Here are 5 of the most overrated things on the entire planet.
1. Being an Entrepreneur
“Control your schedule and your income”
“Stop working for the man!”
“Build your own dream or be stuck building someone else’s”
All
of these platitudes (among many others) are the common sound bites that
you hear from #socialmediahustlers and online entrepreneurs.
And I get it…
If you’re working a legitimately soul-sucking corporate job (as I was) then I understand the lure of entrepreneurship.
But what these individuals forget to tell you is that being an entrepreneur can suck.
And it can suck hard…
- You have to manage a team of employees and tend to their wants and needs
- You can’t “clock out” of your business and rarely - if ever - have more than a few hours of time where you aren’t thinking about it
- The slightest hiccup or change in Google, Facebook, or Instagram’s algorithm can cost you tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars in a day
- You are directly responsible for every mistake you make and every single mistake costs you personally.
Quite frankly, most people can’t and shouldn’t be entrepreneurs.
There’s a rare breed of person who is literally hard wired for entrepreneurship and are incapable of doing anything else.
If this is you, then you know it.
But for most people, the solution isn’t to start their own business… It’s to quit the soul sucking job and find a more fulfilling one.
You
don’t have to be the head honcho to enjoy your work and - if I’m being
brutally honest - being an employee at the right company is probably a
smarter and more fulfilling route for 85% of the population.
2. Meaningless Sex
After
a particularly difficult breakup in my 20’s, I went on a pickup rampage
going out and meeting, attracting, and seducing every attractive woman
that I could.
Don’t get me wrong… It was fun, entirely ethical, and necessary to help me grow as a man.
However, after a certain point, the one night stands and “same night pulls” started to lose their luster.
I stopped desiring meaningless easy sex and wanted a real connection with someone I actually cared about.
Sex is awesome… There’s no denying that.
And
there’s nothing wrong with having casual sex if it amplifies an evening
or is with someone you would genuinely enjoy getting to know better.
But
having sex for the sake of having sex is an overhyped activity that can
lead you down a dark path (not to mention the fact that it poses
numerous health and reputation issues).
3. Being a Millionaire
Last
year my business broke the 7-figure mark making me a “technical
millionaire” (e.g. someone with assets worth $1M but not with $1M in
liquid cash).
And I’ll just be honest… It wasn’t that big of a deal.
Yeah, there were some bragging rights and extra credibility.
But my days still looked the same. My workload stayed the same. My lifestyle stayed the same.
Becoming a millionaire is cool and it’s a good goal to shoot for, but don’t make it the focus of your life.
I’d
rather spend 10 years living at a level 10/10 having amazing
experiences and working a little bit less than my competition rather
than spend those 10 years solely devoted to becoming a millionaire or
multimillionaire.
I know that many of you reading this won’t believe me and you’ll likely say things like, “Yeah, but when I become a millionaire then I’ll be able to live fully”.
But this is a load of crap.
Some of the most miserable people I know make $500,000/month.
Yet there’s no amount of money that is truly “enough” for them.
They tell themselves the lie that “Once I hit xyz financial milestone… THEN I’ll be happy”. But that never happens.
Happiness isn’t something you get it’s something that you give to yourself by cultivating gratitude and joy in everyday life.
Don’t get so busy trying to make a living that you forget to make a life.
4. Being “Shredded”
Let me make something clear…
There
is NOTHING overrated about building your best body, having a physique
that you’re proud of, and feeling and looking amazing.
In fact, I’d argue that there is nothing more underrated than this very endeavor.
However… Some people take it to an unhealthy extreme.
The guys who have to
stay under 8% bodyfat all year round, the guys who use steroids to get
bigger and bigger (even after the extra mass becomes unattractive), and
the guys who live in the gym… They’re pursuing something entirely
overrated.
You don’t need to look like Arnold to feel great about yourself and be happy.
You don’t need 23″ guns to attract beautiful women and impress those around you.
You don’t need to go crazy to look great, feel great, and perform great.
Be healthy as hell… But don’t take it so far overboard that your life revolves around your physique… It’s just not necessary.
5. Becoming “Successful”
It’s funny…
Everyone seems so concerned with becoming a “success” that they never take a step back and ask themselves, “Am I truly happy?”
They pursue financial abundance, career advancement, and professional fame as if its the purpose of life.
They ignore their health, their families, their hobbies, and their friends and for what?
Some meaningless accolades and bragging rights.
Look…
If
you’re making less than $80,000 a year after taxes, then YES trying to
earn more money and advance your career will in fact improve your
quality of life (at least according to most of the latest studies).
But
after you hit the 6-figure mark, especially the multiple 6-figure mark
you need to really ask yourself why you’re working so hard.
Is it because you’re trying to provide amazing value, serve others, and find real fulfillment in your work?
Or
is it because you’re trying to fill a void in your soul that was
created by a series of bullshit expectations laid down by your family
and society?
That’s my $0.02.
What are your thoughts?
Let me know in the comments below.