We live in a system designed to integrate everyone into a value-exchange network. As soon as you become an adult, you become part of this system. Depending on which country you live in, there is usually no opt-out except for building yourself a cabin in the woods and living off the land.
I am not saying that the system is bad. It is what it is. You need to pay for housing, electricity, water, transportation, clothes, food. Then you have insurances, taxes, and other mandatory expenses. And if you want to enjoy those benefits of the system, you need to give something back. In a way we all have to pay for the privilege to live decent lives. Some people fit well into the system, while others struggle a lot to make ends meet.
And here comes the most important differentiating factor: Your value. It’s a simple equation: Time x Value = Income. Since time is limited, we only have the Value of time to play with. If your skills are replaceable, your value is low. So, a lot of things that we do in life serve one purpose: Increase the value of our time.
For example, one such thing is education. Get a better education (or better skills) and you will get a higher salary (or hourly rate if you are a freelancer). Another thing is fame. Become famous (actor, football player, singer, badass 3D artist, …) and you will get paid a lot, because you stand out from the crowd and your time becomes a rarer commodity. A third thing is specialization. Become an expert in something not many other people can do (or want to do), and you can ask for a lot more in exchange for your time.
Sometimes these strategies work, sometimes they don’t. The sad thing is that no matter how valuable you become – you are still trading life for life. And not only that. Playing this game will most certainly NOT lead you to financial independence and freedom.
What do you think?