Quitting My Full-Time Job: One Year Later

climbingupI almost can’t believe it.

After spending nine years in the auto industry, much of that time as a service advisor, I quit my full-time job in that role at an Audi dealership in Sarasota on May 13, 2014, just one day after my 32nd birthday. It was a well-paying job, sending about $60,000 or so per year my way. But I gave it up.

And here we are almost exactly one year later.

Did I inadvertently “retire” at 32 years old?

No. I still work, but I just do a very different kind of work these days. Instead of typing up repair orders, handling appointments, and acting as a liaison between clients and technicians to make sure cars get fixed correctly, I now focus on writing about dividend growth investing, living below your means, and achieving financial independence relatively early in life.

Needless to say, life is infinitely better doing the latter rather than the former.

So what have I been up to over the last year?

Moving On

The last year has been nothing short of amazing, and it’s really far exceeded my expectations in every manner.

Truth be told, I honestly wasn’t sure what to expect. I only knew that I couldn’t work at the dealership for more than 50 hours per week anymore, worrying about survey scores, endless meetings, and dealing with unhappy clients and technicians alike.

First, there was just the general unhappiness with doing that job in the first place. Which is really what initially led me to looking for a different path… the path to financial independence. While wanting to achieve financial independence isn’t all about hating your job, I wasn’t particularly enamored with the idea of wage slavery. And that’s certainly what it was. I was a slave to the paycheck. There’s no way I march down to that dealership if I’m independently wealthy. And I certainly couldn’t imagine doing it until I was 65 years old. No way!

But it was really all about pursuing a passion.

I knew that I couldn’t continue to manage this blog in the manner that I felt most appropriate while also continuing to work more than 50 hours per week down at the dealership. I was writing 3-4 articles per week here at the blog with freelance writing on the side as well. I had racked up 500 articles at that point in time. And major media interviews in USA Today and Today had sent new readers my way. I responded to every comment and email with gusto.

But there was only so much time in the day and I was getting burned out. It was either the blog or the job.

So I asked myself which one I’d rather be doing in five years: writing or working as a service advisor.

The decision was all to easy.

I Wasn’t Free Yet, But I Also Wasn’t Not Free

I can now look back a year later and say I made a wonderful decision. But it wasn’t that clear cut from the start.

I wasn’t financially independent, and there was some risk there. My Freedom Fund was valued at about $160,000 at the time of leaving my job. A sizable sum, but not enough to live off of. And I was only on pace for approximately $5,200 in dividend income last year.

What was I thinking?

Well, I was thinking that freedom exists on a spectrum. I wasn’t free, sure. But I wasn’t not free, either. I knew that I already had well over six figures in wealth and over $5,000 in annual passive income backing me up. I could jump from the ledge I was on, and maybe I’d fall. But there’d be a net down there (in the form of significant wealth and passive income) waiting to catch me if I did.

But what if I didn’t fall? What if I made it across to the other side, where a better way to make a living awaited? What if I achieved a dream?

Was that not worth the risk? And how much risk was I really taking on?

Or maybe I should ask a different question: Is the biggest risk of all not taking on a new opportunity when the chance to jump is right in front of me?

Is the biggest risk of all the possibility of regret?

So it wasn’t clear how things would turn out from the start. But I believe when you know deep down inside that you’ll do whatever is necessary to succeed, you’ll find success. And success builds upon itself. Success begets success.

What Can Happen When You Have Time To Pursue Your Passions

I’ve since written an additional 160 articles here at Dividend Mantra. I’ve also written countless articles on the freelance side, where I average somewhere around 17 additional articles per month. Hundreds of emails and thousands of comments have been answered by yours truly over the last year, each one of them with as much detail and helpfulness as I can possibly provide.

I’ve also written a best-selling book. The opportunity for additional interviews have come up, which I’ve gladly taken on so as to spread the message of hope. I then recently added a coaching service and have already helped a few clients there. I’m truly more passionate, motivated, and inspired than ever.

And I think what my experience shows is how productive one can be when they’re able to somehow monetize their passion(s). Once you’re freed from the chains of a “job” that exists only to pay bills, your whole perspective changes. You’re unleashed.

Imagine your potential when the projects you take on completely align with your passion(s). Imagine how much you can do in a day when everything you do and touch is out of enthusiasm and excitement.

Another thing I’ve come to realize is that there is so much opportunity out there. And I think that’s true because there’s a vacuum of people willing to take the risks necessary to grab those opportunities. Which really brings me back around to why the path to financial independence is much more than just a destination; the journey itself is incredibly valuable in and of itself not just in the experience it provides, but also in the freedom you’re provided all the way along. I was able to quit a job I didn’t really enjoy so as to take on the opportunity to see what writing full time offered because I had so much freedom from – freedom from endless wants that didn’t really make me happy. And that freedom from gave me freedom to take on the projects that did make me happy.

You don’t need to become fully financially independent to gain much of the reward. And you can achieve so much more than you ever thought you could once you’re unleashed from whatever it is that’s holding you back. True potential is absolutely beautiful and powerful when it’s allowed to flourish.

Making More Money Versus Doing What Makes You Happy

I’ve heard this debate come up in the financial independence circle before.

There seems to be this dividing line between maximizing income and reaching financial freedom as soon as humany possible – even if that means sacrificing your happiness along the way – or doing what you enjoy, even if that means sacrificing some income and reaching independence later.

First, I’ll say that I don’t think that doing what you enjoy and making enough money to reach freedom fairly quickly are mutually exclusive. And I say that out of firsthand experience. Like I was just discussing above, taking on projects and opportunities you really love – if you really love them – will likely lead to far more reward (monetary and otherwise) than you probably ever thought possible.

You can see this in real life and in real-time, as I’ve documented everything all along.

I made $818 in online income the month prior to quitting my job in the auto industry. Not exactly the kind of income that dreams are made of, and certainly tough to achieve financial independence on. But add that to the ~$433 in monthly dividend income I was on pace to average in 2014 and I’m then already covering a good chunk of my expenses. Not too difficult to go out and make $600 or so to make up the shortfall, especially when you’re the type of person who’s so driven that’s even in that position in the first place.

Fast forward a year later. I just posted my income and expenses for April 2015 and you can see that I earned $3,572 in online income. That’s a 337% improvement in one year. If that doesn’t show what’s possible when you mix great ingredients like hard work, luck, passion, and opportunity, I don’t know what will. What’s even better is that the income isn’t capped. I’m not limited by what an employer thinks I’m worth. I’m bound only by my own imagination and hard work. Moreover, I own my work. Everything I do comes back to me. When I provide value, the world recognizes that. And it recognizes me, not an employer.

Furthermore, how much of a hurry am I in to reach financial independence when I’m doing what I love? How much value is there in being happy all the way to financial independence? Is a dollar always a dollar? I’ve already discussed how an active dollar and a passive dollar isn’t one and the same. But what about a dollar earned doing something you love versus a dollar earned doing something you don’t really enjoy all that much. Are those dollars valued the same? I’d argue they’re not. I’d rather earn 50 cents from the work I do now than a full dollar from the work I used to do.

I’d caution against working at something you don’t enjoy only in hopes that true happiness is awaiting you at the finish line. Especially if you think there’s an opportunity out there to make money at something more enjoyable.

But if the choice is between making the most possible money to reach freedom ASAP versus making less money and potentially being happier all the way along, my choice is always going to be the latter. This journey – and all that I write about – isn’t about the money. It’s about freedom and flexibility. It’s about the time. The money just buys time. If I could somehow value my Freedom Fund in a way that shows the time it’s buying me rather than the value of the investments, I’d probably do that. Actually, that’s pretty much what I do when I update my dividend income every month.

Conclusion

I hope my experience gives you hope, especially if you’re working at a job you don’t totally enjoy. Not only is financial independence attainable on a modest salary and in a relatively short period of time, but it’s also attainable while enjoying the ride all the way along. And I’m out to prove both of those propositions, using my own life as the ultimate case study in real-time.

I once mentioned that I felt like I was on the highway to financial independence, driving at a fast rate of speed but maybe missing the scenery on the way there. And it was stressful driving so fast – I was burning out.

So I chose to take a more delightful, but slower path to freedom, giving up that surefire paycheck for the opportunity to enjoy what I was doing every single day. And I don’t regret it for a day. Not only have I since replaced my old salary at the dealership, but I’m enjoying the ride so much more. I’ve had an opportunity to slow down and enjoy the scenery a bit by focusing on my passions and creating my own non-routine.

And in doing this – in making life how I want it to be – I’ve been able to become far more productive than I ever was before. My focus is elevated to levels I never felt before, which is allowing me to scale heights I never dreamed of. If the journey to financial independence is like climbing a mountain, I’ve never been higher. And I’ve never enjoyed the climb more.

Being in a position to live well below your means and achieve financial independence is incredible all by itself. But I’ve learned how important it is to never pass up an opportunity to enjoy the climb even more. Although I can’t wait to see what the world looks like from the summit of that mountain, I also think the climb should be as enjoyable as possible.

