by 5 people |
My journey to financial freedom started six years. I made the decision to make the journey to financial freedom after I read Rich Dad, Poor Dad. The journey entailed difficult and painful steps. I also found a vehicle to use for my journey. Four years down the road, I am still on my journey.
This is my life six years ago before I made the decision of finding financial freedom.
I have an 8 to 5 desk job as a government employee for 15 years now. In 2002 at the peak of my boredom with my career, I applied for a scholarship, got accepted and went back to school for my Master's degree thinking -- and secretly hoping -- it would be the answer to my boredom.
After 18 months, I got my degree and went back to work. Guess what? Boredom had a sibling -- frustration!
But, I could not quit my job because I needed the money. The children were already in school and my husband's income wasn't enough.
So, I stayed at a job that was becoming a routine. I turned to hobbies like designing a t-shirt with bead work. It was tedious but I loved doing it. It unleashed my creativity. Besides, it became a source of extra income.
There was a lot of orders from friends and even from people I didn't know. It evolved into a small home business. I expanded to designing rubber slippers with bead work, too. I crocheted bags and made scented candles.
Sadly, these hobbies-turned-business didn't prosper. I was doing everything by myself, from the labor to the accounting side. I was actually getting nowhere and more tired.
Then my creativity was suppressed as my business grew. I liked creating one-of-a-kind designs but my customers wanted the same designs. Because the customer is always right and I needed the money, I made what they wanted.
One day, I woke up and the passion to create something waned. I began to refuse orders and focused on my dead-end career, instead.
[photo credit: http://www.womenlifestyle.com/images/r_stressed_woman.jpg]
I have an 8 to 5 desk job as a government employee for 15 years now. In 2002 at the peak of my boredom with my career, I applied for a scholarship, got accepted and went back to school for my Master's degree thinking -- and secretly hoping -- it would be the answer to my boredom.
After 18 months, I got my degree and went back to work. Guess what? Boredom had a sibling -- frustration!
But, I could not quit my job because I needed the money. The children were already in school and my husband's income wasn't enough.
So, I stayed at a job that was becoming a routine. I turned to hobbies like designing a t-shirt with bead work. It was tedious but I loved doing it. It unleashed my creativity. Besides, it became a source of extra income.
There was a lot of orders from friends and even from people I didn't know. It evolved into a small home business. I expanded to designing rubber slippers with bead work, too. I crocheted bags and made scented candles.
Sadly, these hobbies-turned-business didn't prosper. I was doing everything by myself, from the labor to the accounting side. I was actually getting nowhere and more tired.
Then my creativity was suppressed as my business grew. I liked creating one-of-a-kind designs but my customers wanted the same designs. Because the customer is always right and I needed the money, I made what they wanted.
One day, I woke up and the passion to create something waned. I began to refuse orders and focused on my dead-end career, instead.
[photo credit: http://www.womenlifestyle.com/images/r_stressed_woman.jpg]
Hope Is My Middle Name
I was not the type to lose hope. I knew in the deepest part of my being, I would someday do only the things I want when I want to and I would not work for money anymore. I kept on telling myself like a broken record that soon, I will own my life.
The Turning Point of My Journey
I bought Robert Kiyosaki's Rich Dad, Poor Dad book upon a friend's recommendation and I read about financial freedom.
I couldn't get enough of the idea of financial freedom. I also bought his book on Cashflow Quadrant.
I devoured his two books. I thought about financial freedom all the time. It was then that I decided I wanted financial freedom.
I studied all the possible things I can do to achieve financial freedom.
I knew that if I had it, I could say goodbye to my job that is not contributing anything to my growth as an individual. I would not be working for somebody else.
It would mean I could do things I really want to do when I want to such as to travel. To be able to afford luxury would be a nice bonus.
I made the decision to start my journey on the road to financial freedom. It was 2004.
I devoured his two books. I thought about financial freedom all the time. It was then that I decided I wanted financial freedom.
I studied all the possible things I can do to achieve financial freedom.
I knew that if I had it, I could say goodbye to my job that is not contributing anything to my growth as an individual. I would not be working for somebody else.
It would mean I could do things I really want to do when I want to such as to travel. To be able to afford luxury would be a nice bonus.
I made the decision to start my journey on the road to financial freedom. It was 2004.
Steps I took on my journey
All journeys start with baby steps. Never with leaps even if it's a leap of faith.
Before I found the business opportunity I would be using as my means, I knew I had to do important things first. I consider them as steps to achieve my goal of financial freedom.
