Carving a Path

According to society, our younger generation is screwed. They will never save money. They will never buy a house. They will never retire. They will never be able to survive without having 3-4 jobs. They will never have a standard of living that resembles the generations before them. At least that's the narrative I hear on a daily basis. 

I recently had the opportunity to sit down with one such young adult. 23 years old. Limited education. Comes from a family with few financial resources. Lives in a humble apartment. 

Oh yeah, and he will make more income this year than my family. No, he's not an influencer. No, he didn't invent anything. No, he wasn't given a cushy job by someone with influence. 

He developed a blue-collar skill and decided to sell it to people. After doing that a bunch of times, he did it a bunch more. He saved, saved, and saved. Then he bought a van. Then he hired a few people to help him. Then he hired a few more. Today, he has an entire team that serves people all around the city. He's crushing it! Reminder, he's 23. 

As he shared updates about his journey, I couldn't help but smile. He created something out of nothing. He carved his own unique path. He put in the work, made sacrifices, and figured it out one failure at a time. There's nothing special about him other than his willingness to do what others won't. In today's marketplace, that's a superpower. 

We live in a country that allows each of us to carve a unique path. There's literally unlimited opportunity…..if we're willing to pursue it. There's absolutely nothing wrong with choosing a traditional, more linear path. That can be an awesome and fulfilling life, and many people around me are living examples of that. However, if you're feeling discontent with your status, standing, or progress with your current path, always remember that alternative paths exist. An entire alternative universe exists! A universe that you're the author of.

I hope your life, both at work and outside of it, is fulfilling and meaningful. I hope you wake up every day excited for what's to come. If you're not, though, I encourage you to muster the courage to carve a different path. It's right there in front of you.

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