How many times have you wondered if your life is heading in the right direction? How many times have you wondered if you should have taken a different, riskier path? How many times have you wondered about how to spend more time doing the things you love instead of the things you have to?

If you are anything like me it is natural to think about these things. I used to think of them a lot too!

Reflecting on your life is the first step

Around 10 years or so ago when I stuffed my back and was struggling to make ends meet, I was left feeling useless. Not being able bodied in a job that was a real grind really rammed home the message to me that changes need to be made. Time off work gave me the time to think about what was wrong in my life. Coming to the realization of life being short and unpredictable, where use of your body can be taken in a moment. I didn’t want my life to come down to struggling to make ends meet and in a job I didn’t enjoy whatsoever.

The seeds where planted for making some life changes. Towards a life where I enjoyed going to work, and where I also got to enjoy spending more time doing things I enjoyed over time spent doing things I didn’t enjoy.

If I continued as I were, spending all my money and working, I would have continued on in the all too common cycle of work, spend, work, spend, work. This is the most common path for many. Also the easiest path for many. A path that doesn’t require any self reflection of where we are going wrong or what could be better. There is no time for that level of thinking. Which is a shame. It is during these periods of reflection that we can truly unveil what our lives are missing.

Taking action towards a better life (the road less taken)

It was during this period of financial struggle and work dissatisfaction that I made some immediate decisions. Decisions that were definitely not easy. But changes that I would look back on as life changing in a good way.

I learnt as much as I could about money and freedom. Becoming a disciple of the financial independence movement. I digested blogs and podcasts like they were scorched almonds. I was a man inspired. Immediate savings were made and within no time I was in much better financial shape. I had breathing room. I wasn’t so stressed out about repaying the mortgage or when the next pay day was. It was a small step but it felt liberating. The difficult path already paying off.

Then there were unexpected consequences of making this decision. I found out that I really enjoyed seeing the results of smart decisions with money and wanted to be an advocate for others to come to similar conclusions. It was then I decided to become a financial adviser where I could be in a position to help others use their money to become better versions of themselves.

But I didn’t just want to be any financial adviser. Most masquerade as sales people. Selling products to willing customers. That didn’t sit well with me. I chose the road less taken. An independent financial adviser with no affiliation with any companies. I could truly say with hand over heart I am championing the customer and their best interests. The problem being that this option is not very profitable. Most of the money made in the financial services industry is through commission payments where customers are referred from one person to another like the passing of a football. As an independent adviser, the only form of income is from the customer. This means much less income and the main reason why there are not many independent financial advisers.

As a result, this meant having to work two jobs for the best part of seven years whilst the business built up to at least a level that could meet our expenses. Very difficult time that’s for sure, especially with a five and three year old kid. One bonus of Covid though was the break I got from work and the time I got to spend with my eldest daughter. It provided a good break that gave me the energy required to continue.

Not only the challenge of income, but there is also the fact that I went from minimal knowledge of the financial services industry to starting out on my own. I had never owned a business for work, nor started a website, nor worked within the financial services industry. There was so much to learn. Again though, the risk of going out on my own is paying off.

Now I have resigned from my ‘other’ higher paying job earlier this year, I get to enjoy the fruits of our labour from the past 7 years. Spending more time at home with the family and also more time available for other interests like playing tennis and being an active part of the kids school and interests.

Finally, we recently made the decision to leave the town I have spent my whole life in and move to a new area on the other end of the north island. One of the most difficult decisions of my life, but by taking a step back I was able to realise life wasn’t working in our old location. We needed somewhere new with less traffic, less stressors, more community, larger land, and better safety. We know a handful of people near our new location, but no one in it. Leaving behind our family and friends very hard, but we know we are doing this to create a better life for ourselves and our kids. So far so good.

Final thoughts

I mention all this to point out that living on auto pilot is not the best course. Sure, ignorance can be bliss. But if you don’t step back and think about life, you don’t contemplate what is wrong.

I learnt way back when I got my back injury the importance of slowing down every now and then to reassess life. It is something I still do regularly. I don’t want to live with regrets.

It is definitely not easy. You first have to admit that the direction of your life is not ideal. Then you have to start making the right actions to change course, and sometimes keep the action up for an extended period.

But no one said anything worth having is easy.

Choosing easy for me would have meant continue to work in my old job, spend all my money whilst staying in Wellington. All of which was making me miserable. Being on the treadmill of life where every year was much the same as the one that preceded it. The years all merging into one, which is no way to live. Instead I chose to save more money, downsize house, start a business, provide advice in an area where very few have done before (independent advice), moved the family, and left a cushy high paying job but one that was a big time suck. All these decisions were extremely hard and scary. All of them against the grain of what the majority of people would do. But all of the decisions have paid off in spades. I now get to live in a desirable location for the family, not work too many hours, and get to spend more time on my interests.

Only by truly contemplating life and making the right choices can you truly experience your best and richest (in the non monetary sense) life.

You have the power to make the changes required. Having good financial backing, making good money decisions, and having a financial plan will definitely help give you the confidence you need to make those bold steps that your future self will be eternally grateful for. No regrets.

If you need help with analysing any life or financial decisions, then get in touch and we may be able to help.

The information contained on this site is the opinion of the individual author(s) based on their personal opinions, observation, research, and years of experience. The information offered by this website is general education only and is not meant to be taken as individualised financial advice, legal advice, tax advice, or any other kind of advice. You can read more of my disclaimer here