> a middle class man goes to work every single day, Monday through Friday, and that days not like that must be celebrations because they’re clearly the exceptions to the rule? Were we ever told that, or did it just seep in, somehow? Here’s a radical notion, let’s try it on: never work Thursdays
This thinking changed my life.
Back in about 2007 I was a young developer working full time, and a new guy started. He didn't work Wednesdays.
Why Not? Because he didn't want to. Because he didn't need more money. Because he wanted to ride his bike with his lawyer wife (who also didn't work Wednesdays).
I spent many, many hours over lunch chatting about this thinking and how in the world it was even possible - it utterly blew my mind coming from a completely middle-class "go to work everyday" family. I had no idea it was possible in this universe.
At my next job I negotiated a "flexible work agreement". If I put in an average of 37 hours per week, nobody really cared how I did it, as long as my work gone done. I sold it to the boss as good for the team because they would have to be able to fix whatever broke without me, and I would have to create good documentation on exactly how to do that.
Over the next four years I basically never worked a Friday, and between leave days, stat holidays and the odd flex day, Mondays were rare too. I still got a full salary.
I will never work "full time" again.
These days now I run my own business, I will likely never work for someone again.
I feel lucky I had a few "Copernican moments" like this when I will still young enough to believe I might be able to pull it off (hint: you can).
This is wonderful and something I'm aiming to do in the future, to some degree due to the Weekend Wednesday video from CGP Grey and some other places making strong cases for a 4 day workweek
> Could you explain what other copernican moments have you experienced?
There have been quite a few, I've written about them my books I've written about my adventures around the world [1].
- You really don't need much money to live, and if you're happy doing inexpensive things, you can be a very happy person without going to work much at all. A ~$300 day at Disneyland is a surefire good time, but if you enjoy a walk in the park throwing a Frisbee around with friends just as much... you'll have a lot more time to enjoy life.
- Be careful with debt. The reason so many people in the western world go to work everyday is because they get the debt, then have to work to pay it off. Go to a country where debt isn't really possible because the economy can't support it (Argentina, Mexico, Mali, Angola, etc.) and you'll see everyone has TONS of time to live the life they want. Play guitar, play with cousins, hangout on the beach. Little work, lots of living.
No sane person will go to a soul-crushing job for weeks just to buy a new iPhone.. but because it isn't that obvious, everyone in developed countries actually does.
- You can live whatever life you want, and don't worry what other people say. If it's your close friends or family you can certainly take input and advice, but random people telling you stuff is pure noise.
> Be careful with debt. The reason so many people in the western world go to work everyday is because they get the debt, then have to work to pay it off. Go to a country where debt isn't really possible because the economy can't support it (Argentina, Mexico, Mali, Angola, etc.) and you'll see everyone has TONS of time to live the life they want.
Been living in Buenos Aires, Argentina for a year and a half now, and this is exactly what I've seen. This explanation makes sense. I always chalked it up to socializing being a much more important part of the culture than in the US.
This thinking changed my life.
Back in about 2007 I was a young developer working full time, and a new guy started. He didn't work Wednesdays.
Why Not? Because he didn't want to. Because he didn't need more money. Because he wanted to ride his bike with his lawyer wife (who also didn't work Wednesdays).
I spent many, many hours over lunch chatting about this thinking and how in the world it was even possible - it utterly blew my mind coming from a completely middle-class "go to work everyday" family. I had no idea it was possible in this universe.
At my next job I negotiated a "flexible work agreement". If I put in an average of 37 hours per week, nobody really cared how I did it, as long as my work gone done. I sold it to the boss as good for the team because they would have to be able to fix whatever broke without me, and I would have to create good documentation on exactly how to do that. Over the next four years I basically never worked a Friday, and between leave days, stat holidays and the odd flex day, Mondays were rare too. I still got a full salary.
I will never work "full time" again.
These days now I run my own business, I will likely never work for someone again.
I feel lucky I had a few "Copernican moments" like this when I will still young enough to believe I might be able to pull it off (hint: you can).