I have been reflecting a lot about my last 13 years of life in terms of Seasons.

v  1999 was winter

v  Early 2000 was spring (I knew I was leaving Corp America at the end of 1999 and was preparing for a new future)

v  Mid 2000-2001 was summer (4/1/2000 is the anniversary of leaving corporate America, finding my life purpose, freedom, becoming an entrepreneur, and walking in faith, 7/1/2000 I formed my first company, Inspire Learning, designing financial literacy curriculum for kids in schools)

v  2002 was fall (I reaped the harvest – my learning curve as an entrepreneur was a vertical climb, Inspire Learning made huge inroads in connecting with people of influence, but no monetary harvest that year)

v  2003 was winter (hard year financially as I ran out money and lacked mentoring and understanding of the basic business success model, which I eventually learned through the program Money & You in 2007. In 2003-2005, I had an opportunity to deal with a "failure" conversation that took me 3 years to overcome. I ultimately transformed my context of failure into a process of testing business assumptions to be true or false. Just because my assumption proved false does not mean that I failed. That simple shift changed my experience as a business owner forever.)

v  2004 was spring (lots of personal development through Landmark Education, which created a new future for me including reconnecting with my dad after I had written him off 15 years prior. That is a whole other story.)

v  2005-2006 was summer (I was building my 2^nd business Club Freedom. Before Club Freedom was a blog, it was a coaching community for people committed to create a life they love, using money as a way to keep score.)

v  2007 was fall (reap harvest – I met my husband and was engaged that same year. My life began a new chapter with my life partner, and become enriched beyond measure.)

v  2008-2010 was a 3 yr winter (This was a long cold, harsh winter of financial stress. In that time, my husband and I sustained HUGE financial losses including: 4 properties, business loans, credit cards, 2 businesses, and our beloved pet who died unexpectedly. My husband had an emergency appendectomy. I had major medical issues including cancer scares inflicted by stress. We crawled through the war that was our life, inch by inch, day by day until the clouds just seemed to part after a crazy thunder/lightning storm. The sun came out on 12/31/10 when that last settlement was paid in full.)

v  2011 was spring (We started attending a spiritual community called The Unity Center. At New Years 1/1/11, I wrote the word: HOPE as a symbol of the insight I was to gain in 2011. I resisted that word, knowing that hope is usually a word that usually is a nice way of saying – "I don't have any intention of doing that". I learned one of my most powerful insights, that hope was all that was available to me at that moment in time. I was merely a shell of emptiness and exhaustion. I realized that HOPE is the access to BELIEF which is the access to FAITH. I could not have gotten to faith from where I started the year, but by holding HOPE as my intention for 2011, it lead me straight back into the arms of a life of renewed FAITH. What a beautiful miracle.)

v  2012 is the start of another season of summer. At The Unity Center, I set my intention for the year as STILL. I believe Deepak Chopra said, "Be Still, and know that I am God." It is time for me to still my mind again through meditation, mindfulness, being present, staying focused, simplifying, eliminating the practice of multi-tasking, applying 80/20 principles to my life and reconnecting to my Spirit.

To look at my life like the cycles of nature gives me peace and acceptance. It has been such a challenge accepting the difficult circumstances especially in the winter months, exactly as they are and have been. However, as I look at this recapitulation, I see the beauty and the reason of these seasons of change in my life. There is a great personal development leader, Jim Rohn. If you haven’t read any of his work or listened to any of his CDs, I highly recommend him. He is truly powerful. In one book, he talks about life seasons. He says that in summer we must prepare for winter (work to build our financial savings to sustain us during the winter season). In winter, we must prepare for summer (work to build our personal bank account through spiritual, emotional, mental development.)

Looking back at the past 13 years I see why the winters were so extremely harsh and painful and why they were such a struggle. I know now that I did it backwards. I worked my very hardest in the winter and rested during the summer. I never planned my financial world for the upcoming winter months being so caught up in my quest for "freedom" that I forgot that accumulating some savings does align with this life of freedom.

Now, I see the simplicity and ease in "doing" life this way. Though it took 3 winter seasons to get the lesson, I am grateful to have it now. May this short summary of 13 years and 3 seasons of life inspire you to consider your life experiences and lessons in a positive light no matter the season you are in now. This is all merely part of the journey that is designed to bring all of us to this moment, right here, right now. Though the purpose may not always reveal itself right away, if we continue to look for it, it will usually make itself known eventually. As long we continue to move in the direction of our life vision and divine purpose, we will experience the ups and downs, but we will always move forward. 

