Before you can become rich, you must decide whether you want to be secure, comfortable, or rich. These are called core values, or the reasons you want to invest.
The first reason most people invest is because they want to feel more secure. That’s why Social Security or a retirement plan is very popular with people whose core value is the need for security. Security is a very important aspect of investing. You don’t want to be a destitute out on the streets with nobody taking care of you.
Think about the most successful people you know. Here are 17 things I'll bet they're constantly doing.
Think of the most successful person you know. Maybe we’re talking about a work colleague or a mentor. Maybe this is someone you knew growing up or in school — and you can’t believe how much he or she has achieved since then.
A few years ago, I was chatting about financial freedom with a close friend. My friend was very interested in becoming financially independent, and really wanted to discuss how she could increase her wealth.
However, when I shared my journey to financial independence, she had a lot of reservations.
Financial liberation is beyond most people’s reach because of the following four myths and destructive mind-sets:
1. The Retirement Myth
2. The Financial Freedom Myth
3. The Entitlement Mentality
4. The Fallacy of “Someday”
The Retirement Myth
The retirement myth is the idea that the purpose of life is to work for thirty years, save enough money, and then stop working and live off one’s savings. This destructive myth causes many people to stay in jobs they don’t like and that don’t allow them full expression of their best talents. It makes us sell our “birthright” for a “mess of pottage” in the form of golden handcuffs and benefits. It often leads to small lives built around limited dreams.
Surprisingly, most of us chronically overlook our most valuable asset, which is our own self!
So how do you invest in yourself?
The first often ignored step is taking the time to figure out what your ideal life looks like, financially, occupationally and otherwise, so that you can design your investing, and you finances in general, to complement your long and short-term objectives.
