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All good stuff to know. Thanks! > Especially this notion of "I don't have a an idea". There's a simple answer to that. Make that your intention, make it your j

All good stuff to know. Thanks! > Especially this notion of "I don't have a an idea". There's a simple answer to that. Make that your intention, make it your job to get an idea. Yeah, I've tried that. I've read "48 days" and got stuck at the point it says "what do you want to do". I emailed them and told them this. They tried to help. It didn't (at all). Basically, I want my own business. I want to work from home or somewhere where I control my environment and location. But the main thing is that I love is my family. I will continue to do the shit I am tired of doing (tired of it since 2003) because it continues to pay the bills. I've wanted to be running my own "shop" since ~2007. I've read lots. I've listened to lots. And I just keep getting older and dumner. So now I've actually started to do more than just buy a domain and sit on it or talk about doing things. I've started, but I'm not totally in love with it. I still don't know what I want to do when I grow up, because when I list those things, it sounds like an uber rich kid philanthropist, not someone who is service-oriented. When I think about the things that I would most love to do in terms of work, it would be helping others and feeling competent and helpful in my own business. That's all I know. That's not enough. So "figure it out" doesn't help me anymore than a shot in the leg helps someone to be motivated to run. But, I'm trying. I have something going. And it's the first time I've been excited about work in a while. BTW- that link you posted is awesome, but here is a tough quote from it: "But I don’t get close to anyone bringing me down. This rule can’t be broken. Energy leaks out of you if someone is draining you. And I never owe anyone an explanation. Explaining is draining." That is both true, close to home, and also sounds so selfish. I think you need to be there for your friends- your real friends at least- and family like he said, and that can really mean that you get drug down. By the same token, I drag them down. I think this quote is about 50% right then, but the rest of that post is right on.

avenger123 14y ago
You know what, the message that I am hearing from you is that you want to be in control of your work, in control of your time and know that what you are doing is meaningful. A person that runs a cleaning service with 5 or 6 employees gets all of that. The question then may not be so much about having something to be totally in love with. We all have to be practical. As long as you like what you are doing and you are in a position that gives you that control from doing it, that might be enough. I can't say that I'm totally passionate about what I do, but I gave up on finding my "passion". I have marketable skills and I am leveraging it. I was a full time employee of a Fortune 500 software company and then I became a full time contractor. I am loving that aspect of it. I am more in control of my work, I don't fully control my time but if I don't put in a 7.5 hour day or take a day off here or there, no one is on my back. Personally for me the next logical step is to build a business so that I am able to get even more in control (ie move away from having my income depending on hours). So, what can you do now that can bring you closer to giving you that control? If you are full time, can you go contract? I'm not talking freelancing but instead doing the full 40 hour week but getting paid hourly. If you are already doing that, then the next step is to just save and save money. The way older people can somewhat make up for the advantages of youth is to have a large runway. Having $100K to $200K that you can live on and spend on your business for the next two-three years goes a long way to having a better chance of success. Having a wife and kids and putting the house on the line and worrying about the next mortgage payment or rent payment isn't being an entrepreneur, that is just being plain stupid and selfish. If you hang around your local startup groups, you will realize that everybody has something to bring to the table no matter how old. Anyway, I get your frustration. I would not devalue yourself. Don't take any of this seriously. It's just not worth it. One book that I think you would find worth reading is Cal NewPort's book - So Good They Can't Ignore You. His blog is also interesting. Thanks for letting me share my opinion on this. I don't intend it to sound preachy - it is just my own thoughts.

avenger123 14y ago

You know what, the message that I am hearing from you is that you want to be in control of your work, in control of your time and know that what you are doing is meaningful. A person that runs a cleaning service with 5 or 6 employees gets all of that. The question then may not be so much about having something to be totally in love with. We all have to be practical. As long as you like what you are doing and you are in a position that gives you that control from doing it, that might be enough. I can't say that I'm totally passionate about what I do, but I gave up on finding my "passion". I have marketable skills and I am leveraging it. I was a full time employee of a Fortune 500 software company and then I became a full time contractor. I am loving that aspect of it. I am more in control of my work, I don't fully control my time but if I don't put in a 7.5 hour day or take a day off here or there, no one is on my back. Personally for me the next logical step is to build a business so that I am able to get even more in control (ie move away from having my income depending on hours). So, what can you do now that can bring you closer to giving you that control? If you are full time, can you go contract? I'm not talking freelancing but instead doing the full 40 hour week but getting paid hourly. If you are already doing that, then the next step is to just save and save money. The way older people can somewhat make up for the advantages of youth is to have a large runway. Having $100K to $200K that you can live on and spend on your business for the next two-three years goes a long way to having a better chance of success. Having a wife and kids and putting the house on the line and worrying about the next mortgage payment or rent payment isn't being an entrepreneur, that is just being plain stupid and selfish. If you hang around your local startup groups, you will realize that everybody has something to bring to the table no matter how old. Anyway, I get your frustration. I would not devalue yourself. Don't take any of this seriously. It's just not worth it. One book that I think you would find worth reading is Cal NewPort's book - So Good They Can't Ignore You. His blog is also interesting. Thanks for letting me share my opinion on this. I don't intend it to sound preachy - it is just my own thoughts.