Don’t get me wrong. There have been setbacks along the way, which I’ve documented. But scaling a mountain isn’t a straight path to the top. Moreover, setbacks just allow you to enjoy the new heights that much more.

The destination is admirable. But make sure journey is everything it can be as well. Your future you is already financially independent, waiting for you to reach the top and look out upon the world. But don’t abandon the current you in the process.

Are you further along over the last year then you ever thought you’d be? Is the journey proving out to be far more enjoyable than you ever thought? Where do you stand on the debate of making money versus enjoying the ride? 

Thanks for reading.

Photo Credit: bplanet/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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159 Comments

  1. What a journey! I was looking forward to this article, it’s great to see the progress and how your cash generating assets allow you to quit an fulfilling job and pursue your passion.

    Doing what you’re passionate about every day and not only making ends meet, but being able to invest excess capital is a goal we can all aspire for.

    It’s crazy it’s already been one full year! Great job!

    Red to Riches

  2. Very inspiring. I am really delighted to continue reading that you’re enjoying the experience post-freedom as much as you hoped.

    I am on track (I think) to earning almost £1000 this year in dividends which is excellent. That is about 10% of my annual expenses which is pretty good. Hopefully it won’t be long before I am in a position to take the jump like yourself. But, as you say, freedom from work does not mean you have to stop working.

    Keep up the good work and good luck!

  3. The average American: All talk and no action

    The Div Man: Talk AND action. Congratulations!

  4. What an inspiring post; I can’t believe it’s been a year already since you left you job. And this gives me hope; I like my job 99% of the time, and so at the moment, it’s not quite the right time to make the change, as you have done. However, I’d like to think that one day in the future, I’ll be self employed and experiencing lots of different things that happen to come my way. You, and a host of other online characters, prove that this can happen, and if you want it badly enough, then it can become a reality.

    Here’s to Year 2 being even better for you!

  5. Great post Jason, congrats on all the milestones you’ve earned each and every single one.
    you are living and breath proof of “success begets success”

    Keep it up man!

    Ace

  6. Another fantastic article Jason. You are a great writer. Articles like this just inspire me. Thank you.

  7. CONGRATULATIONS Jason, that must be an incredible feeling to post that one.

    Well done.

    RA50

  8. Does not seem THAT long since you were posting about the decision to give up the full time day job – congratulations on what you have achieved in the past year – marriage, first book, coaching venture…Well done!

  9. Congrats on all of your success! You have certainly earned it. Quitting your full-time job is a win for everyone – you get to do what you love and us readers get to benefit from more of your writing.

  10. Congratulations on the career / life change. I’m glad it is working out for you.

    Your blog is great! Keep up the great work.

  11. You quit your job the same month that I started reading your blog, which was one month before I started my own dividend investing journey. I may only have 10% of your behemoth Freedom Fund, but your path has been a complete inspiration for me. I love my job and will probably keep doing it for quite some time, but the freedom to not _have_ to do it is calling.

    Keep up the great work and congratulations on the anniversary of your full-time writing career!

  12. DM,

    I know I say this a lot but it continues to be true… You are an inspiration and I’m thankful that the technologies we have today allow someone like myself have access to such a great journey. It wasn’t all that long ago that the internet was just a pipe dream and if there were people like you trying to teach others to do as you do, they certainly did not reach as many people.

    I am much farther along than I thought I’d ever be at this point last year and I’m sure I will just keep revising my passive income goals upwards throughout the upcoming years. Dividend growth investing is truly a powerful tool when you combine high savings rate, consistent investing in top notch companies and having those companies consistently raise their dividends.

    However, I cannot say my ride has been as enjoyable as I would have liked. Don’t get me wrong, I have my far share of fun and seeing my hard work be rewarded through growing dividend income is great, but I’m getting to the point where you were last year. I’m starting to get worn out with the constant 50-60 hours of work per week. I am ready to quit the rat race but I am still part of the camp of make as much as you can while you can.

    I’m in a little bit different situation because my wife and I will be trying to have a child next year so I want to continue to push hard through next year to keep the savings rate high and maximize investing. That way, my wife can quit her job to raise our child and I can scale back at work to spend more time with the both of them.

    So for the time being I’m in the make money camp, but come talk to me next year and I may have a different answer for you! Hopefully by the end of next year, I’ll be living my life largely like you are now. Enjoying every minute of it!

    ADD

  13. Dividend Mantra,

    Great post. It is hard to believe it has been a year since you left the job at the dealership. Just think you never “worked” in a year as there is a saying “if you like what you do, you will never work a day in your life”.

  14. Well written. You have a nice writing style that no doubt adds to the content you provide Jason. Its very true that the trade-off between FT day job and dream job is a continuum. That continuum can expand the other way too – If you were making twice the $60K or maybe three times that amount, the trade-off decision would have been even more difficult.

    Congrats and keep up the momentum!

  15. I am super risk averse, so it is fun to read about people taking calculated risks and having them work out. Even if it hadn’t worked out as great as it has, you could have supplemented your income enough with a much less terrible “day job” and still been better off.

    I also took a risk 3.25 years ago when I quit my decently-paying job (42K) after it became stressful during the recession and then stayed stressful in a way I could not escape otherwise. Basically, once I knew I’d rather eat beans and rice living in the back of a van than continue with the job, the choice became clear!

    I did not have any side jobs and my passive income was still very low. But my contributions to my Roth IRA could cover about three years of expenses, so I figured that surely I could find an additional three years of expenses to last me until I could get my pension (which would be six years away if I never got another job with that employer).

    I also lucked out. I never did get another full-time job, with that employer or anywhere else. Nor did I start my own business. However, I did get medium-term part-time jobs with old co-workers facing similar stresses who found money to hire me to do what was to them boring and frustrating work but was to me the kind of fun part of my job. After that I qualified for unemployment. Again, I quit receiving that when I could no longer stand jumping their hoops. Then I got a part-time “permanent” job at my old employer which paid my expenses (but no extra!) for another year. That job was not super fun, but was for only 30 hours per week and it cut two years off the wait for my pension.

    In the end, I qualified for my pension at the same time as I would have had I stayed at my other job. And my health got better. And I was happier the whole time. Whew! I also ended up with enough income that, although I couldn’t add anything to my savings, I also didn’t have to drain any of it. And nothing super expensive happened, so I got to funnel some of my “emergency” savings into my Roth IRA to keep it maxed out.

    Now I’m retired and my pension is big enough (for now) that I can continue adding to my stash. Later, when inflation outpaces my cost-of-living increases (and there hasn’t been one for ten years), I (probably) won’t have to worry.

  16. Wow Jason! That’s an awesome post to get inspiration in my position! You know it already, I’m about one year from quitting my full-time job! One year RV trip during which I will work on my sites and hopefully come back with that not being a sideline anymore! You mention so many points that I just have to agree with.

    Of course I am scared. Of course there are risks. Of course it won’t be easy. Sure I’ll leave a good-paying job behind. One that I didn’t hate on top of that! But I feel there is more than chasing after the paycheck, the raise, and mostly, chasing after time. I want to do what I love now and taking advantage of the opportunities life send our way.

    I read about you and it makes me excited about what’s coming! I just can’t wait!

    Cheers,

    Mike

  17. Wow this article really hits close to home. You discussed the exact debate I get into with myself all the time about rushing to FI or doing something I love and getting there much slower. The great thing about your story is you found out what you love to do that earns you an income while still at your day job. I don’t hate my job but I don’t love it. It should (hopefully) provide me an income to get to FI fairly quickly (before 40). You were lucky (replace lucky with hard working) enough to figure out a way to make an income off of your passion for dividend investing.

  18. RTR,

    It’s crazy. It’s been such a fast year, even though I’ve had an opportunity to slow way down. Time flies by, which is all the more reason to take ownership over your time.

    Appreciate the support. It’s been a lot of fun. And a lot of that is really due to the great readership I have here. So thank you! 🙂

    Best regards.

  19. DD,

    Thank you. It’s really a dream come true for me to be in this position. And it’s so great to be here comparing the before and after, showing what’s possible in real life and in real-time. I truly hope it’s inspirational. There is so much opportunity out there.

    Congrats on your success thus far! That just builds upon itself, as you already know. 1,000 euros turns into 1,500 euros turns into 2,000. And that accelerates over time. Success begets success. 🙂

    Thanks for dropping by!

    Best wishes.

  20. wtd7576,

    Ha! Thanks for that.

    I definitely put my money where my mouth is. And I’m not selling anything here, other than the opportunity to become the possible version of yourself. Financial independence IS possible. And it’s also very possible to enjoy the journey as much as the destination. I’m living proof.

    Appreciate the support!

    Cheers.

  21. Nicola,

    Thank you. I’m glad the message came across. I spent a lot of time with this post.

    Enjoying your job 99% of the time is wonderful. I’d say you’re probably in rare company there. But financial independence still offers a lot of value because you just don’t know if you’ll still be in that 99% camp five or ten years from now. And you don’t know if they’ll still be able to employ you down the road. Anything is possible. As such, there’s so much value in options and flexibility. Maybe you never have to make that jump. But it’s great knowing there’s a net down there if you do.

