I’m A Workaholic And Proud Of It

Sometimes people ask me if I’m a workaholic and my normal answer for them is to define what they consider one to be. Their answer is usually along the lines of someone who spends most of their time working.

Then, I have to ask them what is their idea of work and of course, everyone’s answer is different.

As I sit here in my home office writing this, I’m looking out the window watching our groundskeeper doing some landscaping with sweat running off his forehead, shirt wringing wet in 92º heat. I guess anyone would consider that work.

I just came back from the drugstore across from a Lowe’s, where the parking is full of people shoving lumber and machines and landscaping tools and plants into their vehicles until they were sticking out the windows, pickup trucks stacked high with materials…all requiring hard labor and sweat.

I opt to do none of this (EVER.)

On the other hand, the question was…do I work hard?

Well, I will admit I spend a lot of my time doing what most people will consider work. In fact, from the time I get up, at about 7am to 9am everyday I’m home, I’m working. None of this requires sweat.

I do work more than most people but I also go where I want, when I want, drive what I want, do what I want everyday, talk to who I want, buy what I want and buy and large I am free to live my own life the way I choose, not how someone else chooses for me.

I don’t work because I have to. I work because I want to. To me, work is fun because I do fun work. I’m not bored out of my mind trying to make a living and anytime I choose to do something different, nothing is holding me back.

Compare that to most people’s lives…50 hour plus work weeks, swapping hours for dollars, taking orders, watching the clock, waiting for the weekend…

So they can go home and work pinching pennies, living on a budget and credit cards, bored most of the time, sitting in front of the TV trying to stay awake through the evening’s dramas and sitcoms.

Some people love to work and others do everything they can to avoid it. When you love what you do, you can’t wait to get back to work…

Because It’s Fun.

My parents worked 7 days a week all their lives. I don’t remember a single vacation they took during my whole lifetime. But, you see they loved to work. Taking a vacation would have been a form of punishment to them. It would have taken them away from what they loved…working.

Fortunately, I inherited that trait from them and I’m very glad I did. They were always on a mission to get things done, exciting things that were fun. So am I. Never a dull moment, if I can help it. You see, those without a mission, don’t understand us missionaries. We’re a weird breed because it’s not normal to love work.

We’re conditioned that work is bad. Something to avoid, except to make a living. In my opinion, anyone who coaches you to stop working so hard, probably hates what they do. People who love what they do won’t ever tell you to stop doing what you love.

Now, I didn’t suggest anyone should work just to be working and if you know me, you know there’s a big difference between working hard and working smart. Smart will make you rich and put you in a position to do less and make more and free up your time to do as you wish. And when you get to that point, guess what you’ll do with that free time.

You guessed it…WORK.

Hey, everybody has a right to their own values and I know I’ll get some bitching on this one and if you disagree, perhaps you would ask yourself what you should be doing with all the time you save by not working. Let’s make a list.

• Watch TV – certainly a valuable use of one’s time. Get TIVO so you can gain more of it to waste.
• Spend time with the kids – perhaps you’d be better served to let them work with you and learn some good habits, maybe even how much fun it is to work.
• Take more vacations – hey, I’m all for that, as long as I get to work some of my free time.
• Do some yard work – WHY? You can get it done for peanuts…without sweat.
• Spend more time on charities – here’s a flash, you’re worth a lot more to charity when you’re rich and when you do donate your time…aren’t you working?

Now you know I’m not suggesting anyone work every minute of everyday but the issue here is how most people look at work and do everything they can to avoid it.

I love to work and will do so until I can’t use my brain. Work is all around me and the joy I get from it can’t be replaced with anything else I could do with that time. If work is doing what you love to do everyday, I guess I’m guilty as charged.

I have to cut this off now and get to bed. I’m going offshore fishing tomorrow in my boat, which will be driven by my captain who brings me a mate on board to do the hard work, but hey, I’m sure I’ll find something to do that resembles work.

Ron LeGrand is the world’s expert in Quick Turn real estate without using money or credit. His 30 years of experience and over 2,000 houses has made him a world class educator they call the “Millionaire Maker.” You can get his book for free at RecessionProofRon.com.