One of my all-time favorite quotes is from Napoleon Hill, "The mere presence of desire is evidence of your capacity to fulfill on it." We are already equipped to have all that we desire in this world. So the HAVING part is handled. What is ours to do, is manage who we are BEing about the circumstances that reveal themselves. Who we are being will lead us to what there is to DO.

May summer come soon and last long in your life. May the other seasons be abundant and peaceful.

I want to pause here for an important aside: I had intended to explain the rules and tactics used to master the financial “games” of Wealth, Financial Freedom, and Retirement (which I’ll collectively refer to here as "Wealth"). But I realized that the first play in the playbook isn’t learning the strategies—it’s how to shape a winner's mindset. That includes understanding the rules, acquiring the right knowledge, forming the right wealth team, and committing to the practice. So this article will cover that first play.

Understanding the Rules

Rule #1: There are four wealth strategies: (1) business ownership, (2) real estate investing, (3) financial instruments (e.g., stocks, bonds, commodities), and (4) intellectual property (e.g., books, music, inventions, movie scripts).

Rule #2: There is no one right way to play the wealth game. You can work full time and participate in one of these wealth strategies. Say you choose business ownership; you might analyze businesses on your days off and buy stock in a company going public. The key to holding down a job while being an active investor is KNOWLEDGE—learning enough about your chosen wealth strategy to distinguish a good opportunity from a bad one. 

Rule #3: Don’t gamble. Most people GAMBLE away their life savings, kids’ education fund and homes on a tip or a hunch for a single “investment.” But people committed to wealth never gamble. Their investments are strategic and well researched, and their risks are mitigated. They don’t always win. Failure and mistakes are an expected aspect of the practice. Those committed to wealth fail small and recover big.

Acquiring the Right Knowledge

Knowledge is acquired through active study and experience. It means learning the financial aspects of your wealth strategy so you can evaluate future profitability, calculate expected return on investment, know how to hedge your risks, understand the legal and tax implications of the specific investment tools chosen for your strategy, know the right time to enter and exit the market or strategy, and understand the leadership qualities required to fulfill the strategy. 

The technical term for this discovery process is called "due diligence." Due diligence may require you to be able to: (1) read and evaluate the business financials and business leadership of the company you want to invest in or buy, (2) analyze the market of a real estate development deal, (3) assess the political and economic drivers that affect Fed rates and the future value of the commodities you've chosen to invest in, or (4) understand the distribution and marketing channels of a book you want to publish. Once you’ve done your due diligence, you’re ready to form your “Olympic Financial” team.

Forming the Right Wealth Team

Your wealth team (especially if you’re playing at the “Olympic” level, i.e., aiming to become a millionaire), should include attorneys, tax professionals, accountants, bankers, insurance professionals, financial planners, a coach, mentors, a spiritual leader and strategy experts. (It should not include your neighbor’s brother-in-law who just made a fortune selling his house.) The professionals on your team must act as a responsible sounding board, helping you get beyond your emotions about a project, and telling you when to nix a bad deal.

Committing to the Practice of Wealth

Playing at the Olympic level requires discipline in training, knowledge, time, energy and financial resources. Will you eat, breathe and sleep this vision? Will you sacrifice and/or stake everything for this dream? There is a reason why only 1% of the population ever achieves true wealth. If your actions and commitments are consistent with your declared future at this level, you can play and win.

Let me highlight a committed level of active play in the real estate investor game. There is pee-wee ball (buying a house to live in), high school ball (buying an investment property), college ball (partnering with people to work on a large real estate project), pro ball (owning a chain of commercial buildings), and the Olympics (being THE local real estate developer in your market).

You may not need an entire entourage on your wealth team, but you'll need one or two key people, even when playing high school ball. Don’t enter the “Financial Olympics” ready to invest your life savings with perhaps just a little pee-wee ball under your belt, and without having learned the fundamentals of your wealth strategy.

In the real estate game, the fundamentals might include understanding that there are over 20 different real estate strategies (not just buy and hold or "flip that house"), how the unemployment rate affects the cap rate on local multi-unit buildings, the zoning laws in your region, knowing you must drive by the property before buying at auction to ensure it hasn't burned down, or understanding your state’s eviction laws and tenants rights for rental properties.  

