A Diverse Background

Reflecting on my career, I realize it's been anything but conventional. While I can't provide an exact count, I've participated in nearly a hundred different projects. I hesitate to label it a "career" in the usual sense since I never engaged in a typical job. My journey commenced in the mid-90s as a freelancer, spending my days coding to fulfill someone else's vision while padding their profits. I wasn't savvy enough then to understand that if I was the mastermind behind the projects, I deserved more than a paltry hourly wage.

Transitioning to Entrepreneurship

Fast forward a decade, I became weary of the repetitive cycle and felt I had more to contribute. This prompted my shift to entrepreneurship, where I established a software company focused on project-based work. Our guiding principle was to create customized solutions. In hindsight, it was essentially a larger-scale version of executing others' ideas for payment. The business flourished, and soon I had over 20 employees. However, the relentless pressure of keeping the team motivated and progressing took its toll. After a decade, I experienced burnout and sold the business, which continues to prosper in my absence. Would I choose that business model again? Absolutely not!

Returning to Freelancing

Since I hadn't truly ventured beyond my previous experiences, I returned to IT freelancing. My strength lies in identifying and addressing others' challenges. I continued to work with large corporations, often grappling with tedious and illogical tasks. In my extensive experience, big companies have an uncanny talent for creating problems only to solve them, often in an inefficient manner. Yet, they remain profitable—a perplexing game. For introspective individuals, this environment is hardly fulfilling. Sure, there are plentiful opportunities for professional growth, but the slow pace and rigid frameworks can be exhausting.

A recent article I encountered struck a chord: Spend a few weeks or months in a corporation for insights, then exit quickly!

A Recurring Theme

From freelancer to entrepreneur and back again, my roles evolved. Yet, one constant remained: I was perpetually executing someone else's vision. While doing this for a short time is one thing, over an extended period? It simply lacks fulfillment.

Seeking Genuine Freedom

Do I feel genuinely free? Not at all. I remain just another cog in the corporate machine, enduring countless monotonous meetings like every other employee. The lure of financial security keeps many trapped in this unending cycle.

A recent thought crystallized my perspective:

• Envision grand possibilities.
• Act on your ideas.
• Generate income for yourself.
• Dismiss political noise and ignore irrelevant news.
• Stay true to yourself and forge your own path.

How to Achieve Success

1. Envision Grand Possibilities

   We are often conditioned to blend in, to follow the crowd, and to lead mundane lives. The collective often overshadows the individual, especially in current societal trends. Thinking big involves breaking free from the familiar and aiming higher than conventional teachings. It's about individualism. A team or community is only as strong as its weakest link, or at best, its average member. If being average, conforming, and avoiding distinction satisfies you, then you may be considered a good citizen. This message is ingrained in us by government, educational institutions, and employers. But is that sufficient for me? Absolutely not! I've always harbored lofty ambitions, even if I've occasionally been swayed by misguided business models or complacency.

2. Act on Your Ideas

   This has been the elusive element in my life thus far. Why is it crucial? In one word: autonomy. Dedicating your energy to others leaves little for your own endeavors. Your creativity can be stifled due to a lack of spontaneity. Pursuing your own ideas allows your creativity to thrive. If you wish to try a novel approach to achieve your goals more efficiently, there's no need for lengthy justifications. You dictate the pace and progression. Act now! Don't merely fantasize. Transform those grand ideas into reality. If you're consistently working on others' dreams, when will you carve time for your own?

3. Generate Income for Yourself

   Working on your projects not only grants creative freedom but also allows you to determine your earnings. In this era of online business and SaaS, the opportunities are virtually limitless. If you're merely implementing someone else's vision, you're laboring for their gain. Hourly wages and salaries have their limits. It's satisfying to help others prosper, but what about your success? With today's technology, the possibilities are boundless. Don't settle for small change when you can obtain the whole jar.

4. Dismiss Political Noise

   Turn off the radio and television. They're filled with distracting, irrelevant noise that seldom pertains to your life or your business. I would even argue that they're designed to divert your focus from what truly matters. In essence, eliminate the news, politics, and other distractions. By doing so, you'll conserve much more energy for what's essential. Tune out the clamor. Politics? Latest gossip? That trending TV show? If it won't matter tomorrow, why allow it to waste your today? Concentrate on what genuinely counts.

5. Stay True to Yourself and Forge Your Own Path

   When you deviate from the norm, the journey may not always be smooth. You'll encounter skepticism and hear that success is unattainable; others have tried and failed. But you are not them. Their experiences do not define your potential. Most individuals fear change and instinctively try to impose that fear on others. Some may worry that you won't fit into their world anymore. Rise above that noise. Unsolicited opinions and advice, especially from those who are stuck in their routines, are irrelevant. If they were genuinely focused on their growth or business, they wouldn't have time to offer unsolicited advice. Thus, if you seek guidance, ensure it comes from someone who has achieved success and can share tangible experiences.