People feel the need to do something a particular way just because that’s the way it seems it should be done and they feel if you don’t do it that particular way, then it doesn’t “count”.
For example, if you don’t quit that job you hate and go full bore on your business, then you’re not a “true” entrepreneur. It doesn’t count. You have to lay it all on the line.
Nope.
There’s no “rule” carved on a stone tablet that says you must take that exact path.
There are a lot of different ways to take to get to a particular destination.
Some people just like to freelance on the side. Others like to save up before they start their business. Others like working at their job and building a business on the side as side income. Others want to build up their business to a point where they feel really comfortable in a lot of areas before making the jump.
But despite all these alternative paths, people feel that those paths “don’t count”, that they’re somehow “less”, because they hear these big stories of people who quit in dramatic fashion and made millions and it’s so dramatic and they think that’s the way it’s done.
You have to recognize though that “boring” stories tend not to spread so you only hear the sensational ones and if those are the only ones you hear, then you assume that’s the way it’s done.
When the Internet was pretty new, online dating was considered for losers but look at it now. There’s still a tiny bit of stigma involved but people have embraced it and many have found their partners through that once unorthodox path.
The work path for most people is 9-5 for 40 years. Some people are working for 6-8 months, living a simple life, saving like crazy and then traveling to low cost countries for the remainder of the year where their money goes farther. Is that a better alternative to waiting till you’re 65 to travel? Not necessarily better, just an alternative. An unorthodox one.
Here’s the thing.
Think of like this. You put in a destination on your GPS and it gives you a route that takes you on a major freeway. Must you follow that route? Is that the only way there?
No.
You can go on surface streets and the freeway. You can mix the two. You can take public transportation. You can take an alternative form of transportation. You can walk for a bit, you can bike for a bit, then travel in your car. You can take detours. You can stop and sightsee for a bit.
There are so many different ways to get to a destination.
But people think if you don’t go on the “freeway”, it doesn’t count, even though you reach your destination.
Don’t be trapped and fooled into that kind of thinking.
Embrace unorthodox paths because once you do, your mind opens up and you get excited at the possibilities now.
You’ve freed yourself from your self imposed prison of only taking this one path.
It doesn’t matter the path you take, as long as you’re not hurting others, there’s more than one way to get to a destination.
It’s almost like there’s “police” out there in the form of other people who observe your life and if you’re not doing it this particular way, it doesn’t count, it’s not real.
Retirement is a great example of this. People say if you’re working, you’re not “really” retired. You’re not gloriously doing nothing and enjoying yourself.
But some people enjoy working. Maybe they’re not working full time but part time. Maybe they enjoy that kind of retirement because it gives them something to do, it helps maintain and create social connections, it keeps their mind active.
Other people can do all that without a job and that’s fine for them too.
There are many different paths one can take to a successful retirement.
Feel free to be open to unorthodox paths and don’t think less of yourself for not choosing the most traveled road.
In fact, don’t be afraid to choose the one less traveled because it may be better than you imagine as it’s less crowded and can get you to your destination even faster than the traditional path.
People are too invested in the orthodox paths because that’s all they know and if others take other paths and get to the same destination, they may feel “cheated” in a sense so they will vehemently “police” to make sure other people are sticking to the orthodox paths so as not to feel like their “investment” is in vain.
Pay them no mind.
Be open to the unorthodox paths.
What a shame it would be to miss out on the roads less traveled.
