Using Real Estate to Escape the "9 to 5" and Find True Freedom

A few days ago I was out to lunch with a friend of mine and naturally our conversation soon directed itself to the topic of real estate.

We had been discussing his current position as a manager in the corporate banking world and how truly unhappy he had become; how his salary had remained the same for 3 years but his responsibilities had increased to the point he was going in to work on his day off just to keep up.

Why Working For Someone Else…Stinks!

He was really becoming jaded by the 60 hour work weeks with seemingly no reward.

As I sat listening to him, I could see the dull look in his eyes that had replaced the fire I had known. Over his career he had made his company over 2 million dollars and still had no ownership with increasing responsibility and no opportunity to “move up”.

It was actually hard for me to listen, not because I didn’t feel for him and his situation, but because I couldn’t relate. The concept of working for someone else, tied down to an office, someone else’s goals, someone else’s dreams, was completely foreign. Maybe I had been in real estate, working for myself, for too long. Maybe I was out of touch. It was then that I realized why I do what I do.

This industry gives me freedom. Not just flexible work hours or the opportunity to be my own boss, true freedom! The amount of hours I put in is not directly related to the amount I am paid. The dreams I have for myself and the goals I have set in place for my family ARE attainable through this work. My retirement goals and my future financial security are all in my control and cannot be dictated by some HR department 500 miles away.

What Real Estate Should Be…

Working in real estate – as a broker, realtor, investor or an entrepreneur – is a lifestyle; One that I enjoy because of the quality relationships that I have built over the last 8 years.

Also, the unlimited potential for creating that lifestyle is absolutely up to you and your own effort. Just like anything else, the market has ups and downs, but people will always need a place to live whether they own the property or rent it out. I know I have real job security because you can’t remove a basic need.

As my friend and I were parting, he told me that I was lucky because I never had to give up my dreams to work for someone else and I thanked him. I mean… what else was I going to say!?

Thinking about it, I do realize that going back each day is his choice. He could choose to step outside of his self-made box and start out on his own at a number of things. I made that choice when I was 18 and never looked back.

Sometimes the risk of letting go and the fear of failure hinder great things. Let’s face it: only a small percentage are able to get past that fear and make a go for their dreams on their own. Opportunities in Real Estate afford me and my family so many great things. The dreams I live each day are a direct result of my work which no one person or company can ever take away.

What are your dreams and goals?

How has Real Estate allowed you to be financially secure?

Be sure to leave your comments below!

Note By BiggerPockets: These are opinions written by the author and do not necessarily represent the opinions of BiggerPockets.