The Time My 9 to 5 Was Burying Me Alive

I remember this moment like it was yesterday.

About ten to fifteen years ago, I was listening to an interview with singer-songwriter Steve Earle.

His words really hit me at the time - he was saying something about coming to terms with what you are and to stop pretending to be something you are not, even if it means things will get tough.

As I listened, I couldn't help but think about my own life.

I had always played it safe and followed the same old routine day after day, and I found myself in a very unfulfilling place.

But after hearing Steve's message, I realized that I needed to start pursuing the things I truly wanted to be pursuing the way I wanted to pursue them.

It wasn't just Steve's message that inspired me, though. Around that time, I also read another quote that really resonated with me:

That quote scared the hell out of me.

Because it made me realize that I had been burying myself alive for years.

Yes, I pulled it together, and I carved out a good life for myself, but I knew deep down I wasn’t pursuing the things I truly wanted to be pursuing the way I wanted to pursue them.

Everything changed when I realized it was something I wasn’t doing that was holding me back.

Ok, now back to what was holding me back…

The Voice Inside

As Steve said, I was pretending. I needed to come to terms with what I really am.

To do this, I needed to start paying more attention to the voice inside that was telling me what I truly was.

Eventually, things started to surface in one way or another.

I began realizing that I am a bunch of things;

An independent who needs the freedom to do my own thing on my terms;

An entertainer who loves to make people laugh, feel better, and inspire them; a creator who loves creating music, podcasts, ad campaigns, blog posts, etc.

An evangelist who can’t shut up about the things I love that I know can help others.

These are things that have been inside me since I was born, but I never allowed them to play out.

I was dragging my heart, kicking and screaming, behind me rather than letting it lead the way.

When I started to listen to and follow my heart, things began falling into place, and I am a much better, happier, and more successful dad, husband, friend, businessman, member of society, etc.

It wasn't easy, especially when you have three young kids, debt, and a mortgage. But overall, I’m in a much better place in every way and will have few regrets when I look back on my life.

My Advice To You…

So, my advice to you is this: if you are at work every day just going through the motions, with an inner gnawing that you aren’t where you should be or that something is missing, you must do something about it.

Some clues are what you wanted to do as a kid but never did, or what do you dream of doing when you retire.

Dig into it and start listening to what it’s telling you. You can start working on it now, and I bet you'll find that you won’t have to wait until your 60s to retire.

When you follow your heart and work things that you truly like working, it won't feel like work anymore. You could essentially retire a year or two from now.

So, take a small leap today and start your pursuit. You won't regret it.

And to really help this message sink in, I have a song for you…

Why Wait

Here’s a song I wrote and recorded in 2012 when I was the guy at work going through the motions. This was about a year before leaving my job and becoming self-employed.

I wrote this song to remind me, and whoever else needs it, to stop ignoring what you are and get on with it.

Even though I wrote this over ten years ago, the message hasn’t changed.

And now I have the life to back it.

Please play and listen to “Why Wait”…

The last verse says it all;

If that hits close to home, start working on whatever it is.

Even if it’s just an hour a day.

And if you are unsure where to start, let me know. I’ve been there and can help you determine the next steps.

Talk to you next week.

Have a good one,

Corey