I think that I should get a little more serious about my economic future, make some more plans. I think that my goal is to be able to retire by the age of 50, a decade from now. It is unlikely I will ever actually retire though as I am either going to die doing something I value doing or, die in the attempt to do something I value doing. 

I figure though that with a little luck, I am going to be able to make it to my goal as long as I don't do anything too stupid like, *stop grinding.*

https://i.imgur.com/qbnwP2F.jpg

The grind for me is part of the process and there are many factors to it, few of which are easy to perform long-term, but long-term investing into the process is likely the only way I am going to be able to reach my goals. The benefit on Steem for me is that it gives m the possibility and flexibility to work as I choose, when I choose, where I choose and importantly, *as much as I choose.* 

Too often these pesky workplace Health and Safety and governmental agreements get in the way of the grind and instead of protecting workers, it can weaken them into believing that a 40 hour week is normal. It really isn't. I am not talking about working insane hours for the dollar however, this is about the work at doing something valuable, because if it is valuable to me, why wouldn't I be working hard at it?

## What qualifies as work?

<blockquote>

- In the 117 weeks I have been on Steem, I have published a post every day of the week 109 times.

- Out of the 821 days on Steem, I have published 4+ posts in a day 288 times.

- For the 27 months on Steem, I have published a post on every day of the month for 24 months. 

</blockquote>

This is my Steem grind, It isn't the only ongoing grind though and isn't the hardest by far, although it is likely to be the most financially rewarding out of the set. It is also the one that provides me with the most cathartic experience through the creative thought process I go through. While some might find what I do irrelevant, for me it is not and that means that there is value in it. 

## Do what you love and you will work the rest of your life at it. 
&nbsp;
There is obviously a limit to how much work one can do across various areas but I feel that many people in the world of today do not really test their limitations when it comes to how much grind they have in them. While I could argue that people should put in more effort, maybe it is a good thing that they don't because if they do - *they might break.* While I have my opinions, you do you and if you think you can't do it, you are probably right. 

## Don't assume because you can't, no one can.
&nbsp;
It is fallacious thinking to assume something is impossible because you yourself are unable to accomplish it and this is of course transparent if we look at something like running. While I can't sprint 100 metres sub-12 seconds anymore, it is obviously not impossible since the world record time is 9.58 seconds. I wonder how many people believed sub-10 was impossible until someone broke it? 

>Jim Hines, Ronnie Ray Smith and Charles Greene were the first to break the 10-second barrier in the 100 m, all on 20 June 1968, the Night of Speed. Hines also recorded the first legal electronically timed sub-10 second 100 m in winning the 100 metres at the 1968 Olympics.

## Lucky?
&nbsp;
How much grind went into their training, their diet, their life practices to enable such a feat and, is it any surprise that *The Night of Speed* saw not one but three break the barrier? It is no surprise at all because there is advancements in knowledge and technique that enable people to do more than they did before. This means that the more that do, the more than can do because precedents are set as a framework for others to reset and the knowledge base grows to include more and more until what was once impossible becomes commonplace. 

## Ranting and raving in the corner isn't for me.
&nbsp;
I don't know where my Steem career ends but I don't plan on being the crazy guy that talks to himself in the corner of the Blockchain, ranting and raving about rights and wrongs, what ifs and what was. But, I don't have to worry too much because, the grind has saved me that fate, since if Steem does well like I believe it will, my grind has powdered the ingredients and I have powered them up as a foundation. Isn't that what the grind is for, to build a foundation for the future?

Not only that, if it does well I think there are quite a few people who are going to do *very well* out of it themselves which means, there will be plenty of ranting and raving people to keep me company in that corner. We will be there discussing how hard life was *back then.*

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26ZDB9h7BLY 

...And you try and tell the young people of today that and, they won't believe you. 

Luckily, we have a blockchain to remind them. 

## 10 years til retirement?
&nbsp;
Taraz
[ a Steem original ]