    Thanks for dropping by. Appreciate the well wishes. I wish you the same. Every day is a new opportunity! 🙂

    Cheers.

  22. Ace,

    Thanks. I think this is my favorite and most inspirational post yet. I did my best with it. 🙂

    No pretension, vague terms, or e-books telling you to make and sell e-books here. Just real-life results and a surefire path to financial independence, which I think is far more inspirational. Can’t wait to see where this path leads. And I can’t wait to share it with the world!

    Keep up the great work over there as well. We’re getting there one day at a time.

    Take care.

  23. Lila,

    Thank you. I put everything I have into this one. It’s my favorite article yet. 🙂

    I’m growing as a writer, which offers me even more opportunity to spread the message and inspire. I’m so grateful for that. And I’m grateful to have really supportive readers like yourself. Thank you!

    Best regards.

  24. RA50,

    It really felt great. It was exhausting writing this one, because I wanted to make sure it was as perfect as possible. But it was also incredibly gratifying. I just hope the message really comes across. So much is possible when you put your mind to it. 🙂

    Thanks for dropping by!

    Cheers.

  25. Well that was fast!!! Congrats man – the “risk” is paying off 🙂 (I have to put quotes there because it was a no brainer for you… I had no doubt you’d succeed compared to others I know who I would never advise to go on their own ;))

  26. diy investor,

    I know, right? Time flies by, which is why you’ve gotta reign it in and take ownership of it. I’ve slowed it way down, but the minutes still keep on ticking by. Time is of the essence. 🙂

    Appreciate the support. It’s been an incredible year. I wasn’t sure what to expect exactly, but I certainly didn’t expect as much success as I’ve had. But I think that just shows what’s possible when you believe in something and work hard at it. I can’t wait to see what’s possible in five years if all of this can be done in one.

    Thanks for dropping by. Wishing you just as much success every single day!

    Take care.

  27. Well said. Making sure you’re happy and living “in the now” is more important than making a living and chasing a pay cheque. When the recession hit in Ireland, it was just the kick in the arse that I needed to make some changes. Myself & my (now) wife left the country, said our farewells and made our way to Asia to live, travel & work. The cheaper cost of living meant we could get by on a lot less. If we couldn’t carry it in our hikers back pack – we didn’t own it.
    Eventually, the money in our account was building nicely. While we were there we were not money hungry, we just loved what we were doing and happened to be paid for it. We lived a slower & more simple life. I never wore a watch in 2 years! I lived in the ‘now’ and made the effort to be happy in the ‘now’ instead of killing myself working, in the hope of a happier / better / more financially independent me in the future. It did wonders for our mental state, our approach to life and our cultural tolerance.

    I guess what I am trying to say is that a leap of faith is sometimes the wake-up call we all need. When you have nothing to lose, it seems that every door is open and provides opportunity. You just have to put your heart into it and don’t approach it halfheartedly.

    “I felt like I was on the highway to financial independence, driving at a fast rate of speed but maybe missing the scenery on the way there. And it was stressful driving so fast – I was burning out.” That sums it up perfectly.

    Well done Jason.

  28. DE,

    Thanks for that. You’re right, though. I think when the world provides you with an opportunity, you end up with this great chance to reciprocate and provide a ton of value in return. And that’s what I’ve tried to do. I appreciate it every single day, which helps maintain perspective… which in turn helps avoid taking it all for granted.

    Let’s see what’s possible!

    Best regards.

  29. Brian,

    It’s been a great ride together, hasn’t it? Thanks for following along. 🙂

    Indeed. It’s all about not having to go to work. You may love it now. But you might not love it so much down the road. Or maybe you will. Either way, flexibility and options are so incredibly important and value. I certainly didn’t hate my job so much for the first couple years. I was actually grateful just for the money. But it slowly drains on you. And having that opportunity to jump ship and try something new without fear is just amazing.

    Can’t wait to see what’s possible in another year… for both of us!

    Best regards.

  30. ADD,

    Thank you so much. I completely agree in regards to technology. Technology makes this dream truly possible. It’s a lot easier to achieve financial independence with this amazing community all working together and offering all of this mutual support. I couldn’t imagine traversing that mountain alone.

    I hear you over there. You’re in a similar spot to the one I was in about a year ago. I can imagine it’s a bit more difficult/complicated of a decision when you’ve got a family to think of. But I also like to take ideas and turn them around. And if I had children, I think I’d be even more motivated to do what I enjoy and have more time at home. As such, I think it’d be even less risky to take that chance. Regret is the biggest risk of all, in my view.

    The good news is that you’ve been saving and investing a ton. Look at where you’re at now. Imagine where you’ll then be a year or two from now, and all of the opportunities that’ll come with. Keep it up. You’re slowly achieving a dream. 🙂

    Best wishes.

  31. IP,

    The time just flies by. It’s been an incredible year, though. I’m so fortunate. I work really, really hard, but I’m glad that the hard work translates.

    That quote is largely true, though I think there’s still a lot of work involved even with something you enjoy. But it’s a lot different when you’re working on something you love. There’s just a certain satisfaction there.

    Thanks for all the support. Let’s keep it rolling! 🙂

    Best regards.

  32. JayP,

    Thanks. I’ve learned a lot after writing almost 1,000 articles over the last five years. Fortunately, that helps me spread the message even more effectively. I’m so grateful for that. 🙂

    “…If you were making twice the $60K or maybe three times that amount, the trade-off decision would have been even more difficult.”

    I actually think the opposite. If I were making twice or three times that amount, the decision would have been even easier and probably would have come about even faster. I would have been able to save and invest that much more, and thus the risk would have lessened earlier. I view regret as the biggest risk of all, and more money makes it even easier to jump off that ledge without fear.

    But the fact that I was able to jump after earning a modest salary for a pretty short period of time shows what’s possible. Opportunity is all around us. 🙂

    Best regards!

  33. Congrats on your one anniversary of quitting your full time job, Jason. Your story is truly an inspiration to all.

    Like you said – its not just about hating your job, but its great that youve shown that one can get away from an unhappy project and build their way to something one enjoys by investing and developing an income stream. You are building quite a brand here with Dividend Mantra. Keep up the great work and I wish you the best for your dreams!

    R2R

  34. Debbie M,

    Yeah, I think your story there proves how important luck and timing is. But it also proves how important hard work is as well. And I think those that work hard tend to create their own luck to a degree. Success follows. And success begets more success. After a while, stress and worries tend to disappear. Sometimes that confidence in knowing that everything will work out is necessary before the results, but it all works together. And confidence is a lot easier to come by when you have that net there to catch you if you fall. It all works together. 🙂

    Thanks for sharing!

    Cheers.

  35. Mike,

    “But I feel there is more than chasing after the paycheck…”

    I can tell you firsthand there’s a lot more to life than that. I never made a lot. And I took a pay cut in order to chase after this dream. But the rewards are so incredible. And when you have a lot of passion for something and give it your all out of enthusiasm, the monetary rewards come. But by then, the money probably matters a lot less. 🙂

    Enjoy the new adventure that awaits you. I think life’s about to become a lot more fun for you guys.

    Cheers!

  36. FF,

    Yeah, I’ve noticed some people debate that. The answer for me is easy. But I don’t think the choices have to be mutually exclusive, either. Figuring out how to monetize your interests probably isn’t all that difficult. And once you have that cushion of wealth and passive income behind you, it makes it a lot easier to jump off that ledge and see what’s on the other side. I also think my own experience proves that it’s possible to make more money than you thought possible when you really enjoy something and work hard out of enjoyment.

    But if you’re on the path to FI by 40, then you’ll be good either way. I’m certainly glad to enjoy the climb up the mountain a lot more than before, but that summit awaits regardless. 🙂

    Thanks for dropping by!

    Take care.

  37. J$,

    Thanks for stopping by, bud!

    It become more evident over time that it was indeed a no-brainer. I think sometimes people look at risk the wrong way, but that vacuum means there’s more opportunity out there for those willing to grab it. Such is life, but I’m doing my best to inspire as many people as possible. 🙂

    I’d say I hope all is well but I already know all is well!

    Best wishes.

  38. Regan,

    “I guess what I am trying to say is that a leap of faith is sometimes the wake-up call we all need. When you have nothing to lose, it seems that every door is open and provides opportunity. You just have to put your heart into it and don’t approach it halfheartedly.”

    Absolutely. That’s really what it comes down to. And if you’re the type of person that’s even in a position to take that leap, the odds are probably pretty good that you’ll land on the other side in even better shape than you were before you jumped.

    That’s a great story there. I think that the more I go along, the more I’m leaning toward a similar life. I have less of a desire to own stuff and chase money the more I go along, and more of a desire to live simply and slowly. Discovering that true source of happiness is an incredible shift in perspective. Sounds like you’ve really enjoyed it!

    Thanks for sharing that. Life is wide open for you guys. 🙂

    Best wishes.

  39. R2R,

    Thanks so much. Appreciate the support. I work hard and do my best, but it wouldn’t be much of anything without a really great and supportive readership.

    I’ve still got plenty of ideas for the future. I think the best is yet to come. 🙂

    Let’s see what’s possible. I wish you the best for reaching your dreams as well. This community makes it a lot easier to do so, that’s for sure. We’re all in it together!

