Quit your job. Travel often. Don’t like something, change it…
I’m sorry, I really am, but most of this only works when you are:
A. Young
B. Single
C. Childless
D. Extremely, and independently, wealthy
This was the mantra of the 70’s, and most of the people who used it are now shouting at you from their sidewalk box-homes.
Marie – That’s a pretty pessimistic attitude. You CAN do whatever you like; don’t give in so easily. I know people with kids and in their 40’s who “started over” doing what they love. When I started on my path, I was in my 30’s, married, and not wealthy by any means. I am sorry you feel it’s impossible.
It’s the manifesto from Holstee. http://www.shop.holstee.com/about
Their site is having troubles at the moment, but you can google that link to pull up a cached version. They have a larger graffic on that page too.
David – There’s a fine line between pessimistic and realistic. And I’m not the one who crossed it. 🙂
If you had prefaced this with the statement: “If you are willing to work for it” then you never would have heard a peep from me.
I’ve seen too many people damaged by the entitled attitude that “sayings” like this generate. The rich get richer by it, the poor are not only poorer, but get angry because of it. How come they are homeless, even though they had the right “attitude”? Gee, just because they quit their jobs, over and over and over, because they didn’t like it?
Bad things happen in life, no matter how careful you are. And if you are not prepared to deal with it realistically, and instead expect an insipid “saying” to get you through, then you are in big trouble.
Live your best life, by all means, but take responsibility for what that requires.
I too have known many people who have “started over” in their 30’s and 40’s. By having either saved up for it, or by accepting family help. Money that did not magically appear.
And if you were a kid of these parents, wouldn’t you be angry at being torn from your friends and home because “mommy and daddy don’t like their job so they quit”?
The bottom line must be understood:
In order to move, you need to afford moving expenses.
In order to change jobs, you either have to already have one lined up, or have enough to keep your kids from starving to death until you magically find another one.
In order to travel, you have to have money for tickets, passports, food, lodging, etc. etc. etc….
I don’t find it at all “impossible”. I have done it myself, and I was a teenage mum of 2. My husband and I worked hard, scrimped and saved, traveled, and my family and I have done well because of it…My grown children are now amazing people who also work and don’t expect the world to pander to them, but instead find their joy as we did, in what we could bring to ourselves. But again, we. work. for. it.
As long as you are friends with reality, then yes, many things are possible,…if. you. work. for. it.
Everyone has their own way of doing it. I quit my job without saving up OR having a backup plan…and it worked out. That was my way, and thus I know it can be done. Not everything in life has to be planned for first, because then many people end up waiting too late to take the leap. Best of luck to you, and to anyone else – do it however YOU want to; there is no right or wrong way to live your life.
You did it without having any money to live on? Amazing man! Ate air did you?
I bet your kids loved that.
Glad it worked out for you, but to encourage people to be irresponsible is dangerous and yes, wrong.
Thanks Sawn! ; )
I knew I had seen it somewhere. Loved it so much I have this illustration as a wallpaper in my macbook.
@Marie:
I don’t think this has to do with optimism. It’s just having guts to live being coherent to how you feel and think.
Being optimistic would be: “don’t worry, be happy.” This is: “Have the courage to enjoy life.”
I think the happiest people are not the optimistic ones but the ones who have the courage to follow their dreams.
After a completely crappy series of unfortunate events over my lifetime I’m finally in a place I can call “home” and dare I say *proud* of my life. Nothing on this list is impossible or naive or irresponsible.
I was the worst skeptic and totally pessamistic- labeling it realisim. I decided to start looking at the world in a really real way and giving credibility to the light side too. Man, what a difference.
Anyway… this is my new desktop background and will be hanging up at my new awesome job!
Funny, I don’t see “Quit your job without a backup plan or any money in your pocket” or “quit every job just because you’re lazy” on there. It just says quit your job. Which is what I personally plan on doing, as soon as I have an alternative source of income lined up. I’m working on interviewing and hope to find something that really fits what I want to do by the end of the year. In the meantime, I’ve got a good paying job it just drives me crazy and I don’t want to live like this.
I think the point is to realize that you CAN change things, and not to stay stuck in a job you hate for years just because you feel there’s no other options or that’s “how things are supposed to work”. Temper change with wisdom.
Thank you Marie for expressing my thoughts in a more articulate manner than I could ever have. You lads sound as if being happy was just a matter of deciding it. Of course it isn’t. Is it?
