Recently I managed to chance upon a podcast [ 徐御 切入点】on randomly on Spotify. One episode covered the topic of turning 30s / 40s and touch on the anxiety, uncertainty people have especially when the goals they had internally does not align with their current circumstances. Usually these goals are financial in nature or the dream to have a more luxurious life.
Several points on covered struck me. Like anxiety in your late 20s when the path financially forward is fraught with unknowns. How hopeless young adults feel when they realized they may never be able to afford the lifestyle they project. The podcast also encourage listeners to strive for their goal or at least try, otherwise they may regret not trying in the future.
I recalled I was the guy in his late 20s, merge salary with a glass ceiling in my industry and organization. I did not even have a degree and in a society where paper qualifications still matters, its akin to a death sentence. I took steps to try turn things around, night classes, combined with learning how to make my dollar stretch by picking up investing. I also worked harder at the office to show my abilities (dumb).
Since then, about 10 years had passed, and I am proud to say that while I'm not the hardest worker or one who would sacrifice all time and effort to the betterment of (mainly financial) goals, I am satisfied with the effort and results:
- I doubled my pay and seen that my glass ceiling had been raised, (lets face it you cant really remove glass ceilings)
- Picked up really useful skills in financial literacy (still learning)
- Improved in articulation and thought process from reading more
- Managed to save up and purchased a lovely home with
- My wife
Not the greatest of achievements like 100x from identifying the right cryptos, or getting hold of a prestigious landed freehold property in the sunny island I reside, but it will do for now.
10 years later and I face a similar situation: Late 20s me was thinking of making more money to catch up, settling down in the traditional sense, having some financial security. The late 30s me is thinking of rising up in social economical ladder (my goal is to hit top 10-15%, achieving some self-actualization goals (play volin/start a biz/ buy a sport car), and most importantly having Financial Independence.
The podcast also covered things about the circles of the rich and how even amongst the seemingly rich, they do demarcate amongst themselves (example: a professional like a lawyer is lower in status than a business owner. Or both equally rich families but one is via lottery or crypto while the other is old money with certain level of sophistication: nouve rich vs old money). I'm not really interested in stuff like these, these are just like the ancient golf courses around the world, and the local country club nonsense. I'd really be satisfied if I hit my personal FI number and buy the toys I want. Retaining certain level of low profile is key to having peace.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Recently, I seem to lose a slight bit of the drive at work. Not sure if it is due to the changes in my work environment or the fact that I know progression will slow down (I'm lazy guy by nature, subscribes to 80:20 logic)
My primary effort is currently in financial literacy, portfolio risk management, and functional health. I want to maintain my fitness for as long as I can.
Here's wishing myself for a better "next 10"
Hit my FI number by 45
Maintain fitness level until 48!
Learn something completely new
Travel to 5 new countries
End with a quote: The difference between 0.9 and 1.1 is not 0.2. It is 2.59 - 0.34 = 2.24 that is the gap after power of ^10.
Each little step you take beyond / below effort of 1 (neutral/average) is significant. It will impact your life 10 years later!!!
