anachronism said:
You are very correct Jon. Thinking in a certain way opens doors. I study successful people...and I don't really associate much with people who aren't creative out of the box thinkers, so I take it for granted. But there's more to it than just the creativity.
When I talk to others, that supposedly built businesses from nothing, they say they started with nothing...until you get to actually talking. Then you find that they had a scrap hauling business to start with, so they had the infrastructure to move, handle and ship 10,000 lb loads. Or they had $35k from another business that they got out of that they could use as startup funds. Or they were given a no-interest no payback loan from their Dad to buy all their inventory. Or they actually get a monthly check from the government. I've talked with you about the capital you started with. There's no shame in any of that, it's awesome in fact. I'll admit I'm jealous of it. I know that what you, and others built came hard, and that usually includes the starting capital. Even then, there is no doubt in my mind that they still fought their way in to the new venture, and there were lean times and growing pains and frustration...and that the way of thought that you describe was developed largely out of trial and error. I'm sure there were mistakes. Bad buys, bad sells...learning curve crap. I know there are still sacrifices.
I haven't collected a traditional paycheck in two years and four months. And that time has been HARD. We have owned this house for two years and 6 days. Four months prior to that I was fired from a position where I was building wealth so my manager could hire his brother. I poured EVERYTHING I had into this house so we had something that couldn't get taken away...literally everything. As in within the first six months I was 88 days late on the mortgage because I was playing catch up. What hasn't been uphill with a stiff headwind was tumbling downhill.
I've been stuck in survival mode for two years. I get a few grand in the bank, take a couple days and relax...then pay the bills for stuff that can't get shut off or taken away. Usually at that point, I've got enough left to go buy more inventory, to again build. No vacations, no steak dinners, no extras, just survive. The PROBLEM, for me, is transitioning from survival mode to a mode where I am building.
What the reality is, is that finding the nuances that give one an edge comes pretty easy, always have...I'm able to survive, because I can find those nuances. I'll admit, it's not as easy to find them as it once was. I'm not sure if it's my mind, or that there is more competition for wealth that is within the reach of people with nothing.
BUT...I get downright hostile at times, when people suggest it's easy. In the last two years I've waged war on my body with risks that the average employee would never consider taking. I wake up to back pain. I wake up to jaw pain from stress induced clenching. I struggle with depression and anxiety, and at times, even the will to live. When it comes to my drive, I have more in common with our posters from third world countries or other countries where they are willing to take risks that seem ridiculous to those in 1st world. Everything I own and have is in play. So I get downright upset when I'm told "there's so much wrong with that I don't even know where to begin". I'm SHARING my experiences. My blood, my sweat, my tears and most of all, my FAILURES. I don't paint a rose colored picture for other people.
