This is one of the biggest misconceptions in the world today, one that until relatively recently I bought into as well. You basically calculate how much money you need, your work your ass off and hopefully get it, and then you happily retire and never work a day in your life ever again. And live happily ever after. Right?
Wrong.
Let me give you a a personal story. I was on a team retreat in Malta last week with the guys from the Hustler Marketing management board (aka the “That’s what she said” bunch). We actually worked most of the time, but Sunday was supposed to be an off day. It was also sunny, so we canceled the morning strategy and went on a boat tour to the islands of Gozo and Comino, where this picture was taken too (the Blue Lagoon).
It’s really difficult to describe how amazing that day was. Chilling on the top of the boat, chill music, wind in the hair, sunny as hell. Surrounded with a bunch of amazing people that share the crazy goal of creating something truly extraordinary…
And the most amazing thing was the beauty. The blue color of that water was on a different level. It’s like some special exotic blue that you normally only see in the movies. The small little streets with beige small houses with a horizon of blue sky… It’s easy to just get lost in all that beauty. It takes the words away, it takes the breath away… You’re just there, in silence, fully present.
I think this can be compared to a religious experience, or a strong high. Although I don’t really experiment with drugs, neither am I practicing any religion.
It went on for hours an hours. We took a speedboat to the blue caves, we had a delicious lunch, there was an open bar, more cool cities, caverns, castles, beauty… It was overwhelming.
In the early evening, as the trip was finishing, two things happened.
One was the feeling of the sweet pain, when you know that something beautiful is coming to an end. Like a too brief encounter of a lover that you know you’ll never see again. A moment so magical that you know it cannot be replicated.
The other was the feeling of overflowing, the feeling of “it’s too much”. There was too much beauty. I became numb to it. The blue almost became boring, it was enough. I couldn’t just chill anymore.
In fact, when we came home, I busted out a 2h office hours session, and it was super productive. I didn’t HAVE to do it, I wanted to. And sure, maybe I’m a little weird that way, but trust me on this one thing:
Just chilling and traveling the world for the sake of seeking pleasure will quickly become boring. Many people try, and very few are happy with it. That’s why retirement sucks. “You’ve worked so hard, and now just do nothing.” People literally rot when they retire.
So don’t seek to “get successful” so you never have to work a day in your life again.
Rather find some work or a mission that will challenge you. And get enough time off and fun along the way to balance that crazy drive out with the chill.
That’s the real recipe for success.
P.S.
If you want to be a part of a company where people give a sheet and that allows you to work online and have some fun along the way, check out Hustler Marketing or get in touch with Olin, we’ll start hiring soon. Direction is growth. And memes. Always memes.
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