One of my main goals in life is to increase my family's wealth. In my opinion, money doesn't buy happiness but it does buy security which can lessen stress and allow those priceless things (family, relationships, etc.) to increase ones happiness.
My approach isn't exactly glamorous or exciting but is a time tested method of earning, investing and reinvesting where the end goal is to cut out the active earning portion of the three steps while still having the means to incorporate the reinvestment portion. In short, I want my money to be soldiers who are sent out to battle to take prisoners of their peers.
This game is a grind in many ways. Always trying to increase my earnings so that I can increase my aggregate investment stake. Never ending searching for opportunities in all types of markets. Searching for a good potential ROI for the long run and making sure that I have monthly profits to reinvest allowing my compounding potential to increase.
Every dollar earned each month through dividends or interest on loans made is a dollar made from another dollar that I only worked once for. Think about that! Isn't it wonderful!
Focusing on passive earnings takes time. It's not something that just happens overnight. Since the process is not every exciting it is important to develop a mindset that can make it seem more exciting. This is not easily done but with practice anyone can enjoy it. Basically, what one needs to do is place a picture in their mind of the future, calculate the pathway and then start executing. Once you know where you are going and how to get there then every step, no matter how small excites you as you are seeing the movement happen.
So, we have three broad steps:
1.) Define the end goal
2.)Calculate how to get there
3.)Execute
Steps 2 and 3 require step one. 2 cannot be done without 1 and 3 cannot be done with 2. As easy as it is to just jump to execute, it is impossible to get anywhere unless you know where you're going.
This is the fun part where you get to dream about the future. Dream in precise terms. What you are looking to achieve here is a clear picture in your minds eye of your life once your final goal is attained. I call it "The Quitting Image" as it's what your life would look like if you were done. If you had accomplished all you want and have achieved your highest life goal what would it all look like? When you wake up what would you see? What does your bedroom look like? Your shower? Your clothes? Your house? Etc.
Try and go through a typical day in this dream picture. Start from waking up and end at going to bed and picture everything in between. This can be a meditative experience that you can do every day until you get there. Take note of details in the "movie" you are writing in your mind. What color are your shoes? How tall is your dresser? How many trees are on your property? Or should we call it an estate?
Once you have this clear picture in mind, it's time to get into the nitty gritty and calculate it.
Source: https://creativeconomy.britishcouncil.org/media/thumbnails/uploads/map.jpg.740x494_q90_crop.jpg
This part involves some paper and a pen (or a spreadsheet and some knowledge) and really gives you a clear picture of what it will take to achieve your picture of your future. It starts with calculating what you need to meet your end goal. From there you take the calculations down from the end goal to the steps in between.
What I mean is, take the amount of capital you need for your dream to have come true and then keep in mind the amount that would need to sustain your future lifestyle. Then go down to what you would need to earn yearly, quarterly, monthly, weekly and daily (in that order) in order to get there.
Congratulations! You just drew a map of how to get to your destination! Assuming you have and idea of your method of earning (something of value to offer) you are over half way there. Now it's time to execute.
*Source:https://www.incimages.com/uploaded_files/image/970x450/getty_480284611_970647970450049_54685.jpg *
This part can be the hardest. It can get tough grinding away day in and day out. Sometimes you may forget why you do this. Sometimes you may get the feeling that you are missing out. That is why step 2 is so important. You need to be reminded every day of why you are this path as well as to be able to track your progress as you go. Seeing results allows you to yearn for more results.
During this phase you are earning, saving and investing. If you do the saving and investing part right and keep the earnings on an incline then the investments are exponentially rocketing you towards your goal with the return each year. That is the beauty of investing. Personally, I look for only income producing investments and shy away from too much speculation but if you're good at speculating then get all over it! The investments are what will make you rich.
Throughout this entire portion of the trek your already earned money are being converted to soldiers who are out taking prisoners while you sleep. Those prisoners are added to your capital stake and taking more prisoners yet. The bigger the army the faster it can grow.
Sacrifice is the price we pay for the realization of the end goal. You will have friends that won't see your dream and not understand. Family members will beg for your time and won't understand why they can't have more of it. You pay for the goal with time. Your time is the value added at your stage of production. It's hard but nothing worthy comes easy.
So, get out there and take what you want. If you want it, you can have it but you have to get it!
