting out $100,000 in annual dividends I’d live life largely the same as I do now. I’d write to inspire, educate, and learn. I’d read. Manage investments. Spend time with loved ones. Walk around a downtown or a beach, watching people. Eat when I’m hungry. Sleep when I’m tired. And the clock would tick away slowly.

While the weekends would fly by for me when I worked 50+  hours per week, it’s not like that any longer. I take my time with projects. I write when I’m most inspired and rested. I read with gusto. I work out with more energy and enthusiasm. And I get everything done faster, which leaves even more time than ever before for unstructured free time. Time to be present. Enjoy being alive. Go for a walk. Do nothing. Think. Be.

Remember that running around the rat wheel isn’t all there is. Life can be different. Life can be the journey of exploration that it’s meant to be rather than the race from task to task and home to work.

Stop watching the clock and start watching your money. Then you won’t have to worry about the clock.

What do you think? Does life slow down for you when you’re working on things you enjoy? 

Thanks for reading.

Photo Credit: holohololand/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Edit: Corrected staring.

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121 Comments

  1. A 9 to 5 is a grind. Everything is go go go. Hard for anyone these days to have focus and once you do others around you cant grasp the concept. Goals these days are short term materialistic items instead of long term philosophies. Once I stripped out most of the crap in my life I was finally able to focus on whats really important and not all this noise we have been programmed to desire.

  2. I had a very similar experience Jason. Once I slowed down I noticed that I became much more deliberate in my actions. Additionally, those actions were much more focused and satisfying. So when I was writing, boating, hiking, etc…….my mind was actually there too…..instead of what I needed to complete later in the day.

    I also found that because my head was more focused, I did a better job of evaluating investments…..and made/make better investments.
    -Bryan

  3. DM,

    I wholeheartedly agree with your perspective. I for one have worked 6 days a week 10-12 hour days for the past year. In fact, I arrived at work at 7:30 this morning and will leave at roughly 7 tonight. Posts like this reinforce my beliefs that there is an end game and I am incredibly focused on getting there as fast as possible. I’m glad you are fully taking advantage of your new found freedom.

    By the way, I enjoyed Mike’s post yesterday. Was it a change of pace from what is normally found on your blog? Definitely, but a batter can’t improve his skills by seeing fastballs every pitch. Sometimes a change-up or slider is needed to enhance his awareness and force him to not become complacent with his routine.

    Have a great weekend. Actually, your week never really started I guess. 🙂

    MDP

  4. Hmm, should it be “a blank page ‘staring’ at me” instead of ‘starting’?

    You’ve articulated something that I’ve noticed, but never quite been able to put my finger on. Huh! I can’t remember the last time the week went by slowly for me. Glad to know that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

    On the contrary, I find that when I’m doing something I enjoy that time actually flies by because I’m having so much fun…though I think that’s mostly due to my time being constrained by my work schedule. So not only do I actually have less time, I feel like I have less time to do the things I enjoy.

    Man! What a double whammy. I can’t wait to become financially independent.

  5. Wow great post, I couldn’t agree more. I’m on vacation now and time does appear to be slower. The days are longer and I’m loving the free-time and FREEDOM that comes with it. I admire your goals and dedication. Thank you for the post and thank you for this blog. Love it.

  6. Great article. Payoff your mortgage, car,boat,trailer, credit cards. Whatever your debt!!!!! Life is great. Currently debt free @ 43 and loving it.

    Good luck!

  7. hey Jason, nice post, agreed on the 9-5 although sometimes it is just the way things go, i’m in the middle of a project crunch so weeks have been flying by and i’m wondering where 5 days went! That said, nobody has a gun to your head so you can choose to take it or leave it. I am a bit of a workaholic but i don’t mind it at this stage of my life 😉
    Anyway congrats on another awesome dividend month, things are ticking over for all us real nice.

    take it easy
    T

  8. It’s a great feeling to just let life slow down a little. I have the same mindset. I am fortunate that I became a freelancer about 10 years ago and have slowed my life down quite a bit. It does free up time for you to explore other passions. I personally started vegetable gardening, hiking, and foraging. I also have more time to manage and invest my money. It’s interesting, what you find important in your life. When you have some time to ponder it. I think more people need to take a step back and live a simpler life. You also learn to appreciate the little things in life. Thanks for the great posts! Keep up the great work!

  9. Always inspired here and today is no exception. It’s noon on Saturday and I already feel the weekend slipping away. Too much needs to get done and it’s all at a sacrifice of time with my kids. Having time to spend on my priorities sounds heavenly.

  10. I can’t wait. Okay, I can because it’s less than 38 weeks until retirement. Nice that you get to enjoy life at a young age.
    Keith

  11. Quite the interesting sentiment here Jason. For those still in the grind, it is amazing to look back at vacations, and realize that even during those lapses during work, we are still on the clock, but instead it is counting down faster and faster until we are back in the officer. The slower lifestyle certainly is appealing, because like any scenic car ride, the only people who get to enjoy the views are the passengers, not the driver who focuses on the road.

    Enjoy your weekend!

  12. Great post, DM. I completely agree that the days are slower when you dont haev to rush around putting fires out day after day. While my time at work isnt completely hectic day in day out, it can get stressful enough sometimes to remind me that I am caught in this rat race and cant wait to get out of it.

    Heres to achieving financial independence
    R2R

  13. I can not wait until we live the life you describe. We rush around on weekdays and are so tired by the weekend we don’t want to do anything. I don’t want to wait another 40 years til that happens! Hence why financial independence is so important. Another great article 🙂

  14. damn! spot on mantra! I remember this lifestyle, a few years ago, and time just sort of passed by.. It seemed I wasn’t getting anywhere. I had a nice paycheck, but consumerism surely eroded it away. I realized time wasn’t on my side, but then I really really realized it! Talk about a sucker punch!

    That was a few years ago. I’m so glad I’m actively working towards financial freedom. I’ve got a ways to go; but the goal is in sight, and certainly within reach. Thanks again for the inspirational articles.

    jm

  15. DM,
    I enjoyed this read. Good to hear you are enjoying your new found free time and able to be more productive. Working 50 hours a week must have been a drag on your blogging. I know after a long day of work, I’m usually not in the mood to look at a screen or write. At this stage in my life, I wish I had more time for exercise. My kids take up the time I used to do that. One day when they’re older I should be able to dedicate more time to that.
    -RBD

  16. DM, I know the feeling. I work 6 am to 6 pm everyday and 10 hours on Saturdays. It feels like I’m throwing away my life. Work, go home and eat a quick dinner. Watch a quick ball game and sleep. Repeat.

