RoadAhead43
Dryer sheet wannabe
- Joined
- Jul 27, 2006
- Messages
- 13
Hello to everyone,
I live in Pa, married with two young children in a 5000 sq/ft home, market value estimated at 1.1M with a 500k mortgage. I have worked as an IT consultant for 20 years and am burnt. Not an hour goes by that I don't dream of a new lifestyle, doing something other than staring at a screen and struggling with logic and technology.
Last year I presented my plan to my wife: we downsize to a 2,200 sq/ft home for which we pay cash and I pursue other business ventures or just do IT consulting part time. There are several small businesses I'd like to start, none of which involve IT. I was so pumped!
The expression on her face was telling; she was far from enthused. She had some good points: we have invested so much into this house in terms of money, time and energy, we're not going to save that much by downsizing, etc, etc. Now my 4 1/2 year old daughter has started in: "Daddy, I want to keep my beautiful house."
So, I've spent the last 3 months working even harder, trying to build my consulting business, thinking that maybe if I really go for it I will make enough money to make it all worthwhile. The results have been predictable; my heart isn't really in it and people can sense it, making me less effective in selling and other aspects of my work.
Then, I think that maybe I am counting on the grass being greener, and that I am blaming my work for my lack of zest, and it is really deeper issues. But I've explored that area very thoroughly, and think that is due to my growth and self-empowerment that I have reached this point and these new goals. I want more for my life than just being a zombie for the sake of 5000 sq feet. And, I know my family will not suffer if we downsize. In fact, I think it will teach my kids an important lesson about conservation; an issue that they will certainly be facing in their lives.
I am looking for some help to get me moving toward the direction I want, and maybe need, to go. Or is the grass just as green where I am?
Thanks,
Jeff
I live in Pa, married with two young children in a 5000 sq/ft home, market value estimated at 1.1M with a 500k mortgage. I have worked as an IT consultant for 20 years and am burnt. Not an hour goes by that I don't dream of a new lifestyle, doing something other than staring at a screen and struggling with logic and technology.
Last year I presented my plan to my wife: we downsize to a 2,200 sq/ft home for which we pay cash and I pursue other business ventures or just do IT consulting part time. There are several small businesses I'd like to start, none of which involve IT. I was so pumped!
The expression on her face was telling; she was far from enthused. She had some good points: we have invested so much into this house in terms of money, time and energy, we're not going to save that much by downsizing, etc, etc. Now my 4 1/2 year old daughter has started in: "Daddy, I want to keep my beautiful house."
So, I've spent the last 3 months working even harder, trying to build my consulting business, thinking that maybe if I really go for it I will make enough money to make it all worthwhile. The results have been predictable; my heart isn't really in it and people can sense it, making me less effective in selling and other aspects of my work.
Then, I think that maybe I am counting on the grass being greener, and that I am blaming my work for my lack of zest, and it is really deeper issues. But I've explored that area very thoroughly, and think that is due to my growth and self-empowerment that I have reached this point and these new goals. I want more for my life than just being a zombie for the sake of 5000 sq feet. And, I know my family will not suffer if we downsize. In fact, I think it will teach my kids an important lesson about conservation; an issue that they will certainly be facing in their lives.
I am looking for some help to get me moving toward the direction I want, and maybe need, to go. Or is the grass just as green where I am?
Thanks,
Jeff