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Hi friend and Welcome!

This was my first post ever on Home studio basics, but it’s a thought-provoking one.

12/15/2014

So I’m on the way home from picking up my grandma from the airport with my mom and dad. The subject of jobs comes up of course, and my grandma asks me what I’m doing. So I’m honest and I say I’ve been looking for a graphic design job but haven’t found anything. I tell her of the 2 interviews I had in September which led to nothing, and the test I took for a job as an AT&T wire technician position that I qualified for. I told her I haven’t heard back about an interview yet, and the discussion continues on the way home.

My parents and grandmother proceed to tell me I’m lucky that I have a job, and that they are proud of me that I graduated and I’m still looking. They tell me not to give up. I like to have a few options in hand and as I’ve gotten older, I’m learning that age-old “Never put all your eggs in one basket” rings very true.

What really got to me though was their insistence on this whole 9-5 paradigm. You know, trading your time for money. The more I realize how much money I COULD be making, the more ridiculous it sounds to work for someone else. The more ridiculous it sounds limiting myself to how much money I can make per physical hour. There should never be a cap on profit.

We are molded by society to give in to this sort of matrix idea that inhibits us from reaching our true potential. In some ways, we cannot escape the matrix, at least not completely. The profit paradigm is still a matrix of sorts. As long as we are bound by the ideas and constraints of capitalism, entrapment exists. Even if you lived out of a mobile home, (up and coming trend these days), you would still have to maintain, no matter how small the cost.

As my parents rejoiced over how great it is to have a good-paying job, I could only sit in silence contemplating my next move. “The more money you make, the higher your stress level is” exclaimed my mother. How utterly depressing. I don’t want to live like that. I don’t want to be stressed out for my entire life just to be able to chill out and finally enjoy it when I’m too old to even do anything (or care).

So finally I piped up: “I still have a few more tricks up my sleeve.” She said “Oh? What are they?” And instead of trying to explain Wealthy Affiliate and opening up a WHOLE NEW CAN OF WORMS, I just said “I won’t tell you about it until I’m successful with it.” This serves a couple of purposes: 1) It prevents all-out war. 2) Once I do make it, I can refer back to that discussion in the car.

Mind you, I am well equipped to debate this with them. But I don’t feel it’s necessary. I love my parents to death, but at times they can be a little close-minded when it comes to these things (politics as well). Debating with my dad is like throwing gasoline on a fire. I love him anyway. 🙂

Without getting into too much more detail, let’s just say that they would all be totally opposed to the internet marketing thing.

Does the word “pipe dream” ring a bell?

Anyways, thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed it!

All the best and God bless,

-Stu

[Xtr@Ba$eHitZ]

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23 comments

Tracy December 17, 2014 - 5:06 pm

With a story like that and the dedication you have, I believe you will go all the way. Thanks for sharing your experiences. I love hearing how people got here. Good Luck.

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Stu December 19, 2014 - 4:18 am

Thank you so much Tracy for the kind words 🙂

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stefany December 17, 2014 - 5:37 pm

It’s amazing to know that I’m not the only one that does not believe in the 9-5.
it’s refreshing to find someone with the same mind set. I know you will make it in life and reach all your goals. All you have to do is believe and work towards your goals.

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Stu December 17, 2014 - 5:52 pm

Thank you for stopping by Stefany! I appreciate you

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Ermin Osmanovic December 17, 2014 - 8:51 pm

haha I can really relate to your situation as I’ve also decided to tell my parents about my online business when I’m succesful with it. Good luck to you man!

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Stu December 19, 2014 - 4:18 am

Thank you much Ermin. Love your blogs 🙂

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Erin December 18, 2014 - 10:39 am

Hi Stu – I’m proud of you for seeing the 9-5 for what it is (or can be): a life of slavery, especially when you go the full route into debt (mortgage, credit cards, etc.) I’m pushing 60 now, and only became “enlightened” about 10 years ago! Good for you that you’re starting “your own thing” much younger – you may need the job (for now), but working on your passion and connecting/sharing it with people will give you JOY, and a future outside the “American Dream.”

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Stu December 29, 2014 - 5:19 am

Thanks Erin! Sorry this is so late, your comment got put into the spam box for some reason. (It’s anything but!!) .. I really appreciate your comment. It’s never too late to break free of the matrix. But it’s also easier said than done. We’ve been conditioned our whole lives for it, so un-plugging takes more time than we initially think. Keep checking back here as I’m always updating. 🙂
-Stu

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Amanda December 18, 2014 - 2:14 pm

Great post you put a lot of useful information.

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Stu December 29, 2014 - 5:19 am

thanks Amanda!