  17. Completely agree with your observations. I had the same experience during my recent 2 week parental leave. Life was just much more relaxed and the days seemed longer. I’ve been reading your articles for a while now and just recently started commenting. I definitely noticed higher quality of writing since you quit the full time job. Sounds like your enjoying your life. Good stuff.

  18. Very strange; I’ve actually experienced the opposite! My weekends and holidays seem to fly past whereas my time on weekdays and in the office go at a snails pace. I sometimes worry if retirement will all just become a blur as each day merges into the next. I’m sure half the battle is ensuring you have meaningful projects in retirement to work on and ensure each day remains unique.

  19. Great stuff. I find this same type of ideology applying to my transition as well. I can pump out more articles than I ever had, or else take the day to do something else. The choice is mine. That’s the important part.

  20. DM,

    Sometimes I hate you. haha. Joking. I only mean that in – wow – you just explained what it’s like for me, day in and day out, on the grind as a CPA. I have about 10 clients and they all have deadlines. The parts I enjoy about the work – is the client relation part and being respected/looked to as an individual who can teach, get the job done and is easy to talk to. However, I work roughly 50-60 hours per week when you average it all out, including travel time for clients – I have no client within 1 hour of me, with most of my clients 2.5+ hours away, including flying. I get home every night and force myself to write, review all of the financial articles and blog postings and push myself to write – because like you said it – how can I not write? I love being a guy about investments, managing a portfolio and instilling lessons onto others. I love it. Absolutely, hands down. I love it when a friend or family member comes to me to talk about how to get started, or what to do or what stock to buy. That drives me. I love how Bert and I are getting thousands of views per month from the experiences and events that are happening in our pursuit to financial freedom. I do love that.

    It’s amazing how 90%+ of the population goes into each week (say they are 25 years old) and thinks – okay, only 30 more years of this, only 30 more to go – completely blindsided with how fast time goes when you are on this grind. You are on this grind, watching time fly by without adding value to your life and your happiness – instead – it’s usually for the happiness for others. I do feel as though the reasons I stay here are to make other peoples lives easier, to teach fellow co-workers and for the camaraderie that it brings – I do love that. However, what I do love the most – is spending time with family, friends, making food, working out, talking and reading about business and of course – investments. Why am I not doing that now? Possibly because so much TIME goes by, in such a FAST manner, that one doesn’t give them self the time of day to do this type of thinking. Crazy, isn’t it DM?

    Sorry for such a long post. I know how I opened the post, but now want to close with – Thank You. Thank you DM for this post, this one I will archive and save and hope to go back to quite often – to remind myself – hop off of this rat race wheel. Have a great day DM, talk soon. Looks like I have work to do.

    -Lanny

  21. DM, really enjoyed this post. Although I am not financially independent yet, something mentally changed for me when about 75% of my expenses became covered by passive income. Deep down I know that if I lose my job, I can reduce my family’s expenses enough to make it by without working anymore.

    When I realized this last year, I began to slow down and take my time with everything in life. I don’t eat so fast, drive so fast, talk so fast, etc. I take my time now and enjoy everything a lot more. Even if its work. I manage a huge retail store, which isn’t easy. But I take my time and plan ahead to make better decisions for the business. While all of my peers are stressed out all the time, I still smile and do my job, nearly stress-free =).

  22. When I am at work, it feels like the time goes by so slow.. I hear the “f” word constantly all day long from coworkers. The workplace is usually a stressful place as people are stressed by trying to keep up with the joneses which makes them more stressed at their jobs.

    The weekends seem to go by quicker for me…

    Having a few hundred dollars in dividend income every month now definitely lowers my stress level.

  23. I work 7 days a week, and whenever I have a day off I feel so unproductive. As if when I’m not doing anything I feel like I’m wasting away time. But yeah, sometimes we do need to slow it down and enjoy the people and things we have. Great post as always.

    Cheers!

  24. A-G,

    I’m with you. A grind is called just that because it grinds you down.

    Life is much better when you’re spending your time however you want. And that’s really what we’re all after.

    Thanks for stopping by!

    Cheers.

  25. Bryan,

    Absolutely. Your experience is at the heart of what I’m talking about here. It’s much easier to focus on whatever it is you really enjoy when you’re not busy spending most of your energy at work. We all have finite time and energy, and I’ve found that allocating most of those resources toward projects I enjoy tends to allow me to put 100% into it, meaning everything is done faster and better. Which leaves more time for everything else. It’s really wonderful.

    Hope you’re having a great weekend down there. Stay dry!

    Best regards.

  26. MDP,

    Thanks for the support. I think some found value in Mike’s post. Others didn’t like it. I wasn’t totally surprised as it’s different from what I talk about and what I recommend. But Mike’s a nice guy and thought it would be cool to bring some different to the table. Obviously, I don’t really deviate that often in terms of content.

    Wishing you a quick journey to financial independence, my friend. I remember long days like that. In fact, my first ever job in the auto industry required working from 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Mondays. Talk about a brutal start to the week. I got out just in time to go home, take a shower, and go to bed. Life is so much more than that.

    I’m having a great weekend. Just got back from a (free) Detroit Lions game. Great time, even though it was preseason. 🙂

    Hope you’re having a spectacular weekend as well!

    Best wishes.

  27. Seraph,

    Thanks for pointing that out! I corrected it. 🙂

    Yeah, I notice time used to fly by on the weekends too when having fun. But that was because I was trying to fit so much into just a day or two. Now that I have all week long to work on things time goes by much slower. In fact, I think this “time slowing” phenomenon is what makes people worry they’ll be bored in early retirement. I personally could never be bored, but I think that’s where that comes from.

    There’s definitely light at the end of the tunnel. Keep going!

    Take care.

  28. Super Simple,

    Appreciate the support very much! Thank you for the kind words.

    I’m glad you noticed how time seems to slow as well. Of course, time doesn’t physically slow. But our perception of time definitely changes when we go from the grind to things we enjoy. In fact, these last two months up here in Michigan have been so fantastic and it seems like I’ve been living this perpetual summer. Totally different from when I was working so much and I couldn’t keep up with the weeks anymore.

    Best regards!

