In 2019, I wrote a book called ‘Get Rich and Die Happy’, which sound pretty mediocre. It was spiritual self-help dedicated to having a comprehensive strategy to coming out of the job you hate and doing something fulfilling that gives freedom and choice.
Its origins started when I was in a corporate job and had this bizarre epiphany. I had ended the working day and rushed out feeling drained and overworked, and as I looked over to thousands of other people swarming out their office’s, they too expressed the same tiredness. The moment was quite strange, it felt like that scene in The Matrix when Neo is free, and he becomes aware that people run the machine world knowns as the system. That moment when Neo is about to pull a massive plug out the back of his head. Anyway, it inspired me to write a book about coming out of a corporate job and transitioning towards something more fulfilling due to the western world spending most of their waking hours on their careers.
The book is summed up as developing a short-term game plan so that you can cross over and do something that gives you purpose. Recently, I read into many famous faces and realised that most people that are self-made or successful in the eyes of society all started with a job that they didn’t particularly enjoy. Unless, of course, they came from a prosperous family and were given everything on a plate.
Here is a list of jobs before they were famous:
JK Rowling was an English teacher. Einstein was a patent clerk. Johnny Depp worked as a telemarketer. Rhianna was an Army Cadet. Brad Pitt dressed as a chicken for a restaurant. Barack Obama was an ice-cream scooper. George Clooney sold women’s shoes and was a door-to-door insurance salesman, stacked shelves, construction worker, and cut tobacco. Helen Mirren worked as a promoter for an amusement park. Tom Hanks was a popcorn and peanut vendor. Kate Winslet was a sandwich maker. Sandra Bullock was a bartender and waitress at a restaurant. Julia Robert worked as an ice cream scooper. Bradley Cooper worked as a doorman at Morgan’s Hotel. Jennifer Aniston was a telemarketer. Jennifer Lopez worked at a law firm. Walt Disney was a paperboy. Kate Middleton work at a luxury fashion store within the accessories department. Aston Kutcher swept cereal. Beyonce swept the salon floor. Nicole Kidman was a massage therapist. Kanye West was a Gap store sales associate. Madonna was a dunking doughnuts employee. Eva Mendes was a hot dog on a stick employee. Eva Longoria was a Wendy’s employee. Tom Cruise was a hotel assistant. The Rock Dwayne Johnson was a dish cleaner, and Gwen Stefani was a dairy queen employee.
So, what’s my point? Everyone starts somewhere and though you may be bored in the job you’re doing, understand that everyone starts somewhere on their journeys. Hopefully, this should give you some inspiration to become better and that you’re not the only one. The job you have helps to provide you with an income, and it pays your expense, e.g. bills referred to as the bread and butter. Be proud of your resilience. Anyone that gets up each morning and works should get a pat on the back.
The Exit Strategy
I am not going to paint a wonderful picture that tells you by following this one formula; everything will come easily and effortlessly. That everything will be all unicorns and rainbows. No, my work is about being authentic and grounded.
Firstly, let’s get the basics sorted, work on doing an essential job that you can do in the short term that pays all your expenses. One that doesn’t require too much brainpower or physical exhaustion. This is essential. Otherwise, you won’t have enough gas left in the tank to work on your goals and passions. If you’re finding it too tricky, look back at the list above.
Secondly, during your spare time, evenings, weekends, dedicate focused time to working towards your goal. Develop necessary skills, gain a qualification, and practise good consistency per week on moving closer towards your vocation.
Thirdly, no cosmic vortex or deep Kundalini meditation will spark off and tell your fate. Trust me; I have tried many techniques, nothing works. It is more about being responsible enough to make the decision for yourself and go with it. Find what works best with your personality and skill set. Dedicate yourself; you may first feel some resistance but keep going until you find your rhythm. Eventually, you will make the transition.
Everybody starts somewhere. Make clear the career choices you want and, more importantly, become aware of what you don’t like. The short-term game plan bridges the job you dislike and transitions towards something that gives you meaning. Expect adversity, challenges along the way and cross over like a champion.