Truly overwhelmed and humbled with the amazing response we got for the post "For God's sake, follow your dreams". It made it to the Number 2 spot on Hacker News earlier today. Really glad to see it touched a
few chords. Thank you all!
Now some comments on that post and also at hacker news requested a "reality check". So, I wanted to clarify a few things -
Firstly, the sole take away intended for that post was that "one must never give up on their dreams". I am not oblivious to the fact that people have commitments, have other priorities, are at different stages of their lives etc and not everybody can drop the safety net and take the plunge. I totally respect that. In fact I did reflect upon this in the post here -
"Now, I understand, diving in full time isn't always an option for everybody, but that shouldn't deter us from at least starting to move in the right direction. Take baby steps I say, if you can't afford drastic measures, but for God's sake don't kill your dreams."
You have kids, I understand. It's not easy with a family, I understand that. You can't quit your job because you have mortgage etc, I understand that as well. But, I feel, that shouldn't stop us from taking small steps and keep moving. Standing still is moving backwards. Crawl, if you must. Keep 'em alive. Don't let 'em die. There's no right or wrong way of following your dreams. There's just one rule though - "You must play the game"
Coming back to the example of the "aspiring animator" I quoted, I cannot fathom what's keeping him from taking a short course, reading stuff online, tutorials, ebooks or whatever his schedule allows. We can and probably always should find some "learning time" for ourselves that takes us towards our goals. No time for that? I hate to say this, you might end up living some one else's life (hint: your boss).
Secondly, following your dreams has nothing to do with money or staring a business. In fact, if earning more money is your dream, God help you! It can never be your passion and it's never going to give you long term happiness. If, however, giving quality time to your family is your dream, more power to you. Go for it. I never said - starting or growing a business should be your sole goal.
I don't know how successful I would be at my goals, but one thing's for sure, I won't have any regrets either.
Again, you may agree with me or you may hate it, and I respect that. What I am truly happy about is that it's touched people. It's made them stop and think. The fact that they are writing 500 word comments, tells me that it did :)
Thank you again for all the comments and we at Rootein wish you luck reaching out those dreams!
Don't forget to check out our awesome habit building app at http://rootein.com :)
Now some comments on that post and also at hacker news requested a "reality check". So, I wanted to clarify a few things -
Firstly, the sole take away intended for that post was that "one must never give up on their dreams". I am not oblivious to the fact that people have commitments, have other priorities, are at different stages of their lives etc and not everybody can drop the safety net and take the plunge. I totally respect that. In fact I did reflect upon this in the post here -
"Now, I understand, diving in full time isn't always an option for everybody, but that shouldn't deter us from at least starting to move in the right direction. Take baby steps I say, if you can't afford drastic measures, but for God's sake don't kill your dreams."
You have kids, I understand. It's not easy with a family, I understand that. You can't quit your job because you have mortgage etc, I understand that as well. But, I feel, that shouldn't stop us from taking small steps and keep moving. Standing still is moving backwards. Crawl, if you must. Keep 'em alive. Don't let 'em die. There's no right or wrong way of following your dreams. There's just one rule though - "You must play the game"
Coming back to the example of the "aspiring animator" I quoted, I cannot fathom what's keeping him from taking a short course, reading stuff online, tutorials, ebooks or whatever his schedule allows. We can and probably always should find some "learning time" for ourselves that takes us towards our goals. No time for that? I hate to say this, you might end up living some one else's life (hint: your boss).
Secondly, following your dreams has nothing to do with money or staring a business. In fact, if earning more money is your dream, God help you! It can never be your passion and it's never going to give you long term happiness. If, however, giving quality time to your family is your dream, more power to you. Go for it. I never said - starting or growing a business should be your sole goal.
I don't know how successful I would be at my goals, but one thing's for sure, I won't have any regrets either.
