I think this whole discussion gets down to a single word.
FREEDOM
The key with Financial Freedom is that you’re FREE. Your time is your own, you can pick and choose your commitments and choose when and if you work, who you work for and what you do.
You have the freedom to help charities without having to find cash to put food on the table.
You can work at the endeavours you enjoy.
I can understand why many people who are financially tied to their job take up the ‘sour grapes’ philosophy.
They ‘love’ their job in the same way that stockholm syndrome can make captives identify and ‘love’ their captors.
The only time you can really be sure that you love what you are doing is if you can walk away from it at ANY time without financial stress.
At that point you can be completely honest with yourself that you are in that role because you do love it.
BTW: Kay you’re completely correct that historically people who are unemployed are more likely to be ill. After all they are stressed – financially on the ropes – adrift in a society that has taught them that they are nothing if they don’t have work. Brainwashed and outcast.
Equally historically retired people also suffered from ill health.
After all the primary reason people leave work is due to being too old or due to ill health. Naturally most retirees from the rat race only have a few years left in their bodies before health issues set in.
If you are financially free you’re not part of these groups. You can do the things you most want to do at a time of life when you are physically able to do them.
You have no financial stress. You can define your own meaning. Of course small people always try to pull you down and say ‘if you’re not working you’re unemployed – valueless’…But that reflects THEIR brainwashing. They are the captives of the system.
Anyone who wants to work until they die in a job they claim to love but cannot afford to leave is welcome to do so. We do need people like this in the world.
It allows those of us who are or seek to be financially free to see what we could have been if we didn’t put our energies into choosing our lives and goals, rather than having society & employers choose them for us.
Cheers,
Aceyducey
Great post Acey!
I am in a cynical mode here : all this saying a job gives you satisfaction, meaning to your life,
blah blah blah …… is all a conspiracy by the government & the wealthy class – the government wants you to pay tax, & the wealthy class wants you to work like a dog. Just like the travel industry always advertise to have a holiday you need to go somewhere else, and show a smiling face getting on a plane, my best holidays are those I stayed at home. How many people can honestly say they really enjoy what they are doing for a living, a very small percentage I would think. Most people are tied to their job because of mortgage, family, put food on the table etc. I am not saying if I stop this paid job tomorrow I will sit on the rocking chair all day. I can think of hundred other things to better spend my time with than sitting in front of a computer 8 hours a day making money for some feelingless faceless multinational. If you are removed from your job tomorrow you think anyone will remember you in a week’s (or a day’s) time. Your past will be just like footprint on the sand, it will be gone when the tide comes in. If you die tomorrow, will you say I should have worked longer hours in my boring job or enjoyed all the office politics that going on ? NO – there are more meaninful things in life such as watching your kids grow up ! If this government has its way, it will have you work until you are one foot in the grave. Okay I am finished with my cynical mode, now I will go get myself a cup of coffee and enjoy life.Fortunately I have been financially free for about 9 years now, but I am still at the same old job, because I now enjoy it, because I don’t have to do it, it puts a whole new light on it, sort of like an income producing hobby.
Onya Ace man!
Yep i love my job i never wanna stop [wacko] why would i wanna travel and have fun now? when i can do it at 65? when im at my peek? [hmmm]
Yep i see it real clear thanx [lmao]
it is sad but money makes you free to do what you like and forces you to do stuff you may like but do without coz you cant afford to stop!It’s an intersting question this, if for no other reason than to make people think about WHY.
Freedom seems to be a common key in the responses. The opportunity to wake up tomorrow and not HAVE to go to a job is very desirable but it begs the question “what do you do then?” I could certainly lay on a beach for a while or have another holiday but in the end my conscience tells me I would have made it but there are others in the world not so fortunate. Yeah I own several houses but many in the world don’t own or have the chance to live in one.
SO I think (hope) that when lots of people on this forum do get to that magic financial independence, they think or ways they can ‘put back in’ for others not so fortunate on this planet. (And there is no shortage of causes to pursue).
hmmmm,
There is a guru who says that once you find a “why”, the how will follow.So if you can find a strong enough reason to attempt to follow those people who have created financial freedom for themselves, then you should automatically be free.
