Glad you've had fun and made money, Tim. I'm not there yet but I see what you mean. Several years ago, I stopped checking my investment account every day and it felt liberating. Needless to say, it's in the positive territory.
Good morning Tim (9:10AM EST - 12/5/2023). I'm a long-time reader of yours but today I had to offer a few comments:
1. You had a substantial base of subscribers when you shifted your personal focus. You certainly did not take this approach when you only had 1,000 subscribers. Perhaps, the better wisdom is that "enough can in fact be enough."
2. Warren Buffett loves to read financial statements and, when he does, he sees things that are opaque to others. It reminds me of Michael Jordan who, after scoring 60+ points at Madison Square Garden one night, supposedly said "Some nights, the basket just looks really big to me." Buffett worked long and hard for many years before he could spend his time leisurely reading financial statements.
3. Scott Galloway suggests that people should find a way to excel at something that has value to others -- i.e., a service or product for which others are willing to pay. This is exactly what you have done. The fact that you can now do it in less time is a statement of excellence AND reprioritization.
4. Having fun is nice but creating value IN YOURSELF for which others are willing to pay (ideally a lot) may in fact be a better guide to happiness.
I really enjoyed this article and I also really appreciate your comment. "have fun be fun" is one of my core values and I subscribe to a great extent what Tim has written.
But you're right. Fact is if someone stopped earning to try a new venture and was using a savings runway, they'd be foolish to not be looking at the numbers. And if someone throws away all observance of progress to embrace just having fun, then they may suddenly and painfully stop having fun at some point and not have much ground beneath their feet at that point.
But I do think you have to take Tim's message in context and apply some common sense of not becoming a careless fun fanatic.
The reminder I get from reading the article and then your post is actually this. Find and seize as much fun as possible wherever and whenever you can. After all, it could all be over any second.
Indeed. That's what I did and I've never once looked back! Yet I do believe in people and also believe that the vast majority have good intentions even if I don't partake in their particular words of advice.
Powerful mindset! I left my job 12 months ago and I’m trying to mold this lifestyle design mindset myself, Tim. Easy to chase things because others say we should...but if it makes you miserable, it’s not worth it
That's great that you have been able to live in the moment and enjoy the time with your little girl this year! Time with our kids is priceless, and much more important than the pressure just to grind. Plus, you can write more interesting stuff if you are doing more interesting stuff. Thanks for the tips.
So much YES to everything in this article. By choosing to live the life of our passions we magnetize abundance to ourselves and grow the network of people that we are really meant to spend time with. Taking the time to slow down and really hear our deep WHY....what makes us really happy, what feeds our soul...will give us true answers that make much more sense than the false world matrix that wants to keep us anxious, stressed, and always wanting to consume more and more. Although I'm not where I want to be on the money front yet, it's inspiring to hear that mindset-wise I'm on the path. Thanks for the inspiration Tim.
The Question is this, what would you feel like if you hadn't achieved this level of success?
Would you have been confident in writing this?
It's easy to dismiss somethings when you are at the top.
Time and season governs the natural world and what's important is that you do the best you can with the best of your abilities at a given time with happiness and joy.
I think life is simple when we take this approach and allow everything else fall into place
Go Tim, nice one. It is good when you can do things just for fun and because you enjoy them. Life is too short for anything else. I am doing that with my writing but also have that full time job to keep paying the bills.
Thank you Tim. Thank you for transparency. It doesn’t matter how many subscribers you have, you worked hard to get here. This is an inspiration and motivation to do what you love and have fun with it. It’s difficult to leave a 9-5 unless you really are having fun. I went back to a 9-5 because bills piled up. I’m also fairly new with writing online and running an online business. However, I absolutely have fun and look forward to networking with my audience and others. I’ll be dropping a newsletter over the next week and I’m excited to take things to the next level. It’s not about the money because as long as there’s fun in what is done, money will come. Congratulations on your baby. I’m blessed that my 9-5 is remote so I’m able to be home with my 5 year old and work. I enjoy writing and will be writing more on Substack. Thank you for an eye opener today, Tim.
Oh, so true! I'm thrilled for you, your wife and daughter and equally thrilled for all the people you reach. I did exactly as you did (walk out on the corporate gig with all its seemingly "priceless" perks) in exchange for a life of "time." An old friend just sent me a holiday message that says it all for me: "Suz, sure hope you're still living your self-declared life: 'When she was alive, she lived!' "
This felt light to read! And came at the same time as my realisation that I don’t really care either way how most things work out. I’ll add hope as also worthy of effort and pursuit.
Well said. Living in the moment and not worrying too much about the future and achieving our goals is indeed important for our overall wellbeing and actual long-term success.
Hi Tim, I enjoyed this post. This resonates with the art of letting go and thinking out of abundance, a practice in the law of attraction and assumption. You described feeling light and nothing to lose as you focus on what was fun/enjoyable and matters (your daughter). Your happiness and positive outlook on life attracts more beautiful things. Time and again, I'm reminded with how abundant life is.
I will share with you that my days have the color of nights and I was in hate/assault vet and police officer mode. I hated everyone and everything, but I don't hate you - today. That's good I guess.
Glad you've had fun and made money, Tim. I'm not there yet but I see what you mean. Several years ago, I stopped checking my investment account every day and it felt liberating. Needless to say, it's in the positive territory.
Sure is Denis. Checking investment accounts is an addiction.
