I did not see this one coming... IM is rewarding for sure... but I am getting LONELY!!

When I finished my graduation, I was offered a job through campus recruitment. I declined the offer and got involved into IM full time. Now I am making 4-5 times as much as the job would have paid me.

Wow... what a wonderful road to be in... the road less traveled by... a journey started with courage, confidence and positive thinking.

Now I have a home office, luxuriously finished. I outsource all the work which do not require me. I hardly go to the bank anymore, everything is online. I can keep doing this and SURELY within a few years I can be a rich man. I can work 2 hours per day and have a lot of passive income from the niche websites and blogs that I have nurtured.

This situation may be the DREAM for many who are stuck 9-5 under a yelling boss with no job security.

But as they say... THE GRASS IS ALWAYS GREENER THAN THE OTHER SIDE.

Now, I am here where I thought I wanted to be. BUT...

• I work alone in my office.
• I hardly go out.
• I am a member of 2 social clubs but no one is in my age group.
• By applying the 80/20 rule, I have come to a 2 hour work day (if not a 4 hour work week!). But that leaves me several idle hours per day with BOREDOM!

Is this what I wanted?

I know I need some realignment of thoughts and mindset here. HELP! Advice!

[lharding]

So, use your spare time to help others, that way you'll get out and about and/or some contact with others. Why not teach others that are at that graduation stage to do just what you're doing. There are plenty of things you could be doing with that spare time that doesn't necessarily relate to earning more, you need to take care of your social interaction as well as the money.

[Sam Smith]

I'm fresh out of uni and ALREADY facing these same issues.

A lot of my friends are away in various places, and so is my girlfriend, and I'm left twiddling my thumbs.

[greenovni]

Sounds like you're young enough to be able to work until you achieve financial independence which will give you the time to follow your dreams.

I too find this lonely as hell BUT I think that my future financial independence is a little bit more important right now.

If you are making enough right now, why not join some groups of like minded individuals, start a new hobby where other people are involved or volunteer some time to worthy causes that involve other people.

Worst comes to worst, hire someone to work at your office... @ least you'll have some company.

[Steven Wagenheim]

What in God's name is your problem man?

You got hobbies?

You got interests?

The other 6 or 8 or whatever hours that you're not working...do them.

I have my own recording studio in my home. I've finished 2 CDs of original
music since October and am now half way done with a third.

I go to church on Sunday, choir on Thursday, out with my daughter and
wife a ton, play video games, go shopping for new toys for myself, go out
to eat, take rides around the state.

I mean for crying out loud, if you can't find something to do outside of
your 2 hour work day, it has nothing to do with whether you're working
in an office or working at home.

You need to get out there and find a life.

And if you have ANY interests at all, that should be no problem to do.

[Ken Leatherman]

Creative Thinker,

I also work alone in my home office and sometimes miss the social interaction, of working around other people. But frankly I wouldn't change position with anyone.

Since you seem to have your time so well organized and so few hours you have to work; it's time to reach out to others. It seems now would be the time to find somewhere you can volunteer your talents with various other organizations.

Just think about it there are hundreds and hundreds of places who can use volunteers to make things better for other people. How about at the local schools, your college, by mentoring or tutoring undergrads.

Many of the warriors here are deeply involved in giving back to their offline community. People such as John Taylor, Big Mike, Kevin Riley, Andy Henry and many others I can't think off of the top of my head.

You can make of your day what you want to make of it. Don't sit around feeling sorry for yourself, you sound like you have the perfect situation to help others. It's not all about the money and the things it can buy.

Ken
The Old Geezer

[pavondunbar]

Mr. Wagenheim's right.

My girlfriend and I have developed this obsession with playing Tennis all of a sudden. We play everyday...and she beats me everyday...LOL...

I got back to playing video games.

I'm learning to speak Spanish so I can target a new demographic for my business.

I go with my lady to her acting classes now.

We're going to the movies tomorrow night...after Tennis....LOL...

The point is: Spend those hours doing something...

Anything...

The world is your oyster. Take advantage of the free time you have because time is the ONLY thing you cannot get back once it's gone.

Pavon

[ASM Marketing]

There is many things you can do. Boredom is only caused by non-action in my opinion.