Thank you for sharing this…it’s just what I needed to read after nearly losing everything as a result of circumstances that my family and I had no control over. We’ve been trying to get back on our feet, with the realization that Life is too precious to just let it fly by without living it to it’s fullest potential. We have been living day-to-day, revamping our lives and our way of thinking. I believe it all begins with treating ourselves with kindness, showing compassion toward others, and encouraging those who need and extra push in the right direction…thanks for sharing the positive words.
wow, we are blushing. thanks for the kind words. we created this manifesto when we just started holstee about a year ago. it was the thoughts in this that led us to leave our jobs last year to create the company of our dreams. it continues to inspire us everyday in what we do.
we have some very special plans on how we’ll be printing it in the coming weeks.
Michael – Awesome work. A friend sent the image to me, but I had no idea where it came from until a commenter mentioned your site. Kudos to you for doing what you want in life; it’s the only way to live it!
1. sweeping statements are sweeping statements. these ‘how to live’ statements in the poster aren’t rules or natural laws, they’re suggestions e. g. should read something like ‘quit your job you don’t like “sooner than later”.’
2. well…: during to severe illness i was forced to leave my job(s) suddenly, and stop all work (and normal life) – worried like hell how i would simply live. well – i survived; not easy, but got through by doing what was necessary to basically live.
3. back to point 1 – i can’t stress enough that these statements and posters are not “one size fits all in all situations”. they aren’t absolutes. use a grain of salt (‘in most cases!’)
So true. I love this graphic. If all the people on this planet share a similar philosophy, the world would indeed be a much better place.
Thanks for sharing. Keep on writing those great articles.
I think the biggest observation I took from the graphic is the numerous action words.
What I take away from it is if something isn’t working in your life – ACT. do SOMETHING. And preferably do something different than you have been doing if you’re not seeing the results you want.
I am 45..
I have 2 kids aged below 14..
I quit my job after 20 years serving one boss…
I started a company…
I got ripped off by the co shareholders…
I used to have an income 4 times bigger than it is now…
I started a new business, with no other shareholders…
I have to drive a taxi to keep the dogs off my back…
I am so diverse skilled….
I have to focus…
I have read this post…
I realize I got a LIFE…
Marie (the first one) makes me sad. In response to her posts: May I never be so bogged down by my life that I can’t find even the simplest ways to truly live it.
Kate, sad thing is many, many, many of us are so bogged down that life does not seem to offer all these self-determining options.
Debt is a huge part of American life and not so easy to walk away from because we don’t ‘like’ a job or situation. Unfortunately the creditors don’t care if we’re happy or not they’re just intent on wrecking our credit scores. The only way to ‘not get bogged down’ is to already have a fairly nice nest egg (which most don’t have).
Rick: Agreed, though I’m not sure credit is necessarily evil. I think its evil and cruel that we’ve created a situation where people end up in these situations and aren’t’ given any way out. I think its evil that we’ve decided corporations are people with all the rights but none of the responsibilities. I think its dangerous and self-destructive that we’ve created the consumer obsessed material obsessed culture we have to the point where people have forgotten there’s more to life. However, I think credit is a tool. The problem isn’t so much the credit. The problem is people treating credit cards like free money, and living way outside their means in order to “Keep up with the Joneses” or because they think they’re “supposed to” or however you want to think about it.
One thing I have noticed about certain sites is that, even though they have tons of content, the site looks great and the headlines are eye catching is that the material is simply filler. It’s downright unreadable. You can forget it 6 seconds after you read it. Not the case with your post though, really enjoyed it reading it and it held my attention all the way through! Keep it up.
Beautifully said…..love your blog too.
Jana
I love that graphic… so beautiful and so TRUE.
Beautiful quotes and illustration. It’s a shame the original author of this piece was not credited here. Isn’t this the manifesto of a store online?
Quit your job. Travel often. Don’t like something, change it…
I’m sorry, I really am, but most of this only works when you are:
A. Young
B. Single
C. Childless
D. Extremely, and independently, wealthy
This was the mantra of the 70’s, and most of the people who used it are now shouting at you from their sidewalk box-homes.
Sam -If I knew who it was, I would hav posted it!
Marie – That’s a pretty pessimistic attitude. You CAN do whatever you like; don’t give in so easily. I know people with kids and in their 40’s who “started over” doing what they love. When I started on my path, I was in my 30’s, married, and not wealthy by any means. I am sorry you feel it’s impossible.
Do you have a bigger version? I’d like to print it 🙂
I don’t, no, sorry!
