by Steve Hilgart, Director of Conference Operations
It seemed impossible.
I couldn’t travel the world and experience all life has to offer…
After all – I was working 16-18 hour days, 7 days a week.
And it wasn’t the right time anyways – I had only met this nut case (Bobby Casey) a few years ago at an entrepreneur conference.
But there was a question bubbling in the back of my head…
“What IF?”
Since I was a teenager this has been my biggest fear (and still is!). Many people are afraid of failing or losing everything or the government or spiders…
I have always been deathly afraid to not knowing “What if?”
What if I don’t try?
What if I don’t go?
What if I don’t do?
I guess it boils down to living life without regrets. Not in the sense of regretting something I did (that doesn’t seem to be a problem… except maybe mixing light and dark liquor) – but regretting something I never tried.
The Beginning of a new… Beginning?
I loved doing what I was doing. My business was successful, the people were fantastic, and I was fulfilling one of my deep down desires to help people – but – I was not happy.
Regulations and lack of control of my own business was stressing me to the breaking point.
I found myself losing patience (which I never do), treating people harshly (that didn’t deserve it), and just plain being angry (again, VERY uncharacteristic of me).
I found myself asking the scary questions again; “What if I never get out of here? What will I miss out on? What if this is where I’m stuck for the next 50 years? What if I was meant for more? What if I could help more people?” … and on, and on.
Originally, my father (also my business partner) and I set out to change the world. Teach kids discipline and give them the best chance at success, and show the adults what was possible for their lives. But he was at his wits end too. He was ready to retire, and I was happy to oblige.
So the decision was made to sell the business. Several long, grueling months later – it was done.
I walked away with a little change in my pocket, but now I got back something far more valuable: my life.
I no longer had to work a set schedule. I no longer was forced to do things I didn’t want to do. I no longer had to do anything.
The Aftermath
What do you do when you no longer have to work and have too much time on your hands?
Harass friends (who are working) two or three times a day, sit on Facebook, and generally start losing your mind, apparently.
Somehow I thought little fairies would come down from the sky and shower me with gold, silks, booze, and women. But that wasn’t exactly how it had happened.
Being so focused on work I had practically destroyed my social life. What little friends I had left were just as busy as I was, and they were working while I was sitting on my ass.
I found it amazing I could find a date any day of the week when the only free time I had was between 12am and 4am – but when I was free there seemed to be no one around.
It was fascinating that everyone seemed to want hang out when there was no time, but when there was ample time – they were nowhere to be found.
This was going to take a little getting used to.
But why was it like this? I had achieved what every man dreams of, right? I escaped the “rat race”…
Shouldn’t it be different?
It wasn’t long before I started asking a question we all seem to ask at one point or another: “is this all there is to life?”
Unplugging from the daily hustle was hard. Trying to figure out what to do next was harder.
I’ve lived a lot of life as far as experiences go – but I’m still a whipper-schnapper by most standards. (that translates to “young” for you young guys out there who don’t understand old folk talk )
What the hell am I going to do for the next 20, 50, 100 years of my life?
After a couple months of sitting on my butt feeling sorry for myself and putting a half-assed effort into answering this question I finally said “enough is enough.”
I started to come up with some frameworks – Ideas I wanted to pursue. I got excited again.
Things started moving. In my work with Global Wealth Protection we have been able to offer more products, services, and information that will be able to help people in a real tangible way.
It’s not exactly making kids do pushups all day but it sure is fulfilling.
We want to eliminate your fears. Show you that you don’t have to be afraid of any person, group, or government.
It seems to me that if you are afraid of a government – there’s something wrong. The government is controlled by our friends, our neighbors, our fellow countrymen… and we are scared of them?
And it seems to be for good reason! It seems the world is either crazy or uneducated (could be me too).
Increasing taxes, population control, regulation, and everyone trying to tell us how to live our lives (I get enough of that from my mother, I don’t need it from some “elected” official).
But what can we do?
I Have Seen The Promised Land
… and it’s filled with Norwegian chicks.
Here I am now, on a remote island on the Caribbean Sea, doing work I thoroughly enjoy.
This morning I ran 6 or 7 miles, did a couple hundred pushups on the beach, and took a dip in the ocean. It’s quite a bit different for a city kid who grew up on the rougher side of a big city.
I can’t even describe how beautiful our late night boat ride was last night. Stars in the night sky like I have never seen before.
I’m on a crazy roller coaster outside of the U.S. and you know what? It is fun as hell.
No, I haven’t given up my U.S. citizenship… No, I am not being mugged down every alley with AK-47s… but I am starting my own journey to geo-political diversification.
I’ve done what Bobby (still a nut job) advised me to do years ago… and I am happy. I am free.
If you made it through my ramblings and poor writing take this to the bank: It’s possible. I have seen the Promised Land – it is unbelievable. And you can do it too.
If you’re coming to Bocas this week, we’ll see you soon.
If not, you’re missing out. Next time you can be a part of the cool crowd .
Have a FANTASTIC day!
