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    Home»Trending»Retire Young: The 11 Unconventional Rules I Shattered to Quit Working by 35
    Trending

    Retire Young: The 11 Unconventional Rules I Shattered to Quit Working by 35

    Steve AdcockBy Steve AdcockDecember 10, 20234 Mins Read
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    Dreaming of saying goodbye to your job before you hit 40? Imagine spending your days doing what you love, free from the 9-to-5 grind. It might sound like a fantasy, but it’s possible.

    This journey isn’t about luck or saving every penny; it’s about breaking the rules and rewriting the playbook on retirement. From rethinking money to reshaping your daily life, discover how shattering 11 unconventional rules helped someone quit working at 35.

    Selfishness is bad

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    Break it: Airlines already know this. Your oxygen mask first, then your neighbor’s. Taking care of *yourself* first (health, money, and self-care) puts you in a better position to help others. I call this healthy selfishness.

    Follow your passion

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    Break it: Passions don’t pay the bills. Passions are more creative. Strengths are more analytical and useful. Follow your strengths. Leave your passions for the weekend after earning a much bigger paycheck.

    Never rock the boat

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    Break it: I spent a career rocking the boat. It got me opportunities I would never have gotten. Be professional. Rocking the boat isn’t about being a jerk. It’s about being a trendsetter. Finding a better path. If something sucks, SAY SO.

    Control your time by saying “No”

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    Break it: Say yes to everything, then double down on what works. Then, ditch everything else.

    Yes = growth.

    No = missed opportunities.

    Try 10 things. Say yes to the one or two that work best.

    Never abandon the plan

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    Break it: Plans are meant to be broken. If blindly followed, plans are a net negative. Life doesn’t care about your plans. It doesn’t care what you want. When you need to pivot, don’t hesitate. Do it.

    You gotta hustle 24/7

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    Break it: Hustle during the day, and relax in the evening. Burnout won’t help us achieve goals. Television is okay. Sports are okay. Sitcoms are fine. Use them to unwind. But don’t let them overtake your life.

    Strike when the time is right

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    Break it: Strike. We’re not fighting a war here. Waiting for the right time means we’ll be waiting forever. Want to

    • start a business?
    • take a trip to Europe?
    • begin a fitness program?

    Guess what? The right time is NOW.

    Wait your turn

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    Break it: Unless you’re a 10-year-old kid, this doesn’t work in real life. Getting rich isn’t a single-file line. Instead, it’s a crowd of people finding that “secret passage.” Heck with the line. Don’t wait your turn. Step up. Because it’s *always* your turn.

    Only accept what you can handle

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    Break it: One Friday, I got promoted to two layers of management in a single day. I had no idea what I was doing. I was said yes anyway. I figured it out as I went. I began a *lucrative* career trajectory because I got in over my head.

    Nice guys finish last, so be a jerk

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    Break it: Nice guys get more opportunities than jerks, period. People wanted to work with me because I was a nice guy. I got promotions. Raises. Opportunities… …that jerks in the office never got.

    Watch the news to stay informed

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    Break it: Watching the news has the opposite effect. It makes you more fearful, pessimistic, and blind to the realities of life. Limit exposure to the news. I never watch the news and have never felt happier.

    Want To Be A Millionaire?

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    To become a millionaire, you don’t need a high salary (though it helps).

    Adopt millionaire habits like investing, controlling expenses, and focusing on your health. Never forget that investments in yourself always pay the best dividends.

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    Previous ArticleBreaking the Retirement Rules: 13 Steps to Ensure You Can Retire Anytime You Want, Even Before 60
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    Steve Adcock
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    Steve Adcock quit his job after achieving financial independence at 35 and writes about the habits millionaires use to build wealth and get into the best shape of their lives. As a regular contributor to The Ladders, CBS MarketWatch, and CNBC, Steve maintains a rare and exclusive voice as a career expert, consistently offering actionable counseling to thousands of readers who want to level up their lives, careers, and freedom. Steve lives in a 100% off-grid solar home in the middle of the Arizona desert and writes on his own website at MillionaireHabits.us.

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