David, Max, Valerie, Sam:
It’s the manifesto from Holstee.
http://www.shop.holstee.com/about
Their site is having troubles at the moment, but you can google that link to pull up a cached version. They have a larger graffic on that page too.
Great, thank you Shawn!
David – There’s a fine line between pessimistic and realistic. And I’m not the one who crossed it. 🙂
If you had prefaced this with the statement: “If you are willing to work for it” then you never would have heard a peep from me.
I’ve seen too many people damaged by the entitled attitude that “sayings” like this generate. The rich get richer by it, the poor are not only poorer, but get angry because of it. How come they are homeless, even though they had the right “attitude”? Gee, just because they quit their jobs, over and over and over, because they didn’t like it?
Bad things happen in life, no matter how careful you are. And if you are not prepared to deal with it realistically, and instead expect an insipid “saying” to get you through, then you are in big trouble.
Live your best life, by all means, but take responsibility for what that requires.
I too have known many people who have “started over” in their 30’s and 40’s. By having either saved up for it, or by accepting family help. Money that did not magically appear.
And if you were a kid of these parents, wouldn’t you be angry at being torn from your friends and home because “mommy and daddy don’t like their job so they quit”?
The bottom line must be understood:
In order to move, you need to afford moving expenses.
In order to change jobs, you either have to already have one lined up, or have enough to keep your kids from starving to death until you magically find another one.
In order to travel, you have to have money for tickets, passports, food, lodging, etc. etc. etc….
I don’t find it at all “impossible”. I have done it myself, and I was a teenage mum of 2. My husband and I worked hard, scrimped and saved, traveled, and my family and I have done well because of it…My grown children are now amazing people who also work and don’t expect the world to pander to them, but instead find their joy as we did, in what we could bring to ourselves. But again, we. work. for. it.
As long as you are friends with reality, then yes, many things are possible,…if. you. work. for. it.
Everyone has their own way of doing it. I quit my job without saving up OR having a backup plan…and it worked out. That was my way, and thus I know it can be done. Not everything in life has to be planned for first, because then many people end up waiting too late to take the leap. Best of luck to you, and to anyone else – do it however YOU want to; there is no right or wrong way to live your life.
I have my own way of dealing with things without having to move city.
Look at the sky, take a deep breath, and smile.
You did it without having any money to live on? Amazing man! Ate air did you?
I bet your kids loved that.
Glad it worked out for you, but to encourage people to be irresponsible is dangerous and yes, wrong.
We’re going to try to keep it positive around here, and we don’t need personal attacks. To each their own, have a great day, Marie.
That’s a fantastic way of looking at it. 🙂
Oh my.
Reality not welcome here. Got it.
May your “attitude” continue to work well for you! 🙂
Truly.
Thank you Jana. 🙂
Thanks Sawn! ; )
I knew I had seen it somewhere. Loved it so much I have this illustration as a wallpaper in my macbook.
@Marie:
I don’t think this has to do with optimism. It’s just having guts to live being coherent to how you feel and think.
Being optimistic would be: “don’t worry, be happy.” This is: “Have the courage to enjoy life.”
I think the happiest people are not the optimistic ones but the ones who have the courage to follow their dreams.
Cheers!
I think the smart thing to do is to take away from this piece what is beneficial to you, and the rest let it be for others what it may be.
You don’t have to quit your job, but you can start doing things you love, and traveling more.
The seed of this page is positivity. Let it grow into more of it. Positivity can be a reality, even if only in this little spot on the internet.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for this.
After a completely crappy series of unfortunate events over my lifetime I’m finally in a place I can call “home” and dare I say *proud* of my life. Nothing on this list is impossible or naive or irresponsible.
I was the worst skeptic and totally pessamistic- labeling it realisim. I decided to start looking at the world in a really real way and giving credibility to the light side too. Man, what a difference.
Anyway… this is my new desktop background and will be hanging up at my new awesome job!
Funny, I don’t see “Quit your job without a backup plan or any money in your pocket” or “quit every job just because you’re lazy” on there. It just says quit your job. Which is what I personally plan on doing, as soon as I have an alternative source of income lined up. I’m working on interviewing and hope to find something that really fits what I want to do by the end of the year. In the meantime, I’ve got a good paying job it just drives me crazy and I don’t want to live like this.
I think the point is to realize that you CAN change things, and not to stay stuck in a job you hate for years just because you feel there’s no other options or that’s “how things are supposed to work”. Temper change with wisdom.
