Road to Somewhere: Your Two Options

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You have two options in life, and you can either pay your dues, a double charge at times, and work toward your own dream, or work really hard working for someone else's dream.

In life, we have the power of choice, and many of us make the wrong choice and go work for someone else.

Worse yet, making the choice to work for someone else and to help them reach their dreams has given us the respect of our friends and family.

My own dad wants nothing more than for me to do this. "You can get a raise each year, a 401(k), benefits, and best yet, job security. And after thirty to thirty-five years, you can retire. You're set for life.

"Look at everything your brother and cousin are doing. They got good jobs, benefits, and a company there to take care of them."

And don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with taking this route, but what many of our parents, friends, and families fail to understand is their way, the normal way, the easy way out, isn't always for everyone.

We're Creators

I hesitate to call us just affiliate marketers, because we're so much more than that; we're creators, and for that, we're blog owners.

Some of us have our own products to sell, as I do on one of my sites, while affiliate marketing on other sites. Also, we have ads on our sites as well, providing us another income stream.

But how do we drive traffic?

We're creators.

Creators of content on a niche we're passionate about.

And in the long run, that beats punching a timeclock and working eight to twelve hours at a Dreaded Day Job (DDJ).

We're talented in ways that doesn't involve droning in a monotonous job for someone else unless that job happens to be your passion.

Again, if that's the case, feel free to ignore this article.

But since you're here and the title of the post likely caught your eye, I'm guessing you're not interested in toiling away in obscurity for pointless company goals where the CEO has zero idea you even work for that company.

And don't get me wrong, I'm cool with my current day job, but I told my parents it's not something I'm doing forever.

Again, while my mother was supportive my dad immediately resorted to his usual negativity, doing all he can to make me look and feel stupid about myself and that what I want in life is nothing more than a fantasy.

Of course, the successful members on here can prove him wrong in two seconds, but he's the type of person who will deny fact even if fact is right in front of his eyes. The self-righteousness and ethnocentrism he displays at times is downright demoralizing.

But again, the ignorant can be ignorant, as again, we're creators of content. Maybe our dreams won't happen overnight, no one's dream will.

Trust the Process

Stallone faced homelessness. Simon Cowell was bankrupt at thirty-two. Ditto for Curves International founder Gavy Heavin, who lost his fortune at age thirty.

The trio listed above found success in their thirties.

They could've easily have given up, worked for someone else, wore someone else's brand, and become another drone.

But they believed in themselves and all exceeded even their harshest critic's wildest expectations.

It took them all time. It will take you time. It will take me time.

We'll have our ups and downs. Sometimes we'll have a streak of ups and a streak of downs.

It's life.

But don't think for a single second that just because those around you are earning respect from their friends and families by punching a timeclock and working a normal job for pay, benefits, and a company shoulder to lean on means we all should.

Sure, it entices people to give up on their dreams. 90 to 95% of people we know are like this.

But the 5-10% of us who aren't, who are stubborn and smart enough to continue fighting for our dreams, we're unique.

You're unique.

If you're here, reading this article, putting the time in day in and day out, your success is on the way.

The secret is to persevere. Continue to work toward your dreams. Put every waking second of your downtime into it.

And you will build your own dreams. You will choose the right path.

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Recent Comments

14

You will be "retired" and traveling the world, signing your own paycheck when your brothers and cousins are trying to figure out how much social security they are gonna get.
I retired at 46 over 11 years ago and have not had one regret. WA can take you anywhere you decide to go.
Best of luck in all your MMO adventures.

Mark

Very true! I've seen a little success here and there already and I can't wait to see what the future holds here!!

Indeed never give up to follow your dreams.
I make a choice 18 years ago to move to Asia didn't want to work in a job I don't like. Now when I look back only did work one year in a job that in the end was not my thing (shiny objects) for the rest only create opportunities and make money with activities I like to do and best of all work for myself.

Thanks for sharing a great post

Have a great day
Tommy

Big welcome! That's a very interesting story, too!!

Todd,
This is one of the best blog posts I have read, wow,
heartfelt truth rings through it and I for one am not
giving up on this dream I have had for years!
Yes, my family looks at me like I am from outer-
space and crazy but I do not care.
Am I really a write - no - this is the first time in my life
I have ever attempted to write anything (other than
homework from school). But I will continue until
I am good enough and get ranked and start bringing
in the profits.
Thank you for sharing this is great :)
Susan

Thanks a bunch! It seems most of our families crave for us to follow the so-called "conventional way" that always sells us short of realizing our true potential. Our way might be the long way, but it's the right way; the right view. Often, the long view is the right view.

Todd,
I know one thing this is the road I choose to travel
if they support it or not I will continue on my way :)
Glad to see you are doing the same.
Susan

Great thinking, Todd, I agreed on the only way to succeed to achieve your goals, is to stay determined, build your confidence, work hard, believe in your dreams, be enough stubborn, and be patient the key to win.
Great positive post.
Jacqueline

Always stay determined and there's always a huge confidence boost when we see little bits and pieces of success; it makes us continue to want more. And yes, definitely be stubborn, which I've always been!!

I'd rather live on fresh air than work for someone else Todd :)
Good on you for believing and working hard on your own business
One day your Father might look differently however if not, who cares as it's his loss and your gain
Grow large and be awesome
Vicki

Definite! All I've learned while working for someone else is to sacrifice my own dreams for another individual's or company's. And what's worse is when I showed that I wasn't too interested in helping for a company's goals, I was frowned upon as selfish. Kind of sad, but if we all followed our own dreams, the world would be a much happier place.

Their selfish desires Todd, certainly not yours
Everyone should work for themselves- the world would be so different if this happened
Go well
Vicki

We have had a global meltdown in the way we educate and encourage our young people about what/it means to strive for their goals in any positive fashion for more than a century and it will take time to overcome that obstacle. Hold onto your dreams and you will persevere.
Jerry

Definite! And I agree, we've had a huge global meltdown in education and encouragement; I could write a book on such a meltdown.

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