My reason is this:
I need financial freedom as soon as possible to live my life without restriction.
I beleive you or I or anyone can do anything…ANYTHING, so i will overcome the first minor hurdle of financial freedom to go on and make this one chance at life count!
I will not use the lack of money or time (shift work eats this up quickly!!) as a reason to miss life, hey!! we will all be dead in 100 years, so have a go.
It makes sense as a business deal when you look at the downside… a life of mediocrity and then weigh the upside.. unlimited imagination.[daisy][daisy][daisy]
Why would anyone choose FINANCIAL IMPRISONMENT![whip]
lifexperience
why do you want financial freedom ?
Working for some one else sux.
Do this do that. F U i say to my employer.
Why,because if my boss,facilitator,team leader or what ever the hell they want to call themselves knew more about my job then i do working for someone else would be bearable.The new thing that seems to be a trend is to employ graduates whom employees have to train whilst not getting paid for it.
They lack so many skills its a tradgedy for employer and employees.And of course it fails miserably.
If i can get away from all those incompetent employers and become one myself that is why?Dom[biggrin]
I hear everyone saying it’s all about freedom, and I share that view very strongly. But I don’t think it’s enough. I think it takes passion. It’s like Kiyosaki says, passion has 2 sides – things you love and things you hate. I think most of us have resolved the negative side more – we don’t like being a slave to a job! But, when it comes to asking why do you want to be free, I don’t see any really compelling reasons. It’s like this:
Employee: Why do you want to be financially free?
Wealthbuilder: Cos I hate being a slave to a job!
Employee: Maybe you should find a job you like
Wealthbuilder: Even if such a job existed (and I don’t think it does) I want to be able to choose my terms.
Employee: Why not be self employed?
Wealthbuilder: Then I’m buying myself a job! No thanks!
Employee: Ok supposing you gain financial freedom, what then?
Wealthbuilder: I’ll be freeeeee! YAY.
Employee: Yes but what then? What after the honeymoon?
Wealthbuilder: Hmmmmmm
Employee: Sit on the beach all day and be a bum?
Wealthbuilder: No, no! Not that!
Employee: Find a job?
Wealthbuilder: Hmm maybe …
Employee: Isn’t that why you want to be financially free though? You don’t want a job!
Wealthbuilder: Ok, I’ll work for myself!
Employee: *grins* Ahhhhh, be self employed! You’re going to buy your own job right? Haha, you didn’t want that either!!!!
Wealthbuilder: I’ll build my own business!
Employee: So you’re going to work really hard to get your freedom, then when you have it you will work even harder?!!! Isn’t it easier being an employee?
Wealthbuilder: Yes but I choose the road less travelled!
Employee: That’s nice … but you seem a little vague about what you really WANT! You’re going to do all this work for what? Seems to me you need a really compelling reason to drive you to get this freedom. And freedom is a paradox. If you don’t have a goal you are passionately pursuing, then you will lack the drive to go beyond all the obstaces, and it will seem to hard. What do you want to do with your freedom when you get it? I think you are reacting to your current situation you are dissatisfied with, rather than proactively building your dream. I’m in my dream job, I get paid to do what I love. But you seem to be chasing some elusive notion of freedom without any idea of what you will do when you get there! If you don’t find something you love doing then you will always be poor.
Wealthbuilder: You might have a point there!I think we all need to dare to dream big, and let our dream be our motivation. And I think the dream needs to have meaning and purpose – not just a nice car and house, etc. I think we all need something deeper than that. When you have freedom, you can make you life a gift to others. But what is the nature of your gift to the world? I heard of one financially free lawyer who chose to represent those who couldn’t afford decent legal services.
I must admit, I have many different dreams but many of them are more like ideas, wish list items.
Who has a dream that motivates them to become financially free? Who has a specific reason that motivates them to get freedom, so they can fulfil their dream?
Paul Spencer
http://www.geocities.com/etude316/default.htmlI am not greedy i will start with the house and the car.