    Best regards.

  40. Nick,

    Indeed. The possibilities are amazing and almost endless when you work hard at something you’re passionate about. 🙂

    Thanks for the support!

    Cheers.

  41. Great journey so far and it’s great that you have allowed us following your journey. Congrats on your success so far. Here’s to creating a bigger snowball!

  42. Tawcan,

    Thanks so much. It’s been so rewarding and so much fun thus far. I’m happy to share. Equally so, thank you for following along. I think bigger and better things are yet to come! 🙂

    Keep up the great work over there as well. Financial independence is out there waiting for us.

    Best regards.

  43. Jason:

    Great article and so very true…all of it. Articles like this make me remember how much I don’t really care for my job. I am blessed to have it, but I can’t say that I wake up in the morning pumped up to go to work. Today marks my 10th year in the Navy (I am having anniversary myself 😉

  44. Chris,

    Congrats on your own anniversary over there. And we all appreciate your service, no doubt about it!

    I’m glad I had the job, though. It gave me the money necessary to feel comfortable with making that leap. So I’m grateful to have had it. But I also think there’s a ton of opportunity out there for those to maybe improve upon their situations and enjoy what they do even more. The thought of regret pushes me way more than fear of losing money.

    Thanks for dropping by!

    Best regards.

  45. Congratulation Jason on all of your success so far! You made a bold action in quitting your day job and started to get the benefits in few months. You are a role model for many of your readers.

    Last one year went so fast, and lots of changes in your life as well as our life, but no change in our ultimate goal of financial freedom.

    Keep up your good work and wish you all the best for your success.

    Cheers,

  46. Mantra,

    Its always refreshing to read your articles, even after a long day / week where I am outside doing ground and surface water sampling (it can sound more interesting that it typically is…). My coworker I am working with this week tells me that he will never be free of debt or the vicious cycle of working to live and living to work.

    Still even with a long day, and the failure of having someone see our side of the coin – its nice to know it can be done. Enjoy that freedom!

    -Gremlin

  47. Congrats Jason! Remember when we discussed over a year ago that you’d be pleasantly surprised with how much you can make online if you keep it up? Looks like it’s coming true!

    The skies the limit.

  48. Im so excited for you Jason. Being able to quit your job at the dealership to pursue writing is awesome. I cant believe its already been a year since you made the jump.

    I think your journey is so relatable to people and you really write to make it that way.

    Thank you so much for the inspiration that you provide on a daily basis.

    Im still working through the best balance between work/money/passion. I enjoy my current job and it allows me to do more writing than a regular 9-5 office job. The bonus to it is that it also pays really well. However the big drawback is the lack of a schedule and having to be gone the whole time until the job is done. Theres no going home every night to be with family. Its even more so now that we’re having to deal with the issues with my son. Ideally I’d be able to write more and earn a good enough income from that and dividends to cover expenses and still allow for savings, but we’re much too far away from that currently for that to be a reasonable option. Maybe in the future though. Although a career change might come later this year and theres always the possibility to go back to school. Theres a lot to work through but I expect a change in the next year or two.

    Thanks again for all the motivation and I wish you the best.

  49. What an inspiring write up!! I am sure you can increase your income through your writing and dividends over the next year. I am hoping to make a bit of extra money online while on my maternity leave, that is if I have a good baby and get some free time!

  50. Thank you, it’s still a great journey. I’m still learning not to measure happiness by what I can buy, collect & clutter up the place… you just need to remind yourself now & again about who you are and what you want in life.
    Slightly off the topic of finances – but related to a better life, a book I think you might like; The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle. This book still helps me. It was a hard read for me at first but the more I read, the better understanding I got. You just have to give yourself to the book.

    Keep up the fantastic work 🙂

  51. Yes, I look forward to keeping up to date on your own further progress as well. It is clearly see it has a long way to run!

    As you have always pointed out: its a snowball. You just need to get it rolling in the first place!

  52. FJ,

    Thanks so much. Very kind of you.

    I’m really fortunate to be in this position. And I’m doing all I can to make the most of the opportunity. 🙂

    Every year is an incredible opportunity to become so much more… to become a better version of yourself. And I’m very proud to say that I’ve done pretty well in that department over the last year.

    Here’s to another fantastic year… for both of us!

    Take care.

  53. Gremlin,

    I hear you, my friend. Sometimes I feel like general society lives in some alternate universe of ridiculousness. But I’m doing all I can to inspire change in those that want to change. It can be done. And I’m out to prove it! 🙂

    Thanks for all the support over the years. Much appreciated. Couldn’t do it without you guys.

    Cheers!

  54. FS,

    Indeed. You called it! 🙂

    It’s been a great ride. I’m so grateful and so fortunate. Can’t wait to see what the next year brings. I’m going to continue giving it my all, so we’ll see just how much of a limit the sky places on me.

    Cheers!

  55. JC,

    Glad I can provide some inspiration your way, especially through this difficult time.

    There’s so much opportunity out there, my friend. Especially for those willing to reach out and grab it. I’m sure that things will work out for the best for you guys. Those who work hard and consider all the angles generally do quite well. And the good news is that you’re already in a really fantastic position. You could leap right now and the odds of falling are probably pretty low. In addition, you have that net to catch you. But I’m sure you’ll figure it all out in due time. 🙂

    Thanks for stopping by. Wishing you guys all the best as well!

    Cheers.

  56. Laura,

    I wish you much luck with that. Sounds really exciting. A new addition to the family and an opportunity to see what’s possible. Enjoy that incredible change and opportunity. 🙂

    Best regards.

  57. Regan,

    Thanks for the suggestion. I’ll take it to heart and try to check that book out when I get some free time.

    Enjoy the ride! 🙂

    Best regards.

  58. Way to live life by design, your design, and not anyone else’s.

    Glad to see things are exceeding your expectations.

    Isn’t it amazing what is possible when what we love gets our undivided attention.

    Cheers!

  59. GYFG,

    It is indeed amazing when you give everything to something you love. Someone who’s driven enough to seek/achieve financial independence at a young age can accomplish incredible things when the motivation is there. And I’m more motivated than ever to inspire. 🙂

    Thanks for the support. Can’t wait to see what another year brings us all!

    Best wishes.

  60. Jason,
    I have a strong suspicion that your income in the 9 years after quitting will greatly exceed your income in 9 years of working.

  61. Truly inspiring post as well as practical in that it shows what is possible when you plan and take action to execute. It is hard to believe it’s been a year, but if I think about it, that seems right. Just goes by so fast. It has been about 3 months since I quit my job and life has never been better. I am with you in that I’d rather make less money and be happy, than make more money and be miserable. Ultimately to me, it’s all about having options. When you get to the point of being able to leave your paycheck, it opens up a whole another world of possibilities. Congrats and thanks for the great posts.

    – HMB

  62. DividendBum,

    Nobody likes a bragger!! Your portfolio doesn’t impress anyone except the other bums… believe it or not, your portfolio is way behind considering your age…

  63. Grant,

    Certainly possible. The trajectory is leaning that way. And a big reason behind that is you readers. So thank you for that.

    I’ll continue to do my best to give back through the best content I can muster. 🙂

    Best regards.

  64. HMB,

    That’s fantastic! I just went over to your site to read about that. What an awesome adventure. Sounds like you’re enjoying life more than ever these days. So glad to read that. 🙂

    I’m with you all the way. Once you’re able to leave behind that paycheck, the whole world kind of opens up. Your perspective changes, as do your priorities and values. Feels like a major weight is lifted from your shoulders.

    I hope you continue to enjoy the freedom. Even if you have to go back to work, this will be an unforgettable time in your life.

    Cheers!

  65. Sux,

    We have a child among us. I graduated middle school many years ago. How is it? Is the pizza still pretty nasty?

    Since you’re only 13 years old, I’d think long and hard about your future. In a few years, when you’re able to invest, I’d strongly recommend looking over the site. Dividend growth investing is particularly powerful when you give it a lot of time… and you have that in spades.

    Good luck in school. By the way, it’s “sucks”. Make sure you brush up on the grammar before you hit high school.

    Take care.

  66. I’m not sure I’d say hard work creates good luck, but it certainly invites it. Success definitely begets more success (in my case, once one department figured out how to finance hiring me, other departments asked them–I ended up working for three different departments). And I do love safety nets, where the worst that can happen isn’t really that bad.

  67. Wow! Seems like just yesterday you were talking about leaving work. Man, time moves quick. You are doing quite well for yourself, and things look like they are going to get even better with all the irons you have in the fire. Good luck.

    Keep cranking,

    Robert the DividendDreamer
    AKA — Seeking Dividends

    Follow me on Twitter– Seeking Dividends@DividendDreamer

  68. So excited for you and all the awesome changes that this journey has yielded! I also think it’s wonderful to have a financial independence goal (as you do) that’s both a ‘running from’ as well as a ‘running to’ goal. I feel like for me, I’m motivated by both sides of that equation, which makes me even more focused on getting there. And, you make such great points about financial independence existing along a spectrum–it’s not an all or nothing and I like that mindset.

