10 comments

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  Ron Hitson

  9 months ago

  Great response to the nay-sayers. To hell with them. In the short time that I have discovered your blog it has helped me a great deal. I'll be looking forward to FYF and anything else you sell/give away/create.
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  RichieLancair

  9 months ago

  Americans have such a distain for someone else making money. Maybe everyone does. Unless they have it.
  
  Once you have enough to support yourself who cares what's left over. I like the way you answered this guy.
  
  I for one would like to be where you are now, as soon as I possibly can. Fiancial freedom sounds very good to me.
  
  Thanks
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  freelearner

  9 months ago

  If one thinks they need lots of money to find freedom, they need only blame themselves for having a long list of "needs". Many people make do with very little, and therefore "buy" freedom with a small income and good spending habits. How much money one needs to be free depends entirely on what one is willing to give up. And that's different for everybody.
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  Laura Roeder

  9 months ago

  It's interesting to me how uncomfortable people are with this topic. The truth is that if you live in a capitalist country where you have to pay for stuff freedom REQUIRES money. Even if you live in a self-sustaining commune you still have to pay taxes! The amount of money is different for everyone, but freedom ALWAYS requires money. It takes money to survive, even if only a little bit.
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  Dave Navarro

  9 months ago

  Holy shit, Clay, you're trying to make MONEY off of this? What the hell are you thinking?
  
  Oh wait, the same thing the rest of us are thinking.
  
  Freedom requires money.
  
  Keep rocking.
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  Marc Beneteau / Lifestyle Desi

  9 months ago

  Ok, I am one of the "nay sayers" (sort of :). I certainly support Clay's decision to emphasize the "Freedom" (yay Clay) and also "enter the conversation that the readers are having". AND there are a few things that need to be said.
  1)The psychologist Martin Seligman has proven in his research that happiness and money are COMPLETELY UNCORRELATED. No relationship, zip.
  2)In my experience money is about 10% of the problem of freedom (or liberation). I work a 40 hour job that is far from inspiring to me, but I live a very rich, fulfilling and meaningful life. Why? Because my fundamental human needs are being met (need for connection and for contribution) and because I have a PLAN that I know I won't be working this job forever. Freedom is a self-created, moment-to-moment experience. IT DOES NOT REQUIRE ANYTHING
  3)Clay himself didn't start out this site with the goal of making money (correct me if I'm wrong, Clay). He did it because it was his passion, he was inspired to write, it was a joyful and fulfilling process for him, and he's a damn good writer, presenting inspiring and thought-provoking pieces.
  I write a lot more about this at http://lifestyledesignschool.com.
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  Avani-Mehta

  9 months ago

  Well ... money isn't everything but it surely isn't nothing as well !
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  Judy Rey Wasserman

  9 months ago

  Good post!
  Freedom, brings happiness or satisfaction when a person uses it to contribute his/her talent(s) to others. Freedom is doing what one is passionate about doing. I am an artist and writer and am passionate about my work. Like many entrepreneurs, I did it for free until I could get paid.
  Granted one does need money, and the idea is to find a way to be paid by bringing value to society or individuals through one's passion.
  Parents of either sex can be passionate about staying home t raise their children. One of the happiest people I ever met was a home schooling stay at home Dad. His wife loved her family but was passionate about her work in science that fortunately produced a good income. Had Dad worked they might have had more money, but they would have had a lot less freedom.
  A recent study showed that the Danish people are the happiest on earth. Somehow they have worked out the finances of having everyone make a living doing whatever they want to contribute of produce. The crown prince apparently likes woodworking. Everyone makes a decent living. This reported on one of the networks in one of those shows like 60 Minutes.
  Apparently this works because Denmark has a small, well educated homogeneous population. Apparently everyone pays a high percentage of their salary or earned income in taxes, and the money from the highest earners is redistributed. Possibly this is s downside for the high earners. The other factor is most of the grunt jobs are done by immigrants or temporary workers from poor countries.
  However, apparently most of the Danish people are satisfied with their lives. They feel they are a part of a community.
  Why do people some people in our society think that earning money can only be done by doing jobs that one is not passionate about?
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  Dan

  9 months ago

  Great post, money is freedom in this world, they are just two different sides of the same coin, no pun intended. First post of yours I've read but I have subscribed, looking forward to more great content.
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  Marc Beneteau / Lifestyle Desi

  9 months ago

  Judy: Yay, very well-put.
  
  Dan: Money may bring a certain kind of freedom, but it does not bring "liberation" (Clay's word, not mine). In my experience this is common confusion and a trap. If you want "liberation" (a life of meaning, purpose, passion, and connection) then pursue passion and meaning, not money. Money is a by-product of passion, as demonstrated by Clay's success with this blog.
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