1.  “If you had already put a system in place to make enough money to live on, what would you DO?” He understood the question because he realized the concept of spending all your time working for money was a waste of your life. His answer unfortunately (or genuinely) was “Play video games.”

I can't stress how important this question is. Thanks for highlighting it.  I wanted to address it because, as I read your comment about your son responding with “video games,” I automatically thought to myself, “Well, sure, because that's what he knows at this point.  But I”m sure once he gets older and becomes exposed to other hobbies, activities and interests, that could change.”  And then it hit me – maybe the same applies for adults, as well.  We default to trading time for money because that's all we know at this point, but if we were to become aware of other options, then that could change.  Furthermore, I think the same concept could be applied across the board to other concepts – if a person has never traveled, for example, then he/she will rarely crave it.  You don't miss what you never had.  I'm curious how many of us would still be in the same situations if we were exposed to other things, at which point, once we are aware…there's no going back.

Also, I agree with what you say about McDonald's.  I didn't mean to imply that there was a direct correlation, because you're right, at McDonald's you are trading time for money and you aren't afforded any opportunities for creative thought, etc.  I just was hoping to make a point that there are many lifestyle designers out there who have managed to create self-sustaining muses that may or may not be related to anything they're passionate about, similar to having a job at McDonald's, because at the end of the day you're at liberty to pursue your true interests.  You're not devoting your life to a career, and taking it home with you at the end of the day. You're liberated to do as you please with your free time, without feeling some sort of guilt for not propelling your career forward…because once you leave McDonald's, you're done!  Once you create a muse, you're done!  Know what I mean? 

Kent thanks so much for coming by the site – would love to keep the interaction alive.  And opposing perspectives are always welcome, as they help to round out the conversation and allow readers to take what they like, and leave what they don't.  Awesome.  Cheers, Kent!

1.  “If you had already put a system in place to make enough money to live on, what would you DO?” He understood the question because he realized the concept of spending all your time working for money was a waste of your life. His answer unfortunately (or genuinely) was “Play video games.”

I can't stress how important this question is. Thanks for highlighting it.  I wanted to address it because, as I read your comment about your son responding with “video games,” I automatically thought to myself, “Well, sure, because that's what he knows at this point.  But I”m sure once he gets older and becomes exposed to other hobbies, activities and interests, that could change.”  And then it hit me – maybe the same applies for adults, as well.  We default to trading time for money because that's all we know at this point, but if we were to become aware of other options, then that could change.  Furthermore, I think the same concept could be applied across the board to other concepts – if a person has never traveled, for example, then he/she will rarely crave it.  You don't miss what you never had.  I'm curious how many of us would still be in the same situations if we were exposed to other things, at which point, once we are aware…there's no going back.

Also, I agree with what you say about McDonald's.  I didn't mean to imply that there was a direct correlation, because you're right, at McDonald's you are trading time for money and you aren't afforded any opportunities for creative thought, etc.  I just was hoping to make a point that there are many lifestyle designers out there who have managed to create self-sustaining muses that may or may not be related to anything they're passionate about, similar to having a job at McDonald's, because at the end of the day you're at liberty to pursue your true interests.  You're not devoting your life to a career, and taking it home with you at the end of the day. You're liberated to do as you please with your free time, without feeling some sort of guilt for not propelling your career forward…because once you leave McDonald's, you're done!  Once you create a muse, you're done!  Know what I mean? 

Kent thanks so much for coming by the site – would love to keep the interaction alive.  And opposing perspectives are always welcome, as they help to round out the conversation and allow readers to take what they like, and leave what they don't.  Awesome.  Cheers, Kent!

Your post was eerily relevant to me.

Earlier tonight, before I read your post, I actually DID have this conversation with my nine year old son, a breathing version of the hypothetical one in your post. I had just listened to the audio version of The Four Hour Work Week and looking for direction. The question was phrased the way you put it. “If you had already put a system in place to make enough money to live on, what would you DO?” He understood the question because he realized the concept of spending all your time working for money was a waste of your life. His answer unfortunately (or genuinely) was “Play video games.”  I can't really blame him, he is my son. When I was a teen, I can distinctly remember aspiring to own a video game store, so I could play all the games, all the time, for “Free”. I STILL don't know what I would want to do if I had unlimited time to spend! Although it surely involves adventures with my 9 year old and the rest of the family.