The Winner's Mindset

Vision. An Olympic track star will describe her vision of her race and her victory in vivid imagery. She’ll take you with her onto the podium, and you’ll feel as if you are bowing to receive the heavy gold metal on a ribbon around your neck. Olympic athletes know why they train every day, even when they’re tired, sick, or don't feel like it. They want that gold medal. Figure out WHY you want to be wealthy.  

Commitment. If your commitment is smaller than the obstacles in your way, you will not find a way over or around them. If your commitment is greater than the obstacles, you will find a way over, under, through or around them—in time. You will be unstoppable. Even though it may not be apparent at first, there is always a way.

Responsibility. What I mean by responsibility is that you are the captain of the ship. People can guide you, light your path; even push you at times. But only you can steer the ship and say where it’s headed. No one will care more about your financial health than you.

Action. If you are committed to wealth, you must take action consistent with that commitment. You don’t need to see the last mile at the starting point—you need to see the first mile. Don’t wait to take action until you’ve mapped out the entire route. By that time, you may be too old or too something to go on the journey. Know where you are, where you’re going, and the actions that will get you to the first pit stop.

Consistency.  Wealth is a lifestyle. Put money aside from every paycheck. Make learning a lifelong endeavor. Meet with a professional on your wealth team at least every quarter. Don't use your life savings until you have extensive experience in the game, are not driven by emotion, can spot a truly good opportunity and can ignore an attractive opportunity that doesn’t fit your game plan. Before you reach this point, practice with disposable income you aren't afraid to lose. This isn't something you do once and obtain one outcome; it’s a muscle you build over time. 

Mindset is 80% of the game. We are our greatest barriers to success. Our fears, doubts and worries determine the paths we take or don't. There is no shortage of people working hard, dreaming big and getting in the game. There is a shortage of people willing to expand themselves and their human potential.

My last piece of coaching advice is this: After reading this article, go to the personal finance section of a bookstore or the library, pick up any book that speaks to you, and start reading. Choose a wealth strategy that most interests you. One is not better than another in terms of opportunity to achieve wealth. 

After you've read a few books, research the terminology in your chosen strategy online. Subscribe to trade magazines in your strategy. Learn where the local experts/successful practitioners hang out. Find ways to be of service to them so you can in turn learn from them. Start to build your wealth team. Find a class, a mentor, and a financial professional willing to educate you in the areas of money you don't understand. Do something—anything—that will bring you closer to your intended financial future.

by Mayumi Young, CPA

This article will explain not only how to recognize the financial path you are on and what game you are playing, it will give you strategies to optimize your chances of reaching a desired financial future.  

FINANCIAL SURVIVAL

I call this the default game. It’s one that people play unconsciously, because we haven’t chosen any other future. Many people play this game because they’re afraid of the risks of playing and losing any other financial game. This game, however, actually carries the greatest risk.

Many people reading this article are playing “Financial Survival” and don’t realize it. Most administrative professionals have a good job and a steady paycheck—even in a down economy—that is more than sufficient to pay the bills and support their lifestyle. In fact, most people in “Financial Survival” have a comfortable lifestyle, own a home and a decent car, and have kids in good schools. They may have a long record of constant employment, and even earn six figures. So how could this be risky? Why call it “surviving?” “Financial Survival” is the act of living paycheck to paycheck, with no defined financial future beyond a current job and perhaps Social Security.

It’s quite possible that 80% of working Americans are playing this game. Today, having a great-paying job doesn’t guarantee a future income and ability to support our lifestyle without a paycheck. Being comfortable with “Financial Survival” is what keeps us there. It also means we’re not likely to actively participate in another financial game or consciously create a financial future that could move us away from living month-to-month.

What games could I play?

If being hopeful and gambling your financial future doesn’t appeal to you, and you are ready to actively participate in a new financial future, what games could you play?

If you’re playing any game other than “Financial Survival,” it’s important to realize that you won’t win every game you play. Your goal is to, in effect, win the Super Bowl. You can lose some of the games along the way and still win the Super Bowl.

Savings vs. Investing

There are three games to play—“Retirement,” “Wealth” and “Financial Freedom.” These games fall into two categories: savings and investing. Savings requires two steps create income (investing requires one step). First you save money, then you must to do something else to it (usually invest it) to create future livable income. Mostly the second step leads to spending, not income.

Some think of savings as a wealth-building strategy because it is an accumulation of cash, which is an asset. However, savings and wealth-building vehicles are not the same because fundamentally savings don’t increase in value (i.e., appreciate) over time. The value of the income you earn from interest is offset by inflation over time.

