After reading that great article on Extreme Retirement (I love that, sounds like an extreme sport), I started thinking… why is it that some people can retire early and some people work at a job they hate until they’re pushed out the door?
I think it comes down to the basic principal of keeping your eye on your ball rather than everyone else’s. People who do their own thing… well… they do their own thing. They start businesses. They invest when all their buddies are spending. They buy free falling ice stocks (ouch). They turn the tv off to write another blog post.
As one of the extreme retirement couples, the Kaderli’s, state on their site RetireEarlyLifestyle.com
“Social pressure to spend can be subtle and pervasive, and it can divert you from your commitment to retire early. Marketing specialists tell you that if you only buy this new product, car, house, or membership, your lifestyle will improve. It's reasonably easy to tune out that marketing message, but you have to handle your friends with a little more tact. Trying to match the spending of our peer group is a surefire way to derail financial goals. Decide now that you don't have to keep up with their consumption to fit into the crowd. The choice is yours -- not theirs.”
Social pressure not only diverts you from your plan to retire early but any unique-to-you plan.
If you want to make a mark, do something different with your life, you need to accept that you will be different.
(This is written also as a reminder to self going into the New Years party season. When I get asked what I do and have to think about the answer.)