  69. Another great post Jason! According to my calculations, you only need to make ~$1400 more a month in online income to match what you were making in the auto industry. I bet you are less than a year away from achieving that….then the sky is the limit!
    What some hater calls bragging….we call inspiring! Keep on inspiring!
    Mike

  70. Thank you for sharing the one-year recap. I think the decision you made to strike out on your own required guts, but thankfully your hard work made it pay off. The income you’re getting from various sources will soon surpass what you made at the dreadful car dealership, but it has taken time for that to happen, something that most people probably would not have had the patience for. Making over $3K in one month from online income is just incredible!

    I hope your journey continues to inspire a new generation of dividend growth investors. Hopefully our numbers will grow and make the investing world a little more rational =).

  71. Hi Dm,

    Wow, is it already a year. Time flies… Did you have a small frugal celebration? The good news is you are now sure the chance is near 0% you will have to work again for a boss which is great.

    Keep it going!

    Good weekend.

    Cheers,
    G

  72. Thanks. That’s about where I am…I can now leave the Navy (if I choose) and pursue self employment options without worrying if I am going to run out of money. Leaning toward staying in at this moment…we’ll see what the next few years bring…

  73. DM,
    Congrats on the big one year anniversary. I cannot believe it has already been that long. I am still impressed and jealous at the same time by the fact that you finally sucked it up and decided to leave your job behind for the unknown. I can’t express enough how awesome it is that you pulled the trigger and followed through with it. One of my favorite parts about your article is your discussion about removing the unhappiness in your life. Life is way too short to be in an environment that makes you miserable, and too many times we will decided to tolerate this environment because it provides a steady income/paycheck. The grass can always be greener once you remove yourself and put yourself in a situation to succeed, but you will never do that if you do not walk through the door that life has presented to you. The door is not always open and once it shuts, it will never open again, so you have to take advantage of the opportunity while you can. With your move, you did just that. Very inspirational to me, Lanny, and all of your other followers.

    Bert

  74. Wow, this is the most inspiring post I’ve read in a while and it might have given me the final push to take a different road to financial independence. Thank you for such a great post.

  75. Jason,

    Congratulations on all your success. I love reading your blog because you continue to give me (and all your readers) hope and inspiration. Thank you for always being open and honest with your journey.

    Maybe one of these days I’ll leave the rat race, too. I’m working on building up my side income and saving/investing. Over the past few months, I’ve gone from just daydreaming to seriously considering making the jump. “Why not?” instead of “what if?”

    I keep thinking of this quote from the movie Moonstruck that sums everything up perfectly: “Playing it safe is the riskiest thing you can do.”

    -Phil

  76. Dear Jason,
    Fantastic & informative post.Congratulations on completing the first anniversary.You inspire a lot of people including me.You have already survived a year & you will definitely survive 100 more years-don’t worry about that.Reading your blog has made me to view capital markets in a totally different way.A human being can survive on dividends alone-wow that’s good news for most of us.Keep up the good work.Our blessings are always with you.

  77. Robert,

    Thanks so much. It’s been a wild year, but a lot of fun as well. I took some risks and some didn’t work out that great (the move back home, for instance). But, by and large, I’m truly pleased with the way things turned out. Working for myself is great. I found out I’m a pretty good boss! 🙂

    Appreciate the support. Looking forward to another great year for all of us.

    Cheers.

  78. Mrs. FW,

    Absolutely. I think it’s absolutely important to use that “running from” to motivate you toward what you’re “running to”. The grass isn’t always greener on the other side, but I can say with 100% certainty that in this case it is. Like I mentioned above, working for yourself is great. You have the potential to be your best boss. 🙂

    Excited to see you guys transition to that homestead. Just imagine where you’ll be in five years. Life will be very different, I imagine.

    Best wishes!

  79. Mike,

    Thanks so much. Hope you really enjoyed it and found a lot of inspiration here. I always say it, but it’s true – if I can do it, anyone can. The only one that’s really holding you back is you. I’ve really found that to be the case. 🙂

    Lots more to come. Stay in touch!

    Best regards.

  80. Spoonman,

    Thank you. Yeah, it definitely took guts. Especially since the online income hadn’t really turned the corner when I left the dealership. But I just knew that if I gave it the “Jason treatment” and focused 100% on it, amazing things would happen. I had that confidence because I know that, deep down, we’re all capable of amazing things.

    “Hopefully our numbers will grow and make the investing world a little more rational.”

    Couldn’t agree more or hope for more. I think we have a pretty good shot at it! 🙂

    Cheers.

  81. Geblin,

    Ha! I should have had some kind of frugal celebration, but I really didn’t. Claudia ordered me pizza on my birthday, so I guess that counts. 🙂

    Thanks for all the support. You have a great weekend over there as well!

    Best wishes.

  82. Dee,

    I’m doing my best to show what’s possible. There’s so much opportunity out there, truly. It’s out there for the taking because I believe so few people reach out for it. But it’s there.

    Thanks for dropping by! Have a great weekend.

    Take care.

  83. Bert,

    Indeed. Life’s just too short to be unhappy. I put up with the grind until I just couldn’t anymore. And there was no way I could continue doing that and the blog here, so I chose the path that I thought I would enjoy the most. The fact that I’ve been able to make a decent living at it is just icing on an already delicious cake. But I think if you do something you really love, the money will follow. Especially if you’re a driven person.

    Appreciate all the support. And congrats on your blogiversary over there!

    Cheers.

  84. Phil,

    It’s a huge change in mindset to go from that “Why not?” to the “What if?” But it’s incredibly liberating and exciting when that shift in perspective occurs. 🙂

    I agree 100% with that quote. I’ve never heard that before, but that’s kind of my mantra these days. Playing it safe would have meant staying on at the dealership. But that was really the riskiest play of all if the end goal is to maximize happiness.

    Thanks for stopping by!

    Best regards.

  85. Venkatesh,

    Thank you very much. Appreciate it! 🙂

    I only aim to inspire. I’m not selling anything here other than hope and inspiration. Financial independence is actually out there waiting for us. And there’s a future you already enjoying it. The you of today just has to make the right moves and bridge that gap in time.

    Stay in touch. Lots more content to come!

    Best wishes.

  86. Great article, Jason. I can definitely relate to the stress and need to leave your job. My blog details my feelings about working in retail banking (or retail ANYTHING) and I’m……less than enthused. Just like you said, unhappy customers (my latest post goes into that), mystery shops (my big source of stress this week), mountains of policies and procedures, walking the tightrope between making customers happy and following policy and regulation, and so on and so forth. I definitely would love to leave the stress of work behind and focus on my blog and any other online ventures as my full time job.

    I view my dividend income as my vehicle for financial freedom, but that vehicle needs fuel. Right now, it runs on this cheap fuel that’s hard to fill the tank with: job income. I’m hoping to convert the vehicle over to this awesome premium fuel: online income. Hopefully, my online income will grow (or start in the first place) and replace my job income as the fuel for my vehicle to financial freedom, my dividend income.

    I feel the same about working as you do. I can’t even imagine still doing this at 45, let alone 65. It’s very depressing to be in a job that you don’t like with no end in sight, but your blog proves that anyone can rise up and get themselves out of that situation. And in a relatively short amount of time.

    Keep up the great writing, the great investing, and the all in all great work.

    Sincerely,
    ARB–Angry Retail Banker

  87. First, congrads! Second, I love the way you write your articles and am so glad that I discovered your site. Keep doing wonderful and being creative. You have inspired me to start my passive income snowball and to know that in 10 years with consistency I can retire early and focus on something else. Thanks and keep up the great work! Also, congrads on getting married!

  88. Hi Jason,

    Enjoying the ride is of most importance as the ride could end anytime. I don’t enjoy my ride as much as I would like to for now because I still need to do sacrifices to amass enough capital to have a security net large enough for my own tastes but being able to see the light at the end of the tunnel, knowing that 4 or 5 years from now there will be a handful of opportunities to seize to change my life for the better sure helps. Seing you who’s been able to achieve relative freedom so fast is inspiring too.

    Great job buddy. I keep talking about you around me. You’re a role model for all of us.

  89. Jason,

    This is my first comment, so I’d like to start by saying thank you for sharing your story on your path to financial independence. I’ve only followed you for a couple of months but it’s been really inspiring to see how your mindshift has changed between now and posts from a couple of years ago. I believe you said that you thought you’d never make $100,000 in a year but I think it’s almost certain that you will now based on the momentum you’ve accumulated and the values you apply to your work here at Dividend Mantra.

    I recently left a job myself and am also very passionate about frugal living and building income-generating assets to increase the various currencies (money, time, mobility, etc.) in my life. I’m starting a website (http://www.notjuststocks.com) where people can discuss an array of investing options and develop a collective wisdom about them. One service I plan to mention on my site is Covestor. (http://site.covestor.com/become-a-manager) The reason I bring it up here is because I think you may be able to personally take advantage of one of their offerings. Covestor is essentially Twitter for investing. You can follow, for a fee, one or more “Fund Managers” and the trades they make in their brokerage account(s) get replicated to your own. In short you could become a “Fund Manager” and re-create your Freedom Fund on the Covestor platform. This would open up a new stream of revenue to you and give people a way to automate taking advantage of the research and diligence you bring to the table with your dividend stock picks.

