Building Your Career Around Your Lifestyle
There is a belief in our society that people should work hard for their entire lives, sacrifice themselves in order to earn a living, and then, when they have stored up enough money, they can live the life they want.
This belief is the cause for much of our unhappiness, dissatisfaction, and pain.
The truth is that people who design their career around their wanted lifestyle, rather than the other way around, actually work harder, make more money, have more opportunity, are more well-liked, and have more fulfilling careers.
When you build your career around your lifestyle, you will not only be happier, but also more successful.
But the opportunity to live that dream life exists now, regardless of what profession or industry you are a part of.
Without knowing what you want, you can never get it. In order to have your ideal lifestyle, you first need to know what it looks like. Therefore, begin by doing what Tim Ferriss calls “Dreamcasting.”
Make a list of the things that are important to you to have in your life.
Write down what each thing will cost monthly, and be liberal on the expense side.
When you have calculated what you need each month, then you know how much is required to live your ideal lifestyle. From there, you can begin to build the income streams necessary for this to become a reality.
Making Your Dreams a Reality
If you’re wondering how to begin designing your career around your lifestyle, start by identifying whether or not your current job is something that you want to continue. If it is, then ask yourself some questions:
- Is it possible to work remotely?
- Can you reduce your hours?
- Is it possible to work on a pay-per-performance model?
If your job is not something you want to continue, then it’s time to start looking for alternative income streams. Whether you keep your job or leave it, there are plenty of alternative sources of income that you can tap into.
You could:
- Start an online business
- Sell physical products on eBay
- Build affiliate websites
- Build audiences and sell to them
- Sell crafts on Etsy
Other more traditional and reliable sources of income include:
- Dividend paying stocks
- Real estate investments
- Automated businesses
Dream Big
My life is paid for by my investments and my mostly passive online businesses. I work only to fulfill my mission of bringing the freedom movement into the mainstream. This frees me up to not only live out my purpose, but also to live the type of life that I want. As a result, I earn more, do more, and am more because of the freedom that I have.
My lifestyle of freedom extends to my customers and my employees, and their lives are better as a result. All of our employees work remotely, whether that’s from home or a coffee shop. Our employees are encouraged to travel, to explore the world, to be with their families, and to contribute in whatever way they can to the success of our customers.
Whether you hate your job, love it, or simply want a change, this lifestyle is possible for everyone — from entrepreneurs to the curious.
Focus on what is important to you.
What will make you happier, more productive, and more creative? What will benefit everyone involved in your personal and business life? Your career should be built on the lifestyle you want — not the other way around.
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Written on 2/15/2013 by Ryan Moran. Ryan Moran is an entrepreneur, writer, traveler, comedian, and overall cool dude. Ryan prides himself on inspiring, educating, and empowering people to have the freedom to live extraordinary lives. To discover the eight steps to controlling your personal economy, watch a free video series at www.FreedomFormula8.com. You can also discover more about Ryan at his personal blog, www.RyansReview.com | Photo Credit: Bryan |
