I’m on this journey for freedom, a lot like the epic tales I’ve heard of people escaping war torn lands across the world to come to America or something, but this is a more modern version of those stories. I’m seeking freedom in many alternative ways, like many of my friends are. I’ll start with financial freedom.
Financial Freedom
All of us have a relationship with money and if you’re like me, you’re so tired of hearing anything about investing, career paths, or the future of retirement. I told myself to live in the moment, focus on what I need now, and not dwell on where I’m at 40-50 years from now. Until the pandemic hit, I was riding this wave that was never going to crash into the shore, but that all changed.
The Pandemic Effect
When my brother was laid off from his work as a chef and I started to work from home, a profound sense of fragility weighed over us. I’m speaking of the uncertainty of employment, how extremely reliant I am on my job to pay me well enough to eat, pay rent, drive a car, and be connected to the internet. The alarm was going off in my head, “I’m not equipped to handle a catastrophe.”
I work in design and have the good fortune of being able to work from home, but my brother and roommate, is relying on unemployment to get him through this time. When “The News” said they were going to slash unemployment benefits by $600, it got real worrisome. At the time of writing this I think more than 30 million Americans are unemployed. That’s around 530 Dodger stadiums filled with people relying on benefits that are now cut, possibly losing homes and businesses with families to feed and debts to pay.
What the pandemic showed me was how incredibly vulnerable my life is. I’m so grateful to have done this and that in my past that brought me to this and that right now, however I’m still worried and I still can afford groceries!
I’ve come to the conclusion that I need to learn how others are making money online, working from anywhere so that I’m financially reliant on my capabilities not someone else’s. I need to try new things and make calculated business decisions that can get a product that’s in demand on the market and sell it, how to take an app idea, learn to develop it, and monetize it (readySketch), how to write quality content to drive readers to this blog, how to be myself in front of the camera to teach the skills I have in design, photo and video, and how to communicate my vision of the future that so many of my friends are striving toward, an off the grid, sustainable homestead.
Freedom from Self Criticism
Up until now I ridiculed people for being personalities on YouTube or shooting selfies because of my own insecurities. A lot of us use our own insecurities to put someone down for doing something we wouldn’t do ourselves. I had a lot of self reflecting I’ve done because of the Pandemic Effect, so I needed to explore what I could possibly offer to you, the reader, that drives value to my content, and it was easy.
I need to share with you my gifts of what I’ve learned in my unique circumstances, in my own way that differs from how others are sharing their gifts. Embarking on this comes with facing my fears of being on camera, being read enough, being important enough, being successful or disciplined, having a worthy point of view, being knowledgable enough, etc. There’s too many insecurities to name, and I’m certain I’m suppressing more than that.
Getting Over “It”
I’m having a difficult time actually making the transition from work and procrastination to work and progressive action. I need to make the time if I am serious, and I am. I believe that I’ve ridden these waves far too long to not know how this current of mind flows. Discipline is key to the success of any project or business, and jeez, I lack it so badly.
Acknowledging you have a problem is the first step to solving that problem. I am a procrastinator. The discipline must first be enforced by myself, and I must trust this “higher self” that wants only the best of me, to guide me along on this uncertain, bumpy, exciting journey to financial freedom.
Techniques to Practice Discipline
I’ve added a reminder to my calendar. You can do that right now, open your calendar app on your device and schedule something you want to remind yourself to do every day or every Monday (you got to ease yourself into it) and when that reminder pops up you’ll remember to get to work, or if you’re like me you’ll follow it for a few months and just ignore it for life until a pandemic or something catastrophic enough happens to eventually act on it.
Another technique I’ve heard I think actually comes from Jerry Seinfeld, but I was clued in on it by my app development instructor Angela. Everyday you accomplish 20 minutes of the goal you set or more, you draw a line through the date of that physical calendar. You might have to buy a desk calendar, but if you’re serious about discipline you might as well.
Buy a desk calendar right now.
You’ll be so inclined to continue to draw that line through the days that no matter how much you feel like procrastinating, you’ll want to do at least 20 minutes to continue drawing that line through the month. I’m just starting to do that now, so I’m no seasoned veteran of this technique, it just sounds good.
Chasing Freedom Must Be Fun
For me, if it’s not fun I won’t bother learning or making anything, so in order to get things done I create the fun. I must, no matter how mundane and brain consuming the tasks are,
I must make fun of it some how, whether actually laughing at my own incompetence or just being absurdly creative with it.
Fun must be fuel to achieve great things. It’s what gave me all the skills I have now, and what will give me everything new I learn from here on out.
My advice to my younger self, or to you my reader, is to not allow your fear of being vulnerable to the public determine how you proceed through life. The people I admire are the most vulnerable, open, and disciplined people in the world. I will not get to achieve the freedom I seek by being afraid of my own insecurities. Don’t be sorry to anyone for who you are.
I hope that I can inspire you to follow your passions to fullest extent, I’m trying to inspire myself constantly. Remember to have fun, be resourceful, ask questions and be yourself. It’s easier said than done, but you will not be mad at yourself for trying, and if you’re disciplined and consistent, a few years from now writing blogs, making videos, learning new skills, you’ll be surprised by what you achieved.
If you want some help with your journey feel free to leave a comment below or reach out to me on Instagram @kyleknob
