If You Didn't Have to Make Money...

[Ron Douglas]

If you didn't have to make money, what would you do all day?

The obvious answer is "anything I want" - but I'm looking for more detailed answers.

Many people say that they want to achieve financial freedom, but don't have an idea what they'd do with all that "freedom."

Spelling it out helps you visualize and get closer to attaining your goal.

So, if you sleep 8 hours a day, what would you do with the other 16 hours?

[techtamers]

Great question! And one that I think all of us would be happier knowing the answer to. Because when you DO get the freedom, too many people either keep working their tails off not even recognizing they've created a job for themselves - or they ask "is that all there is" Either way, they are not magically happy as they thought they would be.

There is a point where money is not the point - freedom is. And unless you plan for, learn to enjoy it in small pieces as it comes to you along the way - then you're just working hard. I agree - plan NOW for the freedom you crave. And enjoy it as you go. If you keep "waiting until" you're not learning the most important lesson. What you want it already here - you just can't see it yet.

Jeanette

[hock1]

Well lets see what my list would consist of If i had all the time and money i needed.

I would first and foremost make sure, that Myself and family was secure in knowing that
money troubles are a thing of the past.
Traveling outside of my hometown, to experience different places,cultures.
I would take better control of my health, So i can enjoy those things.

I have always wanted to build some sort of community center in my city, so the young
people can have someplace to go and be productive members of society.

Of course i would buy all the neccesities, Like new cars, planes, Boats,Fancy clothes.
oh yeah, and move away from my bothersome EX. :-)

[CurtisN]

I definitely wouldn't stop....I find this whole business-building thing fun and stimulating. I also find it fulfilling to help people make money online...are there people here who are only in it to pay the bills or only in it for the money? Shame on you all...lol!

[Sleaklight]

I would go fishing and bike riding all the time!

[Steve Powers]

Of course do the things I like.But I would really like to spend most of the time with my
girlfriend or read some more books.

[Dan C. Rinnert]

Originally Posted by Ron Douglas

If you didn't have to make money, what would you do all day?

What are the parameters here? There are two reasons you wouldn't have to make money.

One is that you have all the money you need to do whatever you want. That is, if you wanted a new big screen plasma TV, you can just go out and buy one. If you want to go one vacation, you can do that.

The other is that you have your base needs taken care of. That means, you have a roof over your head, food on the table, and you don't have to do anything to get it. But, if you want a big screen TV, you're going to have to earn the money somehow.

I think the answers would be different based on which of those two scenarios are the case.

[Ron Douglas]

Originally Posted by Dan C. Rinnert

What are the parameters here? There are two reasons you wouldn't have to make money.

One is that you have all the money you need to do whatever you want. That is, if you wanted a new big screen plasma TV, you can just go out and buy one. If you want to go one vacation, you can do that.

The other is that you have your base needs taken care of. That means, you have a roof over your head, food on the table, and you don't have to do anything to get it. But, if you want a big screen TV, you're going to have to earn the money somehow.

I think the answers would be different based on which of those two scenarios are the case.

Dan the Man, lets go with the more exciting approach and say you have all the money you need to do whatever you want.

[theinfomaven]

I would make copywriting infomercials that talk about golf.

Please, someone shoot me.

[Andrew Maule]

Travel, go jet ski in a lake, go help people who can't help themselves, eat great food, try to have an impact in one way or another.

[mr2monster]

Travel until I got bored of it and experience everything i could.

[JMPruitt]

If money was not a problem, I would Love to travel. My family is spread all over and I don't get to see them often due to the expense of going everywhere. I would also love to go places I have never been. I love backpacking, and if I didn't have to worry about the money, I would go out 2 or 3 times a year for a week or more at least.

[Fernando Veloso]

Enjoy family, wife and kids while surfing in Tahiti, Mentawais, Australia... and some shopping in Paris, Rome and LA.

Basically, traveling and enjoying life

[Steven Carl Kelly]

I'd play poker. But then again, I'd still be making money, so...

[Greg guitar]

I'll definitely spend a lot more time playing guitar with musician friends, and probably form a killer jazz/rock/blues fusion band! Music will probably take 80% of my time.

I'll visit my mom in her new house that I will have bought her, and watch movies with her and 15 of her closest friends in her home theater!

