1. Every time I speak these days, someone in the audience wants to talk about their
frustration with obtaining “Financial Freedom.”
Financial freedom is a myth because we talk about it as if it would be the solution to all
our problems. I keep asking audiences and students this question: “If I could get you all
of Bill Gates’ money this afternoon, but the exchange would be that you would agree to
spend the rest of your life in a wheelchair, paralyzed from the neck down with no friends
or family around, would you make the exchange?”
So far, I have no takers on this deal, which doesn’t surprise me. If you are obsessed
with the pursuit of financial freedom to the exclusion of an abundant life and a great
relationship and massive health and a deep spirituality, you will find yourself looking
back one day in utter dismay and regret.
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2. If we put as much energy and thought into creating a life worth living, in growing and
making a contribution as we do in pursuing the seemingly holy grail of financial freedom,
we would be stunned by the results we would get in all our lives.
Don’t misunderstand what I’m saying. Money and wealth and financial abundance are a
critical part of living a full life. But, it is not the only thing there is in life, any more than
relationships or health or spirituality are the ONLY things important in life. Financial
freedom is an outcome — an EFFECT! Too many people fall in love with the EFFECT
and not the CAUSE, and the key to having what you want in life is falling in love with the
Causes!
What would you do with all the extra time you would have if you ever achieved the
financial freedom you desire? Most people don’t have a clear answer to that question,
but if you are one of the fortunate few that does know, are you already doing some of
that in your life right now? If not, why wait to do it perfectly “someday?” Why not start
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3. today and do it imperfectly and see what results you start getting? Anything worth doing
is worth doing POORLY!
To start a business based on the desire to become financially free is a huge mistake
and a prescription for disaster. The wealthiest people on the planet did not start out
saying their goal was financial freedom or retirement because if they had, they would
have stopped long ago. The 10 wealthiest people on the planet are all still working —
not just 40 hours per week, either. Not one of them is concerned with financial freedom
or retirement.
You see, retirement is simply doing what you want, when you want to do it. Each of the
Forbes 400 is doing that. They have all retired — INTO their jobs and companies. They
have all fallen in love with the CAUSE. They are passionate not because of what they
are doing, but because of how they are doing it. They are growing and contributing and
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4. focused on solutions, which means they are excited and excitement comes not from
what you do, but rather how you do it. Remember, it´s never about what you do, but
rather how you do it.
If the pursuit of financial freedom seems difficult or if the sole reason you are pursuing it
is because of a desire to “do something else”, why not start doing some of that
something else today? Why not fall in love with what you are doing and retire into your
job or company and give yourself to it 100% and see what it gives back to you.
But, most importantly, remember to keep your life in perspective. This lifetime is not
solely about getting to financial freedom but rather to live it so that at the end you can
say, “This was my life. I am proud of it and I would gladly live it again if given the
chance!”
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