A couple of years ago,\u00a0I was teaching Making a Living Without a Job<\/i><\/b> at UNLV. Although it wasn\u2019t going to be a large class, I always have a sense of anticipation on seminar days and this was no exception.<\/p>\n
After I had finished the first part of the program, I asked if there were any questions or comments. A woman raised her hand and asked a good question which I did my best to answer.<\/p>\n
I noticed a man named Rich on the other side of the room suddenly sitting up straighter. As soon as I\u2019d handled the first question, his hand went up.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve been listening to what you\u2019ve had to say,\u201d he said and paused. I thought a disagreement was coming.<\/p>\n
I was wrong. \u201cAnd I\u2019m happy to learn than I\u2019m doing a lot of things right, \u201c he said.<\/p>\n
Without any prompting, he went on to share his story. \u201cI did everything possible to keep from losing my job,\u201d he said. \u201cI took a pay cut, I worked longer hours, I hung on for dear life. A few months ago, I was laid off anyway. When I left, my employer said they hoped to hire me back as soon as possible and wanted me to leave my office just as it was with my wife\u2019s picture and other personal things. I agreed.\u201d<\/p>\n
Then he went on to tell us that he\u2019d spent a couple of weeks licking his wounds and then decided it was time for a new plan. This new plan included starting a service business as a handyman and junk remover.<\/p>\n
Rich told us a bit about his what his days are like now. \u201cMy wife says,\u201d he laughed, \u201cthat she\u2019s never seen me so relaxed and happy.\u201d<\/p>\n
The longer he talked the more enthusiastic he became. \u201cLast week,\u201d he went on, \u201cI decided to go back and visit my old employer. I\u2019ve only been gone a few months, but everyone looked like they\u2019d aged two years. I looked at my old office and thought, \u2018I\u2019m never coming back.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
As often as I hear stories like Rich\u2019s, I never fail to be moved by them.<\/p>\n
Discovering our right livelihood is often a turning point, after all, one that introduces us to more joy, more adventure, and more extraordinary people than we ever realized was possible.<\/p>\n
When he finished his story, I said, \u201cSo do you know what the number one regret is of people who become self-employed?\u201d<\/p>\n
Without hesitation Rich said, \u201cThat they didn\u2019t start sooner.\u201d<\/p>\n
He is absolutely right. That\u2019s a regret that can be avoided, of course, but only if you go after your dreams sooner.<\/p>\n
Psychologist Alfred Adler concurs. \u201cThere is only one danger I find in life,\u201d warned Adler, \u201cyou may\u00a0 take too many precautions.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A couple of years ago,\u00a0I was teaching Making a Living Without a Job at UNLV. Although it wasn\u2019t going to be a large class, I always have a sense of anticipation on seminar days and this was no exception. After I had finished the first part of the program, I asked if there were any…<\/p>\n