Thank you Marie for expressing my thoughts in a more articulate manner than I could ever have. You lads sound as if being happy was just a matter of deciding it. Of course it isn’t. Is it?
This weblog is being featured on Five Star Friday –
http://www.schmutzie.com/fivestarfriday/2010/9/10/five-star-fridays-119th-edition-is-brought-to-you-by-jimi-he.html
Thank you for sharing this…it’s just what I needed to read after nearly losing everything as a result of circumstances that my family and I had no control over. We’ve been trying to get back on our feet, with the realization that Life is too precious to just let it fly by without living it to it’s fullest potential. We have been living day-to-day, revamping our lives and our way of thinking. I believe it all begins with treating ourselves with kindness, showing compassion toward others, and encouraging those who need and extra push in the right direction…thanks for sharing the positive words.
Perfectly said……………. loving it
Simple. Love it.
I have lived parts of my life in resentment and fear, parts in gratitude and faith.
The second path is way more comfortable. And fun.
(Written by a 40-year-old someone who left a secure well-paying job for independent ambiguity with two small children.)
wow, we are blushing. thanks for the kind words. we created this manifesto when we just started holstee about a year ago. it was the thoughts in this that led us to leave our jobs last year to create the company of our dreams. it continues to inspire us everyday in what we do.
we have some very special plans on how we’ll be printing it in the coming weeks.
for more info please check out http://holstee.com
Michael – Awesome work. A friend sent the image to me, but I had no idea where it came from until a commenter mentioned your site. Kudos to you for doing what you want in life; it’s the only way to live it!
1. sweeping statements are sweeping statements. these ‘how to live’ statements in the poster aren’t rules or natural laws, they’re suggestions e. g. should read something like ‘quit your job you don’t like “sooner than later”.’
2. well…: during to severe illness i was forced to leave my job(s) suddenly, and stop all work (and normal life) – worried like hell how i would simply live. well – i survived; not easy, but got through by doing what was necessary to basically live.
3. back to point 1 – i can’t stress enough that these statements and posters are not “one size fits all in all situations”. they aren’t absolutes. use a grain of salt (‘in most cases!’)
So true. I love this graphic. If all the people on this planet share a similar philosophy, the world would indeed be a much better place.
Thanks for sharing. Keep on writing those great articles.
Hey David, do you have an email i can contact you on?
I think the biggest observation I took from the graphic is the numerous action words.
What I take away from it is if something isn’t working in your life – ACT. do SOMETHING. And preferably do something different than you have been doing if you’re not seeing the results you want.
Good short and simple post.
I am 45..
I have 2 kids aged below 14..
I quit my job after 20 years serving one boss…
I started a company…
I got ripped off by the co shareholders…
I used to have an income 4 times bigger than it is now…
I started a new business, with no other shareholders…
I have to drive a taxi to keep the dogs off my back…
I am so diverse skilled….
I have to focus…
I have read this post…
I realize I got a LIFE…
THANX !
Marie (the first one) makes me sad. In response to her posts: May I never be so bogged down by my life that I can’t find even the simplest ways to truly live it.
Amen to that, Kate.
I think that the poster would sell a lot if the graphic was created- i love it and I want it for my work wall!
Kate, sad thing is many, many, many of us are so bogged down that life does not seem to offer all these self-determining options.
Debt is a huge part of American life and not so easy to walk away from because we don’t ‘like’ a job or situation. Unfortunately the creditors don’t care if we’re happy or not they’re just intent on wrecking our credit scores. The only way to ‘not get bogged down’ is to already have a fairly nice nest egg (which most don’t have).
You start within yourself, and the journey starts with You.
@Melting Snow: Very beautiful and very inspiring!
Rick: Agreed, though I’m not sure credit is necessarily evil. I think its evil and cruel that we’ve created a situation where people end up in these situations and aren’t’ given any way out. I think its evil that we’ve decided corporations are people with all the rights but none of the responsibilities. I think its dangerous and self-destructive that we’ve created the consumer obsessed material obsessed culture we have to the point where people have forgotten there’s more to life. However, I think credit is a tool. The problem isn’t so much the credit. The problem is people treating credit cards like free money, and living way outside their means in order to “Keep up with the Joneses” or because they think they’re “supposed to” or however you want to think about it.
Excellent post.
One thing I have noticed about certain sites is that, even though they have tons of content, the site looks great and the headlines are eye catching is that the material is simply filler. It’s downright unreadable. You can forget it 6 seconds after you read it. Not the case with your post though, really enjoyed it reading it and it held my attention all the way through! Keep it up.