Join a sports club
Join a gym
Join a networking group for business people that are of your age
Go on dates
Travel the world (if you can sustain your business solely online)
Go to seminars
Hold seminars
Go to trade shows
Join a society
Go shopping
Take up a social hobby
Do volunteer work

There is a much larger list than I can suggest of the top of my head, but just get out there and do it In my eyes, boredom is just not being pro-active. Congrats on your business, you sound like you're in a position that many people would love to be in. Enjoy it.

Alex

[Paul Myers]

You're supposed to be a creative thinker, and you can't come up with ideas for your own social life?

I hesitate to give my best advice, since this is a PG-rated forum. Second best... Get a life!


Paul

Originally Posted by Paul Myers

You're supposed to be a creative thinker, and you can't come up with ideas for your own social life?

I hesitate to give my best advice, since this is a PG-rated forum. Second best... Get a life!


Paul

I get what you are trying to mean

[Paul Myers]

I get what you are trying to mean

[chuckle] Good. It's not like you live in some backwoods area, with no room for it...

I can send you a copy of my book on creativity, if you need ideas.


Paul

[rhelaine]

for work and hobbies i would need 36h days everyday...for just hobbies i would still need 28h every day....

As my wife says..if you are not doing anything tell me...i will give you something to do.

[sf_Imtiaz]

Originally Posted by greenovni

Worst comes to worst, hire someone to work at your office... @ least you'll have some company.

I used to work at this place couple of years ago and my boss (who was the owner of that company) would sit with me and one of my colleagues and tell us stories about his life for hours, he had a lot to talk about, how his wife ran off with some guy who was his friend, how his business partner tried to screw him and how he got so wealthy after starting off with nothing but just contacts (he is quite a rich guy). Sometimes me and this other guy used to think that he's hired us just for having some company.

Anyways...

Originally Posted by Creative Thinker

Now, I am here where I thought I wanted to be. BUT...

• I work alone in my office.
• I hardly go out.
• I am a member of 2 social clubs but no one is in my age group.
• By applying the 80/20 rule, I have come to a 2 hour work day (if not a 4 hour work week!). But that leaves me several idle hours per day with BOREDOM!

Is this what I wanted?

I know I need some realignment of thoughts and mindset here. HELP! Advice!

Well, may be its just a phase, i hope so but if it isn't just a phase, there's a chance that your are not enjoying what you do... you need to dig deeper and find something that you would enjoy doing ... something that has a natural appeal to you, something that will make you enjoy your own company, but it takes time and a lot of exploring to find something that you can never get bored of meanwhile you can take on a challenge start a new project something different than what you are doing, with bigger goals, you can always aim higher .... and why don't you have friends that you can hang out with?

[sf_Imtiaz]

or hey you can always spend time with me teaching me how to do what you do

[shirland]

The advice from all the threads are excellent, just get up and do something. Your schedule is set so you can do many different things. Just Do It.

[Dan C. Rinnert]

Originally Posted by Creative Thinker

• I work alone in my office.

No distractions.

• I hardly go out.

Who's fault is that? It's apparently not a lack of free time.

• I am a member of 2 social clubs but no one is in my age group.

I have no idea where people my age even "hang out."

• By applying the 80/20 rule, I have come to a 2 hour work day (if not a 4 hour work week!). But that leaves me several idle hours per day with BOREDOM!

Wow. Tough life. Why don't you come over here and do my job gratis? I can find many ways to kill my newly-found free time.

[Andy Hart]

If you read what you have actually wrote you have answered your own question:

You are earning 4-5x what a graduate would earn and only working 2 hours a day!

Why not setup a system to teach others what you are doing? You could get rid of some of your "free time" and also earn a lot more money.

If not physically meeting people is a big problem then setup an offline class type setup and teach people that way, you would earn more money that way and meet people.

If moneys not an issue then do it for FREE, I'm pretty sure you would quickly gain a huge new network of friends that way.

Cherish where your at right now, I would.

Thanks
Andy

[Daniel Scott]

Why not take some time out and travel? You've got the cash and the time... go through Europe or something... you meet so many amazing people and see so much amazing stuff.

Failing that... just get out of the house more... go places... and talk to people. Bars aren't my scene... but concerts, plays, musicals are all great.

Some people join sporting teams... again, not my scene :P

Go to the gym... that's a great social place. Hang out at the mall more. Just walk the streets.

I tend to strike up conversations with pretty girls... but I'll talk to anyone.

You'd be amazed where you can find some great friends... and once you have them... it's really easy to get MORE good friends.