    Phew! That was longer than I thought it would be. Anyway thanks again for continuing to produce amazing content. I hope you find my tip useful and regardless I look forward to learning from the next chapter of your story.

    Cheers,

    David

  90. Np. One aspect that I enjoy about your journey is that you don’t shun spending time with loved ones in order to make more money. You probably could make more money than you do already but nothing is depressing than someone who “makes it” at the cost of their marriage and relationships with their relatives, friends, and neighbors.

    There was this popular blogger who sold his personal finance blog for seven figures, and then a couple of years later he got divorced from his wife. In fact he admits to it in an interview that blogging success cost him his marriage. It seems that he and his wife are still friends but it was just depressing to hear.

    After having two of my aunts die in 2013 within a month of each other and then having my step-dad die in 2014, it made me appreciate the people in my life and want to hold on to them. I don’t like it when people see others as expendable, it really bothers me. I think it’s really important for people to see that you don’t have to sacrifice your relationships for financial independence.

  91. ARB,

    “…walking the tightrope between making customers happy and following policy and regulation…”

    I feel you there. I remember all too often trying to make sure customers were happy but having to keep regulation and policy in mind at the same time. It was always so difficult to know when to go far enough but not too far. Now I get the opportunity to go as far as I’d like to, which is pretty far. I’m not constrained by anyone else when I’m my own boss. 🙂

    You’re on the right path, though. The hardest part about all of this is just having the right mindset so as to actually start. That’s what trips up most of society, in my view. Once you’ve “taken the red pill”, you’re on your way to enlightenment and freedom. You’ll get there. Just keep at it.

    Keep in mind as well that every day is that much more freedom. Move yourself far enough along that spectrum and you can break free!

    Best wishes.

  92. Sukina,

    Thank you. Very kind of you. Really appreciate the support and readership! 🙂

    I write to inspire, so I’m incredibly glad that you’ve found a lot of value in the content and you’re on your own path. That’s why I do what I do.

    Keep at it!

    Take care.

  93. Allan,

    You see the light at the end of the tunnel, which is wonderful. I think that’s a lot more than most can claim. 🙂

    I got to where I always wanted to be a lot faster than I ever thought was possible. And I think that just shows the potential and power of this strategy. Not being completely free isn’t the same as not being partially free, and you’re more free today than you were yesterday if you’re making the right moves. Stick with it!

    Thanks for all the support.

    Best wishes.

  94. David,

    Thanks for the kind words. Really appreciate it. I do my best to create great content and provide value. I feel like the community has given me a lot, and so I do my best to give back equally so.

    That’s an interesting service over there. Thanks for the suggestion. I’m not sure that’s really for me in the sense that I’m not real keen on the idea of people blindly following anything I do or say without their own thought process/due diligence, and I’m also not real enthusiastic about charging a fee on top of it. I’m more interested in empowering others. It’s kind of like the old adage about teaching a man to fish rather than giving him fish. Interesting idea/concept, nonetheless.

    I wish you much luck with your new blog. Blogging is really tough and time consuming, but it’s also uniquely and richly rewarding. 🙂

    Thanks for dropping by. Have a great weekend!

    Best regards.

  95. Hi Jason,

    FIrst, Happy belated Birthday.

    You got me so on fire. The first time I sent you a comment, I was at $994.00 (on my mini-pension of $12,000k per year) and with some shift out of IRA Money Market CDs (yes, I know it was a false safety net) to IRA brokerage and I have only invest half so far (waiting on a downturn to invest more) and I have already increased my dividend income to $2477.34 so I already feel it was the best move, considering that CD only netted me roughly $400.00 per year $1483.34 and I still have 1/2 to invest. So glad I found your site from 1500days. I would have been happy reaching $1000.00 this 1st year and now I have double it and its just May.

  96. Lila,

    Yeah, I think I know who you’re talking about there. I wasn’t aware how much the blogging activities were tied to the relationship breaking down, but that’s unfortunate.

    I’ve certainly had my own surprises/setbacks in terms of relationships, though mine haven’t been tied to blogging. I faced resentment from family members for my own financial success, which is quite disappointing. But I’m reminded of the Dr. Seuss quote: “Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.” I will always remain true to myself and what I want out of life, even if those who are supposed to matter the most mind.

    I can only say that blogging has been overwhelmingly positive for me. It’s a shame if/when success brings about the worse in others, but I think the benefits of said success (in terms of personal happiness) far outweigh the negatives. And those who really care about you will only be supportive anyway. If you do see relationships tend to suffer a bit, then maybe that’s a sign that certain people aren’t who you thought they were. Food for thought. 🙂

    Best regards!

  97. Michele,

    That’s awesome progress you’re making over there. You’re already seeing a massive increase in your passive income, but just imagine what’s still yet possible. 🙂

    As long as you can deal with the market’s volatility and keep your eye on the long term, you should do well with that transition.

    Keep it up over there. Wishing you nothing but more success!

    Best regards.

  98. DM its great to see your wonderful progression over the years, inspiring us along the way! I am glad you are doing what you love and being good at it. Although I’m still at a full-time job, I just purchased rental house 4 with cash and I am already to the point where I can quit should I choose. I’m finally at the point where I can make a big push for the dividend-generating portfolio to take off!

  99. DM,

    You’ve had a banner year both professionally and personally. Keep the momentum building as yours has been an interesting story to follow.

    – Ryan from GRB

  100. jason,

    Thank you so much. I’m in a great spot. I’ve worked hard, got a little lucky, and made the most of opportunities when they were there. I’m just trying to make sure that I’m a better person today than I was yesterday.

    Sounds like you’re in an amazing spot as well over there! Being in a position to purchase a property like that in cash that will likely send you a lot of cash flow… that’s just awesome. 🙂

    Keep at it. I think you’ll find that you’ll move up that spectrum of freedom quicker than you thought possible.

    Best wishes!

  101. GRB,

    It’s been a great year on pretty much all fronts. Doing my best to keep it rolling! 🙂

    Let’s both kill it over the coming 52 weeks!

    Cheers.

  102. DH,

    Definitely. Maximize your happiness, however that’s done. Being happy is what it all comes down to. 🙂

    Thanks for dropping by. You have a great weekend as well.

    Cheers.

  103. Mantra,

    Wow… Can’t believe it’s been one year. Phenomenal. You hit it on all the right quotes/comments that – doing what you love with pure passion and heart – will provide many rewards to you. I know I’m a culprit for sacrificing happiness for it to come at some point in the future. The heck am I doing?! I work in public accounting and there are things I love and don’t love. If I stay – shouldn’t I be doing more of what I love here than what I don’t? Shouldn’t I try to build around what I do get joy out of while I’m here?

    And guess what – if I can’t do that under the chains of being an employee – then I should just wave good bye to them, then. Agreed? It is not worth it if I cannot be captivated at my place of my employer, period.

    Thanks Mantra, posts like these rev up the engines. Hope you have a great weekend, talk soon!

    -Lanny

  104. Congratulations on hitting that one year! You took the plunge to leave your job and through perseverance and focus, it is paying off and continues to provide inspiration to many!

  105. PIM,

    Appreciate it. Hope to never feel the weight of those shackles again. 🙂

    We’re getting there one day at a time. I just know that many of us will be sitting atop that mountain one day, and probably sooner than we might think.

    Keep climbing!

    Cheers.

  106. Lanny,

    Well, that job we don’t love is often necessary to build up the capital and courage necessary to make the leap. And every month you save 50%+ of your income and invest it, you’re that much closer to being able to make that leap. 🙂

    Appreciate the support. I’m so fortunate to be in a position to inspire.

    Keep at it, bud. You’re getting there!

    Best regards.

  107. weenie,

    Thank you very much. Really appreciate it! 🙂

    I’ve received a ton of support from the community over the years. Doing my best to give back via the best content I can put together.

    Can’t wait to see where we’re all at a year from now. Every day is an opportunity to become better versions of ourselves and get that much closer to where we want to be.

    Keep it up!

    Best wishes.

  108. Mark,

    Thanks so much, man. It’s been a crazy year in a lot of regards. Looking forward to even more hard work and more progress. 🙂

    Can’t wait to see what’s possible for all of us in the future. You’re killing it over there. Keep it up!

    Cheers.

  109. Wow, I remember vividly when you had announced it. You’ve had a busy year since, with moving back home, then back to Florida, getting married, a new e-book…been following you on this fantastic journey of yours and I applaud your every achievement. Keep it up Jason, you inspire many people out there, including myself!

    Happy 1-year anniversary of not punching a time clock. 🙂

    Best wishes for continued success my friend. AFFJ

  110. I am building my portfolio including David Fish’s Dividend Champions, Contenders and Challengers list.

    I have my eagle eye on it, for changes.

    700+ are there to buy, I want them all, with the following strategy. The rule of 72 in a 700+ stock matrix.

