Great article as always! I know that you, Carl, Pete, Brandon, and Paul, who commented above (Just finished the Pathless Path this week) have all expressed similar feelings regarding 1 more year syndrome and instead advocate for 1 year less.
Personally, I struggle a bit as I'm working a job that is tolerable and compensates me well (golden handcuffs). For context, I'm a near-single earner for a family of 5 (my wife has a business that she is just getting off the ground).
Therefore, I guess my question is how best to determine the line between reckless and ensuring that you aren't stealing years away from yourself while having unknowns such as expenses that could swing?
I always frame it like this. Winning the game is all about time. We have absolutely no control over it. It just passes. So what activities are you busying yourself with as this precious thing passes. As you get older, you should be doing mostly things you love and very little you loathe. So the big question, are you skimping on doing things you love because you are staying at a job that is so-so? If so...that is the biggest impetous to change.
Hey Jordan! I would add that your energy changes as you get older too. Financial advisors talk about the go-go years, the go-slow years, and the no-go years. I've been FIRE 10 years now and I'm noticing that I have less energy than when first "retired" at age 42. I think, you'll simply do more stuff in your 40s than in your 50s. Your 3 kids are only going to be living with you now.
Original poster, an idea: life isn't meant to be "tolerable." I get that there's a desire to provide the security your older self will need. And there is risk in leaving "early." But there's an aliveness in you in you NOW and there's another real risk is that it's going to diminish over time.
Great points. I think we forget about how certain activities and opportunities only come along in certain seasons. You mean I'm going to be even more tired in a decade! Ugh.
Elliot, I'm in a similar situation. Family of 5, job is great pay but tolerable/uninteresting. I fear setting myself back by leaving and find it hard to imagine that leaving could instead be something amazing. Thank you, Jordan, for your insights into this dilemma.
Hey Patrick, hitting the nail on the head there. I think it's the thought of leaving something tolerable and having regrets on the other side (did I make a mistake in leaving the gravy train). For myself, I want the life on the other side, but I'm not yet at 80% so I can't quite get there yet. However, despite not being at 80% I think we need to be able to be honest with ourselves and see how close we are getting to our desired lifestyle in FI. Additionally, we need to incrementally make our days become closer and closer to that reality (otherwise, something is likely out of whack).
Hey Jordan,
Great article as always! I know that you, Carl, Pete, Brandon, and Paul, who commented above (Just finished the Pathless Path this week) have all expressed similar feelings regarding 1 more year syndrome and instead advocate for 1 year less.
Personally, I struggle a bit as I'm working a job that is tolerable and compensates me well (golden handcuffs). For context, I'm a near-single earner for a family of 5 (my wife has a business that she is just getting off the ground).
Therefore, I guess my question is how best to determine the line between reckless and ensuring that you aren't stealing years away from yourself while having unknowns such as expenses that could swing?
I always frame it like this. Winning the game is all about time. We have absolutely no control over it. It just passes. So what activities are you busying yourself with as this precious thing passes. As you get older, you should be doing mostly things you love and very little you loathe. So the big question, are you skimping on doing things you love because you are staying at a job that is so-so? If so...that is the biggest impetous to change.
Hey Jordan! I would add that your energy changes as you get older too. Financial advisors talk about the go-go years, the go-slow years, and the no-go years. I've been FIRE 10 years now and I'm noticing that I have less energy than when first "retired" at age 42. I think, you'll simply do more stuff in your 40s than in your 50s. Your 3 kids are only going to be living with you now.
Original poster, an idea: life isn't meant to be "tolerable." I get that there's a desire to provide the security your older self will need. And there is risk in leaving "early." But there's an aliveness in you in you NOW and there's another real risk is that it's going to diminish over time.
Great points. I think we forget about how certain activities and opportunities only come along in certain seasons. You mean I'm going to be even more tired in a decade! Ugh.
Elliot, I'm in a similar situation. Family of 5, job is great pay but tolerable/uninteresting. I fear setting myself back by leaving and find it hard to imagine that leaving could instead be something amazing. Thank you, Jordan, for your insights into this dilemma.
Hey Patrick, hitting the nail on the head there. I think it's the thought of leaving something tolerable and having regrets on the other side (did I make a mistake in leaving the gravy train). For myself, I want the life on the other side, but I'm not yet at 80% so I can't quite get there yet. However, despite not being at 80% I think we need to be able to be honest with ourselves and see how close we are getting to our desired lifestyle in FI. Additionally, we need to incrementally make our days become closer and closer to that reality (otherwise, something is likely out of whack).
This is the way!!!