We all know somebody who “has it all.”
He has the fancy job, the nice car, the big house, and the respect and power all of the trappings of success provides. He also has a cheating spouse, kids in rehab, a $1,000 a week psychiatrist bill, and a bottle of sleeping pills next to his bed.
Is that how “financial success” looks to you? There are many financially successful people in this world who I would not consider successful in life. It’s easy to point fingers and say, “See, that’s what money does! It ruins marriages and your kids will hate you.”
What’s the point of working 80 hours a week and living with a spouse who doesn’t love you and kids who don’t respect you?
Financial success doesn’t have to look like this. You can be financially successful and have enough time for your family and your hobbies. That’s the whole point in having a high Independence Factor—to give you the financial freedom to live the lifestyle you want with as much free time to spend with family, friends, and your hobbies as you want.
Money is a facilitator.
It should be used to achieve other goals. People get into trouble when the pursuit of money becomes the goal. Suddenly their entire existence and life’s purpose is to make more and more at the expense of everything else. If you strive for balance across all areas of your life—your Life Zones—you will have time for your friends, family, and yourself.
The Take-Away?
Financial success and happiness is not an either/or choice. As long as you keep your purpose and vision in mind, you won’t get sucked into the rat-race. Financial success shouldn’t be a burden, but a tool to give you the freedom to pursue the other things in your life that are important to you.
The proceeding blog post is an excerpt from The Six-Day Financial Makeover: Transform Your Financial Life in Less Than a Week!, available now on Amazon.
About the Independent Financial Advisor
Robert Pagliarini, PhD, CFP® has helped clients across the United States manage, grow, and preserve their wealth for nearly three decades. His goal is to provide comprehensive financial, investment, and tax advice in a way that is honest and ethical. In addition, he is a CFP® Board Ambassador, one of only 50 in the country, and a fiduciary. In his spare time, he writes personal finance books. With decades of experience as a financial advisor, the media often calls on him for his expertise. Contact Robert today to learn more about his financial planning services.