    Step 1. Buy all 700+ stocks, only 1 share.
    Step 2. Buy all 700+ stocks, 6, 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, 72 shares.
    Step 3. Rinse and repeat step 2, until 72 shares for all 700+ stocks. Then full stop.

    2800 dividend checks a year. 🙂 Winter is coming.

    I am confused with your goals, I am still working, throwing all I can to this monster, not for myself, but for my daughter.

    I am concerning myself with only one essential thing: to set my daughter absolutely free.

  111. AFFJ,

    Thanks so much. So glad to have you as a reader, coming along for this journey. It’s so much fun and I just love sharing everything I learn so as to help and inspire others.

    Looking forward to sharing, helping, and inspiring even more in the future. 🙂

    We’re all in this together, right? We’re all after freedom. And we’re freeing ourselves one day at a time. Wishing you all the same for continued success!

    Best regards.

  112. zerohedge,

    I personally wouldn’t want to own all 700 stocks on that list. I’ve run into quite a few that are growing quite slowly and have offered poor returns over the last five or ten years, with equally poor prospects moving forward.

    That said, I wish you nothing but the best of luck with your goal there. Very admirable. Your daughter will surely be grateful for your hard work and foresight. 🙂

    Take care!

  113. Jason! congrats on a great year and thanks for sharing. I am sure your story is inspiring and will inspire lots of people, who still just in process of waking up from “slavery” at works they hate.

    The other day I had a conversation with my 14 y.o. son. He likes fishing and marine biology a lot but he was telling me that he probably will need to find some other career because he needs to “make lots of money”. So I had to tell him how it’s so much nicer to do something you really enjoy doing and it doesn’t matter if you don’t get paid much. Then lucky for me, we were watching “50 first dates” because he likes movies with Adam Sandler and here I had another piece of conversation because the guy in the movie was actually in marine biology. so I made another parallel. 🙂

    So couple of days after all our conversations about the importance of doing things you really like vs “making big money” my son told me that he wants to work as a Marine Biologist and live in Hawaii and in the mean time fix and resell dirt bikes… 🙂 My mission is accomplished for now…

  114. Hi Zero,
    Can you explain why you have decided to follow this particular plan? Projections? Where have you read about this approach?

    How are you going to buy the shares when accounting for commissions? Just pay the commission each time, for each one share?

    Thank you and good luck!!

  115. As you correctly said the way to Top of the mountain is not straight :)….It has been a wonderful journey with many key events….wishing you loads of luck all along the journey!!!

    You have been a great source of inspiration to all of us!!! And your blog is so helpful that I simply pass on your website for all new who are new 2 DGI

  116. DM,

    Thanks for the reply back. You’re right – saving 50%+ so far every month this year is going to help aid in the “close” of doing something we don’t love/or more specifically what I don’t love haha. If only I made $120K and saved more than 50% of that… haha would make it a whole heck of a lot easier! Joking, joking. All the very best DM!

    -Lanny

  117. Definitely my favourite post of yours, your writing has improved so much over the last while. Congrats on all you’ve achieved this year, your future is looking very bright.

    How does the work feel to you? Does it feel like you’re working harder than ever but it’s a pleasure, or does it feel like it isn’t really work at all?

    I’m waiting to join your ranks. My living costs are covered by dividend and website income, but the day job pays well and I absolutely love 50% of it. It’s the 50% I loathe that keeps me thinking of pulling the plug, but I’m trying to hang in there until I can live on either dividend income or website income and save the rest.

    That said, I’m a growth investor, so my dividends would support me if I went for a dividend portfolio, it’s just tough to do in South Africa where we have an uncertain economy for the next few years.

  118. Happy,

    That’s an awesome story there. So glad your son “gets it”. I truly hope he follows through on that and chases his dreams. It’s so sad to see people just kind of give up on their dreams and just go through life in a haze. I’m sure he can not only really love what he does, but also probably end up making a pretty decent living at it. Like I mentioned, I’ve found that doing something you enjoy can surprise you in terms of monetary rewards because others pick up on your enthusiasm. The money comes back around to those that create a lot of value, especially when they do so in a very enthusiastic manner that’s quite productive.

    Keep up the journey to becoming more happy, healthy, and wealthy… for you and your son. 🙂

    Cheers!

  119. Shankar,

    Thank you. Really appreciate the support. Hope those that find the site through your recommendation enjoy it and pass it along as well. I’m just trying to inspire, so it’s a huge reward for me to inspire even more people in the future.

    Let’s continue to make the most of 2015. So much opportunity out there. While that journey to the top isn’t straight, it’s those zigs and zags (and even some of the setbacks) that make it all the more delightful and educational. We learn from it all!

    Best regards.

  120. Patrick,

    Thanks. Really appreciate that. I’ve grown as a writer, but I would hope so with about 1,000 articles under my belt. If not, I’m doing something wrong. 🙂

    This is probably my favorite piece yet. I think I probably could have cut this into three or four posts and really expanded on a few key points, but it’s pretty nice to have it all together in one article.

    That’s a good question there in regards to the work. I wouldn’t say I’m working harder than ever, but I would say I’m working harder than I anticipated or harder than some people might think is required. That said, I do really enjoy most of it.

    Best of luck with your journey over there. I know how you feel in regards to the 50/50 split. I probably felt something similar when I first started my career, but that split over time became more along the lines of 95% loathing and 5% enjoyment. I hope you can continue that even split for as long as you need to, until you’re ready to make that leap to the other side. 🙂

    Thanks for dropping by!

    Best regards.

  121. I must admit you made a great step one year ago – and brave one. I am not that brave to make a step like that. I want some security in income and my investments, trading, or blog advertising do not provide it as of yet. I can’t imagine myself stepping out knowing I am not there yet like you did. But apparently, it worked well for you, so big congrats from me and hopefully next year will be even better.
    You are definitely at a point where you work for yourself, what you want to do and when you want to do it and not when you must. and that is a big step towards the FF. And to achieve this at 32-ish of age? Wonderful! What an achievement! I wish I could rewind some years of my life and start doing some things differently. Well, I try to teach my daughters at least to make the right financial decisions.
    Good luck man! And Congrats again!

  122. Martin,

    Hey, this isn’t for everyone. Making a big move like this really does take some guts, but it’s also not necessary. I’d still be on the path to financial independence even if I stayed on at the dealership. So it wasn’t necessary to make this move. But it was something that I felt I had to do – there was an opportunity there that I felt I couldn’t pass up.

    But this isn’t a call to entrepreneurship. It’s rather a call to maximize happiness. And sometimes that’s maximized where you’re already at. 🙂

    Thanks for all the support. And I hope your journey positively affects your daughters over there.

    Take care!

  123. Hey Jason,

    Great article. I’ve been reading your blog for several months and it has helped give me direction on my own journey. I’ve recently started my own blog, inspired in large part by what you’ve done. Hopefully with some elbow grease I’ll be able to turn it into something!

    Best

  124. Your statement “This journey – and all that I write about – isn’t about the money. It’s about freedom and flexibility” really hits the nail on the head! It is not about getting rich from investing or whatever, it is about making the most of the time we have on this planet while we’re here, and the money is helpful but not the goal itself. Money just buys freedom and time.

    I recently quit my job myself recently (still have to go to work for some time, but the countdown is running) and looking forward to what comes after.

  125. Fantastic job!! One can only experience true living once you become financially independent. Until then, you need to do what it takes to eat. Even is at times it is not fun.

    Keep up the great work!

  126. superspyguy,

    I wish you nothing but the best of luck with the blog. I find blogging to be a really rewarding platform, but it’s also a lot of work. Some people jump into blogging for the money, which is the really wrong way to think about it. But if you’re in it to help others by keeping yourself accountable, then I think it’s a great outlet.

    Cheers!

  127. Pete,

    Indeed. This isn’t about money at all. It’s about the time/freedom/flexibility/options that the money buys, which in turns brings about profound happiness. 🙂

    Best of luck with the new move over there. That’s very, very exciting. People thought I was a little crazy giving up a job that was sending me a healthy paycheck, but those are people that only see the world in terms of money. Once you start to see the world in terms of taking on projects that maximize your joy, your whole perspective changes. Have fun!

    Best wishes.

  128. NNL,

    Yeah, I’m still very aggressively pursuing financial independence. But I don’t think one needs to be completely free to enjoy much of the reward. I’m now living life much as I would be if I were FI due to the ability to leverage my position on the spectrum there. It takes a shift in perspective to realize that you don’t need to be completely free to enjoy much of what freedom can offer. Once you’re in a position to take a leap and try on things that bring about happiness, the battle is mostly won. And then, certainly, the climb becomes a lot easier and more enjoyable. 🙂

    Take care!

  129. DGI,

    Thanks so much. It’s been a really incredible year. There were a lot of doubters out there telling me how difficult it is to make money online or how fickle online income can be, but I continue to prove that opportunities are out there for those willing to work hard and believe in themselves. 🙂

    Can’t wait to see where all of this is in another five years!

    Cheers.