Good morning Tim (9:10AM EST - 12/5/2023). I'm a long-time reader of yours but today I had to offer a few comments:
1. You had a substantial base of subscribers when you shifted your personal focus. You certainly did not take this approach when you only had 1,000 subscribers. Perhaps, the better wisdom is that "enough can in fact be enough."
2. Warren Buffett loves to read financial statements and, when he does, he sees things that are opaque to others. It reminds me of Michael Jordan who, after scoring 60+ points at Madison Square Garden one night, supposedly said "Some nights, the basket just looks really big to me." Buffett worked long and hard for many years before he could spend his time leisurely reading financial statements.
3. Scott Galloway suggests that people should find a way to excel at something that has value to others -- i.e., a service or product for which others are willing to pay. This is exactly what you have done. The fact that you can now do it in less time is a statement of excellence AND reprioritization.
4. Having fun is nice but creating value IN YOURSELF for which others are willing to pay (ideally a lot) may in fact be a better guide to happiness.
I really enjoyed this article and I also really appreciate your comment. "have fun be fun" is one of my core values and I subscribe to a great extent what Tim has written.
But you're right. Fact is if someone stopped earning to try a new venture and was using a savings runway, they'd be foolish to not be looking at the numbers. And if someone throws away all observance of progress to embrace just having fun, then they may suddenly and painfully stop having fun at some point and not have much ground beneath their feet at that point.
But I do think you have to take Tim's message in context and apply some common sense of not becoming a careless fun fanatic.
The reminder I get from reading the article and then your post is actually this. Find and seize as much fun as possible wherever and whenever you can. After all, it could all be over any second.
Dev, I like your thinking.
90% of people are full of shit. Why not trust our gut instinct and do what gives us joy and energy?
Indeed. That's what I did and I've never once looked back! Yet I do believe in people and also believe that the vast majority have good intentions even if I don't partake in their particular words of advice.
Powerful mindset! I left my job 12 months ago and I’m trying to mold this lifestyle design mindset myself, Tim. Easy to chase things because others say we should...but if it makes you miserable, it’s not worth it
Amen, Anthony, Amen & Happy Holidays!
I enjoy myself my family, my music, my writing, my Qigong. It doesn't feel like work.
And ain't your life sweet! Bless you & your family this holiday season.
Writing on Substack is fun.
That's great that you have been able to live in the moment and enjoy the time with your little girl this year! Time with our kids is priceless, and much more important than the pressure just to grind. Plus, you can write more interesting stuff if you are doing more interesting stuff. Thanks for the tips.
So much YES to everything in this article. By choosing to live the life of our passions we magnetize abundance to ourselves and grow the network of people that we are really meant to spend time with. Taking the time to slow down and really hear our deep WHY....what makes us really happy, what feeds our soul...will give us true answers that make much more sense than the false world matrix that wants to keep us anxious, stressed, and always wanting to consume more and more. Although I'm not where I want to be on the money front yet, it's inspiring to hear that mindset-wise I'm on the path. Thanks for the inspiration Tim.
Amen, Jena. Happy Holidays & Far Beyond!
The Question is this, what would you feel like if you hadn't achieved this level of success?
Would you have been confident in writing this?
It's easy to dismiss somethings when you are at the top.
Time and season governs the natural world and what's important is that you do the best you can with the best of your abilities at a given time with happiness and joy.
I think life is simple when we take this approach and allow everything else fall into place
Go Tim, nice one. It is good when you can do things just for fun and because you enjoy them. Life is too short for anything else. I am doing that with my writing but also have that full time job to keep paying the bills.
Thank you Tim. Thank you for transparency. It doesn’t matter how many subscribers you have, you worked hard to get here. This is an inspiration and motivation to do what you love and have fun with it. It’s difficult to leave a 9-5 unless you really are having fun. I went back to a 9-5 because bills piled up. I’m also fairly new with writing online and running an online business. However, I absolutely have fun and look forward to networking with my audience and others. I’ll be dropping a newsletter over the next week and I’m excited to take things to the next level. It’s not about the money because as long as there’s fun in what is done, money will come. Congratulations on your baby. I’m blessed that my 9-5 is remote so I’m able to be home with my 5 year old and work. I enjoy writing and will be writing more on Substack. Thank you for an eye opener today, Tim.
Oh, so true! I'm thrilled for you, your wife and daughter and equally thrilled for all the people you reach. I did exactly as you did (walk out on the corporate gig with all its seemingly "priceless" perks) in exchange for a life of "time." An old friend just sent me a holiday message that says it all for me: "Suz, sure hope you're still living your self-declared life: 'When she was alive, she lived!' "
This felt light to read! And came at the same time as my realisation that I don’t really care either way how most things work out. I’ll add hope as also worthy of effort and pursuit.
Well said. Living in the moment and not worrying too much about the future and achieving our goals is indeed important for our overall wellbeing and actual long-term success.
Amen and I love the name "Writes Reform the System." So true, too.
Hi Tim, I enjoyed this post. This resonates with the art of letting go and thinking out of abundance, a practice in the law of attraction and assumption. You described feeling light and nothing to lose as you focus on what was fun/enjoyable and matters (your daughter). Your happiness and positive outlook on life attracts more beautiful things. Time and again, I'm reminded with how abundant life is.
Thanks for sharing!
I will share with you that my days have the color of nights and I was in hate/assault vet and police officer mode. I hated everyone and everything, but I don't hate you - today. That's good I guess.
Good read. No negative comments.
Go make some easy feel good money.