Gather No Moss

Today I got to listen to an interview of Alex Roy by Tim Ferris. Alexander Roy is a captain of Team Polizei 144, and winner of the Gumball 3000 in 2003. The Gumball 3000 is a 5000km (3000km) race through Europe (sometimes) on public roads. Imagine driving as fast as you can through public roads and breaking every traffic law possible. Team Polizei did the Cannonball Run from Los Angeles to New York City in about 32 hours, averaging about 130 mph.

Pardon my French, but that’s FUCKING insane. If this isn’t leading a life less ordinary, I think I need a better dictionary. Alex Roy is described as a “travel executive, filmmaker, and philanthropist” and I would love to be called just one of those things, let alone all three.

Unfortunately, you have to visit the page to listen to the interview, as Tim Ferris has cunningly embedded it there. (I can’t link to it directly). But trust me, it’s worth a listen.

If Alex Roy isn’t an example f the New Rich, I don’t know who is!

As I was googling Tim Ferris today, as I am wont to do, I came upon the “Geek Guru” offering a free autographed copy of “The Four Hour Work Week.” I just have to review his blog and post the following text:

John Murch the Self proclaimed Geek Guru is offering a FREE autographed copy of Tim Ferriss’s 4-Hour Workweek to review John Murch’s blog. John is trying to make more passive income with his blog.

To start my review, I have to admit that I am super jealous. The guy has met Tim Ferris in person. I’m hoping that I will be successful enough sometime to soon to run into him somewhere around the world. John Murch’s blog is about creating passive sources of income to fund his own ambitions of becoming a member of the new rich. His research into making money on-line is mostly based on blogging. However, John also spends time on talking about various ways to save money, either by solar electricity or even building a DIY whiteboard.

All in all, John’s blog is a breath of fresh air, as someone much younger than the average passive income blogger. Most of his peers are too busy trying to make it rich than to help others follow in their footsteps. John is an active voice in the blogosphere, having successfully branded and protected his title as “Geek Guru.” His blog is well worth visiting. Go ahead, check out the Geek Guru.

I want to be a member of the new rich. Of course, this is different from being one of the nouveau riche as defined in the 1920s.

But what does it mean to be new rich? I supposed it would be best to begin with a definition of the old rich. The classic definition of rich is based strictly in monetary almost Marxian terms. The more stuff you have, the better your life is.

An utterly simple and shallow definition.

The new rich are a whole different breed. The new rich define wealth as an abundance of experience and excitement. They have the freedom to do whatever they want and enough resources available to do, go and see the world while they are young enough to enjoy it. That’s the lifestyle I want.

I am frightened of growing old and living off of a 401(k). I do not want to spend the best years of my life in a cubicle, marking time and waiting for retirement. That life is not for me.

It feels like I will have to apologize to my Mom, because I know she disagrees with me.

I first came upon the term while listening to a podcast from last year’s SXSW, in Austin, Texas. Tim Ferris was giving a presentation on how he only worked four hours a week, and more importantly, used the remaining time to not only follow his dreams, but achieve them. The talk was very inspiring, and his book, “The Four Hour Work Week” is an instructional road map on how to follow his footsteps, and become a member of the new rich.

I want to be a member of the new rich. I want to be a rolling stone. And I will Gather No Moss.

This is my journey. I hope I can inspire you as Tim Ferris inspires me.