Living Behind Walls

When I left university, my goal was to learn as much as possible.

I started with a 9-to-5 job, which kick-started my career.

However, if I had stayed there, I would have been trapped in that cycle forever.

The security of a steady paycheck can be comforting, but it can also lull you into complacency, making you less motivated to pursue personal development.

The 9-to-5 job structure can be mummifying.

You get used to the routine, the bi-weekly paychecks, and the vacation days. It’s easy to become content with just paying the bills and not pushing yourself further.

Some people are fine with this, but it's crucial to understand the underlying incentives of these jobs.

Companies want to keep you in a 9-to-5 job for as long as possible. They pay you just enough to keep you content and productive, but not enough for you to break free and pursue your own ventures.

When you factor in taxes and other deductions, you realize you’re not making as much as you think.

The system is designed to keep you from accumulating enough wealth to escape and start your own thing.

One of the most frustrating aspects of my 9-to-5 experience was the automatic deductions for retirement.

I never asked for that, but they did it because they assumed I would stay in the system forever. This realization was a turning point for me.

Understanding these incentives helped me see that the 9-to-5 is a dead end if you want more out of life.

However, starting in a 9-to-5 or a sales position can be beneficial. It can jumpstart your career, teach you how to provide value, and keep you motivated to become indispensable.

But remember, nothing is guaranteed. Even in a 9-to-5, if you become replaceable, the company will replace you with cheaper labor or technology.

Interestingly, statistics show that 29% of college graduates in 9-to-5 jobs are replaceable by AI, compared to 2% of high school graduates. This shows that even higher education doesn’t guarantee job security in the traditional sense.

The key takeaway here is that 9-to-5 jobs are not as safe as they seem. They are designed to keep you working until technology can replace you.

I made the decision to leave my job and start my own ventures, focusing on sales and commission-based work.

That’s when things started to change.

The pressure to perform and make money on my own ignited a fire in me that pushed me to grow and succeed.

If you’re in a 9-to-5 and feeling stuck, remember that it’s not the only path.

Take the leap, start your own thing, and watch how quickly you can progress when you have no choice but to succeed.

Go Kill It Man
- JP