  29. j-harr,

    That’s good stuff right there! Debt is a form of slavery, so getting rid of it is wonderful. I keep a little student loan debt around as I’ve previously discussed, but that will be paid off by the time I hit early retirement. Then it’s on to easy street! 🙂

    Great job, bud. Enjoy a life of living without debt!

    Best regards.

  30. T,

    Absolutely. Some people like the grind, and there’s nothing wrong with that. Some people like the constant activity and a schedule where everything’s tight. That’s just not for me, though. I think the key is to be honest with yourself and chase after whatever it is that makes you happiest. I’ve said before that financial independence or early retirement isn’t for everyone, and I think that’s true. That being said, I don’t think freedom is ever a bad idea…just in case things change.

    Appreciate the perspective!

    Best wishes.

  31. Financialforager,

    That’s exactly what I’m talking about. You’re living a simple, easy, slow life. And that’s what I’m after as well. Life just shouldn’t be that hard, and it doesn’t have to be. Sometimes we create our own obstacles, becoming our own worst enemy. But it’s never too late to turn it around. 🙂

    Congrats on figuring out what makes you happy and going after it. That’s fantastic!

    Keep on living the good life.

    Cheers.

  32. Kirsten,

    You’ll get there one day. Just keep fighting, keep paying off the debt, and your life will be dramatically different before you know it! 🙂

    Thanks for stopping by. Try to take some time to breathe over there.

    Best wishes.

  33. Keith,

    38 weeks? Man, that’s awesome. You can practically smell it. And it’s a pretty good scent, I’m sure. 🙂

    You’ll have to let me know how things change for you once you cross over!

    Best wishes.

  34. W2R,

    You nailed it there. Why be a driver when you can be a passenger? Let go a little bit and enjoy the ride. 🙂

    You enjoy your weekend as well!

    Take care.

  35. R2R,

    The stress kept my fire let the entire time. Every single time I had a bad day at work I used that as motivation to get out of Dodge. You do the same and you’ll be on to greener pastures before you know it. 🙂

    Cheers to success for both of us!

    Take care.

  36. Nicola,

    Thanks for the support!

    I’m totally with you. I’m not financially independent yet, but I’m largely living the life I would even if I had unlimited money. And time definitely slows way down. You’ll get there one day. Just gotta keep fighting for your freedom! 🙂

    Hope you’re having a great weekend.

    Best wishes!

  37. jm,

    Thanks for stopping by!

    I received my own sucker punch in my mid 20s. It didn’t feel good, but I’m glad I woke up and got my act together. Sounds like you’ve done the same. Keep it up! 🙂

    Best regards.

  38. RBD,

    Yeah, blogging was difficult before. I look back and it’s amazing to me sometimes that I was able to put out more than 400 posts during that stretch. I was just completely worn out for much of my free time. But I just had such a passion for it, and so it kind of transcended my lack of energy.

    I hope you’re able to find some time for exercise at some point in the near future. I personally love to keep fit. It not only keeps my body sharp, but it keeps my mind sharp as well. Gives me time to think.

    Thanks for stopping by!

    Cheers.

  39. TBDI,

    I know EXACTLY how you feel. I didn’t go into work quite that early, but my days were quite long. I felt like my life was literally passing me by. And the money just no longer became worth it. I’m making a lot less now, but I’m 1,000 times happier. Keep saving the money you’re making now, develop passive income, and plot your escape. 🙂

    Best of luck!!!

    Take care.

  40. Tawcan,

    Thank you! I’ve definitely had more time, focus, thought, and energy to put into my writing lately. I’m glad that shows! 🙂

    Happy to hear you got a little preview. I took a two-week vacation earlier in the year to see how I’d do without work, and it was so wonderful that I knew I had to get back to that ASAP. And that’s basically what I did. I wasn’t planning things like this from the outset, but sometimes you roll with the punches.

    It looks like you’re well on your way to FI. Keep it up!

    Best wishes.

  41. ERG,

    Hmm, I suppose our perception of time is different. Or perhaps we find different levels of enjoyment at work and/or the things we enjoy doing.

    I personally don’t find the need to make each day “unique”. But that kind of happens on its own for the most part. Most of my week is still much like a workweek where I do the bulk of my writing. However, I’m happy enough just being alive and working on things I enjoy. The uniqueness in my life has already been achieved. 🙂

    Best of luck finding the best way to slow time down for yourself!

    Take care.

  42. Eli,

    Choice, indeed. That’s really what it’s all about. Once you have complete autonomy, your whole life becomes basically limitless. Life is at your discretion, which is a state of being that few human beings experience.

    Enjoy it, my friend! 🙂

    Best wishes.

  43. Lanny,

    Haha! I can see how others might hate me, in a good way. I’m really blessed and lucky. I mean I worked REALLY hard to get to where I’m at, but certainly there was a good dash of luck in there. And I never forget how fortunate I am for it.

    I hear what you’re saying there. The grind can be so exhausting that one doesn’t have the time/energy/inclination left to think of a way out of it and actually work toward that end. It’s tough. But anything worth having in life is worth working for. Good ol’ Carnegie.

    And I also understand where you’re coming from in regards to helping others. But I also think we’re in the best possible position to help others when we’re happiest and full of energy. It’s kind of like how you have to love yourself before you can love others. Food for thought, as always. 🙂

    Glad you and Bert are enjoying the ride. It’s a wonderful ride to be on! And you guys are doing great.

    Best regards.

  44. Investing Early,

    That’s awesome. Once you realize that you’re pretty much indestructible and a job loss won’t really hurt you, the stress just melts away. There’s no rush anymore. There’s no race to be won. It’s simply time to live life and enjoy the ride.

    Thanks for sharing that. You’re much further along than me there with 75% coverage. That’s fantastic! 🙂

    Take care.

  45. Investing Pursuits,

    I’m glad that you’ve built up a side income stream. That is what will eventually propel you away from that stressful workplace and toward your own version of freedom and peace. Keep up the fight!! 🙂

    Take care.

  46. Henry,

    Yikes! I have never had that feeling where I feel unproductive like that. I think people need a little down time in order to maximize the up time. It’s during times of inactivity and just mulling life that I come up with some of my best ideas. In fact, it was during a slow, relaxing weekend that I initially came up with the idea for this blog. 🙂

    But whatever floats your boat. It’s obviously working for you over there. Your low expenses have allowed you to really kill the net worth growth! 🙂

    Thanks for stopping by.

