Starting a Movement
We’ve all asked it. That soul-searching question that perfectly combines our daydreams and our passions into the ultimate “what if?” scenario: “What would I do if money wasn’t an issue?”
The implication is winning the lottery or inheriting considerable wealth would allow quitting our current job to do whatever we wish. It’s a seductive and pervasive fantasy. No wonder Americans spend $72 billion per year on Lotto tickets!
As a young man, I was able to live out the proverbial “What would you do?” question by marrying into a wealthy family. My wife’s family were successful (and humble) entrepreneurs with enormous financial resources. Suddenly, money was no longer an issue for me — because of my new economic freedom, I was able to stop working for others and start working for myself.
When I was young and single, my primary motivation was acquiring fame, recognition, and big money. The kind a forum mate described as “F-you money.” The Urban Dictionary defines this as “the amount of money required in order to tell an individual or organization to ‘F’ themselves without facing repercussions.”
As I matured and launched several businesses — and more importantly, read hundreds of books while coaching hundreds of companies — I learned what I was truly, inwardly seeking was an answer to the powerful question that frames this post: “What would I do if the issue of money was off the table?”
After all, if money didn’t matter most, what did? What was driving my priorities if it wasn’t a paycheck? This awakening led me to define my Purpose in life: To inspire and challenge leaders to achieve their greatest personal potential.
As I lived out my Purpose (and exposed myself to other thought leaders), I began considering the impact of digital technology and demographic changes on society’s aging population. After years of study, I arrived at this conclusion: I will lead a national movement to replace retirement with intentional living.
Please pause for a moment and reread my Purpose. If you compare it to my Movement — or “moonshot” as Peter Diamandis calls it — you’ll notice how seamlessly they align. This alignment is essential!
Why? Because if our Purpose and Movement don’t line up, we’ll be tempted to quit when the climbing becomes steep and difficult. The reason people tend to drop out when starting a Movement is simple — at the beginning, they make very little money and very little noise (or in my case, more like a squeak).
Just for the record, money is important to me. And no, I don’t have so much that it doesn’t matter. I suspect you’re in the same boat. You respect money, you’ve acquired some wealth, and you believe you can create value in the world. I also suspect you haven’t defined your Purpose as “neatly” as mine — although you could probably describe it in a few emotionally driven sentences about how you would make the world a better place. Now, the question is: How do you do it.
For me, it was the linkage between my Purpose and Movement that provided the drive to write my first book — and this same drive continually fuels my passion to replace retirement with intentional living. I believe we’re called to more than endless leisure, financial security, and Facebook posts of extraordinary vacations.
I do important, life-changing work, and I choose to do it as if money didn’t matter. I choose to champion this cause because I strongly believe for most of us, our greatest contribution lies dormant in our soul — just waiting to be called to action!
That’s why we admire top athletes, entertainers and authors. At some point, they all acknowledged their calling and purpose. Then they passionately pursued it as if money didn’t matter. Despite fear and uncertainty about the outcome, they believed they could make a meaningful impact. And they went for it.
25 years ago, I launched the Entrepreneurs Organization, Detroit Chapter. I found this pioneering work extremely rewarding — despite the fact I didn’t make any money doing it. Today, the Movement to replace retirement with intentional living is an even bigger undertaking (and this time, with no parent group to help me).
It was satisfying to start an EO chapter. It led me to where I am today. But this new Movement has an even larger potential impact because of the exponential social and economic ramifications. Consider the bold wording of our Moonshot: To shift the existing paradigm of retirement for 1.6 million people by 2026.
Interested? To join us in serving this goal, contact info@replaceretirement.com. Remember, change is only possible through movement!