Rock star Gene Simons’ book, Me, Inc. is filled with inspiration for those who seek to take a self-directed approach to life.

Simons grew up in poverty but was determined to build a better life for himself and his mother.

Simons has no time for those who won’t help themselves. He has a ton of enthusiasm for life and it shows in his writing. Here are the lessons I learned from his book.

You Can Learn from Many Sources

As a kid Simons hated school. He learned most of his creativity and imagination from watching TV. He couldn’t wait to get home and watch TV until it the screen went dark at 11 pm. It taught him how to learn a new language and filled his mind with inspiration. There are many sources of inspiration around us if we just look for them.

Invest in Yourself

We have many resources available to us like books, podcasts, YouTube, and career guides on this site. Spend some time each day trying to improve some aspect of yourself. Take charge of the business of you.

Save Your Money

When it comes to personal finances, Simons says to save as much as you can. Savings allows you the freedom to invest in yourself when an opportunity comes. He recommends saving 25-50% of your income.

You Don’t Need To Be An Expert

Simons can’t read music, but he gets paid a lot of money to play it. He stresses the fact that you don’t need to be an expert to do new things. Just do it. You’ll figure it out as you go.

Be the Author of Your Life

You are the author of your life story. No one else is responsible for living your life except you. Simons went so far as to reinvent himself multiple times throughout his life, even giving himself a new name each time. So, take charge and start writing your story. Don’t just passively go through life.

Use Your Time Wisely

Think you don’t have time to work on side projects that might be fulfilling and profitable? Simons adds up all the spare time that a typical worker has. You’ve got weekends, vacation time, lunch hours, and time spent on social media or watching TV. You can use that time to work on side projects. Instead of taking a vacation, consider using that time to learn a new skill or start a side-hustle.

Do It Now

Don’t wait until inspiration strikes. Start now. You’ll build momentum as you get going.

Get some inspiration from the Career Hackers Manifesto, or the Career Hackers eBook.


Originally published at aaronolson.blog.