    Best regards.

  47. david,

    Thanks for the support! Very much appreciated.

    The slower life is definitely the better life, in my opinion. And you are also a step closer with every dividend and every stock purchase. 🙂

    Hope all is well in Singapore.

    Cheers!

  48. I’m happy to hear that things slow down after the grind. It sounds like you are more able to live in the moment now that you’ve escaped the 9-5. Indeed, the days and weeks just sort of blur together during the grind, when it’s mid-March I’m already thinking about April.

    I’m looking forward to that new article about “A2” (I just can’t get enough of that acronym). Another thing I look forward to is seeing how you deal with the snow again. You lived in Florida for so long that you might have gotten soft =). It’s a lot easier to reach FI in the Midwest, but I’m not sure if I could deal with the snow.

  49. I’m really glad that quitting your day job and focussing on your writing is working out so well, Jason! You’re an example to a lot of us, keep it up!

    What’s quite weird about life slowing down when you’re doing things you enjoy is that time goes by more quickly, at least for me. When I was unemployed after graduating half a year ago, life was extremely slow. There was no rush to anything. I could do anything I wanted whenever I wanted, but the days flew by much faster than now because I was constantly doing fun stuff. I could sit down to read a book in the morning, completely forget about lunch and before I knew it the sun was down.

    And I completely understand you sentiment about blogging after a long day at work. I absolutely love writing and reading other people’s posts, but after 10+ hours at work, it sometimes is hard stay focussed and put in the ‘effort’.

    Best wishes,
    NMW

  50. Hi Jason!.I find your article quite inspiring. Right now I’m getting a similar income from my portfolio but I’m still working and as I’m going thru some work changes I feel anxious and I know, more than ever, that I wanna get all my time for myself. That is why your article inspires me so much.

    Keep the slow life and keep telling us about it!

    http://www.dividendogma.com

  51. I had a brief glance into financial independence on my vacation to Nicaragua, everything slowed down like you mentioned, coming back last week felt like going to Wal-Mart on Black Friday. You mentioned going 5 more days, then 5 weeks, I wrote something about the number of days and just the vast number was enough to start saving more. I included the article if you want to take a read.

    http://www.evenstevenmoney.com/only-12000-days-till-i-retire/

  52. Spoonman,

    Haha. I’m sure I’ve become very soft over the years. Though, I was never “hard” to begin with. That’s part of the reason I left for Florida. 🙂

    The snow never really bothered me, but the lack of light did. I believe I suffer from SAD, and it can vary in intensity from year to year. But it’ll be interesting to see how that goes. I may end up writing an article on it for other people who have a hard time during the winter.

    I’m excited to see how you guys like the PNW. That seems like such an awesome area. I’m especially impressed with Portland, with the food trucks, public transportation, compact design, and cool vibe. The rain seems like kind of a bummer. And I thought I read the taxes are kind of high, but I could be wrong on that. I’ve never been to Portland, but from what I know of it, A2 is kind of a similar town.

    Your escape is right around the corner. A new day is beginning!

    Cheers.

  53. NMW,

    Sometimes I notice time seems to accelerate if I’m just busy having a good time, and the activity is kind of fast paced. But, overall, my weeks are much, much longer now. With no schedule I’m in no rush.

    Yeah, it was incredibly tough to write, blog, and keep up with the community back when I was working so much. I don’t think I could have done it much longer. In fact, if I ever have to go back to working a schedule like that I’ll probably either have to give up writing or scale way, way back. It just left too little time for the rest of my life. But I hope it doesn’t come to that because I really enjoy all of this. I find much more fulfillment from inspiring others than selling expensive repairs on expensive cars.

    Keep up the great work over there! Thanks for stopping by.

    Best regards.

  54. Dogma,

    Thanks for stopping by!

    I’m completely with you, bud. There’s nothing more valuable in this world than my own time. You’re not really in control of your life until you’re in control of your time.

    Keep fighting the good fight.

    Best wishes.

  55. Steven,

    Depressing when you look at it that way, isn’t it?

    Your post reminds me of that watch that came out a while ago. It was this watch you could wear on your wrist and it would count down the days until you would approximately die, using information about your health, genes, etc. Crazy product, but I suppose if that doesn’t get you in gear, what will?

    We’re all dying one day at a time. Which means now is the best time to get busy living. 🙂

    Thanks for sharing!

    Take care.

  56. In many of your posts, you talk badly about work and the daily grind. Not every day, of course, but I like work. I have over $60,000 per year in passive income, but plan to work at least 8 more years, maybe more. It is much easier to earn money from your labor and save some of that to save and invest. Best of luck.

  57. investor57,

    You’re a lucky one, my friend! 🙂

    That’s fantastic that you don’t mind your work, and even find some enjoyment from it. I would say, however, that you’re in the vast minority. I found myself as part of the majority that didn’t enjoy their work. So I guess I created my own job by writing for a living.

    If you earn that kind of passive income and continue working instead, it must be because you really love your job. The only other reason I could see someone doing that is just because they identify themselves through their work and wouldn’t know what to do with themselves if they no longer worked.

    Enjoy your fortunate position! 🙂

    Best regards.

  58. Hello Jason,

    as always great article. Unlike others, I do like to compare my passive income with “the work clock”.

    I print out an old school analog clock and mark the time I have to work each day to cover expenses (not including the time to get ready for work, commuting etc.). And every month I do print a new clock with the time minus the time that is covered by passive income.

    Ideally the time on the clock is getting smaller and smaller. I think it is a nice visualization.

    Best regards.

  59. Hi DM,

    Great article, this is going to be a classic one! Will put it into my favorites, and re-read once in a while: it really gives energy and new motivation for this great longer term goal.

    I am fairly new to you blog. Is there any way (as a European reader), to make some ‘micro payents’ to your articles I most value? You could maybe for example start accepting bitcoin trough Bitpay or Coinbase (like recently Dell and Wikipedia quite successfully did). Just an idea.

    Thanks for the great read!

