3 Ways to Escape the 9-5 (which path are you on...?)

^{Read time - 3 minutes / Disclaimer}

Most people gush with excitement over escaping the 9-5.

Their minds run wild over things like:

- Traveling.

- Sleeping in.

- Telling the boss "I quit".

Unfortunately, for the average 9-5er it's short-lived.

Work & Life

The average person plays the 9-5 game until they turn 62.

Why?

- It's expected.

- It's what most people do.

- It's what society encourages.

When I was young, I noticed most people weren't happy playing the 9-5 game.

They hated Mondays.

They cheered Fridays.

They lived for the weekend.

Not everyone I knew felt this way, but the vast majority.

This led me to think —

What if you don't want to play that game?

The conference calls, the grouchy coworker, the feeling you have no other option...

 After working 10 years at JPMorgan Chase Bank.

I noticed there's 3 paths people take to escape the 9-5.

Everyone's on one of these paths (whether they realize it or not).

Let's dive in:

Path 1: The Default Option

This is the most common path.

The Default Option means the average person escapes the 9-5 at 62.

They:

- Live off retirement savings.

- Have 15+ years remaining.

- Hope travel is in the cards.

The biggest challenge...

Remaining in good health to do the things you enjoy.

Path 2: The Supersaver

People on this path are all over their money goals.

The Supersaver wants an early retirement, many escape the 9-5 in their 40s or 50s.

Quitting and not having to work is often the supersaver's main objective.

They:

1. Watch their money closely.

2. Plan a work-optional life.

3. Focus hard on investing.

It can be a path to freedom much sooner.

Heck the stock market is up 55% in just the last 2 years.

Path 3: The Modern Free Agent

This is the newest path.

The Modern Free Agent (as I like to call it) collects skills at a 9-5, learns to invest, then escapes to live their ideal life.

They:

1. Work as an employee for a handful of years.

2. Learn many different well-paying skills.

3. Practice The Supersaver mentality.

This allows them to escape the 9-5 early (with a large investment account).

The Modern Free Agent isn't focused on "not working".

It's about getting to a place where you can leave the 9-5 grind early.

Then —

Focus on work you truly enjoy.

This often means working part time for yourself (or an employer) and having more control over your time.

This became my chosen path.

It led to me hit the $1M mark at 36 and leave the 9-5 (almost 5 years ago).

And I believe any motivated person can do it.

Any person that doesn't want to accept 40 years of 9-5 life.

Traveling to 15 different places was the 1st item on my bucket list after quitting.

Egypt was the most memorable.

Conclusion

It's important to figure out which path you're on.

And which path you want to take.

Not deciding means society will group you into Path 1.

Path 1 (The Default Option)

It often looks like:

Retiring at 62 and hoping for good health to do the things you enjoy.

Path 2: The Supersaver

Often means:

Focusing on your money and investments so you can escape work altogether (quickly).

Path 3: The Modern Free Agent

Often means:

Collecting high paying skills, investing like a Supersaver, and escaping the 9-5 to build your ideal life.

With many skills and a cushion of investments, the world is your oyster (if you want it to be).

Keep building💰

See you next week.