-Dan

P.S. I second the idea of volunteering... beter still, work with a local charity to put together something "big" like a fund-raiser... you'll meet a lot of people, have a lot of fun and do a lot of good.

P.P.S. All of the above is hard-won advice from personal experience... take it or leave it.

[dsmpublishing]

Find something that you enjoy doing with your spare time. When i realised i had so much spare time i took up horseriding for example. Find something you like that fits in with the kind of people in your age range and enjoy yourself.

Kind regards


sam
X

[Webtigerz]

Yeah...I am pretty sure I could come up with some ideas to make good use of my time...Extended fishing trips sound good...hmmm

[MichaelHiles]

Two words.... Mastermind Group

[Jeff Noel]

For the last 20 years I was in the car business then quit this year in Jan to go full time in IM. I was spending 10-15 hours everyday working on my business. By mid Feb I became depressed (I have never been depressed in my life). I boiled it down to people withdrawl. I went from haggling, motivating and spending time with people everyday to nothing.

Follow the suggestion above and you will just love life like never before.

[Paul Myers]

Michael,

Two words.... Mastermind Group

I had two completely different words in mind for him.


Paul

[Dana_W]

I'm in the same boat. I was a newspaper reporter for many years, loved how social it was and also how exciting it was. I loved being part of a team and knowing that my efforts were needed.

I now make good money working from home - and I am really getting bored and unmotivated, and VERY isolated.

I'll tell you my solution. Doesn't necessarily work for everyone, but it's what I've decided to do. I only work a few hours a day. This is not a full time business; it's a side job which provides a great income stream.

I can easily work a full time or part time job outside of the home AND do this, frankly. Newspaper journalism is dying, (breaks my heart, but living in denial won't help) - so I am starting school part time next month at a local community college. Debating between being a paramedic or nursing. Either way - I'd never give up internet marketing, social media marketing, and writing press releases and blog copy for people, because I fervently believe in MULTIPLE streams of income and because I enjoy doing it PART TIME - but I'm ready to go work with humans again a few days of the week.

[Dana_W]

So that was my long winded way of saying - go get a part time job that you enjoy.

[Jeremy Kelsall]

lol - Be careful!

Boredom in this business can get pretty expensive - REALLY FAST!

I got "bored" 2 months ago...

Now I have a 4-wheeler, a dirt bike, a go kart, trampoline, pool, new hot tub, and just got back from a 2 week camping trip...

****, i'm still bored

[MichaelHiles]

Originally Posted by Paul Myers

Michael,I had two completely different words in mind for him.


Paul

lol... I was going to tell him/her to get married and have a baby. Suddenly, they won't be so bored.

[Steven Wagenheim]

Originally Posted by Jeremy Kelsall

lol - Be careful!

Boredom in this business can get pretty expensive - REALLY FAST!

I got "bored" 2 months ago...

Now I have a 4-wheeler, a dirt bike, a go kart, trampoline, pool, new hot tub, and just got back from a 2 week camping trip...

****, i'm still bored

Jeremy, you need to get a life.

Better yet, get 2 of them.

[Paul Myers]

Michael,

lol... I was going to tell him/her to get married and have a baby. Suddenly, they won't be so bored.

My suggestion would have happened somewhere in that process.

I got bored a few years ago, and ended up with a classic Mercedes (which I love), a motorcycle, an RV, and too many ... errm... distractions.

Zen meditation helped. A little.


Paul

[worlok]

Go cruisin in the nice car that you can presumably afford and pick up chicks....

[JohnMcCabe]

Originally Posted by Dana_W

So that was my long winded way of saying - go get a part time job that you enjoy.

Dana, that was going to be my suggestion...

Florida has such a high concentration of seniors that some comics call it "God's waiting room" and I've met several who hold down part time jobs despite having enough money. These folks do it because it gets them out of the house on a regular basis.

CreativeThinker, get used to the idea that if you go somehwere in the middle of the day, you may be the youngest person there by a few decades. Everyone else is at work...

[JeffLam]

So...what was the first place you got into this IM thing initially?

So you can just swim in wads of money and notes..?

Remember why you started first:

Security for your..loved ones? (spend more time with them then!)
So you can get your favourite boy toys? (go enjoy yourself then!)
So you can help others? (DONATE!)
So you can concentrate on other things besides typical work? (then go learn something!)

Well, you can always like write a book about the whole process or start giving presentations and all that to kill time and socialise.