  60. Ok, you officially depressed me since you reminded me of my wonderful life a few years ago. Ha.

    Since I was 18 (now 32) I have been working at a start-up, then running the business as one of the owners. I had some crazy 12-hour days, but they were FUN. Lots of excitement while the company was growing and I was making low six figures in my early 20s. Unfortunately we got hit pretty hard a few years back and never recovered. So, for the first time in my life, I now have a 9-5 job as of July 01. I am working for the local university. It isn’t a bad job, but it is a j-o-b. I like the money, especially as I’m maxing out a 401k AND a 457, but it is a huge trade-off for my sanity. A little part of my entrepreneurial spirit dies each day. I’m not used to having a boss or a schedule. I’m not used to working in a cubical, having so many co-workers around (I have been working from home for two years), or not being the decision-maker. Plus at the university there is no watching sales, working with customers (could be a good thing!), etc. Whether I do my job in a day or a week, it doesn’t really seem to matter. I work circles around these people because I’m used to “work hard or don’t get paid” and they’re used to “the paychecks come every two weeks no matter what.” I think what surprises me most is how content these people are with their jobs. I feel like a caged animal looking to escape; they seem to enjoy the safety of their cages.

    But, I have to look at the bright side. Between my job and my business I am back across the six-figure threshold while living on under $1,500/mo. That means I am full-steam ahead for FIRE. This job helps fulfill a basic level of needs (Maslow’s hierarchy of needs), so now I am not so stressed all the time. I’m frustrated with myself for not getting something else going before resorting to a “real” job, but at least I was able to get a good-paying job that moves me forward again. No more treading water. Now I have a chance to evaluate what sort of life I want to have in 1, 5, 10 years and then develop a business that will fit that lifestyle.

  61. I find that the more FI I become the harder it is to work day in and day out. I can probably retire, very frugally, in 1 year and 4 months at 43. It would be better to work 4 years more to get my daughter through college. Those extra few years would help to give her more money towards college. Now that I have a little FU money it is extremely hard hanging in there at the job. I start to dread Monday morning on Saturday evening. Every time I take a 3 day week end, it takes everything I have not to tell them to kiss my back side and take it to the house, once Monday arrives! I’m hoping I can pull the 1 year and 4 months to 4 years, but I dunno. It’s tough some times when you get to FU money. Hoping I can hang in there! If I get the 1.4 I will receive a pension of like 2.5k per month once I’m 60. That means I could withdrawal more than 3-4 percent per year of short term savings. Thanks for the great article.

  62. That sounds like a pretty nice schedule. Being in control of your own time is much more important than having all the money in the world. Actually, control over time is much more important to me than being the CEO of a company, earning millions of $$$, but working 18 – 20 hour days.

    This is essentially why I am investing – to have money work for me, rather than the other way around.

  63. Any suggestions for monetizing a blog? Just started writing satirical sports articles and have gotten some decent traffic (5000 views in my first 3 weeks). I’d like to write full time eventually and have my dividend producing financial fortress take care of me. I read your blog all the time and find it very inspiring.

    Full disclosure long dividend mantra.

  64. gayman,

    My suggestions for readers in Spain would be the same as readers from the US. You simply need to develop goals, and stay consistent. Saving and investing regularly is difficult, but it’s a heck of a lot easier than working until you’re 60 or 70 years old. 🙂

    Best of luck over there!

    Take care.

  65. Holger,

    That’s a really great and unique system over there. I think we all kind of do the same thing, but just in a different way. I know many of us look at how many months worth of expenses current passive income covers. So if you can cover five months of expenses via passive income, then you only have to really “work” for seven months per year. Not too shabby. 🙂

    Keep up the great work over there. And that’s a very cool visualization you have going on over there. I’m sure that keeps you incredibly motivated!

    Thanks for sharing.

    Cheers!

  66. William,

    Thank you so much. Really glad you enjoyed it. 🙂

    I don’t have a way to do micro payments, but I have thought about using something like this:

    http://tiptheweb.org/

    It basically allows readers to give a couple cents or whatever to the author for articles they found particularly useful. I don’t know if I want to do that, but I’ve seen a number of blogs that use the platform. It allows readers to reward an author based on what they enjoy, and it’s obviously unobtrusive.

    I’ll give it some thought. Thanks for the suggestion!

    Best regards.

  67. Travis,

    Man, sounds like a drag to go from basically trailblazing a path to working a grind. I hear you on feeling like a caged animal. That’s exactly how I felt for years. I had all of these ideas and passions, and I was confined to a narrow role.

    But the good news is that you are definitely on pace for financial independence at a very early age. Sounds like you’re putting away a TON of savings, and that, my friend, will buy you your way out of that cage. Keep it up!!

    The fun part will simply be figuring out what you want your life to look like once you’re free. 🙂

    Best wishes.

  68. Monty,

    I know how you feel. I was developing some serious fatigue there back in January or so. I took two weeks off to see what FI would really look like, and also to recharge my batteries. But once I knew what it was like I had a very hard time going back. I was basically never the same after that, and it was a slow, steady slide out the door. I personally couldn’t be happier! 🙂

    Best of luck hanging in there. I know how difficult it is. But take it one day at a time. Four years might be tough based on how it sounds, but if you can grind out another year you’ll still be FI at a very early age. And that’s something worth working for.

    Best wishes.

  69. Great article DM! A good contrast between the grind and a more “relaxed state of being”. This one really hits home. I spent years in the grind and accepted it as a way of life. It wasn’t until I had children and realized that my oldest starts preschool tomorrow and I can’t recall most of his earlier years because I was busy with my job. I decided to exit the rat race for a couple of years to recharge and figure out what I want to do with rest of my life, because the last storyline needed to change. I need to read this post regularly to keep me focused on my FI. Thanks.

  70. DGI,

    I’m with you. There’s nothing in this world worth owning more than my own time. I wouldn’t mind the CEO income for a year, but after that I’d be out. I couldn’t imagine a life where I identified myself via my work alone. And when you’re busy working all the time it’s difficult to identify yourself in any other way.

    Thanks for stopping by!

    Best wishes.

  71. Great article DM, its inspirational to know that you can attain greater fulfillment and happiness along the journey to financial independence rather than only at the destination. It can be really challenging to continually have motivation to save/invest when the end goal is so far in the future. However, knowing that each dollar saved provides just a little more freedom of choice, is truly an invigorating feeling to experience each day!

  72. Arizona Trader,

    I know how you feel. I realized my life was passing by before my very eyes. And for what? For money?

    Now, we can’t just go quitting our jobs because the grind sucks. But developing a plan, setting goals, and working hard can indeed eventually allow you to break free. And once you’re free you can then figure out exactly who you are and what you want out of life.

    Glad to read you decided to flip the script. 🙂

    Cheers!

