By 
At 50, I had what you might call a milestone moment – except it didn’t involve balloons or a Rolex. It was more like sitting in my car at midnight in a Dallas suburb, staring at a parking ticket, and thinking, What am I even doing with my life? On paper, I’d “made it.” Great job, big salary, impressive LinkedIn headline. But inside? Burnt out, unfulfilled, and living someone else’s idea of success.
Does this ring a bell? Maybe you’re 22, staring at your shiny new degree and wondering if you just signed up for a club you don’t even want to join. Or you’re 25, new in the workforce, and already feeling the tug of a leash you didn’t know you were wearing. Perhaps you’re 35, grinding your way up the ladder only to find the view isn’t all that inspiring. Or maybe you’re 55, looking around and realizing the ladder you’ve been climbing is propped against the wrong wall. Here’s the uncomfortable truth no one tells you: everything you think you know about success is a lie.
The Lie I (and You) Was Sold
If you grew up like me, the success formula was practically carved into stone:
1. Study hard.
2. Get into a top school.
3. Land a great job at a fancy company.
4. Climb the ladder and retire with a gold-plated 401(k).
I bought into it, hook, line, and sinker. And it worked! For a while. Then one day, I woke up and realized the formula doesn’t lead to freedom – it leads to a fancier version of captivity. I was trading my hours – my life – for someone else’s dream. Sure, the paycheck was great, but my time? It wasn’t mine.
Degrees and jobs might increase the value of an hour of your time, but here’s the catch: your hours are finite. And no one ever achieved real success by selling every one of them.
What Success Really Looks Like
Let’s get radical for a second: success isn’t about a title, a salary, or even status?
It’s about owning your time?
Naval Ravikant says, “A busy calendar and a busy mind will destroy your ability to do great things.”
He’s right. Real success isn’t working 80-hour weeks to hit a quarterly target. It’s waking up and deciding what I want to do, when I want to do it, with people I actually like.
Here’s the truth: if you’re tied to a paycheck, you’re not free. Freedom is owning your time. Everything else is just noise.
Why I Stayed Trapped
Let’s face it: conventional wisdom – is seductive. It promises a clear path and stability – a steady paycheck, a mortgage, and a retirement plan. But stability is the world’s biggest con.
When I hit 50, I asked myself one terrifying question: How long could I survive without a paycheck? The answer? Not very long. That realization hit me harder than my first midlife crisis (yes, there were multiple including a roadster I loved – but that is another story). I wasn’t stable; I was stuck.
Real security doesn’t come from a salary. It comes from building assets – things that make money while you sleep. A paycheck stops the moment you do. Assets don’t.
How I Broke Free
The good news? You don’t have to burn your life to the ground to start building freedom. Whether you’re 25, 35, or 55, here are three actions you can take today:
1. Start Saving and Investing
If you’re young, time is your superpower and biggest ally. Even small investments compound into big results. If you’re older, start anyway. The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago; the second-best time is now.
2. Build Something Scalable
Create assets that don’t rely on your constant input. Whether it’s a side hustle, an online course, or passive income streams, focus on building things that multiply your time, not consume it.
3. Define Your Version of Success
Stop chasing someone else’s dream. Sit down and figure out what you actually want. Write it down. Revisit it often. Remember: success without joy is just stress with a better title.
Optimism Is Your Secret Weapon
Look, I get it. Starting over or shifting gears feels impossible, especially when the bills are piling up and the world keeps telling you to “be grateful.” But optimism isn’t about ignoring reality. It’s about believing that you can build something better.
At 50, I took the leap. I started investing in assets (instead of roadsters), taking on lucrative but flexible gigs as an independent advisor and guide, redefining my goals, and taking back my time. Was it scary? Absolutely. But you know what’s scarier? Waking up at 70 and realizing you spent your entire life climbing a ladder that didn’t lead anywhere you wanted to go, with people you did not want to be with doing things that you’d rather not do.
Build a Life You Love
So, ask yourself: Am I living my life, or someone else’s? If the answer is “someone else’s,” you have a choice. Start small. Start messy. But start.
Because real success isn’t about money, status, or even stability. It’s about freedom. It’s about owning your time and using it to build a life (and a business) that you actually love.
Everything we believe about success is wrong. It’s time to get it right.
And always remember: we’re all just doing our best. Assume Positive Intent.
Let me know how I can help.
Adi
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