Stop Settling for Normal
By Mindy McHorse

“Most people die at 20 and are buried at 80.”

Doesn’t that just bum you out?

I don’t know who first coined the phrase, but it stops you in your tracks — mostly because it’s true.

After all, most people get used to a humdrum, “normal” life and never find a way to change. That’s where you’re different.

The writer’s life is about more than working from home and being in control of your time. It’s even about more than being in control of your money.

Truthfully, it’s about developing the courage to not only ask yourself what you really want in life, but also to decide how you’ll get it.

If it's a grand, golden desire that churns your stomach and makes you salivate with longing, then it’s probably not an easy thing to get.

Plus, living your dreams isn’t always just about getting what you want. It’s also about doing things that really matter to you, not just what comes easiest.

For example, breaking out as a freelancer may be daunting, especially if you’re used to following a rigid, pre-established position description at your job. There’s nothing pre-established about the writer’s life, but that’s the beauty of it. When you choose it, you open yourself up to worlds of possibility. You’re the one who gets to make the decisions.

But at the same time, making those decisions and living your dreams means you may have to accept some kind of challenge — even if you’re not sure you’re ready for it.

That happened to me last year. I made a big, six-figure goal — and I’d only been freelancing for two years at that point. I didn’t have a clue as to how I’d pull it off, but I knew it was a way to get some things I really wanted in life, including freedom from debt and more time with my husband and two babies.

Plus, I’d made less than $30,000 the year before I set that six-figure goal. That meant I had to make some major changes in my life — everything from creating a more professional workspace to prioritizing tasks to raising my fees. (If you want the full story on how I did it, check out The Reality Blog over at Wealthy Web Writer.)

I once read an entry to a Dear-Abby-like site that said, “I’m 65. I want to enjoy my remaining years, but I’m not sure how. Problem is, I’ve always known what I don’t want to do, but never really thought about what I do like to do. How do I figure it out?”

Figuring it out takes guts. It starts with finding people who will encourage your entrepreneurial dreams. Being isolated does you no good. For proof, check out my video message on how I eventually met my six-figure goal.

And, don’t worry about making mistakes when you go after your goals — it happens all the time. You can read about some of the most common goal-setting mistakes in this article: Do You Make These Mistakes in Goal-Setting?