  73. Nicki,

    Financial independence can definitely be both a journey and a destination. Obviously, the destination is what we’re all after: where passive income exceeds expenses. But you learn so much along the way about who you are, what you want out of life, living on less, maximizing happiness, and creating a wonderful work/life balance. It’s as much a journey of enlightenment as it is a financial one.

    Thanks for stopping by!

    Cheers.

  74. Jason,

    Great article. My wife and I have about $70,000 invested in dividend-producing companies, so we’re nowhere close to you on our ability to semi-retire and pursue our true passions. Since there are two of us, it will take nearly twice the income to support our expenses (plus paying for children, etc.).

    At the moment, I’m looking at another 10-15 years of work before I get to the point of true financial independence. That sounds like a long time to me, but I’ve been challenged lately to make each moment count. I think that’s what you’ve stumbled upon here.

    We all look forward to the next big thing in life like it’s going to make us happy, but it never really does. The only way to truly be happy in life is to enjoy the present moment. None of us are promised tomorrow, so why not enjoy the very moment we’re given? Why buy things you don’t need when you can essentially “buy back” time working and spend that with family and friends?

    Even though I’m going to be working another decade or so, I’ve been trying to make it a point to recognize my own mortality and take in each day rather than being so focused on a future I may never get to enjoy.

    You’re an inspiration to a lot of people. Thanks for taking the time to write this blog.

    Blessings,
    Nate

  75. Hey DM,
    I have to always remind myself to slow down. Working 60 hours a week is depressing at times because I have very little time to myself. Luckily I am taking 5 days off next month to visit my uncle in Jersey. I plan to relax at the beach and put work behind me for once. Great article and good luck!

  76. At this point I would probably be very blessed to get the year and a couple of months. I’m to the point now that I don’t give a damn. By this time my wife and I will have about 2k per month to live off of. We would have around 600 per month in dividend income and 1200 per month withdrawals from a 457 plan. We would have 2 pensions though for when we are older. Life would be real good once we hit 60! We do have a very small condo in Florida though with dues of only $220 per month. Its small but very nice and we were able to pay cash when the real estate market crashed in Florida. I think we might have to go with 0 cars with our budget if we retire then. It would be nice to have one car though IMO. Thanks

  77. Nate,

    That’s a great attitude to have. We’re not promised tomorrow, and that’s something someone very close to me used to remind me of all the time. It’s hard to be present when life can get in the way, but it’s important to savor each moment. And that’s really what this article is getting to. Enjoying the here and now is much easier when you don’t have all the distractions that the grind can present. Now, the grind is necessary for a good chunk of our lives in order to generate the excess capital necessary to invest and grow our passive income, but the key is to know that there is indeed light at the end of the tunnel. And even better if you can savor those moments on your way there, because every day is an opportunity, an experience, and a chance to take back just a little bit of freedom.

    Enjoy the ride. And know that it just gets better and better. 🙂

    Cheers.

  78. Mongrel,

    That’s fantastic right there! I’m sure you’re going to enjoy every moment. Take it all in and try to keep a couple of mental snapshots of how you feel when you’re off on your own. That’ll definitely motivate you to keep going. 🙂

    Thanks for stopping by!

    Best regards.

  79. Travis,

    I found your comment really interesting. I currently run a business that I co-founded 8 years ago, and I was trying to decide how I felt about Jason’s post. On the one hand, I find that I really enjoy the days at work when I work on 10 totally different things (recruiting, sales, finance, product development, legal strategy, coaching). It is extremely rewarding to see the company grow, clients get served, employees succeed. On the other hand, Jason’s post made me wonder if it would be better not to be working at all, as at any given moment, it might be even better to be walking around Ann Arbor or grabbing lunch with a friend than dealing with the necessities of work, which are certainly not all glamorous. And, the stress is real – especially as monthly payroll grows. So, I guess I’m not sure how to balance the big-picture rewards of working on an exciting project with people I enjoy and respect versus the freedom to do what you feel at any given moment. It is telling that people who could do absolutely anything (Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, Mark Zuckerberg, Larry Ellison, etc.) all keep pushing themselves to work long hours, rather than just cruising and drinking cocktails.

    Anyway – I thought your post was interesting. Perhaps you can get back to the point where you are doing your company full-time, even if you don’t make as much.

    Cheers,
    Tad

  80. Jason, I don’t take your article as bragging at all. It was calming and it made me dream about my own future.I have the exact love and passion for writing about investing and trading in my account to entertain and educate my readers about dividend investing and options trading, but as you I feel exhausted at the end of the day to write. I am happy for you that you found a way to escape the rat race earlier. Nice article. One of my favorite and poetic as well.

  81. Okay, this article stings a little, because I’m going through the same doldrums at work. Just got back from an excellent weekend, and now I’m at work, staring at 5 days worth of crap I need to finish. I just can’t help but think, “There’s no way I can do this for the rest of my life”. Then I look at my coworkers, 40-something, depressed, dead to the world, and still 20+ years from retirement. That angst is magnified, because I don’t want to be like those poor bastards when I turn 40, and have that same glazed look in my eyes as I drag myself here every day.

    Thankfully, there’s still hope. I’m only 22, yet I still have a 6 figure dividend-paying stocks and commodity portfolio, and a high enough savings rate that FI is achievable in a decade. And with motivating articles like this, I think I can do it! Thanks for the continuous inspiration.

  82. I might be that 40 something in your office with the glazed look and I feel like a living zombie today!

  83. I’ll tell you something DM for twenty seven years I relentlessly laid blocks and bricks on the construction sites of NYC to provide for my family of six.So when you talk about grinding, working in the cold NY winters and the hot NY summers my body feels every bit of the grind. I’m retired now a little more than four years and I’ve never really appreciated my time as much as I do now.Now that the kids are grown and my wife and I have left the nest and moved down to Florida(Jacksonville) we actually see a much slower and more laid back life that we both enjoy(JAZZ CAPITAL)and occasional visits from the grandchildren(six)just makes it a beautiful thing. January when I started investing (again) I was aimlessly throwing money away(again)in the market until I realized that if I was going to start investing (again) that this time I would do it right or not at all. Dividend investing is the only way to invest(for me) because it works. Take the time to smell the roses and enjoy every minute of it until you get where you want to be! Thanks to articles like these and writers like yourself it just makes my day a little more enjoyable and relaxing…..keep on doing what your doing!