I'll also offer my brother, sister, and closest friends the chance to get set up with their own profitable businesses, and use outsourcing so they could all achieve the 4 hour work week lifestyle, but largely for selfish reasons: I want some playmates to enjoy my success with!

I will spend a lot of time on outdoor adventures with my brother and a couple of our good friends; hiking, kayaking, possibly a bit of rock climbing.

Then of course, there is travel; lots of it to all kinds of places. I won't pinch pennies, but I also don't want to stay in nothing but fancy hotels; I want to go to little towns and experience life among the locals; not as an aloof tourist, gawking at them from the balcony of his luxury suite.

I'll definitely spend some time touring places where people need help; finding needs to fill and doing it; much of it will be in providing clean water systems.

I will absolutely not be one of those people who's lost without having to work!

On the other hand, some of my time will be spent promoting my businesses, because I still want them to grow, even though I don't need the money.

[dave147]

Originally Posted by Ron Douglas

Dan the Man, lets go with the more exciting approach and say you have all the money you need to do whatever you want.

I'd still do this (IM), well...for half of the day

[Daniel E Taylor]

Honestly Ron I'd still be doing this. I love to Market, Sell,
and grow my business.

It's just so much fun.

It's almost like if you asked Michael Jordan what he would
do if he didn't have to worry about money.

My guess is he'd still play basketball.

That's how I feel.

Daniel

[Dan C. Rinnert]

Originally Posted by Ron Douglas

Dan the Man, lets go with the more exciting approach and say you have all the money you need to do whatever you want.

In that case, there's a piece of property I would be buying and have fixed up. I'd make sure my parents were all set too.

And then I would be into gardening, maintaining my only "mini-zoo", writing and having films made.

I would also keep my "real world" business (sells physicals products on and offline). Maybe buy out a competitor or complementary business or two.

Not sure what I'd do with my websites. I know I would keep my "core" websites and keep those going, paying people to create content and such. Not having to worry about making any money off the sites would make it all easier! Not sure what I would do with other sites. Might keep them; don't know. I'd finish off some of my eBook projects, either myself or paying people to do it. Then, I'd probably give the eBooks away.

[Kelly Verge]

Mission work.

[lisag]

I would volunteer full time for the American Red Cross.

[Ken_Caudill]

I would write fiction and poetry -- a sure way not to make money. Fish. Get better on the guitar.

[808glass]

yacht around the world with family helping others who are less fortunate... I never understood that school counselor question, "what would you do if you had a million dolloars", this question is much better. Because if I had a million dollars, I'd just worry about it and try to get more.

[MisterMunch]

First I would have called all my facbook friends starting at the top and invited them on dinner, coffee or a night on the town. One at the time. I have spent too much time researching IM and building webistes and backlinks. Time to get social again.

Second I would get away from the cold weather and travel. Back to Miami, the cruise and maybe a year in Spain, Portugal or Italy. Doing absolutly nothing exept enjoing life (and check stats).

Third, I would get back here and buy myself six cars and a house close to the sea here in Norway. Think MTV Cribs. Still lots of vacations.

[sande]

I would then get down and read all the books I have stocked on my shelf.

Then I will travel, if I can afford to go back to my country Kenya and go to Maasai Mara and stay in those posh hotels reserved for the rich from the west.

I will also read and read more for my children and play with them and watch a movie. I have not watched a movie in along time since I started to try and do IM.

Oh and then I can learn how to play a guitar and promote my Swahili music that I have recorded and now is rotting.

Then volunteer in my library, it is a treasure to me, love it.

Maybe even help someone here who needs step by step do this and why plan on how to make money.
All that when I make the money now...they are just dreams and I love them.
All the best to you all, never stop dreaming.
Grace

[Jill Carpenter]

Am I hopeless?

I would play on the computer all day and find more ways to make more money.

Doesn't matter that I don't have to make it. I like making it.

[JohnMcCabe]

I imagine there would be a time where I did little but go fishing, try to work my golf game down to respectability, eat out enough to be on a first-name basis with my favorite places. After awhile, I'd get itchy feet, and my wife and I would be cruising to places we've never been before - looking for the places we'd like to return and spend some quality time. Spending that quality time...

I'm sure that eventually I'd start to miss being a productive part of the world...

