What is your why?
For a long time, I struggled to find my purpose and my “WHY”.
Discovering my "WHY" lead me to a paradigm shift in my thinking and planning. However discovering my “WHY” was the easy part of the journey. The hard part was the courage it took to continuously live life and staying true to my “WHY”.
So far this has as required my courage to:
Leave a well paid and secure full time job and start my own business, without any clients to begin, WHY? Because being true to authentic self, meant me taking full ownership of the outcome.
Stay, the trusted advisor for my clients whilst sensationalist media labelled the wider financial advising industry as immoral, criminal and unethical. WHY? Because being a trusted advisor to me means being at my client’s side both in the difficult and good times.
Back myself and an opportunity that would require me borrowing hundreds of thousands of dollars and relocate 3000km away from family and friends. WHY? Because while money is important, it’s only important to the extent it heightens life experiences and events important to me.
Be honest with myself, my expectations and abilities. Recognizing when enough is enough. WHY? Because the choices I was making was hurting rather than helping me and those important to me.
Acknowledge in life there are no silver bullets to my problems however repeating the right activities, heightens my chance of success.
On my 25th birthday (my ¼ life crisis), I had approximately $200 to my name, an unfinished university degree and little to no professional skills; however, I knew my "WHY" and I was committed to see my goals become a reality. My financial and personal goal was to accumulate $1,000,000 by 50 years old so that I could fund my ideal life of travel and adventures, requiring $50,000 annually passive income.
By my 35th birthday I achieved my financial and personal goals.
By my 40th birthday and not living my life in alignment with my “WHY” I wanted to end my life.
Recently I celebrated my 45th birthday. Looking back twenty years since my ¼ life crisis, taking courageous actions remains just as scary today as it has ever been. However, now I step forward with a little more confidence than before and from experience I appreciate the importance of my choices being in alignment with my “WHY”.
Here’s some Tips I apply in my own life:
Focus on what you can control, let go of what you can’t.
Discover your values i.e. What’s important to you? and What this means to you across all areas of your life? i.e. your finances, career, relationships, health, spirit and experiences
Take ownership of your future, believe in yourself and apply tip one.
Money is important however it’s only important to the extent it heightens your experiences. The experience is more important than the money.
Regardless of you doing something or nothing, time lost cannot be gotten back.
The people you surround yourself with influence your happiness and success.
If you’re not enjoying yourself ask WHY? And apply tip three.
Your past successes or failures are no guarantee of your future performance.
This post was written by Me, as such they are my personal views and not financial or general advice.
You should always seek independent financial advice when it comes to choices about your personal finances. This is one area of your life where it’s worth paying for it to be done right.
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