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Jenny December 19, 2014 - 4:46 pm

Like Stefany, it’s great to see you too, believe in something other than 9-to-5. I’ve found that it’s tough to talk to friends and family about thinking outside that 9-to-5 box as it really is a foreign concept to so many. I don’t think many people are risk takers by nature, but I don’t think you ever really accomplish anything except mediocrity without taking risks!

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Stu December 21, 2014 - 1:39 pm

I am starting to realize that Jenny. In the past, I would be scared to take a risk here and there.. or spend some money on something I was passionate about. Lately, I’ve just been saying “Screw it” and going for it. Hopefully, it will pay off in the future. Thanks for the comment!

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Krasimir Kirov December 28, 2014 - 8:43 am

I used to believe in 9-to-5 back in the days, but now I don’t. Your life is in your hands, and you must persevere in following your goals. Diversifying your income streams and opportunities is the most sustainable strategy one can have these days.
So, keep up Stu, you are not alone down the road.
Cheers,
Krasi

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Stu December 29, 2014 - 12:37 am

Thank you Krasimir for your insight and inspiration. I will keep at it.
-Stu

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Roman January 2, 2015 - 1:04 am

Read your story from start to end without stopping even once. It seems like you have what it takes to succeed in the biz. Good luck!

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Greg January 6, 2015 - 9:32 am

Stu, I can relate to this. I’m quite anxious about telling my parents what I’m doing after they have subsidized my university living for so long :/ Still if I can pay them back, they have nought to complain about right?!

Anyways back to 9-5s. This is a very persistent paradigm however with books like Tim Ferris’s 4 hour work week, I’m sure this will become a more acceptable ambition in peoples lives.
Greg

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Stu January 6, 2015 - 7:59 pm

Haha I have thought about that exact same thing on occasion. If I end up never getting a job in my field, but somehow become wealthy.. then I can pay them back and then some. Work smart, not hard .. that should be the motto
Thanks for stopping by!
-Stu

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Claudio January 19, 2015 - 8:04 am

Our paradigms shift constantly as we move through time as a society. In the Agricultural Age, people didn’t work 9 to 5; they worked when there was work to do. As we entered the Industrial Age, all of a sudden it became important to work during certain times. The machines wouldn’t run themselves (yet) and it was important for people to be present at certain times. This paradigm carried on during the transition into the Information Age and people, most sheepishly, accepted that they had to sit at their desks from 9 to 5. More and more people realize that it doesn’t have to be this way…and I like how your article is accelerating this trend by making people aware of it.

I wish you all the success in the world. You will have a blast when you let your parents know how you did it. 🙂

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Stu January 19, 2015 - 9:06 pm

Thank you for the thoughtful comment Claudio! We don’t have to be bound anymore.. I appreciate you stopping by
-Stu

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Tom January 21, 2015 - 2:42 pm

Hi Stu- Awesome story, and I sure know what you mean. That could have been me talking to my parents years ago. That age old adage “Never put all your eggs in one basket” – comment you made is definitely a truism and I can relate to that as well. You won’t believe this however there came a time when my father actually said that the 9-5 paradigm just doesn’t hold water anymore and you need to have many irons in the fire so to speak, as well as looking after your own well being. I think you have a great strategy and I look forward to reading your future articles and following your success.

All the best-Tom

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Stu January 21, 2015 - 3:48 pm

It’s very encouraging that your dad had that mindset! Something promising actually happened about a week ago. I kinda mentioned to my dad what I was doing on here, and he said “Atta boy” when I told him about WA and my strategy of helping people out while at the same time making money. I was moved because I completely expected him to think it was a scam. I think the way I portrayed it allowed him to understand exactly what it was all about. Rather than say “Hey I’m doing online marketing what do you think?”, I explained precisely how, what, and why I was doing it. I think he appreciated it 🙂
Thanks for the nice comment! Hope to hear from you soon.
-Stu

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Amanda February 5, 2015 - 11:33 pm

I love this post, Stu. It is so true how parents can be that way and because of which, I also have not said a word to mine or my in-laws. I have tried for years doing an internet business so my husband didn’t have to shoulder the weight all by himself and those attempts have always failed. Only through WA have I felt like I might actually succeed at this. When I make my first actual sale…that’s when I will consider actually telling them. I want to be uplifted, not brought down. Great post!

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Stu February 6, 2015 - 2:16 am

Yes Amanda, sometimes I have to remind myself to take it day by day. Ranking on the first page of google tells me that this stuff really works if you put in the time and effort. Lately, I have been having to push through on days when I don’t feel like writing. It can be tough. Thanks for the thoughtful comment!
-Stu

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