The Tradeoff No One Really Talks About: Time vs. Money

I didn’t realize how little control I had over my time—until I left corporate.

For years, I traded time for a paycheck, stability, and the illusion of security. But once I was out, it became clear: I finally had control over my time—and I wasn’t going to give it back.

That shift changed everything.

Time Rich: My New Priority (and Why Health is My #1 Job)

For decades, I played the corporate game. Chasing promotions, raises, bigger titles—because that’s what you do, right? Work hard, climb the ladder, trade time for money.

Until one day, I realized I was done with corporate (thanks to corporate quitting on me)

I had money but not the time.

I had stability but no freedom.

I was making a living but not really living.

That’s when I flipped the script.

I didn’t realize it then but Time is the Ultimate Currency

Now, my priority and focus is being time rich.

I spent too many years acting like time was unlimited—putting off life, pushing off health, assuming I’d “get to it later.” But time is the one thing you don’t get back.

So I made a choice:

• Work fits into my life, not the other way around.
• No more trading time for things I don’t actually care about.
• No more have to’s—only choose to’s.

Because that’s the thing. Everything is a choice.

Corporate Feels Like a Have-To, But It’s Actually a Choice

I hear it all the time: “I have to stay in my job for the benefits.” “I have to work these hours.” “I have to suck it up.”

But you don’t.

Corporate makes it feel like you have to stay. But the reality? You’re choosing to stay. You’re choosing the tradeoffs—maybe for the paycheck, the security, or because it’s familiar. And if those tradeoffs work for you, great. But for me?

They weren’t worth it.

Once I realized I had a choice, everything changed. Instead of asking, How do I make this work? I started asking, What do I actually want?

My #1 Job: Staying Healthy

Leaving corporate didn’t just give me back my time—it gave me back my health.

I’m down 25 pounds since my corporate days. Why? Because I actually prioritize my health now. I don’t sit in meetings all day, stressed out and eating garbage. Instead, I make my health my job.

It is a priority in my calendar-I lift weights, I walk everyday, I do cardio and I get outside every damn day.

Plus I nowI eat like my future depends on it—because it does.

Here’s the thing: GenX has a huge opportunity. We’re at the point where we either take care of ourselves now or pay for it later. Medical advancements and technology mean we could live longer, healthier lives than any generation before us—but only if we actually do the work.

Too many people say they’ll focus on their health when work slows down. But work never slows down. You have to make it a priority now.

Your Life. Your Choice.

The biggest shift I made was realizing that everything is a choice. Staying in corporate is a choice. Leaving corporate is a choice. Prioritizing time is a choice. Ignoring your health is a choice.

The question isn’t What should I do?

It’s What am I optimizing for?

For me, the answer is simple: I want to be time rich and focus on happiness. I want to be strong, not worn down. And I want to actually live, not just exist.

What about you?

If you are ready to make a change or just learn if it is right for you, I would highly recommend you join our free Slack community. We are closing in on 1700 GenX members! Link here: https://tr.ee/lCXJ-uGsiZ