Through all the EXTREMELY tough times, though, I could always fall back on the fact that this was a conscious lifestyle choice I was making, and I was headed for much better times when my business took root. It’s really something you’ve just got to believe–for a while there, there was NO good reason NOT to get a steady job doing something else.

You’re absolutely right about people not recognizing that there is a choice to be made. I personally think 95% of people are f*ing nuts for NOT going out on a limb for a while (be it in business, or life in general). I wouldn’t recommend that just anyone jump into entrepreneurship, but if you’ve got something to offer the world, then take the risk and OFFER IT! Take the hits as they come (and come the will), and keep moving forward. (That might be from a Rocky movie . . . but it’s damn good advice!)

I bought my wife a 2 year old Acura TSX cash while our friends leased 3 series BMWs. We bought everything with cash. Loans are only for buying appreciating assets (like real estate, which appreciates in the long term due to the effects of inflation).

Not having thousands of dollars in debt to feed every month affords great freedoms. Like taking 3 months off to visit Thailand and India or spending 6 months with your newborn son.

As Warren Buffett once said, citizens of the US have become sharecroppers, bound by financial slavery.

Congratulations on your choice for a free lifestyle!

At least they should be honest and say “I don’t want to spend money on that,” or “I’ve chosen to blow all my money on designer shoes so I don’t have much left for charity.”