Great message here.
I was the "hope" or "wish" guy 7 years ago. Then I said "screw it", built up savings for a few months, bought 2 one way tickets to Bali with my wife and 6 years later we have circled the globe, being full time digital nomads and pro bloggers. Terrifying decision, and exciting! To go from wishing, to doing, is fun, freeing and scary. But if you never move toward and into your fears you will be in the wish crowd, the hope crowd, or in the perpetual planning crowd.
Very inspiring. I have been working toward my own independence for years. I've spent a bunch of money trying to reach that point. I saved everything I had, but then spent it on patents for my "business". None of the patents have made me a penny. But you cannot kill this dream. I have taken a different approach for round 2. I have saved all of my money and now invest it, spending more than 20 hours per week on it. I've spent nearly 10,000 hours becoming a highly educated investor by paying for the top research and diving in. I'm doing well. I'm slowing building the funds I need while working on several business opportunities learning everything I need to be flip the switch once the money is earned. I've set an end date when I will make the jump. In one joint business I've partnered with two outstanding people to bring a half dozen ideas to market. I will fund three other very big businesses; two I will partner with my two brothers on and a third I will get help from people I have met who have more expertise to guide me. This time my education into investments will certainly earn me the ability to succeed, as opposed to going it alone the first go around.