Again, you may agree with me or you may hate it, and I respect that. What I am truly happy about is that it's touched people. It's made them stop and think. The fact that they are writing 500 word comments, tells me that it did :)
Thank you again for all the comments and we at Rootein wish you luck reaching out those dreams!
Don't forget to check out our awesome habit building app at http://rootein.com :)
Perfect timing for me to read "For God's sake, follow your dreams" and it's update. I'm 25 and I was falling into the paycheck safety... It's been great having someone out there stating it is ok to take risks. You can be sure I will go back to this articles everytime I try to lose the path. So, Thanks!
I just took 6 months off from work and many people are saying, "I wish I could do that!". It took 10 years to get in a position to do so. Sure you have 2 kids, mortgage, etc etc. So, if having sufficient cash-flow is what is holding you back, then:
1) start cutting expenses - you don't _really_ need cable tv, etc. Used cars are cheaper. Etc etc
2) find an opportunity to trade your big mortgage in for a smaller one. Where you live and the size/cost are choices you can make.
3) start saving money to a special savings account that nothing can pull from, nothing!
4) stop borrowing money. Pay it all off and only buy what you can afford (house mortgage is one reasonable exception - but buy less than the bankers say you can "afford"
Might take 5 or 10 years to save up enough/reduce costs enough to take off the 6 months to explore your ddream, but at least you are moving towards it.
Well Said, Too bloody right we should never forget our dreams "Standing still is moving backwards. Crawl, if you must." - I can't agree more!
my son put a link to the blog on facebook, i am hoping it was meant that he accepts that at 60 i am risking it all, i bought a building and have opened a store/gallery and its do, or, whoops, hopefully not die. i will make it or go well not quite broke, but lets just say a small pension is not the best, but better than not having tried. i have never in my life done a job that i have hated, didn't make much money, buy have enjoyed the trip. so if i drop dead from the stress, lol, i was at least moving forward all the time, and the best thing is that since i have done what i love, i am not a grouchy person and have great relationships with my kids. thats the best !
I love your material, keep it coming!
lol Rebecca, excellent.....a small pension anticipation so rather than wait for that you try 'just one more thing' ;-) and most importantly, you're not grouchy and have good relationships.
Myself at 51 have no kids, no great relationships, no employment for years already and since climbing into the stockmarket in August 2007, no more 20 years savings either. Nevertheless I'm basically happy and keep an open mind, eyes and ears; it ain't over till it's over and one just never knows what is around the corner.
When I dream, I'm asleep, and when I'm awake I'm usually content. Life is/can be good and I'm happy to be here.
Go well all, am now off to check out Rootein. Good chord playing Amit.
lol Rebecca, excellent.....a small pension anticipation so rather than wait for that you try 'just one more thing' ;-) and most importantly, you're not grouchy and have good relationships.
Myself at 51 have no kids, no great relationships, no employment for years already and since climbing into the stockmarket in August 2007, no more 20 years savings either. Nevertheless I'm basically happy and keep an open mind, eyes and ears; it ain't over till it's over and one just never knows what is around the corner.
When I dream, I'm asleep, and when I'm awake I'm usually content. Life is/can be good and I'm happy to be here.
Go well all, am now off to check out Rootein. Good chord playing Amit.
I'm rebecca's son, derek. Yes, I accept that you're taking risks. I think it's important for people to keep pushing themselves, and growing. I'm glad you are. I worry about you, but that's natural... I'm glad you're happy and that we have a good relationship :)
Its all about MONEY. I think people on earth agree on that.
It is most definitely NOT all about money, and all people on earth do not agree on that. It is about happiness. Many people mistakenly believe that money & things they purgcase will bring them happiness, but it won't. Google "science of happiness".
I want to discuss on this interesting topic, purely for the sake of science.
It is not ALL about money, let me clarify myself. "ALL" is big word, I shouldn't use it. Let's look at it this way.
QUOTE "following your dreams has nothing to do with money or staring a business."
Has nothing to do with money = never about money.
