Why I'm Giving Up My Retirement For 3 Months In Spain

If you love what you're doing during these best years of your life, then by all means, keep doing it until the day you retire.  But if you are like the rest of us, and absolutely hate your 9 to 5 job, then take long vacations now and make up for this loss time later on life.

After reading The Four Hour Work Week by Timothy Ferriss, my outlook on life was completely changed.  If you haven't read this book yet, buy it right after you read this blog!  I'm that serious about it.  The whole premise of the book is that it isn't the millionaires money we envy as much as it is her lifestyle. 

Just ponder that for a second.  What is it about the millionaire that seems attractive? It isn't her work ethic or her long hours.  It's the freedom of her schedule.  We all want the ability to travel, buy things, and change our schedules on a whim.  But no one wants to work like a slave and never have time to spend the money that they've worked so hard to make. I think this is why some women have married for money - You get all the perks of being a millionaire without actually having to do any of the work for it, at least not in the traditional sense.

That being said, we all can live like millionaires at one expense: Retirement.  Before I tell you why retirement is the biggest lie ever believed by man, let me tell you how you can obtain a millionaire's lifestyle right now.  All you have to do is take lots of long vacations.  Think of it this way, you either take the time now in small increments, or you take the time later all at once.  Do what you want, but I'm taking my time now. I'd rather have this time while I'm young, than trying to tour Europe alone when i'm old.

There is no way on earth that you can convince me to give up the best years of my life now hoping for a life of happiness in the last.  No way! Think about it.  Retirement forces you to spend 30 years of your life wholesaling your time to people you don't like, in order to buy things you don't need.  This is even more disheartening when you couple it with the fact that most people will NEVER be able to retire due to inflation and the increasing cost of living.  Furthermore, if you are an ambitious person, retirement is a recipe for boredom. 

I have made a decision to forgo delayed gratification because I have lateral options.  I am choosing to take my retirements now.  I am kicking over the big pot of gold promised at the end of my life, taking some of the coins out now, and taking them with me to Spain, Hawaii, Argentina, France, Indonesia, and New York City. 

So what about you?  Are you willing to give up your retirement for a series of mini vacays for the rest of your life? Or do you think retirement is worth it? Comment below...

 

Aarin Elizabeth is the founder of iVi Scents | Nontoxic Bath and Body

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Why a Recession is the Best Time to Start a Business

Starting a business in the midst of a recession is one of the smartest business moves you can make.  Some of the greatest businesses of all time were born during bad times: Facebook, LinkedIn, Monopoly, Apple, Cliff Bar, Scrabble, KFC, Dominoes, FedEx, and Microsoft are just a few.

So why is now the best time to become an entrepreneur?  First, the cost to open a business is at an all time low.  A recession is the best time to buy rent estate, purchase equipment, hire designers, buy products, and seize coveted advertising space, because everyone is willing to accept discounted prices.  Second, the competition is low.  A recession creates a lower barrier of entry into the marketplace.  As the only light in the dark, you have no choice but to shine brilliantly.  Third, a recession gives you confidence.  If your business can survive through the tough times, it can survive through anything. Likewise, if your business folds under the pressure, it probably wasn't meant to be -in the first place - And it's cheaper to fail fast if you are doomed to fail. 

I know dozens of people personally who have lost their jobs due to this recession -- In fact, I was one of them.  But after opening my own business, I now have a steady income and the ability to create jobs for others. So although it may seem like starting a business now may is risky, sometimes I wonder if working for someone else may be even be riskier. 

Aarin Elizabeth is the founder of iVi Scents | Nontoxic Bath and Body

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