You will never get rich working for someone else.
John Paul Getty
Social media is running rampant with new entrepreneurs and hustle bros. Everywhere you look it’s flipping products, affiliate marketing, and e-book publishing. Side hustles are taking over the personal finance community. I’m not saying that any of these are bad. Hell, this blog is a side hustle of mine, and I’m hoping it will lead to many more opportunities.
But I also have a day job, and I don’t plan on leaving it. Anyone who has a side hustle knows they are a lot of work. Many hours are put into these projects before you start to see any results.
My advice: don’t quit your day job. They are called side hustles for a reason. There’s nothing wrong with dipping your toe in while you still get a paycheck from your 9-5.
The Two Pillars of Rollercoasters
Millions of people go to amusement parks every year for the rollercoasters alone. The real fanatics will even fly across the world to try the newest, scariest ride. To me, this is insane. I need a handful of Dramamine just to look at a rollercoaster. But tons of people get a kick out of it.
Why?
People like rollercoasters because they feel dangerous while also being safe. People get to fly around in crazy directions doing flips and turns while being safely harnessed in. It’s enough to make you scream–or puke.
The feeling of excitement makes you want to come back. The safety permits it.
Your side hustle brings you excitement while your day job is the safety net. Keep your job and work on your side hustle in the off-hours. That is the safest and smartest way to do it. This also frees you up to pivot if necessary.
If you get on a rollercoaster and it doesn’t move, oh well. You’re bummed out, but there are more rollercoasters to try. Just get off and try a new one.
If you get on a rollercoaster and don’t strap yourself in, it might be your last ride.
Safety without excitement is fine. Excitement without safety is not. Give yourself some wiggle room.
Wings not Shackles
Hustle bros will tell you that your 9-5 is slavery. “Entrepreneurship is the true essence of freedom”, they say. “When you work a day job, your efforts line someone else’s pockets.”
True, but that money also goes into someone else’s pockets. Yours.
It’s like these guys have all forgotten that you get a paycheck for your time. That’s how employment works. When you work for someone else, they pay you. Sure, you have rules to follow–entrepreneurs do, too. But this is far from slavery. In fact, there is only one way your 9-5 job becomes servitude.
Spending your whole paycheck.
When you spend your entire paycheck, you are a slave. There’s nowhere you can go. You need that job more than anything else in the world. You can’t eat or sleep without it.
Instead, you can save your money. Live beneath your means, and stash some money away for a rainy day. That is how you break the shackles of the 9-5. When you have money saved up, you are free. Free to find a new job, free to invest, free to start a new side hustle.
When you save money instead of spending it, your 9-5 gives you wings.
Beware of Hustle Porn
When I searched Google Images for “never get rich working for someone else”, here’s what popped up.
Aside from the humorous pictures, there are two types of content here: agreement and disagreement. 80% of this content says that you can’t get rich working for someone else. Nearly all of them are selling something to tell you why.
The other half says that you can get rich from your day job alone. Not one of them is selling the solution.
Curious, isn’t it?
Not really. The people who subscribe to “hustle porn” don’t really believe in creating anything. They believe in selling people on the idea of creating something. Therein lies the strategy of hustle porn. Pump people up and get people to buy your guide so you don’t have to put in any work yourself. Seems pretty shady to me.
The people who disagree don’t care about your money. They want to help.
Your 9-5 is not a curse; it’s a blessing. Take what your employer gives you and put it towards your future. Invest your money and invest in yourself. Let your 9-5 be the springboard.
Ride that rollercoaster. Just remember to buckle yourself in.
Thanks for reading!
Featured photo source: Matt Bowden on Unsplash
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