Makes me wonder when I can feel that way too.

Jeff

[marmo]

do you have a significant other ? That can help i would think. Myself I could care less that I work 18 hours a day , I very rarely ever get burned out... maybe once a month a pick a day that I just lay around like a slug other then that im usually working till I pass out.... but I realize I can live my life long dream of traveling the world once I get myself to where I want to be and not have to work again.

So I guess it boils down to what you want. Do what you feel your trinity of self demands ( Mind , heart and soul ) when you listen to all 3 of those things ( trinity of self ) you cannot go wrong my friend.

[Dana_W]

Originally Posted by JohnMcCabe

Dana, that was going to be my suggestion...

Florida has such a high concentration of seniors that some comics call it "God's waiting room" and I've met several who hold down part time jobs despite having enough money. These folks do it because it gets them out of the house on a regular basis.

CreativeThinker, get used to the idea that if you go somehwere in the middle of the day, you may be the youngest person there by a few decades. Everyone else is at work...

Amen to that. I don't see myself ever completely retiring. I enjoy working. Working is what energizes and motivates me.

[Daniel Brock]

I know exactly what you mean by this - its great isnt it? hah, but seriously - I always go out with friends every single night after sitting in front of the computer by myself all day. I also picked up working out and martial arts. A lot of stuff you can do their to occupy your extra time.

[Emmanuel Betinis]

Take up R/C flying!

YouTube - Hobbyzone Super Cub R/C Airplane -...

...and chances are there's an R/C club you can
join somewhere in your area.

[Clark]

Listen to this song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTJ7AzBIJoI

Here are the lyrics... read them.

Ladies and Gentlemen of the class of ’99
If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be
it. The long term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by
scientists whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable
than my own meandering
experience…I will dispense this advice now.

Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth; oh nevermind; you will not
understand the power and beauty of your youth until they have faded.
But trust me, in 20 years you’ll look back at photos of yourself and
recall in a way you can’t grasp now how much possibility lay before
you and how fabulous you really looked….You’re not as fat as you
imagine.

Don’t worry about the future; or worry, but know that worrying is as
effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing
bubblegum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that
never crossed your worried mind; the kind that blindside you at 4pm
on some idle Tuesday.

Do one thing everyday that scares you

Sing

Don’t be reckless with other people’s hearts, don’t put up with
people who are reckless with yours.

Floss

Don’t waste your time on jealousy; sometimes you’re ahead, sometimes
you’re behind…the race is long, and in the end, it’s only with
yourself.

Remember the compliments you receive, forget the insults; if you
succeed in doing this, tell me how.

Keep your old love letters, throw away your old bank statements.

Stretch

Don’t feel guilty if you don’t know what you want to do with your
life…the most interesting people I know didn’t know at 22 what they
wanted to do with their lives, some of the most interesting 40 year
olds I know still don’t.

Get plenty of calcium.

Be kind to your knees, you’ll miss them when they’re gone.

Maybe you’ll marry, maybe you won’t, maybe you’ll have children,maybe
you won’t, maybe you’ll divorce at 40, maybe you’ll dance the funky
chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary…what ever you do, don’t
congratulate yourself too much or berate yourself either – your
choices are half chance, so are everybody else’s. Enjoy your body,
use it every way you can…don’t be afraid of it, or what other people
think of it, it’s the greatest instrument you’ll ever
own..

Dance…even if you have nowhere to do it but in your own living room.

Read the directions, even if you don’t follow them.

Do NOT read beauty magazines, they will only make you feel ugly.

Get to know your parents, you never know when they’ll be gone for
good.

Be nice to your siblings; they are the best link to your past and the
people most likely to stick with you in the future.

Understand that friends come and go,but for the precious few you
should hold on. Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and
lifestyle because the older you get, the more you need the people you
knew when you were young.

Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard; live
in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft.

Travel.

Accept certain inalienable truths, prices will rise, politicians will
philander, you too will get old, and when you do you’ll fantasize
that when you were young prices were reasonable, politicians were
noble and children respected their elders.

Respect your elders.

Don’t expect anyone else to support you. Maybe you have a trust fund,
maybe you have a wealthy spouse; but you never know when either one
might run out.

Don’t mess too much with your hair, or by the time you're 40, it will
look 85.

Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who
supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of
fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the
ugly parts and recycling it for more than
it’s worth.

