I’ve often compromised my freedom for money,
but I’d like to solve that dilemma, now.
Not sure I can, but I’ll try.
10th Episode: “Money”.
I love to be free and not go to work, but freedom doesn’t pay much (and I HATE being broke).
On the other end, working in an office ensures the comfort of a payroll, but if you put me on a 9 to 5 for too long, I go insane like a lab rat.
I need to do something about that Money VS Freedom problem. Being more creative will help, but a lot of work as well.
Screw it, I’m nearly forty and I’m questioning the fundamentals again.
Money: the controlling force
So far, I’ve dealt with money using two radical strategies:
– Taking whatever job is available, just for the money (that includes scrubbing factories floors with Chlorhydric acid, which is extremely exciting, I recommend that).
OR
– Dropping out of Babylon and focusing on meaningful choices for NO money (being a Buddhist Monk or a conscientious objector, for instance)
To summarize: I either had a job or had a life. Never had both at the same time.
That’s what being an adult means, I thought, everybody is, more or less trapped in this equation.
Until a brilliant insight occurred to me 6 months ago:
Do I really need to SUFFER A LOT to deserve an income?
Why not make money doing something I like?
And here I am. I made that step, doing what I like BUT now:
I’m without a house and going broke.
Staying ambitious
So, let me recap the initial idea: getting paid for what I like to do.
What I like to do is: travel the world, learn about spiritualities and people and countries.
I want to write about all that and pay the bills that way.
I would use my blog as a communication channel, and books.
Maybe it’s unrealistic, but how would I know if I don’t try?
BTW, For those who wonder how to make money with a blog, I suggest you check this article.
And for those who wonder how to make money writing a book, well, I guess talking shit
Ok, I’m not crazy, though, I know that it’s not going to happen overnight. I have a plan B to pay the bills before I’m a famous and highly respected writer.
Salesman
I sell software development services for a French company.
Been doing that for four years, and lately I decided to go virtual:
No office
No hours
I can work wherever I want, it doesn’t matter. I hardly ever see my customers.
Don’t believe that great professional opportunity grew overnight, like a Mushroom. I earned it by working office hours (and more) for four years.
I’ve started closing my first contracts this way, so far so good. But it’s still not enough yet.
Here comes the critical period, the time when I’m going to see if bankruptcy or enlightenment are at the end of the road, here’s a glimpse of my current financial status.
Right now: the financial gauge
Until a month ago, I’ve lived on a lump of money, partly saved, partly borrowed.
But as I’m writing those lines, my checking account looks as hollow as a GOP opening speech.
At this stage, I don’t know if my plan will work.
This whole thing could leave me dry and humiliated.
Yet, for some reason, I’m not really scared and I enjoy the experience of financial bungee jumping.
At the very worst, I’ve had months of fun, a lot of it :)
I hope to give you good news over the next weeks.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrUB0g8Vjgg
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