What I Wish I Had Known Sooner

Have you ever received information that made you think, “I wish I had known this earlier”? I have. And while we can’t turn back time, it’s never too late to learn and act.

There’s a saying:

"If you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life."

What I’m about to share has changed the way I see the world. Some of it might resonate with you, some might challenge your assumptions—but if you read this to the end, your perspective could shift as well.

The Conditioning We Don’t See

From the moment we’re born, we are conditioned. We are expected to study, find a job, follow rules, and balance our income with our expenses. In a typical salary system, we trade time for money.

And what happens if you don’t enjoy your job? Or if life throws challenges—illness, conflict, or burnout? Most people feel trapped, unable to simply say, “I’m done.”

The Idea of Passive Income

But what if there were ways to earn money even when you step back? Even before the internet, people created passive income streams.

Examples include:

Vending machines – one purchase, income over time.

Car washes – setup once, collect revenue consistently.

Magazine subscriptions – write once, sell many times, in physical or digital form.

With the internet, these ideas expand. For example:

Print on Demand (POD) – design something once, have it printed and sold repeatedly through a company that handles the process.

Network marketing – join an established company, sell existing products, work in teams, and benefit from an established system.

Even though network marketing is often misunderstood or criticized, it is simply a different way to generate income without creating a product from scratch. It allows people to earn while leveraging existing systems, rather than exchanging hours for dollars.

The Freedom Question

I’ve realized that freedom—choosing when, where, and how to work—is rare. Many people assume that if you don’t work a traditional job, you must be lazy. But the truth is, most of us want meaningful work that adds value, not just tasks to fill time.

This is what the Japanese call Ikigai—the intersection of what you love, what you’re good at, and what the world needs.

I’m grateful for what I have, but I always strive for more. I didn’t want to work until retirement because society said so. Years ago, I built my own cabin from recycled materials for less than €50,000, including foundation and roof. That accomplishment created a financial gap between my income and my expenses, giving me freedom to make choices.

Living Life on My Own Terms

Today, I enjoy experiences I could not have otherwise:

I Bougt my dream motorcycle and I’ve taken long trips through southern France and Italy.

I drive a V6 Ford Escape (soon to be sold to reduce expenses further).

My living costs are low enough to give me flexibility and choice.

These choices weren’t handed to me—they were earned through deliberate action. I now focus on creating income streams that are not tied directly to my time.

Rethinking Work and Money

Too often, we live from weekend to weekend, or vacation to vacation. I live in my cabin, with a wood stove, surrounded by nature reminiscent of the Ardennes or Sweden. Every day has the feeling of a weekend.

What I hope for you is this: consider building income alongside purpose. Ask yourself: do I want to trade my time for money indefinitely? Or can I create a life that supports freedom, creativity, and joy?

If this resonates with you, reflect on your own life. Are you living for the next weekend, or are you designing freedom now?