  130. Time really flies whether you’re having fun or not. 🙂 Life is what we make of it.
    Congratulation on the increased online income. That’s fantastic.
    Keep at it.
    Best, – Joe

  131. Joe,

    Life is indeed what we make of it. And I think every day is an opportunity to make it that much better. 🙂

    Thanks for stopping by. Let’s make the next year wonderful!

    Best regards.

  132. Loved this post, possibly the best one so far! You have such an amazing story and reading it these past few years has been such a pleasure. Keep doing what you love and I’ll be eagerly reading!

  133. Ryan,

    Thanks so much. I tried to put something pretty special together here. And I think it really shows what’s possible when you believe in yourself, set yourself up with a nice safety net, and have the courage to take that leap. 🙂

    Appreciate all the support. Keep up the great work over there. Your safety net is becoming larger and larger every day!

    Best regards.

  134. It’s very inspirational to be sure. But It often seems to come back to being blessed enough with finding a high paying job in the first place (luck). One of my good friends is a service writer and he is desperately trying to escape it. 60k a year is incredibly hard to find and far from modest in today economic environment (60% of the workforce makes 35k or under, this includes many college educated), even more so for the formally “uneducated”.

    Anecdotes don’t change the cold hard facts and data on that. Clearly though, everything you’ve done is a big accomplishment, it wasn’t handed to you, and you deserve kudos for that (sincerely). Also, as someone who has made money via adsense (me), I can tell you, it’s an immensely hard thing to make a consistent living doing in the current search environment google has made with it’s algorithm updates. A lot changed from 2008 when I started to when nearly everyone I know lost there online business because of these changes.

    It takes immense traffic to pull it off, and a profitable niche (finance/money being one of the biggest and most profitable). I think the additional advice should be “how to get a high paying job asap, and without a degree”. Not so simple anymore…..

  135. CTguitarguy,

    I would say luck plays a role in a lot of things we do. Not getting hit by a bus involves some degree of luck (and watching where you’re going). But landing a high-paying job also involves a little bit of fortitude on one’s part, which seems to be lacking across our society. Jobs at McDonald’s are meant for those in high school, not those in their 40s. But there’s this defeatist/lazy attitude I see a lot, which means there’s all this competition for low-paying jobs and a lack of competition for high-paying jobs. As far as being a service advisor, I started out a bit under $30k, but worked hard and that played out in my income/expense reports. Nobody handed me anything. Those who expect to be handed things will likely do poorly in life and then complain about it.

    It’s the same thing with blogging. Few blogs make it more than a year or two. If people expect to write some articles and the money to just pour in, they’re crazy. I made almost no money from blogging for my first two years or so. But I did it for the love of sharing, inspiring, and learning. And here I am more than four years in still pouring my heart into it and working incredibly hard. Go into anything with the wrong attitude and disappointment will likely follow.

    As far as high-paying jobs with no degree necessary, here you go:

    http://www.mrmoneymustache.com/2013/07/25/50-jobs-over-50000-without-a-degree-part-1/

    http://www.mrmoneymustache.com/2013/08/05/50-jobs-over-50000-without-a-degree-part-2/

    The only problem is that some of those jobs require “hard work” and they probably won’t come knocking on your door. You have to go out and apply and do stuff. And some people don’t like that.

    Hope that helps. 🙂

    Cheers!

  136. Hey Jason,

    kudos for the journey you already travelled so far! I hope you can stay free. Keep on writing these articles. They are an inspiration for other people. They make us think and question our next step.

  137. Interesting story Jason and I am somewhat in the same position as you a year ago, having recently given up my job to take on full time trading/investing. I actually came across your site while looking for inspiration for my own blog – seems like the whole blog writing thing works in well for those with a little extra time on their hands!

    Was probably the perfect time for you to give it a go, what with dividend stocks around the globe going through an amazing period, aided by ZIRP policies around the globe. I’ve actually recently written an article on my own blog about it. I’m big on market cycles and dividend stocks have definitely been the place to be over the past 5 years. Just make sure you keep an eye on things for the day the global macro situation changes – I imagine some of those yield plays are going to come under significant pressure.

    Keep up the good work, and I look forward to following your blog.

  138. Sam,

    Thanks for stopping by!

    Yeah, blogging/writing has been good to me. But I find that most things in life follow that same story if you work hard and have a lot of passion for it. 🙂

    I’m actually not concerned over rising rates or any other macroeconomic issues. In fact, I wish stocks (especially dividend growth stocks) would have taken a beating a while ago. Those who think I’m glad to have seen the market rise so much over the last few years are incorrect; the rising market has been a hindrance to my progress. Cheaper stocks give way to higher yields, which provides more dividend income. And it’s that dividend income that will be buying my freedom. The market over the last two or three years has actually been challenging for me. But there’s no challenge I’m not willing to take on.

    Best of luck with the new path. Sounds like a lot of fun!

    Cheers.

  139. Hi Jason,

    I’m delighted that your online income has shot up so much. (If you remember we exchanged emails & I encouraged you to do it). Anyway, that’s fantastic news! Here are a couple of things for you to think about:

    1) Start investing in an IRA if you haven’t already done that – I recall your justification for the taxable account was because you expected your after retirement income to be lower so you calculated your dividend income would be at 15%. I have a prediction – you will be making even more money than now after you turn 40 doing what you love to do so you really should give a Roth IRA serious consideration.

    2) Rather than ploughing more $$ into the stock market when valuations are so high, why don’t you consider diversifying into a completely different asset class – namely Real Estate. If I were you, I would take advantage of the super low rates to lock in a mortgage & get into a duplex where your family lives in one side and you rent out the other side. By the time you retire in 8 yrs or so, I bet the rent from the one unit would pay your mortgage in full. You would accomplish some very important things: 1) reduce your expenses even further 2) have someone else (tenant) pay your mortgage for you and 3) utilize leverage to build wealth. 4) diversify your income sources further (online income, dividend income & rental income).

    I truly believe such a strategy would strengthen your finances even more so I hope you give it serious consideration.

    Best wishes.

    Emma

  140. Emma,

    Thanks so much for the encouragement. Much appreciated. It’s been a really wonderful year. And now being able to make a pretty good living doing what I love – well, it’s amazing.

    Those are great suggestions. I’m still not particularly interested in a Roth. Maxing one out for the next seven years would still be a relatively low portion of my overall wealth. And I’m not so sure I’ll be blogging until I’m 50 or something. Don’t get me wrong. I love writing. But I can also potentially foresee a time when I’m burned out on it. So I still want to achieve financial independence as fast as possible. Then, if I want to continue writing, that’s fantastic. I’d rather have a tax problem than a revenue problem. But to pigeonhole myself into having to write for years to come because I’ve got capital locked away in various retirement accounts would be a mistake, in my view.

    As far as real estate, I agree that a duplex is one of the best ways to go. And I happen to believe that, when applied correctly, real estate can potentially provide for better returns than stocks. Depends on the local market, the stocks in question, and everything else. But it’s a pretty attractive asset class. That said, I have zero desire to be a landlord or own a rental property. That might mean I’m leaving some money on the table, and that’s okay by me. I’m not after the largest sum of money before I’m dead. I’m after freedom. And freedom from dealing with properties and the various inherent issues is certainly part of that. I may want to travel one day, and I like the fact that dividend income follows you wherever you go, without having to worry about keeping up on buildings/tenants or dealing with management companies.

    Thanks so much for stopping by. Stay in touch!

    Best wishes.

  141. Got it – you have considered the options & decided they don’t fit your goals/desires & that is good. Please know that my comment was well intentioned although it sounds presumptuous.

  142. Jason,

    I appreciate the warm wishes. I’m really excited to share what I know with more people and to continue to learn from them as well.

    I agree that as a platform Covestor isn’t perfect. I’d be a hypocrite if I were to wholeheartedly praise the service with one breath and then extoll the virtue of cutting investing costs as much as possible with the next. I hope and expect to see a greater variety of services like Covestor in the future with more competitive and flexible fee structures, but for now it does serve a purpose for a subset of investors.

    Many individuals strongly dislike the details of researching and vetting investments but would still like to participate and achieve a reasonable rate of return on their money. One of my favorite high school teachers told me “do what you do best and outsource the rest” and I feel it applies to the investor profile described above. (Think personal opportunity cost) Teach a man to fish? I agree completely. But if he can earn 2x, 5x or 10x the money making paintings then I wouldn’t fault him for putting down the fishing pole and picking up a paint brush 😛

    Anyway I want to end by saying that I enjoyed reading your response to my comment and the posts you’ve written since. Thank you for allowing for and facilitating such a useful dialogue in your comments!

    David

  143. Congratulations on your early early retirement! I have been reading your blog for quite a while now, and it is very inspiring. Keep up the great work. I always look forward to reading your posts, I check back in daily!

  144. Mr. RB35,

    Thanks so much! Appreciate the support and readership very much. 🙂

    I’m not technically retired early, though it’s probably about as close as one gets without passive income covering 100%+ of expenses. I still “work” really hard, but it doesn’t much feel like work. At least, not like work in the traditional sense. I’m really fortunate.

    Freedom is definitely out there. And I’m so glad I took the opportunity to document it.

    Let’s keep climbing that mountain!

    Best regards.

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