Time to spin them all together and start that fleet of charter fishing boats and fish camps around the world.

[Heuristic]

Ski bum in the winter - Beach bum in the summer. After I got tired of traveling the world, of course.

[Jagged]

I'd Move to Vegas...into my new penthouse suite at the Bellagio...

Then...I'd upgrade my life a little:

Go from cheap whiskey & cheap women with names like stella , to topshelf whiskey & topshelf women..with names like Bambi

[Zeus66]

I had a good answer, but then Ken Perry beat me to it. Damn him.

[mattlaclear]

First thing I would do is take my laptop and smash it into a bajillion pieces! That sucker and me have been attached at the hip for far too long now!! After that I would get out into the woods and do as much hunting and fishing as I possibly could. Then I'd get busy writing that horror novel I have been threatening to write.

[Steven Wagenheim]

I'm doing it Ron. I love IM and can't totally give it up. So I still put in a few
hours a month. The rest of the time I spend doing a variety of things. I
won't go through the whole list (it's pretty long) but here are some of myyy
favorite activities.

1. Writing songs and recording them in my studio.
2. Playing video games.
3. Watching TV.
4. Playing music at YouTube.
5. Going out with my wife and/or daughter, shopping, dinners, fun stuff.
6. Going to church and singing in the choir and playing the handbells.
7. Chatting at this and other forums. Really love some of the folks here.

My day is very full. I couldn't want a better life. In fact, if I could design
my life, this is what it would be.

Yeah, I'm pretty darn lucky.

[sbucciarel]

beaches, travel, fun

[Greg guitar]

Originally Posted by Daniel E Taylor

It's almost like if you asked Michael Jordan what he would
do if he didn't have to worry about money.

My guess is he'd still play basketball.

Daniel

I thought it was baseball and golf. (I knew someone who used to play golf with him when he was it town; very nice man, according to my buddy).

Still, your point is well taken; he obviously loved the game!

Man, he was something to watch, wasn't he! I'm not even a basketball fan, but he was poetry in motion; amazing.

[nicholasb]

I would find struggling charities and help them raise money using the internet.

I would also find ways for them to add more streams of income to help there cause.

I would help them get the word out more using the internet to get more donations, and also show them ways they can raise money on there own.

so I basically would teach and help charities raise more money on there own and increase the amount of donations they receive.

[Zeus66]

Oh I can't believe you people! Are Ken and I the only ones honest enough to admit we'd spend more time with booze and chicks? LOL

I'll say goodbye now, because as soon as my wife sees this thread my computer time will be going bye-bye. I love you honey!

[melanied]

I'd take my dog for long walks, have lunch with friends, travel around to concerts, set up interviews with artists for my music website that I haven't had time to get to.

[bgmacaw]

YouTube - Office Space - PC Load Letter

[melanied]

I love that scene! It's been awhile since I've had a case of the Mondays, and THANK GOD!

[badfun]

Originally Posted by Dan C. Rinnert

What are the parameters here? There are two reasons you wouldn't have to make money.

One is that you have all the money you need to do whatever you want. That is, if you wanted a new big screen plasma TV, you can just go out and buy one. If you want to go one vacation, you can do that.

The other is that you have your base needs taken care of. That means, you have a roof over your head, food on the table, and you don't have to do anything to get it. But, if you want a big screen TV, you're going to have to earn the money somehow.

I think the answers would be different based on which of those two scenarios are the case.

This is a good distinction, and one that I think about a lot. I always go with the second one, that is all my basic needs are taken care of, and then think about what my day would be.

the reason is: when you think about suddenly having a million dollars or ten million dollars or whatever, your brain goes into hyperdrive excitement mode, and you can dream up all kinds of things you are going to want to have and to do.

But one day, that excitement is going to wear off, and you will have grown used to all the money you have, and you will settle back into being who you are right now. And then you are going to ask yourself, "what should I do with the rest of my life".

I watched a documentary not too long ago that interviewed lottery winners from as far back as the 70's to just the last couple of years. All of them were grateful for the money, but the lonely ones were still lonely, and the unhappy ones were back to being unhappy. Another great documentary is called 'Born Rich' and it is made by a very rich kid who is basically trying to figure out what he should do with his life.

