Websters defines “Extreme” as:
“An amount or degree that is far beyond what is normal or reasonable.”
It seems like we are constantly being bombarded by businesses, blogs, books, and people who want to sell us something that is being marketed as being “Extreme”. Extreme Frugality, Extreme Workout, Extreme Dieting, Extreme, Extreme, Extreme! I mean honestly folks, I understand the marketing angle, and the need to be seen in whatever niche you are either occupying or trying to break into. But can’t we dial it down just a bit? Can’t we try to give people something they can actually use?
Extreme Behavior is not Sustainable
I think people are drawn to the concept of extreme by the idea that they are so far behind the curve that the only way to reach their ideal in any reasonable time is to do something extreme. The problem with that type of thinking is that being extreme in anything usually cannot be sustained for any meaningful length of time.
How many times have we heard the come on “Lose 20 pounds in 10 days with the [fill in the blank] diet!” While it is true that any extreme change will generate unusual short-term results, the fact that most folks quickly revert to their norm is an indication that extreme action is rarely life changing (we’ve all been there, right?). We in the Financial Independence movement have occasionally fallen victim to the hyperbole as well. I’m not going to point fingers (where’s the value in that?). I suppose if using hyperbole gets people’s attention and starts them on the road to financial security, then perhaps it is not an absolutely horrible thing, as long as we’re not promising to teach people how to turn $100 into $1 Million in 30 days or how to become a successful real estate tycoon overnight. That having been said, if you can get buy-in on a reasonable system of actions that folks can keep up in the long-term, you can change lives.
Helping people find the methods of moving toward FI that suit their unique set of circumstances should be what this community is all about (and is for many – and you know who you are). That can be a little tricky when you know what works for you and you are excitedly trying to describe it for general consumption to a large and unknown group who all have different needs, wants, and hopes. But the steps along the way to FI should be measured, even and sustainable. Nothing “extreme”.
Until Next Time, FIRE On! – Oldster
