I woke up one morning last November and something felt different.
It was later than my normal rising time. The sun was already shining.
I didn’t hit the ground running like I always do.
I wasn’t amped out of my mind and busting with excitement to get to work and dominate everything in my path.
It was a feeling I wasn’t used to.
I knew it was time to check myself.
Where was the passion? Where was the hustle?
Where was Jay?!
What the hell happened?
After some deep thought and introspection I discovered that I was lying. Lying to myself and lying to you guys.
I was being hypocritical and doing what I always tell you NOT to do. I was doing shit that I either hated, didn’t believe in anymore and/or wasn’t passionate about.
So I decided to man up and take my own damn advice. I’d be a fraud if I told you guys to do one thing and I did another.
I decided that morning to completely stop doing everything that was bringing me down or that I had lost my passion for.
There were certain things that I still had active promotions for out on the web that I no longer believed in.
This was making me sick.
I realized that like the famous quote goes, sometimes “you have to kill your darlings.”
For those who don’t know, one of the ways I make money online is through affiliate promotions.
That means that if I like and use something personally, and am going to recommend it to you anyway, I try to make a commission on it. It’s one of the ways I help put food on the table and keep the lights on.
So I contact the company or sign up for one of their pre-existing affiliate accounts.
When I read a book that had a great impact on my life I will tell you about it using my Amazon affiliate link. If you buy the link through that link I will make a small commission.
Same deal with supplements, equipment, etc.
But I will NEVER promote something I don’t believe in and use personally.
Case in point…
There were certain supplements I used to use and believe in. Over time I discovered that they probably weren’t as essential or as effective as I once thought. So out goes the promotion of them.
That means I make less money.
But I’ve gotta be 100% honest, all day, every day, always. I’ve gotta be able to look myself in the mirror. And one day tell my kids and grandkids about what I did/do for a living. Misleading or screwing people will certainly not be part of that story.
The point is this: if you’re not passionate about something don’t do it. Life is too short for that shit.
Don’t stay in a job you hate.
Money isn’t everything.
Take the risk. Do something that scares you. Do something most people won’t.
We live in a day and age where you can do whatever you want. You don’t even need a college education or a lot of money to get started.
You just need passion and hustle.
I fucked up. I started phoning it in. I lied to myself. And more importantly I unknowingly, unintentionally was lying to you guys by doing what I tell you not to.
For that I apologize.
It won’t happen again.
I willingly decided to make at least $150k less this year than I did last year. Because I knew I had to be authentic, set an example and lead from the front.
I had to stop doing shit I hated.
I’m not worried about it. I’ll be fine.
What worries me more is that some of you guys will keep doing shit you hate. You’ll stay in a soul-sucking job for the wrong reasons. You’ll let fear dictate your actions. You won’t take the risk.
But you have to. You owe it to yourself.
I’ve been down before. I’ve been broke. I’ve had to work 16-hour days for years on end. I lost all my hair in my mid twenties due to the stress. I know fear and desperation.
I also know that you can’t put a price tag on freedom.
Freedom is what we all want more than anything else. It’s what men give their lives for, defending every day.
Don’t willingly give yours up.
Decide to live the life you want.
Because at the end of the day, there’s no better feeling than quoting Sinatra and saying, “I did it my way.”
Today’s the day, my friends.
There’s no “tomorrow.”
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PS. Do me a favor and think long and hard about what you are and aren’t passionate about. Start thinking of ways you can do more of the former and less of the latter.
If you’re ready to take the leap or confused about what the next step is please leave a comment below and let me know how I can help.