  84. Martin,

    Thanks for the kind words. Really glad you found the piece enjoyable. 🙂

    And I know how you feel. That feeling of exhaustion is something I went through for years. But every stock purchase, every dividend, and every day is one step closer to freedom. Keep at it!

    Best regards.

  85. DividendDeveloper,

    Sounds like you’re in a great position! Being only 22 with six figures behind you already means you’re going to be a multimillionaire one day, even if you stop investing now. So your success is a forgone conclusion. A decade puts you at 32, which would be reaching FI at a prodigious age. The grind is tough now, but you’ll have 50 or 60 years of freedom on the other side. Keep up the great work!

    Best wishes.

  86. maurice,

    That sounds like a tough way to make a living, but it seems like you’re in a great place now. I personally will always have affection for Florida, so I’m glad to read you’re enjoying Jacksonville. 🙂

    Enjoy the sunshine and palm trees down there. Life is a gift every single day!

    Cheers.

  87. Great, I (and likely others) will definitely make a few tips when possible 🙂 Your articles go way beyond just investing, it is a mind set and maybe even a way of living. It greatly helps me, because support from the people around me is sometimes a bit though.

    About being non-intrusive & no third party, bitcoin is the way to go for your international readers. Simply put a public key at the bottom of your articles: 16fNBKrctwyCHHvW4VGtiDXMSqKz9JuuBG

    Regards,

  88. Great article DM!! I dream of the day I can get out of the rat race and slow down like you. Over the last 6 years, I have been investing in residential properties and dividend stocks. Currently, I bring in an average of $1,500 per month of investment income and I’m on a mission to $5K per month! Thanks for keeping me motivated!

  89. Sean,

    That’s fantastic! You are well on your way!

    $1,500 per month in investment income is very serious. That would essentially render me financially independent. But $5,000 is certainly a lot better. I would never need to earn that much money, but if it’s within your power to earn it and you’re willing to put in the necessary work then I say more power to you.

    Keep up the great work!

    Best wishes.

  90. Truly the ultimate reason to frugal lifestyle. I see no reason to be an indentured servant to money for the rest of my life.

    I really wonder how many people are “converted” from trying to make a lot of money and spend a lot to being like us. Or is it just people who are already frugal who want to retire early…

    Thanks again,
    WE#1

  91. Great great post. I guess that’s why it’s called the rat race huh? I’ve noticed myself that the days where I get stuff done at home and with my family just don’t seem to go by as fast. Even if you’re currently employed or working crazy hours, it helps a lot to even take 15 minutes out of the day to just close your eyes and calm your breathing. This is definitely the goal for me thanks for another inspirational post.

  92. WE#1,

    I’m with you. Why stay a servant when you can be free? Especially when the path to freedom isn’t all that hard?

    That’s a good question there. I wonder that as well. I suppose it’s much easier for those that are already frugal than those that have to totally shift, and I think introverts have an easier time at this than extroverts. Pros and cons to everything in life.

    Thanks for stopping by!

    Best regards.

  93. Great post, Jason. Going slow is a paradox. You need to go slow enough to enjoy the journey, but not so slow that life isn’t challenging, or that you stop altogether. My main worry in ER is the latter: getting a bit too comfortable.

  94. Syed,

    Appreciate it! Glad you found some inspiration in it. That’s why I write. 🙂

    I’m with you. It’s good to take the time to smell the proverbial roses whenever possible. Take time out of your day to slow down and enjoy life before it flies right past you.

    Thanks for stopping by!

    Cheers.

  95. DB40,

    That’s a great point there. I don’t think anyone wants to pull a Peggy Bundy where you’re sitting around eating bonbons and watching soap operas. Well, not that there’s anything wrong with that if that’s what you want. But I just think few people want that kind of lifestyle.

    There has to be some challenge to keep you sharp. Life is for those who are alive. But at the same time it’s hard to live life when you’re busying spending your time away at a job.

    I think it’s really a personality thing. And I can’t see anyone who has the drive to achieve financial independence at such an early age just stop to sit around. We all have unique goals and passions, but having the time necessary to engage them is what’s really important.

    Thanks for stopping by!

    Best regards.

  96. I know what you mean, life was like that for me too when i was unemployed even though i was worried the whole time. However, I got the do things like going to the gym and working on my backyard without having a boss looking over you. It was very peaceful while it lasted.

  97. aaron3719,

    I know what you mean. Hard to enjoy the slower pace of life when you’re worried about a permanent paycheck and when unemployment benefits are going to end.

    I hope you’re able to get back to that position one day, but relying on passive income rather than unemployment income. One spigot of cash lasts a lot longer than the other. 🙂

    Best regards!

  98. Tad, thank you for your comment. It sounds like Jason’s article struck a chord with both of us. (In a good way, Jason, since it makes us think about our own lifestyles.)

    I completely agree with your assessment of those rewarding days. It was great getting to the end of a 12-hour day and being *happy* all day. Stressed, but in a good way. “Wow, the phones are ringing so much we can’t even process these bookings!”

    I think there is a sweet spot between not working at all and being absolutely swamped and tied down. Have you ever read $100 Startup? Some of the people in the book purposely don’t grow their businesses past a certain point. I think that’s what I would do since I have no desire to be the next Gates or Zuckerberg. I would rather have a small niche business that makes decent money, allows me to be location independent, and allows me to work with a small team of VAs or independent contractors so they can handle most of the day-to-day tasks. Basically I’m looking for the best of both worlds: the freedom and excitement of being a business owner, but not the stress and issues with having an office and employees. That’s not asking for too much, is it? Ha.

    At least with the experiences I’ve had, I can be a lot more deliberate in finding what type of business I want to start next. I know my strengths and weaknesses quite well, so I know what sort of people I need to hire as soon as I have the cash flow. I also had several business partners, so I know what type to avoid and what sort of agreements should be put in place before I even start a business with someone else.

    Anyway, thanks for taking the time to read my ramblings. I’m glad to hear your business is doing well and I wish you great success and an early path to financial independence!

    Take care,
    Travis

  99. Another thoughtful read Jason.

    Robin Williams passing kind of bummed me out for part of the week. This is a great message.

    Master your “slow down” switch and “off” switch.

  100. Wade,

    Yeah, what happened with Robin Williams is most unfortunate. Just goes to show you that money doesn’t buy happiness; happiness comes from within. What a terrible tragedy.

    Best regards!

