Thread: 20 years working, now a moment of clarity!

I understand exactly what you are talking about freo73. Even with the money and some
sense of security, the question still arises....."Isn't there more to life?"

180 k is no joke either though, so I wouldn't quit my day job in your position unless I had a proven successful fastlane business.

Not hanging up the suit for a while

But the fastlane approach makes so much sense, definitely need to pursue it!

Originally Posted by freo73

Thanks to MJ for the book, made me seriously think about where things are actually going with life!

I think I'm a slow lane success story (oxymoron?). School, university, role with an international accounting firm, and now corporate banking earning $180,000+ Paid off the cars, still have the mortgage to go

The thought of squeezing on to the train each day and doing this for another 30 years fills me with dread! Sure, I can stick with it, make reasonable money, and have a comfortable life. But is that it?

The biggest challenge is having the courage to embrace the Fastlane approach, while being responsible for providing for the wife, 2 kids (with another on the way). Hard to break a mindset that has been reinforced over and over again!!

Long way to go to get there, but appreciate the great insight, information and advice that many of you share on the site. Best of luck on your individual journeys, wherever they may take you!

Best of luck to you.

I think this is why it is actually sometimes easier to become a fastlaner if you make very little money and have very few if any debts. When I was making $7 and hour it was not a huge deal to get a business going which could replace it.

BUT for a person making 100K + kids mortg, cars etc it is a pretty darn tough nut to crack.

I don't ever remember looking on making minimum wage as a horrible thing.

loose the fear of money and learn to loose money. I mean small investments that will not make a dent in your lifestyle so that you understand the process. if you can not invest a thousand dollars, you can not invest a million so the formula just get amplified.

Banking?

hey thats a great fastlane right there. build a bank, or be an investment banker.

but good luck, and seeing a different way,

well thats just good luck you didnt wait till you were 50 to start the change.

Z

zendolphin I'm sure you didn't, but I hope you weren't implying that after
50 the odds are against you.

Originally Posted by zendolphin

Banking?

hey thats a great fastlane right there. build a bank, or be an investment banker.

but good luck, and seeing a different way,

well thats just good luck you didnt wait till you were 50 to start the change.

Z

Originally Posted by Nuvision

zendolphin I'm sure you didn't, but I hope you weren't implying that after
50 the odds are against you.

Funny you should zero in on that too!

When I hit 50 this last April, I took stock of my life. I've been pretty successful at my job, which I've been doing since '88. I've been making low six figures for the past couple years, and the pay keeps me and my family comfortable. I'm not happy with my retirement prospects, and realized I needed to make a change.

I've never actually felt my age. I'm kind of a "young at heart" kind of guy. I enjoy spending time with 20 year olds just as much as with 50 year olds - I feel like I fit in no matter the age group. So, it's an easy leap for me to pretend I'm 25 and just embarking on my new entrepeneur career. I've got the added benefit that I've raised my kids, so my tolerance for risk is higher than it would have been when the kids were young. I've been around the block a few times, so I've beaten some of that naivete into submission. I look forward to the next 25 years with a lot of excitement - I'm enjoying my pursuit (it is all about the thrill of the chase), and expect this to replace my job within two to three years. I'm really looking forward to having a lot more control over my income than I do now.

Anyway, my take is the odds are definitely not against you after 50. You don't have the same time horizon, but once your business is making more money than you need the time horizon is a moot point.

My sentiments exactly. I am 50 and some, but I do know that my work ethics are much
different than when I was 20-ish, or even in my 30's. I'm sure that is not what he(she)
meant, but I'm certainly not ready to be put out to pasture yet

I actually think that I am more focused, because of the time line.

Now I have to go take a nap.

Originally Posted by Amail

Funny you should zero in on that too!

When I hit 50 this last April, I took stock of my life. I've been pretty successful at my job, which I've been doing since '88. I've been making low six figures for the past couple years, and the pay keeps me and my family comfortable. I'm not happy with my retirement prospects, and realized I needed to make a change.

I've never actually felt my age. I'm kind of a "young at heart" kind of guy. I enjoy spending time with 20 year olds just as much as with 50 year olds - I feel like I fit in no matter the age group. So, it's an easy leap for me to pretend I'm 25 and just embarking on my new entrepeneur career. I've got the added benefit that I've raised my kids, so my tolerance for risk is higher than it would have been when the kids were young. I've been around the block a few times, so I've beaten some of that naivete into submission. I look forward to the next 25 years with a lot of excitement - I'm enjoying my pursuit (it is all about the thrill of the chase), and expect this to replace my job within two to three years. I'm really looking forward to having a lot more control over my income than I do now.

Anyway, my take is the odds are definitely not against you after 50. You don't have the same time horizon, but once your business is making more money than you need the time horizon is a moot point.

I always liked the quote "how old would you be if you didn't know how old you are"

As you get older, the importance of a fastlane approach becomes more apparent (especially after following the slowlane for a number of years and not achieving freedom, just the realisation of many more years of slowlane stretching out in front of you)

Hey guys, just joined and my first post. I am like you guys, turning 50 this year and been around the block. I've worked in the corporate world as well as having my own businesses (last 6 years). I found the Fastlane book while I was looking for another book. And the weird thing is, it made the lightbulb go off in my head after all these years. The one of the things that stuck with me from reading the book, was trading my time for money. It really made me question life quality issues as I'm heading into my second part of my life. Who knows if I would of came to these conclusions if I hadn't found this book, but I have a plan and will be getting into the Fastlane as fast as possible.