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My mentor taught me that if you want to be rich, you have to live an abnormal life. And for the past years since I decided to give my life a financial overhaul, I was drawn to that kind of lifestyle.
I read books while waiting in between MD coverage.
I either sleep late or wake up early (with at least 7 hours of sleep) and find myself in front of my laptop writing blog posts.
I talk to a lot of people about personal finance.
I leave Tarlac at 5am almost every month to attend mass at the Feast PICC.
There was even a time when I travelled solo for one day outside the Philippines for business.
It's crazy, I know.
While everyone else is watching their favorite teleserye, or playing games on their iPads, or talking about the latest showbiz breakup, I do the boring, crazy and abnormal stuff.
Why abnormal? Because everyday, I push myself beyond what is normal.
And as I do these things, although outside my comfort zone, I do not complain. First, because I actually enjoy what I do. When I do financial planning with a friend, or teach a workmate about investment, or share what I know to a group of Financial Advisors, I find purpose and meaning. I feel most alive every single time.
And second, it has rewarded me in ways I never expected.
Then and Now
A few years ago, when I tell my husband the "idea" of quitting my job, he would only say, "What will you do then?" Initially, I would say I will take care of the kids. After the kids go to school and I am all alone at home, and thinking of something productive to do, my mind goes blank.
Now, even while I am employed, I have began a small business distributing organic liniment. Recently, I gave this business fully to my mother so she can have an additional income source.
I help people earn extra. Since our businesses is ideally for wholesalers but require minimum capital, we are helping other employees and entrepreneurs earn something on the side.
I do affiliate marketing for various companies. Through the Truly Rich Club, I have become Bo Sanchez' affiliate in ALL of his businesses online, from which I earn a decent commission.
I grow my money and my children's money in the stock market. As a financial advisor and blogger, I give financial advice based on my learning and personal experience. Over time, I have diversified my portfolio by investing also in agriculture and in two emerging hospitals with my husband.
I promote child sponsorship and I do volunteer work through World Vision. Currently, I have sponsored kids. With my small amount, I am helping in giving these kids a better shot at life. And because at the end of the day, life is not about what you get, but what you have given -- specially from people who can never repay you.
On given Sundays, I have the opportunity to serve God as a writer for the Feast Bay Area. This is a Catholic gathering of the Light of Jesus family, founded by Bo Sanchez. In the very near future, I dream of writing a book for fellow employees.
And all of these is rewarding.
When I decided to quit my job, I will only be slashing off the "Medical Representative" from my profile. The day has come when I am not defined by my work alone.
I am a wife and a mother. I am a daughter. I am a writer and servant of God. I am an entrepreneur. I am a financial advisor. I am an investor. I am a child ambassador and volunteer.
Life has never been so meaningful. And this is where I have found and experienced happiness and being fully alive.
Make That Choice
Let me quote this from my mentor.
"You won't work from 8 to 5. You will work when you need to work. Work is no longer about being paid. Work is about being a servant. Work is about loving people. Because of your dreams, you can't watch TV anymore. You can't spend leisurely weekends anymore. You can't play computer games everyday. Instead, you'll always be involved with your passions. You'll always be growing your core gifts. You will always be producing things that will bless the world. Are you willing to live an abnormal life?"
Get out of your comfort zone. Stop living comfortably.
And oh, by the way, an abnormal life produces an abnormal income! I have stopped living paycheck to paycheck because I have multiple income streams, most of which are passive income.
Almost two weeks ago, I received my payback incentive from 2017's sales from our company. I spent 10% of it on a 3-day break with my husband, two kids and my mom in La Union. We had so much fun that we all wanted to go back the soonest!
And the remaining 90% was invested in my worry-free VUL which both grows my money, and protects me and my future income from risks. With this VUL, I have financial security and peace of mind. To learn more about worry-free investing, here is a link to that post I Would Always Choose Worry-Free Investing. Every Single Time.
A Salary Can Lull You to Sleep
Let me share with you something I learned from last Sunday's Feast.
Our salary has become so regular that it hypnotizes us. It lulls us to sleep coming every 15th and 30th. And by "sleep," it means that we do not do anything about it since we know that income will come every payday. We just enjoy the "abundance" of every harvest without preparing for "famine."
But here's the problem with that.
Abundance and famine are part of a cycle. They happen. We may be in an abundance state now, but we are not getting any younger. Sooner or later, we will not be able to work as hard as we work now. We will reach that point of retirement. That is famine.
And what if we suddenly lose our jobs? Retrenchment happens. Company closes. Losing a job in a snap is real. That, too, is famine.
If I ask you now, "If you lose your job today, how long can your money provide for your family's basic needs?"
Prepare for Famine
As we age, our active income diminishes and disappears. Our passive income should grow bigger. And this is where investment plays its role.
Our goal is to be able to survive for the rest of your life in case we lose our job anytime.
The Joseph Principle
Do the uncomfortable. Set aside a fifth (20%) of your harvest in preparation for famine. Understand that investments are more important than income.
Keeping your money in a bank is not investing. Put your money where it earns higher than inflation.
Do worry-free investing. Be "abnormal" and begin preparing for famine.
Send me an email at financialplanningforpinoys@gmail.com or drop me a message on Facebook anytime. I would love to hear your thoughts!
