When I was growing up in my early childhood I was always under the obligation to care for myself as my single mother found herself working most days and nights. Growing up and reaching the age of 14, I had the independent mindset that “no one will do for you what you need to do for yourself” and so I found myself wanting to work and earn money – for what else? Video games!
Since I was an immigrant, my work permit would only allow me to work about 15 hours a week and my visa status wasn’t quite there yet, which prevented me from working in most places, as they required verification of employment status that I didn’t have.
Wandering around in my high school cafeteria one day, I found myself presented with an interesting opportunity… telemarketing. I was young and not quite sure of what a telemarketer was – and so I was told that I would be making phone calls for leads and would earn $12 an hour. More importantly, this opportunity would allow me to build experience instead of sitting at home. It seemed like a great idea at the time and actions are better than dreams so therefore I decided to take control of my future at the age of 14.
Being a telemarketer is much easier than most people imagine. In fact, it’s very easy as long as you’re confident and don’t mind getting rejected a hundred times a day. The job itself is simple and requires nothing more than some common sense, the ability to speak English and the confidence to make a phone call.
Most people will not do the job, as they are simply not interested in being rejected over a hundred times a day. I, however, looked at life differently and understood that the money was simply better than what I could earn flipping burgers. Also, the location was an office job rather than a restaurant, and the earning potential could triple if I were successful.
I did nothing more than do my job. I made phone calls, countless phone calls that led to sales, sales that led to commissions, and commissions that led to promotions. At the end of the day I worked half the hours my friends worked at various restaurants and retail stores and I earned almost ten times as much; which leads me to my point…
Often in life, we enjoy doing certain things and aspire to be a certain somebody. We often visualize what we will be as we get older or what the road ahead looks like after high school or college, but we usually lose ourselves in our dreams rather than pursuing the actual real path to get there. Sometimes people aspire to live a certain luxury lifestyle but yet want to become public school teachers or law enforcement officers, which are okay professions by all means but not a means to attain a luxury lifestyle of any sort. Therefore, there is a missing element to the goal, and that is a realistic approach.
Picking the Right Path Is Crucial
When people ask me “Don, what was your first job?” I reply ” I was a telemarketer” and they laugh and say “Man, you must have hated it”, it simply amuses me and I reply “No, It’s the reason I drive an Aston Martin today”.
You see, years ago my goal in life was not to become a telemarketer, a banker, the president of some company or any such thing. My goal 10 years ago was to be a in a position to help people, people like yourself who send me emails thanking me for the coaching. That was my ultimate goal.
My other goal was to be very comfortable financially, to enjoy my passion for cars and real estate and to enjoy a life full of pleasant experiences. The more comfortable path and my goals did not match and therefore I took a realistic approach, not an enjoyable one.
I stayed on the road that made the most money, not the one where I felt I would enjoy the most at the time. I did this so in the future I could acquire the lifestyle and comfort I’ve always wanted. Now, as a result of my financial independence, I’m able to spend time helping everyone I’ve always dreamed of helping and I have the lifestyle I’ve always dreamed of having.
Align Your Actions with Your Goals
Sometimes the decisions we have to make are not the easiest nor the most comfortable ones. However, if they are aligned with your ultimate goals, and not so much with what you’d like to do today, then the final outcome will allow you to get back to your original comfort zone and beyond. Also, the experiences along the way will make you stronger and more seasoned for what’s to come.
Just remember that ultimately, you and only you control where your life is headed. It’s worth stopping for a moment before accepting a job offer or taking the next step and asking yourself, “Is this a realistic move to grow into the person I ultimately want to become?” If it’s a dead-end, then don’t let it waste your time. Instead, find the correct path or you might just end up spending your entire life doing nothing more than dreaming about the life you really want.
