Yesterday I caught myself thinking, "Through his blog, MMM seems to have a lot of energy (going to school, then working long hours, then building stuff) and intelligence, as well as skill in using computers and software. If I don't have those (except intelligence), how far can I get?"
The fact is, I *have* come a long ways, despite severe learning disabilities, other disabilities, having been homeless and broke for a long time, etc.
I may not get as far as an engineer-with-an-awesome-partner might, but by applying workarounds, I have zero debt, a cozy home (rented), substantial savings, and a pretty happy life! Since my circumstances didn't allow me to access things in conventional ways, these were gained via workarounds.
I would love to hear other people's, "I have [such and such a barrier] but I've made things work by..." I think this could be very inspiring for a lot of us!
What workarounds have you implemented with success?
Two of mine:
1. Because I was without a history of well-paid, stable work, banks would not let me own a home, even though I had a near-perfect credit score, always lived below my means, and demonstrated the ability to save even with very little income. I was volunteering at an agency. When a contractor left a position, I jumped in for the remaining few weeks. This allowed the agency to write a note saying I had been with the agency several years and was "currently earning" $15/hr. I was now able to purchase the house. The rental income covered far more than the costs, and I sold it for a huge gain. This became my savings account.
2. Because of my disabilities, I had to leave high school before graduating. When I was ready for more school, I accessed university by asking a professor if he would let me into his class on a trial basis. (The trial was successful, and the course was the prerequisite for all others I was interested in.) I skipped much of high school (and worked) in the meantime.