But trust me on the sunscreen…

[FlashDriveDT]

Why don't you get to know some people socially over the internet with same interests and then meet up? Just check out the meetup website. And with a good income, certain distances shouldn't be a problem. Alternatively, get a couple of pets so you don't feel lonely at home.

[parker3773]

Are you kidding me?

I'm jealous...so you are making enough money in IM? I'm trying but have barely made anything. How do you do it?

[Neil S]

Go out and enjoy yourself.

Take a foreign language class, ballroom dancing, inter mural sports, yoga, local club, gym, learn an instrument, there are hundreds of things to do.

Do something with all that new found freedom.

[Pat Jackson]

Originally Posted by parker3773

Are you kidding me?

I'm jealous...so you are making enough money in IM? I'm trying but have barely made anything. How do you do it?

Try the site in your sig. Apparently you can get some advice there.

[aneel90]

Originally Posted by Creative Thinker

When I finished my graduation, I was offered a job through campus recruitment. I declined the offer and got involved into IM full time. Now I am making 4-5 times as much as the job would have paid me.

Wow... what a wonderful road to be in... the road less traveled by... a journey started with courage, confidence and positive thinking.

Now I have a home office, luxuriously finished. I outsource all the work which do not require me. I hardly go to the bank anymore, everything is online. I can keep doing this and SURELY within a few years I can be a rich man. I can work 2 hours per day and have a lot of passive income from the niche websites and blogs that I have nurtured.

This situation may be the DREAM for many who are stuck 9-5 under a yelling boss with no job security.

But as they say... THE GRASS IS ALWAYS GREENER THAN THE OTHER SIDE.

Now, I am here where I thought I wanted to be. BUT...

• I work alone in my office.
• I hardly go out.
• I am a member of 2 social clubs but no one is in my age group.
• By applying the 80/20 rule, I have come to a 2 hour work day (if not a 4 hour work week!). But that leaves me several idle hours per day with BOREDOM!

Is this what I wanted?

I know I need some realignment of thoughts and mindset here. HELP! Advice!

sounds like you made it in IM... that's great, anyways I was just curious how long have you been into IM

[Shane Hale]

Yeah man I think you have solved your problem. Giving back some of your knowledge of success and helping others can help you with boredom. I have met so many cool people by talking to them on this forum and helping out.

I am still working a fulltime job and can't wait to get in a position like yours to help other people out. That is my passion!! Maybe not yours this is what I would do If I was in your situation. Your grass is very green now plant some flowers and you will see something very beautiful take affect.

I don't mean go out and help everyone learn IM which I would OPT in =) But, go out and help mankind give back! I read this article someone posted it on my corporate slave post it was long, I think it is a awesome read and very deep.

Acres of Diamonds

[thegoddessofeleven]

Three words: meetup dot com.

[Chris Monty]

It's a double-edged sword to be sure. I get engrossed in my own IM ventures and spend WAY too long in front of the computer. I have resorted to setting a timer. Every couple of hours, I force myself to get up, walk around, call a friend, chat with people, etc.

I'm also a musician so I direct my church group once a week, which is very therapeutic.

[hbixler03]

My advice would be what ever you do, get out of the house! A change of scenery always helps me when I feel lonely or bored.

[TLCarroll]

Take a class in a hobby you enjoy or teach a class.

[Jason Moffatt]

Get a few hookers on Craigslist, 2 midgets, a pony, and fill a shopping cart full of your favorite beverages from the local liquor store.

I doubt you'll be bored.

[Russell Turner]

I like the cut of this Moffat fellows jib!

[Jermaine Tabor]

It's what happen when you do this by *yourself* for long periods of time.
An internet connection becomes your best friend. You lose what offline
social skills you had.

You become a social free money making *machine*. You *may* not be
even able to deal with people for long periods of time who are not on your
intelligence level.

(They're talking under your intelligence level naturally and you may not
enjoy talking under your intelligence level just for the sake of 'socializing'.)

You had a strong determination to reach your level of IM success and by
yourself, you graduated but are left with the side effects from which you
feel regularly.

Quite possible you need a significant other who share your level of
determination in the business world.

Going to some business seminars can be a great way to meet business
minded friends around your age. *If* you want it to be, it can be very
profitable for you also.

You learned to be unsocial over time and you will have to relearn to be
social again.

You wil be great! Remember it will take *some* practice and consistency.
You will find a rewarding *balance* for your life!

If you ever *need* to chat just shoot me a pm.