And it is not like this at all, most people will have different answers or goals.
This thread started with a question so what exactly is your answer?
Dom[biggrin]hey thats rite paul
i know couple ppl who part retired and they work lots for free they not unemployed!
what if you dont work for someone else you umeployed? [angry2]
one nice lady used to post here and she dos lots for ppl for nothing thats rite nothing and she if fin.free but she is not an emplyee to no one lucky huh?
how may ppl in here can say that?
anyway as long as yur happy thats all that matters!Originally posted by SALACIOUS:And it is not like this at all, most people will have different answers or goals.
This thread started with a question so what exactly is your answer?
Dom[biggrin]It’s not like what?
I have already given my reason, but I’m not totally satisfied with it … you could say it’s a “work in progress.”
Paul Spencer
http://www.geocities.com/etude316/default.htmlFreedom? You are all born with this, its just that sometimes you lose sight of it.
Remember when you were young? Did financial freedom bother you?
Freedom is easily accessable, its stored right between your 2 ears!
Just ask Nelson Mandella!
We are all made from Stars
Salubrious- thanks for the reminder. Nice thought about Nelson Mandela. He thought of freedom for his whole country. Puts it in perspective for me [smiling]
kay henry
but the question was bout finanncal freedom wasnt it?
I prefer freedom that extends beyond the space between my ears
After all even most slaves are free in their minds….and it’s one of the tools used to keep them in their place physically.
Ditto wage slavery – work for us & you will have a ‘career’. Careers are good things – you will eventually make lots of money (provided you keep working). We will also give you ‘status’. This will make other wage slaves ‘respect’ you for the position you occupy, regardless of who you are as a person.
In return you will perpetuate the wage slavery of your children and their children. You will encourage them to ‘follow in your footsteps’ and keep ‘security’ by working for us. (security = they can sack you anytime)
Do NOT attempt to leave your job or you will lose your status, career prospects and money – you may become ‘unemployable’ by other wage slavers. We will then define you as worthless as a human being.
Isn’t it fun how words can be used to alter our minds and define & twist concepts such as ‘freedom’.
Cheers,
Aceyducey
acey – your last message just described ‘status envy’ very well. you should write a book..
Trying to define your own personal exact “why” you want financial freedom.
The basic answer is to remove the need to work in a job so as to free up maximum time and still have the financial means to do what you want.
But exactly what you will do when you acheive this, is perhaps the truer question?????
gee.. if you really analyse it, you are almost forced to define what the meaning of life will be for you.
Personally, I would like to find a country retreat, and strengthen my creative expression. I would love to spend days and days learning the guitar and experimenting with other musicians. I would love to discuss and define the mysteries of life with others and maybe tie that in with lyrics for music, I would love to learn and master and reach that “zone” in adventurous sports like snowboarding, motorbike riding, parachuting. I would love to spend hours a day improving my fitness to peak levels and feeling the best i can. I would love to spend hours disciplining my mind and awakening my spirit through meditation and yoga, and exploring further the untapped magic of imagination and unlimited possibility inside the human mind. I would love to have been able to reach financial freedom so as i could show others who desire more from their life how to do it. Business ventures, investments etc.[sunny][sunny][sunny]
And I also want hover shoes.[specool]
Who else can define exactly what financial freedom will provide for them?
lifexperience
Aceyducey, I can’t express it better myself, this is what I am trying to say. We have to put up with so much craps at work and democracy doesn’t really extend to the corporate world – just see what happen if you tell your boss where to go.
In my mind financial freedom will let me live life to the fullest, with dignity, without trepidation, and the courage to speak up when it warrants. I am one who thinks humans are born equal, I find the corporate hierarchy where some people can control the lives of others totally distasteful. The real reason behind majority of the sackings are simply because a superior (I hate this word, no one is superior to anyone) doesn’t like someone under him/her. And nobody can say I am not contributing to the society when I am no longer part of mindless greedy money making machine, even now when I have a full time job, I am involved building houses for the homeless. And I can see myself doing more of this meaningful works when I am financially free.
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