The Early Retirement Mirage

Over the years, I've noticed more and more friends and family dreaming of early retirement—not because they're eager to begin the next adventure, but because they're desperate to escape their work.

They're hoping that if they can play all their cards just right—maxing out their 401(k), investing in the right stocks, buying Bitcoin—that they can stop dragging themselves to work five days a week. They know they don't love what they do, but they've convinced themselves that if they can endure just long enough, they'll finally get to live on their own terms.

I get it. I know it. I lived it.

My First Attempt to Break Free

For years, I wanted to work for myself. I dreamt of creating something I could pour my heart into, make a lot of money doing, and be proud of.

In 2016, I decided to give it a shot. After long days at the office, I spent my nights building my own app, hoping it would grow into a startup that would finally let me break free. I'd work until 2 AM, sleep a little, and do it all over again.

It didn't work.

Burnout hit me like a ton of bricks. By the time I launched the app, I was so fried I couldn't think straight, let alone found a startup. My dreams of being my own boss crumbled under the weight of exhaustion. I gave the whole thing up just a few months after publishing the app.

I told myself I would try again soon, once I had more time or energy or money… but I was lying to myself. Deep down, I doubted whether I could really do it. I was scared. Scared of failing. Scared of leaving the safety net of a steady paycheck. So I stayed.

The Safety Net That Wasn't

Last year, my "safety net" was yanked away. I got let go.

I had plenty of savings, but I still panicked. I'd gotten so used to the rhythm of a paycheck every two weeks, the illusion of stability it gave me—even though I hated it. I hated working for someone else, following someone else's rules, and executing someone else's vision. But I couldn't bring myself to leave.

It had become a prison. And I was the one locking the door.

Wagering It All

By the time I lost that job, the misery I'd felt for years had festered into something darker. I wasn't just unhappy—I was drowning.

I'd seen a documentary about Johnny Manziel, the football player, and his post-career struggles. He talked about planning to blow through all his money on one last party in Vegas before ending it all. It was heartbreaking.

And while my situation was different, I related to that feeling of hopelessness.

I wasn't heading to Vegas, but I was ready to wager everything I had to change the trajectory of my life. I took the money I'd saved for a down payment on a house and made the ultimate gamble: I bet it on myself.

No Plan B.

No turning back.

The Greatest Challenge of My Life

It's been almost a year, and I won't sugarcoat it: it hasn't been easy. I'm working more hours than I ever did as an employee—because, in a way, it's a fight for my life.

But for the first time, I feel alive in my work. I'm doing creative projects I love, work that challenges me and excites me. And the best part? I'm helping people.

Every week, I hear from former coworkers, old classmates, and even strangers telling me that my story resonates with them. It feels like I'm speaking for all of us who've felt stuck, suffocated, and silenced by the grind. And knowing that, I realize I have no choice but to continue.

Why "Safe" Isn't Safe

Years ago, my wife and I were trying to buy a home. Then the pandemic hit, and housing prices skyrocketed. The life we wanted—the one we thought we were working toward—slipped further out of reach. My salary wasn't enough to keep up. No salary would be.

That's when I finally understood: playing it "safe" wasn't safe at all.

I had to accept that my plan wasn't working. I had to stop numbing myself with things like TV, food, and alcohol and start to take ownership over my destiny. What's the worst that would happen if I exhausted all my savings: I'd have to go back to work and retire later? So what? Who cares? The way things were going, I'd have to live to a hundred to see retirement anyway.

Betting on Myself

So, I took all the skills I had acquired over the years—writing, filmmaking, web development—and just started creating. I built my website, wrote blog posts, and recorded videos. I took my interests and began building products around them. For my overall happiness, it's felt like a deluge in the desert.

I still have friends—wealthy ones—who can't give up the paycheck. I get it. We've all got responsibilities: children to support, mortgages to pay. But what would you really be risking if you set aside some money for yourself to pursue work that excites you—work with far greater financial upside? I bet, like me, you'll find it isn't a risk at all. In fact, the real risk is staying where you are: unhappy, self-soothing, living a compromised existence.

The Door is Open

There's a better life out there. You just have to be willing to take it.

You can break free of the cage you've put yourself in. Because here's a secret: the door is unlocked. All you have to do is walk through.

Start today. Bet on yourself. Take one small step toward building a life that excites you. Whether it's writing that first post, creating your first product, or simply deciding you're ready for more—it's all waiting for you.

The only question left is: Are you ready to open the door?