Five Steps to Freedom by E.B. Tucker
E.B. Tucker is an investment industry veteran and author of The Tucker Letter and the best-selling book Why Gold? Why Now? The War Against Your Wealth and How to Win It. His interviews receive up to 750K views on YouTube.
"I have the best job in the world…but that wasn’t always the case.
The Monday after Thanksgiving in 2008 I walked into my office and nothing worked. The phone didn’t work. The computer didn’t work. And a lady from HR came in and said, “I guess they didn’t tell you on Friday, we let you go.”
I didn’t take it well at first. But looking back on it, I was a horrible employee. Fortunately, I haven’t worked for anyone since.
When I think back to that time, more than 15 years ago, the journey makes a lot more sense. In fact, I can boil down the whole thing to five critical steps. If my son were to ask me for a simple guide through this complex maze, I’d give him this. And today, I’ll give it to you.
Each one of us has a unique ability. When we use it, we’re happy. It’s as simple as that. It’s our job to nurture that ability, and share it with the world.
But from an early age, parents, institutions, and peers do their best to smother the thing that makes us unique. While they mean well, the pressure to adhere to an orderly way of living makes being unique impossible.
That’s why it’s the misfits, the class clowns, and the troublemakers who go on to become big successes. They start companies, they chase wild ideas, and they sometimes change the world.
Those are the extremes. While we notice the extremes, and can learn a lot from them, every one of us in the middle has the option to live a happy, fulfilled life with purpose.
Now you might be thinking, I don’t have enough money to do this. That means you think there’s an admission fee to living with purpose. I bet you can’t tell me how much the fee is… And that’s because there’s isn’t one.
Most people say they can’t do something they love yet because they have student debt, a mortgage, kids to raise, or someone to care for. None of those matters.
My father ran a furniture store for 50 years. He always wanted to be a basketball coach. During those 50 years, basketball coaches went from being low-level academics to multi-million-dollar executives. These safer, smarter ways we resist trusting our unique self only rob us of joy.
For some people, following instructions, colouring between the lines, and playing it safe for so many years muted natural desires altogether. That’s why this first step is so important for many people, especially in the west.
Step 1 – Start Wasting Time
If you have no idea what you like to do, start wasting time.
As a kid, I was a big daydreamer. Still am. I can get on my bike and go thirty minutes, no phone, no distractions. The whole ride my mind wanders all over the place. I’m having conversations, thinking of amusing anecdotes, and twisting up wild ideas. I’m a writer, so this type of thing is completely normal, and necessary.
For you, it might be tinkering with houseplants. Browsing art auctions online, hunting antiques, or talking to your cats. Pay attention to what you do when you should be working.
This is your natural, unique, special ability trying to get out. It’s banging on the door begging to take the stage. Teachers, parents, and bosses keep bolting the door shut…because it’s inconvenient for them.
If you pay attention to these distracting instincts, you’ll get clues about your true self. As you do, give it some time to play. It’s more valuable than all the money, stock options, or material wealth you could accumulate in 400 years of doing something you hate.
Step 2 – Give Up Gain/Loss Thinking
In the west we have a terrible habit. We see everything as better or worse, up or down, gain or loss. And it’s killing us.
Now there’s nothing wrong with making a pile of money. Not at all.
In fact, if you set your true self free, you likely will earn more money than you need. And when you do, make sure you spend it doing things you love.
But the thinking about up and down is what gives us trouble.
People say they can’t do what they love because they’ll spend through their savings. They miss the point of savings… you did something you hate to pile up money. Now you can’t use that money to buy freedom…
The way to let go of this dangerous thinking is to change the way you speak. When people criticise a situation as “losing” try saying in response, “I did that because I wanted to.”
Buy a stock because you want to own the company. Buy a house because you like the location, the aesthetic, or even the breakfast nook. Do things because you want to do them, not to get ahead or outsmart the others.
Step 3 – Treat Yourself With Respect
The longest relationship you’ll ever have is with yourself. And most of us are abusive in that relationship.
We are insensitive. We disregard our own emotional needs because we’re late, tired, or need to hoard up things we think are more important.
The older I get the more I realise I spent decades charging ahead in life, to some unknown destination. I dragged my soul along as if it was useless baggage.
Meanwhile, that part of me knew things that could have saved a lot of brute force.
We have powerful instincts. We have undeveloped abilities to sense, see, and notice opportunities, and dangers. Treat this part of yourself with an ounce of respect, and you’ll get a truckload of reward in return.
Step 4 – Write Down Goals
Few people take the time to think about where they want to end up.
The human brain is a supercomputer beyond compare. We have the world’s most advanced AI machine strapped to our neck. Yet we never take the time to load any software onto the machine.
This is so easy; I’m amazed people don’t do it habitually. Take five minutes each day to write down your goals, on a piece of paper. The notes app on your smartphone doesn’t count. You’re human, use your hand and a pen.
Goals need to cover all parts of life. Finances, money, health, family, and lifestyle. Write them in the first person, present tense. This means, “I earn $XXX per year,” “I weigh XXX pounds,” “I treat my partner with love and respect in every interaction,” and so on.
This is the most powerful way of living the life you want. When you live in fear, it’s reverse goal setting. If you don’t like the life you have, change it today. This is the way to start.
Step 5 – Give Everything Away
You came into this world with nothing. You’ll leave with nothing.
I’m not talking about charity here; I’m not a fan of giving to causes, generally. I think what’s yours is yours. But get in a habit of letting go.
If you make an extra $1,000, treat a friend to a restaurant they want to try, but can’t afford. Don’t say a thing about it. Afterwards, give them a hug, tell them you love them. The remaining $700 is yours to keep. It’s plenty.
Give away all the advice you have at every stage of life. The student shows up when they need the lesson. We make gurus out of people, events, animals, books. I had a dog once who I felt was a guru. I’m sure he thought I was crazy. However, he helped me help myself. This is how life works when we’re intentional about living.
The reason this is important is by letting go of things, assets, wisdom, money…by giving freely, we get better at letting go of negative emotions too. When we hoard, we hold on to baggage. Give it up, the good and the bad.
The result is we enjoy success more, and we get rid of toxic anger in record time.
People say life is short. I’m not so sure. If you ask a fruit fly, they’d say humans live forever. It’s all relative.
But one thing is certain, we have today. And today is the day to change. When you move by one degree, even the smallest adjustment, your conscious self notices.
And change is cumulative. Day by day you move towards the place where your mind believes you deserve to go. Pick the destination wisely.
Please keep in touch with me at The Tucker Letter."
