“The best day of your life is the one on which you decide your life is your own. No apologies or excuses. No one to lean on, rely on, or blame. The gift is yours- it is an amazing journey- an you alone are responsible for the quality of it. This is the day your life really begins.” –Bob Moawad
A few months ago I made the ultimate decision to leave my job. Correction, I made the decision to leave everything I had trained myself to do career wise.
However, during my tenure at my position something inside of me changed. I grew tired of working for other people, disheartened by how people acted in my industry, and most importantly deferring the life I wanted to live all in the pursuit of chasing money. An entrepreneurial spirit emerged and I listened to my instinct and followed it.
The catalyst for me leaving was my father passing away unexpectedly and so suddenly. The 24 years I spent with him on this plane of life seemed so short and regretted the time I could have spent with him but didn’t. While I think about it everyday, my dad’s ascension into pure spirit was one of the Universe’s biggest lessons to me- The only axiom of mortal life that hold’s true is that you will die. It’s a morbidly beautiful truth. So what is the point of waiting? Our time here is so short and we take life for granted like we will live forever. That tomorrow, next week, next year will give us the big opportunity to LIVE like we wanted to. It’s all a creation of your mind that traditional educational systems, the media, and societal conditioning has helped foster. They teach a linear lifestyle where if you go to school (A), then get a job (B), save up some money (C) you get to do what you want to do (D): A+B+C=D. The equation should be called slow death. In order to live an extraordinary life, you have to think, believe, and act way above the ordinary.
A few months after my dad passed away I took a trip to Bermuda where I met up with some old college buddies and had time to do some serious thinking. It was there I finished reading a book called, “Harmonic Wealth” by James Arthur Ray where a message hit me deep inside: In order to manifest the lifestyle I want to live, I had to become the person entitled that lifestyle. I remember sitting on the beach alone, looking out towards the clear blue ocean and thinking to myself: “What am I waiting for? Do I work my ass off in a high stress environment so I can take a one and a half week vacation and experience this just to go back to an office.” So the deeper question became, who would I have to become and what would I have to do to create the lifestyle of my dreams? I had read too much, listened to too many audio programs, made too many lists, and thought too much on what I should or shouldn’t be doing. While it is important to learn and plan, knowledge without action is worthless. The gift of life experience my mentors, family, and friends gave me were useless. All the knowledge I gained from college, internships, books, audio programs, DVDs meant nothing. They all meant nothing because I put no action behind it.
I came back State side inspired by wanting to change- mentally, spiritually, and physically. I started taking massive action- hired a personal trainer, incorporated my own business, found a therapist, sought out alternative health practitioners. For a few months, I stopped reading and listening to audio programs and even took a break from listening to the news. I just followed my intuition of what I felt was right. Most importantly, I took full responsibility for my present condition. I accepted responsibility all the stress, all my anger, all my pain in how disappointed I was in my life was my fault. I stopped blaming others and situations. I embraced what the present moment offered me and recognized the same moment which offers pain and anger can also offer change. It was only me who stood in the way of changing my condition.
Somewhere along the line I found Tim Ferris’ “The Four Hour Work Week”. It blew my mind of what was possible and how things should be. I tried implementing it immediately in my work life, but it wasn’t meant to be. So I had to make the ultimate decision, (A) continue to work, chase the money, and defer my life so I can do the things I want later on or (B) create something that would support the experiences I wanted to bring into my life. It was a tough decision and I consulted mentors, family, and friends on it. In the end I chose the latter option- even though some of the people I respect the most told me to go with Option A. I’ve now partnered with a long time mentor and now business partner to find out a way to make Option B work. I plan on using this as a vehicle to help document what works and what doesn’t and more importantly help others learn along the way.
If I was 30 I don’t think I honestly could have made this decision. I’d be too invested in my career not to be able to step away. I’m blessed to have this opportunity, to unplug and reset.