# 1. Discipline yourself.
I found out that what financially-free people have in common is self-discipline.
I thought the first step is to have your own business. But as I read more about financial freedom, I realized otherwise.Just like most people who have money problems, I used to think money or more money will solve my problem. The truth is I was not financially-free because I was deep in debt. I had no self-discipline.
I needed to discipline myself in terms of getting and staying out of debt. So, that's what I did.
It is not easy and painless but it is the only way to go if you want to be financially-free. And remember, disciplining yourself is not a one-time deal. I did it and I'm still doing it. You will be doing it for the rest of your life.
#2. Educate yourself and gain financial literacy.
You owe it to yourself.
Again, achieving financial freedom is NOT easy. I hate to disappoint those who think they can get rich quick. It will not happen overnight.When I say educate yourself, I mean research and read on topics about finance. Know the difference between an asset and a liability.
The internet provides us with so much information on everything. Use it to gain financial literacy. When you have a solid financial education, you will be able to distinguish between sound financial advice and bad financial advice.
When you have financial literacy, you will be able to really take control of your destiny by making the choices you need to be financially-free.
#3. Write down your financial plans and goals.
Your financial plans and goals will be your guide.
All financially-free people have written financial plans and goals. They know where they are going.Your financial plans and goals should be realistic and time-bounded. You can make 6-months to 1-year goals. Plans can be a 5-year or a 10-year plan.
You have to execute these plans with determination and consistency to achieve your goals.
#4. Mind your own business.
Work for yourself; not for money or for anyone else.
According to Robert Kiyosaki, the quadrants you must operate from to be financially-free are the B (Business Owner) and the I (Investor) quadrants.I am from the E (Employee) quadrant. I work for money and I will never be financially-free if I stay in this quadrant forever. (That's why, I'm quitting my job very soon. I will do my business full-time.)
There are two kinds of business that use the concept of leverage to help you achieve financial freedom and these are franchise and network marketing.
If you have lots of money for capital, try getting a franchise. But if you don't, try network marketing. I tried network marketing and it worked for me.
What I'm saying here is it's really up to you what kind of business you would like to have.
#5. Commit to work hard and work smart until you become financially-free.
Only those who make the commitment to do everything it takes can be rewarded with life-changing results.
It's not enough that you work hard. You also have to work smart meaning be alert to new opportunities that will enable you to expand your business.Don't be afraid to try new strategies in your business. Change is seldom easy but those who embrace it will find financial freedom faster.
Network Marketing as My Vehicle
According to Kiyosaki, I have to be a business owner to be financially free.
He had outlined in his book that I should operate in the business owner quadrant to be financially free. I was in the employee quadrant -- the quadrant where, according to Kiyosaki, you will never achieve financial freedom.
I had to become a business owner. But I had no enough capital to start one. So, I just kept on researching, wanting and praying.
How true that we attract everything that happens to us because that's what happened to me. It was summer when I was introduced to a business opportunity.
The business opportunity was in network marketing. Some people thought "oh no, not that." But I have never been a skeptic. I have always been open to new ideas.
I looked at the business opportunity being offered to me and I liked what I saw. I also had the motivation to do it. So, I took the business opportunity and...
I had to become a business owner. But I had no enough capital to start one. So, I just kept on researching, wanting and praying.
How true that we attract everything that happens to us because that's what happened to me. It was summer when I was introduced to a business opportunity.
The business opportunity was in network marketing. Some people thought "oh no, not that." But I have never been a skeptic. I have always been open to new ideas.
I looked at the business opportunity being offered to me and I liked what I saw. I also had the motivation to do it. So, I took the business opportunity and...
Life Has Never Been The Same Again
Four years later, I am now earning thrice my salary as an employee.
Finally, I was able to travel abroad, which was my long-time dream.
In September 2007, I traveled to Malaysia and Singapore with my husband for a week.
In January 2008, we went to China and only this month, I was back in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur with my friends.
I don't worry about money anymore. When I need it, I let my brain work. Life is so much better when you don't panic over every money emergency.
I am still on my journey on the road to financial freedom.
I still have a long way to go but I am enjoying every bit of the journey.
In September 2007, I traveled to Malaysia and Singapore with my husband for a week.
In January 2008, we went to China and only this month, I was back in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur with my friends.
I don't worry about money anymore. When I need it, I let my brain work. Life is so much better when you don't panic over every money emergency.
I am still on my journey on the road to financial freedom.
I still have a long way to go but I am enjoying every bit of the journey.