  101. Hey Travis – your point about wanting to keep the business small is interesting. I wonder if it’s realistic. Perhaps it depends on the industry. For us (SaaS), I feel like it is very much grow-or-die. We have been fortunate to become the leading player in our niche, but I have a suspicion that if we just said “hey – this is what we do – we sell Product X to Customers Y – they’re happy, we’re happy,” that things would fall apart eventually. I worry that someone would come out and sell Product X to a much broader set of customers, and thereby have the staff to build a much better product. Or, somebody would sell Products X, Y, and Z in a nice bundle to our current customers, and that package would be more compelling than what we offer. Perhaps that’s paranoia, but given that I can’t imagine our company being successful today at 33% of our current size, I wonder if we wouldn’t be even more successful at 300% of our current size, and if that pattern ever really gives out. Again, this may just be a quirk of the technology world – I can see that restaurants, contractors, lawyers, etc. can thrive in a small, high quality model. Also, do you wonder if the excitement would really be there if you weren’t growing? It adds to the stress, but also the thrill, no?

  102. Yes, it certainly depends on the business model and industry. The examples they had were more of the B2B types that had x number of clients they worked with. Some did all the work themselves while others had a small team of VAs (most appealing to me).

    I do wonder about the thrill. But, is the thrill of the business worth the extra workload? Ten years ago I would have enthusiastically said ‘yes.’ Now, I hesitate. That hesitation comes partially because I have gone through the ‘dark side’ of a business getting crushed and partially because I’m not 20 years old anymore. My time (life) is much more valuable to me now. For some businesses, the answer would still be ‘yes,’ but those are few and far between. Perhaps my thrill will come from having 200+ days off for traveling and visiting with family each year. Maybe I become a nomad and surf, hike, etc. during the mornings and manage my business in the evenings. Or perhaps I split my time between my money-making business and some other social entrepreneurship venture. There are a lot of ways to make life exciting and fulfilling.

    But, I can still understand your enthusiasm with your business. First, awesome job growing to become the leader in your niche! Second, if I were in your position right now, I would certain get while the gettin’s good. If you enjoy what you’re doing and you’re making good money, there’s no reason to stop. I’m curious, do you have a number in mind? If another company/investor offered to buy you out, would you consider it? And if so, what do you think you would do next?

    Jason is a good example of what is possible. Right now he is writing his own content and has very few guest posts (looks like only 7 so far). If he wanted to scale up quickly, he could hire a few VAs, have them research content topics, write for him, help him market the content, etc. He doesn’t even need to do it under his DividendMantra domain if he wanted to keep this blog more personal. Maybe he wants to scale up for a few months, then slow down for a bit while he travels to some place warmer during the winter, then ramp up again next spring. Point is, he can have that flexibility if he doesn’t have full-time employees (have to keep them busy), an office (tied to one location), etc.

  103. I know and I look at it that way too. Every trade I open every new dividend stock I add is getting me closer to my freedom and American Dream.

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  105. I think you’re right with Jason. I think he’s probably doing the right thing, because it’s not a race for market share in his case – quality and reputation is more important, which is hard to gain and easily lost.

    It’s a great question on selling the company, but honestly not one that I have put a lot of thought in to. I mostly assume that if we do the right things to build the business as though we would never sell it, then that would also position us to sell if we ever wanted to. I think it’s very unhealthy to run the company with one foot out the door – worst of all your employees and clients can probably see it, and I think they would hate it. And, I think the dirty secret of selling most business is that to get them to a point where people will pay you a ton of money, they need to be quite profitable, stable, and growing in the first place (leaving aside exceptional cases like Instagram). At that point, you are probably in a very good financial spot whether you just run the company or sell it. So, I would probably be most interested in a sale to a company who I believe would do the right thing with it, so I could be happy continuing to run the company as a subsidiary, and feeling like I would be excited to tell my customers and employees about the transaction.

    Maybe it ultimately comes down to personality. I think I just enjoy the challenge of the business so much that I would feel at loose ends if I didn’t have something I could really throw myself at. My wife, on the other hand, thinks I’m crazy and is looking forward to sleeping in, working out, and gardening as soon as we hit FI. So, maybe it comes back to the point that retiring means “doing what you want to do” not “not working.”

  106. These dividend blogs are all inspiration to me. I have been stuck in the grind for 16 years and finally woke up when I came across these blogs. I took this past Friday and Monday off and enjoyed it whole-heartedly. Woke up took a nice trip for my wife’s birthday and spent a few days just hanging around the house. Played with the kids outside and did some blogging. What I would give to switch to that life today. Oh well. I will keep on investing and get there some day.

  107. Mark,

    You’ll get there one day. It just takes time and hard work. It’s tough to see the light at the end of the tunnel when it’s still dark everywhere you look, but glimmers light like your recent trip provide the motivation to keep marching forward. 🙂

    Thanks for stopping by!

    Take care.

  108. I just recently found your blog and I have to say…You inspire me! Like you were, I’m also a 32 year old service advisor at a luxury car dealership (What a miserable occupation! It’s no wonder we want out so bad) using a nearly identical strategy in hopes of retiring early. I got started on my quest for early retirement about a year ago, so I’m a little behind your pace, but it’s been great reading about your experience since we’re coming from similar situations. Keep up the great work!

  109. Nic,

    Hey, thanks for stopping by!

    That’s awesome that we have so much in common. I know your pain; it’s definitely a miserable job. The hours, the techs, the stress, management, paperwork, warranties, etc. I hope to never have to go back to that again.

    I’m glad you’ve started down your own path to get out. You might be a bit behind me only because you’re starting a little later, but you’re still incredibly young. Time is on your side. Just stay consistent with it month in and month out. Stay hungry. 🙂

    Best of luck!!!! And keep me updated.

    Cheers.

  110. Congrats again Jason…I hope to join you one day in the slower paced world. If I do nothing, unfortunately, I am still approximately 13 years away. However, I hope that will sheer will and determination, I will be able to shorten my timeframe. Ideally, I would love to walk away from it all in 8-10 years. Can’t wait…thanks for the inspirations! Cheers! AFFJ

  111. AFFJ,

    Thanks for stopping by!

    It sounds like you and your family are well on your way to freedom. Getting there slightly earlier would be better, but the fact that you’re so actively chasing after it ensures that you’ll find success. 🙂

    Glad to be marching down that road with you!

    Best wishes.

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