- Focused on getting passive income streams set up through real estate, stock investment, content creation, retail arbitrage, etc.
- Were particularly frugal with their money and avoided travel, parties, 'lifestyle creep', etc.
- Attempted to min/max their careers by switching jobs every 1.5 to 2 years and negotiating hard each time.
Are:
- Still not retired in their mid to late 30s.
- On track to retire in their early 50s.
- Slightly behind their peers in terms of career progression.
While those who joined big tech, worked hard, and let their equity compound are basically on pace to retire at the same age while also getting to spend their youth traveling, partying, and generally enjoying life.
Plus, I've found the people who were hyper focused on retiring early or achieving financial independence to be less happy and more self-critical about their financial decisions.
I also wanted to comment on this.
What I have observed about FIRE folks is that they start optimizing everything for FIRE.
This isn't a healthy way to live, certainly not in the long run, and it's not like this goes away once they reach FIRE.
Here's an article where Mrs. Money Mustache shared how uncomfortable she was about her parents taking her and their son to the movies, then to an ice cream place.
She was already retired, literally a millionaire.
https://www.mrmoneymustache.com/2012/07/27/youll-never-be-no...
Your are being given a story created by Jocko to build the Jocko mythos. Jocko will not let any truths get in the way of a good story about the mythical Jocko. His artisinal leather boots and cologne don't sell themselves, you know.
I do get that vibe from the vast majority of popular content creators in the "hustle" niche, though.