Shanghai, China last January 21, 2008
The journey to financial freedom is available to everyone but only a few choose to take it.
What I Would Like to Do
I would like to encourage those people who stay awake at night feeling something is missing in their lives.
If you feel there is so much you can do outside the job you are doing at the moment, then you are probably right.
Just trust your instinct. Be an entrepreneur. Travel. Take charge of your life. Be financially free.
You don't have to be in networking to be financially free. There are so many options out there.
Don't be afraid to travel the road to financial freedom.
Just trust your instinct. Be an entrepreneur. Travel. Take charge of your life. Be financially free.
You don't have to be in networking to be financially free. There are so many options out there.
Don't be afraid to travel the road to financial freedom.
P.S. If you take away just one thing
in my life? There is absolutely NOTHING I will let you take away.
Every experience I had taught me a valuable lesson.
Every person I met made an improvement on the kind of person I am right now.
Every failure I had added to my character.
Every weakness made me stronger.
Life is the best teacher of all. It teaches with every push it gives you. The push can sometimes be so hard that you fall. But always, each push life is giving you is life telling you to learn ang get going.
Every experience I had taught me a valuable lesson.
Every person I met made an improvement on the kind of person I am right now.
Every failure I had added to my character.
Every weakness made me stronger.
Life is the best teacher of all. It teaches with every push it gives you. The push can sometimes be so hard that you fall. But always, each push life is giving you is life telling you to learn ang get going.
Why do you need to be financially-free?
Being financially-free gives you more and better choices in life.
The painful reality of the global crisis is that it has hurt the middle class and the poor the most.
Those people who are financially-free are recession-proof. The crisis is just another piece of news to them. But to the middle class and the poor, it is the headline.
Life is now more expensive for the middle class and the poor. They live life in such a way that they are merely surviving. They cannot even afford their house mortgages anymore.
Prices of basic commodities have gone up and the incomes of the middle class and the poor can't cope with the increase.
But the financially-free can still afford to take vacations twice a year. They still drive their expensive cars and not care about the price of gas. They sleep like babies at night, not having to worry if their jobs will still be there in the morning.
Those people who are financially-free are recession-proof. The crisis is just another piece of news to them. But to the middle class and the poor, it is the headline.
Life is now more expensive for the middle class and the poor. They live life in such a way that they are merely surviving. They cannot even afford their house mortgages anymore.
Prices of basic commodities have gone up and the incomes of the middle class and the poor can't cope with the increase.
But the financially-free can still afford to take vacations twice a year. They still drive their expensive cars and not care about the price of gas. They sleep like babies at night, not having to worry if their jobs will still be there in the morning.
The Bottomline
According to Robert Kiyosaki and Donald Trump in their Why We Want You to Be Rich, the economic crisis will result to the wipe out of the middle class. It will just be the rich and the poor.
That is why it is important that you achieve financial freedom. The sooner, the better.
Why do I recommend network marketing as vehicle to financial freedom?
It can provide huge residual income for someone who understands how it works and is willing to do whatever it takes to succeed in network marketing.
J. Paul Getty, the founder of Getty Oil, said: "I would rather make 1 percent on the efforts of 100 people than 100 percent on my own efforts." This is what you call leverage.
Network marketing is basically about leverage.
You leverage your time by helping others earn and you likewise earn an income from all their efforts.
Of course, there is no such thing as a free lunch. You have to work to build your organization but, with the right company, it won't have to be for 40 years (unlike working as an employee).
The company I am with uses multilevel marketing; meaning, it creates multiple income levels.
How exactly does it create multiple income levels for you? As the number of levels under you increases, your income grows exponentially.
Network marketing is basically about leverage.
You leverage your time by helping others earn and you likewise earn an income from all their efforts.
Of course, there is no such thing as a free lunch. You have to work to build your organization but, with the right company, it won't have to be for 40 years (unlike working as an employee).
The company I am with uses multilevel marketing; meaning, it creates multiple income levels.
How exactly does it create multiple income levels for you? As the number of levels under you increases, your income grows exponentially.
My Guestbook
Your comment/s will be appreciated.
Thanks for dropping by!
WendyKrick wrote...
Your story is very inspiring! Way to go. Everyone deserves success!
Posted November 02, 2008
josephgoodrum wrote...
Thanks for your honest writing. A testimonial like this always inspires me. I hope you succeed in your dreams of becoming financially independent.
Posted November 02, 2008
by len16
Hello! I'm a working mom, juggling an 8-5 job in a beautiful Third World country and a business. I'm doing my best to work smart on the road to financ... (more)