So I think that if you just concentrate on thinking about your life after your basic needs are met, you get closer to the truth of who you are and what you really want. If you really really want a big screen plasma tv, you are going to get it, and if you really really want to write your novel or see the world, you are going to do that too.

my two cents.

btw, for me: writing, exploring, real estate

[Tsnyder]

Like Wags, I'm already doing it.

Most of my days are consumed by playing with my horses.

I also spend a few hours during the week jamming in my home
studio... guitars, drums, keyboards. Once in a while a musician
friend or two will drop by and it turns into an hours long marathon.

Travel doesn't hold a lot of fascination for me. I've been
pretty much everywhere I want to go.

I'm also in the process of promoting what I believe is a great
network marketing bizopp.

Of course... I also have to have my time on the Warrior Forum... lol

Tsnyder

[Lance K]

• Golf
• Fish
• Pick kids up from school
• Volunteer with S.C.O.R.E.
• Take walks w/my wife
• Keep working

[Greg guitar]

Originally Posted by bgmacaw

YouTube - Office Space - PC Load Letter

LOL!!!!!!! I LOVED this movie; hilarious!!!!!!!!!

[MichaelHiles]

Unlimited money?

Simple. Global dictatorship.

[Kevin Riley]

Ron

I'd keep doing what I'm doing. I have a very low boredom threshold and am not good at just lazing about. Now, if I had unlimited funds, the thought of buying a castle somewhere and being lord of all the lands around me does appeal to me. However, being able to help Dr Mani do more heart surgeries would probably be more rewarding and I'd be funding more of those.

[Kay King]

I'd spend more time in the woods with my dogs - add some horses - read even more than I do now. I'd play more music and grow more flowers. And I'd spend a lot of time with family who aren't nearby.

What I wouldn't do:

Stress out over a deadline that has to be met
Feel guilty because I should have gotten more done each day

I'd relax and enjoy - and probably smile a lot more.

kay

[Greg guitar]

Originally Posted by badfun

...one day, that excitement is going to wear off, and you will have grown used to all the money you have, and you will settle back into being who you are right now. And then you are going to ask yourself, "what should I do with the rest of my life".

This is a good insight. No matter what you own, or how much money you have, it's what you spend the moments, hours, days, and years of your life doing and thinking that really counts. If you treat people well, you will have rich relationships; if you treat them poorly, you'll have poor relationships, regardless of your bank statements.

If you're rich and you waste your time watching Jerry Springer, you'll be a bore to talk to. If you're poor, and you read great books, and have conversations with interesting people from all walks of life, you'll be fascinating to talk to.

On the other hand; the key aspects of wealth that make it exciting to me are: you can actually have the choices to pursue your most passionate dreams, and you have the power to help other people. If you want to practice modern dance for 12 hours a day, you can just decide to, or go on a hike in Tibet; whatever. If you see suffering during your travels (and you will), you can actually do a lot more about it, the more money you have. Money can be wasted on $10k a night hotels, or used to save lives.

Regardless of money, you're still stuck with who you are, and if you want to develop yourself in a given area, a rich person still has to read and absorb, or practice the same material as a poor person does. Money will give you options, but it's what you do with your time, how you relate to people, and how you relate to yourself that counts in the end.

Sorry to get all serious. I still look at the Tesla roadster, and think it would be cool to go for a spin. So, when I'm a multi-millionaire, maybe I'll rationalize buying one Tesla (or other expensive toy) for every 100 lives I save.

[Greg guitar]

Originally Posted by Kevin Riley

Ron
However, being able to help Dr Mani do more heart surgeries would probably be more rewarding and I'd be funding more of those.

I second that; just learned about him and his foundation; it's on my list!

[TLCarroll]

I'd take lessons.

Flying, sailing, parachuting, windsailing, skiing, surfing, scubadiving, gourmet cooking, puppetry, various crafts, foreign languages, etc.

In addition to travelling to the countries I haven't visited yet.

[nostih]

I'd teach business courses at the College Level.

[Hecman104]

watching t.v
playing xbox
with my girlfriend
sleeping
traveling
learning..

you know.. all that good stuff.. but I do find this business to be very stimulating and fun.. so i don't think i'll ever stop helping people with their problems.. because thats exactly what we are.. we're problem solvers.. I just wouldn't work that hard..