The greatest difficulty comes when you are successful in creating a muse. The hard work is filling your free time with meaningful pursuits. Nine years old is still too young to know what you want to “do”. It is almost easier to focus on what skills interest you the most, focus your energy on that skill and build your muse around it. Muses take skills in some field to build. Whether the skill be storytelling or coding or music.

Later that night, when I tried to ask further, all he wanted to do was get back to flinging a Tastycake Chocolate mini donut across the room with the catapult he made at cub scouts…

I understand where you are going with the McDonald’s analogy from the standpoint of a job for the money and not about the work, but I think it over simplifies on two points.

First is passion. You don’t need passion to work at McDonald’s, but to develop a muse that actually works takes huge amounts of it. I don’t mean you have to be passionate ABOUT the subject of your muse, just the creation of it. A muse takes creative thinking and rule breaking, the likes of which would get you fired from McDonald’s. Not to mention, working at McDonald’s, you are told what to do and how to do it, every second. With a muse and a “Lifestyle Designed”, no one tells you what to do or how to do it.

The second is in time investment. McDonald’s is the definition of a job that requires you to be present to get a paycheck. Linking a muse to a McDonald’s style job severely under values a proper muse. A muse should operate with a bunch of work up front but later you don’t even need to show up! When I think of a McDonald’s style job I think of meaningless work that takes my time and offers no rewards for efficiency or innovation.

One thing he said which really got me was. He would rather be poor but have his father around and at home with him than have “Bill Gates” money but never see his father. With those priorities, I guess we are doing something right. I wonder if that will last until he is 17.

Thanks for putting your thoughts out there. Even if I don't always agree with them, it forces me to think about assumptions that I made a long time ago and challenges their validity.

So glad the post was valuable to you!  Get in touch anytime if you want to chat more about it. 

So glad the post was valuable to you!  Get in touch anytime if you want to chat more about it. 

Your point is certainly well-taken, and you're right–there are people who are perfectly happy to fit in, do what they're told, and just go with the flow.  (Although I might make the argument that there is a certain percentage of those people who simply aren't willing to think, because, well, thinking requires work and therefore have “chosen” those paths based on their relative ease).  Yet, the goal of this site and, from my perspective, the collective goals of many “lifestyle design” sites out there are certainly are not to belittle those for whom the above is a reality; however, I do think that one of the objectives IS to offend those that are seeking other alternatives, but aren't doing anything about it.  As you said: “They shouldn't accept it as fate and this is where we can help them break out.”  In this context, if I can offend someone ever-so-slightly slightly as a probe to cause them to reflect on the quality of their lives, then I feel like I'm meeting my goals.  I don't believe change comes as a result of tip-toeing around the point, essentially catering to what people want to hear so they can feel good about themselves.  The idea is to make them question their choices, and the only way that will happen is by presenting unconventional ideas.  At that point, after critically reflecting, an individual still “loves working for a company, loves working long hours and loves conforming,” then that's great!  But I'm willing to be there will be a larger percentage who won't.  And that's who we want to engage in conversation. 

The other thing that crossed my mind here is that I'm not sure it's an issue or liking your job or not; the fact of the matter is that even if you love your job, you're still tethered to a desk (usually), and the result is that you are, by default, severely limiting yourself in terms of experiencing life if you must spend 2,080 hours a year at it. 

I'm going to address this further in a post, because it's a topic that many people would be interested in hearing.  And if you have any thoughts on what I've said, please feel free to share!  I'm glad you found me. 

We must remember there are a lot of people who have chosen their jobs around their passions, interests and desires. They love working for a company, they love working long hours, and they love conforming. I've worked with people that have found work so compelling thay want to spend more time in the office. Some don't have hobbies because their work is more fascinating than any evening class. Work is where life is for these people.

I'm worried some lifestyle designers believe the popular myth that work is wicked – that it saps our energy, steals our time and errodes our spirit. This belief is one big genera-lies-ation. I'm sure many people in companies all over the world would like to write a new headline – Work is Wonderful!

Now that said I would agree that nobody should be stuck in a job that is, 'too small for the human spriit' as Studs Terkel wrote. They shouldn't accepted it as fate and this is where we can help them break out.

Ok, enough of my drivel, its late and I'm off to bed.