Harder Is Not the Same as Impossible
Kids, costs, and the real reason most people never start
A few months ago, I was invited to join a group chat about financial independence. The premise was simple: a bunch of people curious about FIRE, wanting to explore the idea together.
I showed up the way I always do. No preaching. No unsolicited advice. I announced I was there if anyone had questions, and let interest do the rest.
Then I waited. And waited.
Almost nothing. The occasional message, polite but noncommittal. The kind of energy that says this sounds interesting in theory — but not I’m actually ready to change my life.
The conclusion wasn’t hard to reach: the group wasn’t ready for FIRE. And that’s okay. FIRE isn’t like ordering something on Amazon. You don’t just add it to your cart and check out. It requires a level of conviction that goes beyond curiosity — because the road is genuinely hard, and without real belief, you will quit the moment it gets uncomfortable.
Then, Nearly a Year Later
