Why I’m So Happy to be Turned Down for a Job

Be happy! Sometimes great events just happen. (Photo: avpjack)

I resigned from my job one month ago during this recession.

My income has not been as stable and some expenses have popped up. I recently went on a 2,000 mile drive to do the following things in the new state, Texas:

• $187.00 Register my car
• $34.00 Get a new license
• ~$445.00 Set residency in a new state for tax purposes (I’ll write about why this is great for a traveler in another post)
• Apply for a Sales Permit
• $879.00 Apply my Limited Liability Company as a Foreign Entity

Luckily the business related items (even the drive) is an expense for my business. I’m able to write off my mileage and not pay taxes on business expenses. This is one reason why a majority of millionaires in the book Millionaire Next Door, are business owners. This is one reason why I recommend starting a business as well. Many of these business owners mix business travel with personal so it is a business expense.

Being an employee doesn’t allow this freedom or tax advantage.

Many of my friends work as independent contractors as Search Engine Evaluators (google this if you want to apply to these jobs). There are thousands of people around the world earning a good wage telling search engines such as Google, Yahoo, Bing, etc if certain search content is good. In the United States, they are making $17-$20 an hour. The job is part time around 20 hours a week.

It is a very easy job, at the same time a mind numbing I want to poke my eyes out type of job. The great part about this independent contractor work is the ability to travel and work online. This is why the job appealed to me. I know people traveling and doing this job and living perfectly fine off of this income.

While I know I can live around the world with this income, because it is more inexpensive in places such as Buenos Aires, I don’t want to get comfortable with that income.

I’ve always set my priorities and one priority is to provide for a family while traveling. I want to travel the world with my lover (Queen) and kids and live in exotic places. This income is not enough as a Search Engine Evaluator, not enough to lead my Vagabond life.

I’m so happy I applied and was turned down for this job. I would have been comfortable earning the wage and not work as hard on my business.

Here is what I would have gained if I did get the job:

• A steady nominal wage
• Enough income to live off of with a little savings
• Wouldn’t be required to focus on growing my business revenue
• An eye poking boring job I have to work on even if I didn’t want to

While the first 3 points sound great to many other people, it is just not enough for me. I can’t own an island with this income. I can’t be a billionaire with this income. My online businesses won’t grow without my complete devotion and focus.

This job is similar to any other job as an employee, it is just not enough freedom or income to fulfill what I demand of the universe and myself.

Here are the main reasons why I am happy to be turned down for this job:

• Complete devotion to my businesses
• I decide my future, my failure, my success
• I need to succeed for my future, I have my priorities, I burned my bridges before

You may wonder what my businesses are, I’ll share them as the revenues grow and possibly show how to do something similar. The main point in my businesses is to provide value while operating in a profitable niche.

These 3 items are core for my plan of success. I burned my bridges to force myself to do better when I resigned my job. I have my priorities in life, which I work for everyday.

How does this apply to you? In every single way. I remember making excuses not to focus on my business when I was working. I had a stable paycheck. At the end of a long day, I made excuses to just watch anime or play video games.

Think about how you might be comfortable right now, and not trying hard to do better in life because it is comfortable earning just enough.

I know a lot of people who have no drive to be more in life, to do better in life, because they are comfortable in life.

I choose to not be one of these comfortable people.

What will you do?

Posted on Feburary 2nd 2010.