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.
In fact, people do it all the time, and you don’t need to win the lottery to do it.
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
It’s “bad” to be selfish, right? Not necessarily.
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. Put yourself first, always.
I call this healthy selfishness.
Follow your passion
Ever heard the phrase, “Follow your passion”? Chances are you have, and it’s the worst piece of financial advice I’ve ever heard.
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
Just blend in, right? Never question anything and just do what you’re told.
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”
Saying “No” is a superpower, they say. But guess what? It’s hard to work with people who constantly say no, and when that happens, you’re in trouble.
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
Never give up, right?!? Stick with it. Keep charting the course.
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. Your plans should never prevent you from taking the more efficient route
You gotta hustle 24/7
You gotta keep hustling, right? Keep going. Work hard!
Break it: Hard work is fine. Smart work is great. 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
Don’t stick your head out until you’re 100% ready. In other words, just sit there and wait.
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
Never cut in line. Your time will come, right? Right?
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
Never dive in head first. Don’t get in over your head. Don’t challenge yourself, then?
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
Chances are you’ve heard the phrase, “Nice guys finish last,” right? It’s a lie.
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
You gotta watch the news to “stay informed.” Otherwise, how will you know what’s going on?
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?
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.
