Living a Great Lifestyle Now, Instead of Waiting for Retirement
Unless you make a conscious decision otherwise, when you enter the traditional work force you also accept the default life plan.
Instead of waiting to become rich or retired, why not live the life you want to now?
The default life plan assumes you’ll work full time for 30-40 years taking weekends and a couple of weeks off per year until you eventually retire. Upon retirement, you’ll then stop working altogether and blissfully spend your golden years relaxing or traveling or doing whatever else you really want to do with your life. This is commonly called the “deferred-life” plan.
In the New Economy, you have the chance to create your own life plan. Instead of waiting to become rich or retired, why not live the life you want to now?
This doesn’t mean you won’t be working in the New Economy, but maybe you’ll work less, or do something you love, or work from exotic places. Maybe you’ll take months off every year. Who will stop you from doing what you want to? Your creativity and the realities of your business are the only things holding you back. You’re no longer beholden to face-time, useless meetings, working hours, commuting and limited vacation time.
There is a movement building around these concepts known as Lifestyle Design, which was made popular by Tim Ferriss in the book “The 4-Hour Workweek.” Google “Lifestyle Design” and you’ll find an amazing wealth of resources produced by people working to live the good life now instead of waiting to become rich or retired.
Life doesn’t have to be so damn hard. It really doesn’t. Most people, my past self included, have spent too much time convincing themselves that life has to be hard, a resignation to 9-to-5 drudgery in exchange for (sometimes) relaxing weekends and the occasional keep-it-short-or-get-fired vacation.
Tim Ferriss, The 4-Hour Workweek
