Either you can make deposits or make withdrawals.
You’re making deposits when it’s hard going and you’re doing approaches in new or tough environments.
You’re learning new things but making many mistakes.
You’re working hard.
You’re getting a return on investment that is less than what you’re putting in.
Freebies are rare and accidental.
But every Monday morning you go to the bank and jam everything you’ve earned into the vaults.
You’re making withdrawals when it’s easy.
You’re not learning anything new.
You’re not working hard.
You’re getting softer.
You’re doing what you already know to get results.
You’re cashing out on your savings to have a smooth ride today.
For most of the eleven years I’ve played the game, I made deposits.
I made deposits in the United States, in Colombia, in Brazil, and definitely in Argentina.
Then I got to Scandinavia, where I noticed my pockets were much lighter every Monday I went to the bank.
By the time I got to Poland, I no longer made deposits.
I was cashing out large sums.
When I left Poland for the Baltics, I went to make another withdrawal at the bank but the teller said that there were insufficient funds in my account.
Did I throw away years of savings in just seven months?
I went to another branch and they confirmed that my balance was zero.
I couldn’t believe I was broke.
For a second I thought I could keep making withdrawals forever, that I saved enough money to live fat and large until I died.
I didn’t realize that ten years of savings can easily be wiped out in a few months of hard spending.
I had nothing left.
I started to make deposits again in Latvia, working as hard as I ever worked.
In Estonia I continued saving.
In Lithuania I stepped up and saved some more.
Then I got to Industrial shit hole, and let me tell you that I’ve never saved so much in my life.
I’m earning so much that I’m making daily deposits.
I’m studying the language.
I’m building a social circle.
I do approaches where there is seemingly no hope of success.
The last time I worked this hard was when I was 22, when I had no money in the bank.
Either you’re making deposits, earning every lay with your blood and sweat, or you’re making withdrawals.
Right now I’m making deposits.
I can’t tell you when I can start withdrawing again.
I don’t know if it’s going to be here or in another country, but I know that it will come.
Until next time.
Your man,
-Elijah “The Realist”
