The norm of working at 9-5 is favoured by many and has been engraved into society for decades. We have been taught to think a certain way while growing up in school. It’s our curriculum and what better did we know, we were just kids. On the other hand, as adults, we are as ignorant as our younger selves. Only when a pandemic caused catastrophic job losses affecting the entire world, is when we realised the dangers of relying on one income.
To limit yourself purposely is selfish, in my opinion. I believe everyone has more to give to society other than working under someone. Our passions, hobbies, and interests are a sign of what we’re capable of. Now, is it laziness that’s stopping us or ignorance? I believe it’s a compound of both. Under special circumstances, we’re unable to commit to recreational activities let alone another income. Is that again due to laziness or priorities?
I will delve into this subject today and give my 2 cents on this popular topic. People love to point fingers and make excuses when others are doing better in life. Let’s have a look at motivation to start, what’s the issue, and the dangers.
Motivation to start -
The beginning of any journey is hard, it's difficult when you see others making money outside of their 9-5 and thinking it's impossible to reach their level. You need to remember that if someone else can do it, there's is no reason for you not to. Nobody said to go full throttle and start earning an extra few hundred a month. Start small and dedicate 30 minutes. This will be the best way to get motivated. Keep going until you start building traction and have the mental and physical strength to dedicate more time.
What's the issue?
Relying on one income is the silliest notion. Yes, the probability of losing your 'stable' job is low but why put so much effort into a job that doesn't give the salary you deserve, you're being drained of your time, energy, and expertise. Imagine if you put even 10% of that effort into a side business. You're most definitely capable it's just a matter of honing your skills and understanding what you can offer the world.
Working a 9-5 and supplementing it with a side business will do wonders for you. Yes, it's not easy but is anything great, easy? The extra income can allow you to do so much more.
The Dangers
Dependency on one income is asking for hardship down the line and Covid was the reality check we all needed. Of course, it’s impossible to work 2 full-time jobs, have a social life, and remain mentally stable. Having a side business, a side job, or investments can help you in many aspects of life. Knowing where your skills lie is crucial as you can leverage them to make an income. In most cases, many of us don’t have the skills to go out and make money with our current skill set. This is where we have to dedicate time outside of work in order to build them. And then eventually we will be at a stage where we will have a second source of income.
Many hardships that we go through are caused by money and I dislike that we pin ourselves to one job, assuming we cannot do anymore for a better lifestyle. We have a lot more going for us, it’s just we don’t have anyone around us to tell us that. Or if we do, the effort required to act far outweighs the benefits. I’m not here to tell you to fix up and work harder. I already know that you do, whether it’s for your family, friends, or yourself. Look at the bigger picture and know that you can accomplish a lot more than where you’re now. You just have to break out of the mindset that you can’t. If there is a will, there is a way.