In 2007, at 30 years of ages, I attained a net worth of $1 million. I had actually conserved 50% of my $150,000- per-year income, invested 90% of every yearly benefit, and had a couple of effective property financial investments.
Surprisingly, reaching that turning point didn’t make me better. In reality, I felt quite unpleasant. I was working more than 60 hours a week at a task I no longer taken pleasure in. Still, I kept going and ultimately reached a $3 million net worth– enough for me to stop my task and retire early at 34.
It’s been 10 years because I left the business world, and I’ve had a great deal of time to assess what provides me the most complete satisfaction in life.
I at first believed the response was wealth. But getting abundant didn’t make me better. Doing these 3 things have actually brought me more pleasure than cash ever did:
1. I dedicated to what I like, and lessened the important things I didn’t.
Although I was terrified to leave my safe banking task, I took a leap of faith to do what I like: Work on Financial Samurai, the personal finance blog I started as a hobby in 2009.
Very quickly, I realized how much I enjoyed writing and connecting with other people online. So I made a commitment to publish three times a week. And after I retired, I had even more time to write.
Each morning felt like Christmas; I’d wake up eager and excited to read everyone’s comments. Since then, people have shared stories with me about getting their first jobs, buying homes, starting families, living with disabilities and launching their own businesses.
The social connection brings me so much happiness. It’s as if I’ve grown up with millions of readers.
2. I went from mentee to mentor.
For example, I became a coach in 2017. For three years, I coached a high school tennis team that ended up winning sectional titles for the first time in their school’s history. Even though I only made $1,200 a month for each season, the joy of coaching was priceless.
I’ll never forget when one senior, who struggled to close out deciding matches, finally won one. He threw his arms in the air and rushed up to give me a hug. It was a wonderful moment.
If you really want to feel rich. Be a mentor. Share your wisdom. Help people achieve their potential. Giving your time is more rewarding than only giving your money.
3. I tried new things that scared me.
Even though it was scary to not have a steady job at 34, it was thrilling to see if I could survive without a steady paycheck. I felt like a college graduate again, ready to face the world and reinvent myself.
When the pandemic hit, I decided to write a book. It would be my first foray into traditional publishing, where at the end of the journey, I would have a physical book in my hands.
So for two years, I wrote and wrote and wrote. Then I spent another six months editing. It was a learning process trying to figure out how to keep readers interested in a topic that many might find intimidating. I also broke through my comfort zone and did interviews on live TV.
Sam Dogen worked in investing banking for 13 years before starting Financial Samurai, a personal finance website. He is also the author of “Buy This, Not That: How to Spend Your Way to Wealth and Financial Freedom.” Follow Sam on Twitter @financialsamura.
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