The Reason Why You Need to Pursue Your Passions Ruthlessly

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June 30, 2016

I remember it like it was yesterday.

It was a gorgeous, sunny day.

Blue skies, picture-perfect clouds, and the temperature was just right.

It was a perfect day to go for a drive.

I grabbed my bags, walked out the door, and jumped on the subway.

I took the subway from Brooklyn to downtown Manhattan and then jumped on the PATH train to New Jersey to pick up a rental car.

Once I arrived at the rental car agency, I signed the necessary paperwork, and received the keys to a rental car.

I hopped in, adjusted the seat and mirrors, started the car, and drove west.

My destination: Montana.

I was alone and had no idea what to expect.

Driving and going from New York City to Montana seemed like a good idea at the time.

That road trip was one of the best experiences of my life.

But, that wasn't my first long-distance road trip.

My very first long-distance road trip was from Nurnberg, Germany, through Switzerland, into France until we hit the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, and then drove along the Mediterranean Sea south into Spain.

I was with two of my good friends at the time (one of whom I interviewed for this newsletter), and our goal was to go to Barcelona to watch a bullfight (before bullfights were outlawed in Spain).

We didn't make it to Barcelona.

We made it to Lloret del Mar, Spain, where we had 3 days of fun.

From Lloret del Mar, we drove through the Pyrenees to Paris, and from Paris, back to Nurnberg.

That was an incredible road trip for three young adults in their early 20s.

I've always enjoyed driving. For me, as a kid, I didn't want to grow up to be an astronaut, a movie star, or a firefighter. I wanted to be a long-haul truck driver.

Heck, my father knew me so well he once told me that he believed I'd be a long-haul truck driver.

When I lived in Germany, I drove all over Germany, visiting different cities on weekends.

I've driven from Miami to New York City and back again (several times).

I've driven from New York City to California and north along the Pacific Coast Highway.

I've even driven across the north coast of Scotland.

But that road trip from New York City to Montana in 2016 really changed the game for me.

A cross-country road trip from New York City to Wyoming (where I stay in a small cabin for a few days) is one of my annual non-negotiables.

Cross-country road trips are an activity that helps tilt the balance of life in my favor.

It's an understatement to say that driving long distances is a passion of mine.

It's so much of a passion that one of the reasons I purchased a camper is to pursue this passion for extended periods of time. To stay in places, such as the Valley of the Gods, I could only stay in for one or two nights in the past. And to, maybe, finally drive to Alaska.

What's the point of all this?

The point is that if you have a passion (and I'm willing to bet good money that you do), pursue that passion.

Pursue that passion ruthlessly.

I read a quote the other day that resonated with me:

Always remember: "Don't gamble on the future."

Tomorrow is not guaranteed.

Life's way too unpredictable (and short) to wait for "someday."

What caught my attention:

Warren Buffett’s best advice for investing—and for a happy life

You can find the collection of financial tools & resources that helped me grow from a 6-figure debt to a 6-figure net worth by clicking here.

Thanks for reading!

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