And that is what I couldn't agree on. It is NOT ALL ABOUT, but is ALWAYS SOMEHOW RELATED.
and it is heavily depends on what dream you have.
Let say if you dream is sitting there and doing nothing -> nothing to do with money.
If you want to have a nice trip to Paris with your family -> money
Let your kids go to school -> money
and so on and so forth.
Did you use money to buy the machine that you are using to discuss matter and read blogs? if that has something to do with you dream -> about money.
maybe 90%, not all about.
Tell me about your opinion.
Cheers Derek, thanks for the thought. I ám in a dip of sorts atm. but hey...... them's the breaks sometimes, we all have our ups and downs and they are usually -allways is such a long time- solvable.
Don't really feel that I took a risk, merely wanted something else/more in order to cover my future [ a silly notion actually, when you really come to think of it as there's nothing like living in the present, yet it's not that simple nor silly]
Your mom's good for doing what she's doing, and you're cool for 'linking it' to facebook; and posting here.
I'm glad that we're glad, what's wrong with that ;-)
Go well both of you
and other readers too
ps. excuse the long ramble, here's some more :)
I SO agree it's all about habits
I kicked mine -cigarettes - 5 or so years ago, on my own / with that Allen Carr book.
[won't mention it was a month struggle and then a year bliss, as I picked them up again 'through circumstances']
Am in the dips due to relational troubles with [x?] girlfriend doing harddrugs/medication and that's what's 'killing me' atm.
Got to be real wary of not getting pulled down that same road, reckon myself to be savvy and basically happy enough to not let that happen and knowing that thát would really hit my life and change me slowly yet drastically for the worse.
So I won't, a simple decision. I have a few basic regrets and intend to keep it that way ;-)
Wish me good speed on remaining sensible; sometimes we can use all the support we can get, and nothing wrong with that.
Habits are hard to break.....
yet as simple as flicking the switch.
Deciding to flick the switch is half the battle.
Myself, have had no switch to flick re. my situation with girlfriend [except for letting her go and getting on with her own '''life'''] and not yet quite prepared to do that, yet know I have to remain wary. Cheers.
ps. Maxi.....it's all about LIFE, how you perceive it, and living.
d
So Ive read some amazing comments and it seems the majority of people with families and careers are speaking the absolute truth about persuing their dreams. But i have to say, something brought you to this blog, something in you still has that dream kept alive inside, or else why stop by this blog?
Now I can already sense the comments of its impossible with my current situation, my resposiblities, family etc..You are absolutely correct, your family should always come first, without question. But what about this, what if you left your self a half hour a day to think about new dreams, things you never even considered before. Only these new dreams would apply to your current situation, your current lifestyle.
I dont care if your the brady bunch, you can't tell me that you do not have 15min-1/2 hour per day to just think for yourself as to what you would love to do. Your dreams that you had since you were a kid may not even be relevant anymore, sometimes you miss the boat. But thats ok! The beauty of life is dreams are like a faucet, they never stop. You can't tell me that you only want to do one thing. Take a little time each day and ask yourself what can I do, with the little time I have and still persue a passion. i garuntee you will be pleasently surprised about what you come up with.
Yes life happens, and you have family and career, I get it. But, the happier you are, the happier your family is. Maybe you thought about doing yoga before, or boxing, or writing, or doing photography. Whatever, its not the idea of persuing a dream for profit. That can always come if you do something with passion. How happy would you be, just doing something for yourself for a short time every day. you will be more relaxed, look and feel younger, and your family and your company will thank you for it. Life is not set in stone and one dimentional.
Just sit relax, and ask yourself what would be real cool that I could do for myself and still maintain my rsponsibilities. I garuntee and answer, and the rest is up to you. Good luck making it happen.
p.s any negative feedback to this I automatically disagree with you, because Ive seen this technique work with families with two working parents and 4 kids, and bills out the you know what.
Peace