I chose to be around good people.

For my 27th birthday week, I made absolutely 0 career moves.

Instead, I chose life. I chose to be around good people.

I performed stand-up comedy for the first time, dunked a basketball, hiked with some intellectually stimulating friends, laughed all night with the fam, ate dessert 3x/day, and sat on my couch watching Rick and Morty all day on Sunday 🤣.

If you *really* know me, you know this is a big deal.

Pics from my 2015-2019 birthdays show me working behind a desk, organizing a photoshoot for the brand, throwing massive events, fundraising, and refusing to accept cakes. I thought I was soooo determined. Lol

I've spent most birthdays in my 20s working. Working made me feel less inadequate and more like I was reaching my full potential. I didn't feel like I had a choice. I felt like success required pain and sacrifice. I don't regret those choices- sometimes it does.

But funny enough, when I allowed myself to live a full life, that's when my career really started to click.

This past year has been my most lucrative one by far. I've reached millions of people, I'm super healthy, and I'm in rooms discussing all the opportunities I illustrated on my vision boards in 2019 and 2020. I feel more unstoppable than ever and I'm actually enjoying it. I'm surrounded by people I love. I feel like I can actually sustain my lifestyle.

We get one life yall. Your existence need not be perpetually painful to accomplish everything you desire. Sometimes you should be a warrior, and many times, you can actually choose happiness.

And sometimes the happiest- not the hardest- version of you attracts the best opportunities.

For more details, please visit justinshaifer.com.

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