You need to choose wisely.
People have the idea of retirement all wrong. It is not about working 50 years, quitting your job, walking the dog and caring for the grandchildren. Nothing wrong with that, but retirement is about being free to do what you want, when you want. It should happen as early in life as possible, and it can be accomplished in a relatively short time.
All you need is a business that provides you a good income with minimal work on your part.
But before we get to that, here are some facts from an Associated Press article, titled "For some low-income workers, retirement is only a dream."
It was a striking image. A photo of an 89 year old man hunched over, struggling to push his cart with frozen treats. Fidencio Sanchez works long hours every day selling the treats because he couldn't afford to retire. The photo and his story went viral and thousands of people donated more than $384,000. for his retirement.
His story is a window into a dark reality: Many workers - especially low wage people - say they cannot afford to retire.
With no money saved for retirement, home care worker Gwen Strowbridge, 71, of Deerfield, Florida, plans to stay on the job until she can't physically work anymore.
"I can't see into the future. I'll stop working if my health won't allow me to keep working," said Strowbridge. She currently works six days a week caring for a 100 year old woman in Florida.
Studies have found that about one-third of low wage workers like this say they will never be able to afford retirement.
I don't want this type of thing to happen to you.
That is why I am asking you to think about your own priorities.
The easiest way for most of us to avoid that type of situation is to create some income that is NOTdependent on us being physically present in order to get paid.
Which basically means your own business of some kind.
When choosing the kind of business you want to create, look for a business model that can produce income far into the future based on work you do to day. Some people do it by investing in commercial real estate, some by investing in the stock market.
As you know, I choose the internet marketing business model.
Have you lost your way?
I watch many of my friends fall apart when they retire. They have worked 40 or 50 years and their lives have been defined by their jobs. When they are no longer working, they no longer have a personal identity.
Retirement gives you the opportunity to redefine you life by the things you want to accomplish. You no longer have to do what the boss wants.
Lots of retirees have trouble defining their new life. Every life should be lived with purpose.
Know what is important to you and create a team of like minded people to help you accomplish your goal. Find a mentor who shares your interests and who is successful in the niche you want to pursue. Okinawans call their group a moai, to others it is a club, a hui, a church or even a gang. In Okinawa a moai is formed by a group of parents bringing their children together to look after each other. Moais are formed for a lifetime.
Retirement was a tough time for Bill. In his working career, he was a Protection Forester for the State of Hawaii. In retirement, he was nothing. So much of our self worth is associated with our work. It took Bill 10 years to realize his life was headed in the wrong direction. He knew he wanted to help people live better lives and leave a better world to their kids.
He had been working in a hardware store selling paint. Selling paint wasn’t cutting it for Bill. He had retired early and his retirement income paid the current bills, but didn’t provide the money he needed to cover emergencies. One thing he knew was he needed to supplement his income. So he needed to do things that gave his life purpose.
But, what things?
Deciding on your purpose.
He sat down with a yellow tablet and listed what he liked to do and what he hated doing.
You can do the same thing. Here is Bill's list:
What I like.
Being out doors
Swimming and diving
Hiking and camping
Photography and videography
Helping people solve problems
Writing
Sharing my ideas with others
Working with computers to help others solve problems
What I hate.
Cooped up in an office cubicle
Commuting
Having to work at a specific location.
Most jobs
People telling me what I must do and how I must do it.
Hurting others.
It became obvious to Bill that he needed a reliable residual income of at least $2000/ month. He wanted to be outside working with conservation projects. He believes in being as resilient as possible personally, financially and globally. His values include: honesty, being helpful, loyalty, always striving for perfection, being responsible.
Whatever he chose to do it had to be consistent with his values.He decided his niche would be helping people live more resiliently. Specifically, he will provide information about creating personal and financial resilience and will help people live more sustainably on this earth.
That is much too broad a niche, so he will focus on the supplies and equipment people need to survive and recover after an emergency.
Are your priorities straight?
Don't be like Gwen or Fidencio.
There is no guarantee that anyone else will take care of you. Not a relative. Not a friend. Not a government agency.
The only way to make sure that you are going to be situated satisfactorily for your whole life is to take your situation into your own hands.
The first step is to do like Bill and do some real, serious, soul searching. Analyze accurately (and ruthlessly if necessary) where you are now.
Then, like Bill, write down what you like and what you don't like.
Finally, think about what you can do to merge your likes into what is possible such that you can be of sufficient service to other people .
If you provide sufficient service to others by following your passions, the money you need to live your desired life will arrive.
Don't let just 'retiring' be your goal.
Instead, find the freedom of retirement.
To quote James Allen one more time, "The one thing over which you have absolute control are your own thoughts." It is this that puts you in a position to control your own destiny.
Your greatest power is the power to choose.
Choose wisely.
And may God bless you in all your choices.
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