This may be hard to hear.

Middle-class millionaires (according to the book of the same title) do not agree that if you do what you love, the money will follow. More than 73 percent chose a career because of its prospective financial rewards.

But that doesn’t mean they’re walking around hating life. They just put the goal of financial independence first, and then matched their talents and passions accordingly.

The book cites the example of Greg Hund, a Mail Boxes Etc. franchise owner, who purchased the store because he was sure he’d be happier running his own business than working on Wall Street.

Yeah, I know, you couldn’t purchase a MBE even if you wanted to, and you *so* don’t want to! Me either.

If you’re a teacher, or a social worker, or other fill-in-the-blank low-paying occupation that you love, don’t rush to fill out those law school applications just yet.

Look at that story again. What did Greg Hund do that any of us could do, too? He spotted a good opportunity that fit his skills.

If you’re a teacher, or social worker, or other fill-in-the-blank low-paying occupation that you love, maybe there’s a charter school you’d just love to start. A book you want to write. Some consulting you could do or classes you could teach on the business side. Maybe there’s something you want to patent or trademark.

If you grew up solidly middle class like me, this kind of thinking might seem alien.

But it could make quite a difference in your life.

Again an e.g. from the book:

Jerome P. Horowitz invented three drug compounds in the 1960s that are now AIDS-fighting drugs. But he didn’t secure any patents or royalties for himself. As a result, Glaxo-Wellcome patented AZT and has earned more than $1.7 billion from Horowitz’s work.

What do you have that the world wants? Don’t say, “Nothing.” Take that little tickle of an idea and write it down. Give it some space.

Think big.

Now think bigger.

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Tags:   match skills to opportunity · The Middle-Class Millionaire · think bigNo Comments