Hey @steembusiness.

Let me start this reply by saying that I came upon your post while casually browsing my steemit feed and when I read it, I got up, put the coffee on and started up the laptop as I wanted to reply at length and that's not easily done on a phone.

I applaud you for your aspirations. I share them and indeed I've managed to work from home remotely for a number of years in a technical profession. It's a zero commute and generally enjoyable undertaking and I found that much more time could be focused around the home. Feel like a stretch from your desk for 10 minutes? Rather than just hanging out in an office kitchen, you could water the plants out the window for example. Very efficient and productive.

I did want to say however that, like you, I've seen those gone before and wanted to model my life on aspects of theirs. The issue is however that success or achievement is not only a function of our own effort or skill. I call this the Schwarzenegger effect. Reading his autobiography blew me away. If ever there was a guy in the right place at the right time with the right people offering him the right support, it's him. The same guy born at a different time would have a radically different life.

Times are harder now, the low hanging fruit has been picked. Many of us, despite great efforts to the contrary, will by necessary compliance with the world around us, be forced to live that inefficient 9-5 that you describe. The point is to do what you can to make your life as close to what you want it to be and don't beat yourself up if you never quite get there. "There" is subjective and a function of the prevailing economic and social conditions.

My best wishes to you in your endeavours and I look forward to hearing your tips on what you learn along the way!