The video below hits on some interesting points. I ponder the ideas presented every day of my life, as I suspect many of you do as well. However, I feel that the video over simplifies a few ideas. I like to think of myself as a good example of trying to make a living at doing something I love. I love to exercise and so, helping people exercise seems like the closest way to fulfill my desires and support myself barring becoming a pro athlete. I want to be a coach and have a big impact in my field whilst getting paid what I'm worth. I strive to improve everyday and I live in NYC - I need to make money to survive. In my situation right now, being a personal trainer is what I must do to one day get to where I want to be. It is a hustle, and it takes time to build a steady following. Sometimes I feel behind based on my financial status or get scared about the future.
Despite whether we like it or not, we have been conditioned at a young age to want and have what our parents have. Until we are at the very least 13-16 years into our life do we even have the wherewithal to question said life, let alone choose a totally different path. I watch this video and I still get a flicker of fear when Watts mentions that money doesn't matter. I was conditioned for a great majority of my life to make sure I make enough money to one day have a house, support a family, etc. If I don't make as much money as my dad, am I a failure? I work hard to try and choose for myself, to try and create the life that I think I want to create, but It is hard to ignore advice given by the people who I'm "supposed" to look up to most. I should be a doctor, a lawyer, a manager, or even a fricken car salesman, but a personal trainer!? I never thought I would face so much objection from friends, family, and my own subconscious when I made that decision. However, at the end of the day, it is mine and your life, and no one else's. Having faith that my intuition is enough to carry me in the right direction is what keeps me strong every day.
I know that if I continue to work to become a better coach every day, one day I will be one of the best. Here Watts makes a good point - you better believe that if you're the best at something that you will one day make a great living being that person. The catch of it all is this: in order to be the best at something, you have to do it ALL THE TIME and constantly strive to become better at it. There is no way I can one day be a great coach if I spend 8+ hours a day in an office doing something totally unrelated and making a comfy salary. Is it what the majority of people do? Yes. Will I fit in with the masses if I work 9-5 and enjoy my weekends? Yes. But will it be what I want?
I have to hustle and live with the uncertainty of a self employed income for a while. For me, this is the hardest part, as I suspect it is for most people. They are afraid that if they spend X amount of years trying to make it big at something that doesn't carry a guarantee for success, then they would have wasted those years and will be far behind when it doesn't work out. But you have to dig deep down and find the strength to believe in yourself. Believe that one day you will make it and you will live the life you always dreamed. It's not an easy path, especially for those of you who were raised in places where people live lavishly, or where tradition runs deep. It is a road defined by self efficacy, delayed gratification, and struggle. But if you read the biography of any noteworthy and successful man or women, you will be hard-pressed to not find the struggle. The only suggestion I have at a mere 24 years of age, is to DO IT NOW! Every month that you get farther and farther away from beginning to create the life you want, the harder it's going to be to decide that you wish to begin the struggle now.
To those of you out there fighting the good fight, hustling, and trying to turn a dream into reality, I salute you.
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