Let’s look at the three games:

1.  RETIREMENT—a savings game

The most commonly referenced goal is the game most call “Retirement”; i.e., at a certain age we’ll stop working and income from a variety of retirement vehicles will pay our living expenses for the rest of our lives. But “Retirement” is actually a savings game with a defined financial future date popularized with the passage of the Social Security Act in 1935, during the Great Depression. This government-created program incentivized older workers to leave the workforce so younger heads of households could get jobs and support their families. Sixty-five is an arbitrary, government-designated age. But many see it as the magic age when we should reach our financial goals and stop working. This limits our thinking of what is possible. Why wait until 65 to achieve your financial goals, lift the burden of “having to” work and allowing yourself the opportunity to “choose to” work?

I hesitate to include “Retirement” as a financial game because so many people are unconsciously waiting for retirement to happen (i.e., sitting in the bleachers), and not actively planning a financial future using retirement vehicles. In fact, retirement vehicles are designed mostly to provide people with tax savings, rather than future income. Retirement vehicles have changed over time.  Companies used to define the future benefit (or income) an employee would earn when they reach 65.  Now, those companies that still offer retirement plans usually only define the contribution (or savings). 

Most people playing “Retirement” simply allocate some of their income into their company 401(k) plan, never read the statements, talk to a financial expert, create a plan or define their future income goals. Inactively playing “Retirement” is more like the playing “Financial Survival” with a safety net full of holes and tied to a tree that may be chopped down at any time without your knowledge or permission. In our current economy, many companies are shutting down their retirement plans, eliminating their 401Ks and/or pension plans, or have gone bankrupt. The game has changed and no one knows the future. While you can still use pensions and Social Security as your ultimate retirement game, you must play differently now, or risk that the thing you’re depending on will no longer exist, and you’ll need something else to fall back on.

Including “Retirement” as a financial game to play and win requires us to be “on the court”—to be a player and to work with professionals and coaches who understand how to actively, strategically plan for our financial future.

If you choose the “Retirement” game, take a hard look at whether you’ll take an active or inactive role. Stop putting your financial future in someone else’s hands. Learn from the people who are in charge of your retirement vehicles and create a financial plan or strategy to redefine your financial future and win your financial game.

2.  WEALTH—an investing game

Wealth is measured by calculating your net worth—the difference between your assets and your debt. Here’s another way to think of it: If you sold everything you owned, took the cash you received and paid everyone you owed, this is your net worth. Of course, some people will be holding an IOU.

It’s vital to understand that wealth building is not a game of creating future livable income. It’s a game to create assets that you could eventually sell to create future livable income. You could have wealth, but still be living paycheck to paycheck if you aren’t mindful of combining this game with the next one: “Financial Freedom.”

Creating wealth is a game of reducing or eliminating unproductive debt and accumulating quality assets. An asset is something you own that has value. All assets, among them equipment, furniture, property, cars, cash retirement plans, and stocks and bonds, are not treated equally—they have different qualities and characteristics. There are appreciating, depreciating and income-producing assets. Understanding the quality and characteristics of assets and debt will enable you to make better choices with your money, and increase the opportunities you’ll have to ultimately win the Super Bowl of wealth-building.  

3. FINANCIAL FREEDOM—an investing game

Many people talk about this game, but few understand how to win. The most common meaning is using the income from assets to pay for our lifestyle. The difference between how people use “Financial Freedom” and “Retirement” is that “Financial Freedom” is not an age-derived plan, and it doesn’t usually encompass typical retirement vehicles like pensions, 401Ks, Social Security or government aid.

“Financial Freedom” is a game of “leverage.” In essence, leverage gives us the ability to do or create more with less. The key to playing “Financial Freedom” is to understand the nature of income-producing assets and methods of leveraging those assets. An income-producing asset is an asset that pays you income. Examples include rental property or bonds, the use of employees by business owners, and borrowing or raising money from other sources to invest or expand your financial future.

When I talk about financial freedom, what I mean is:

·         Freedom to choose how you spend your time and money

·         Freedom from worry about money

·         Eliminating money as a factor in making choices

·         Having enough money to do what you want, when you want to do it

“Financial Freedom” says nothing about the amount of wealth you have accumulated, but rather focuses on generating sufficient livable income without “having to” work.

What Now?

It’s vital to understand that it’s never too late to start. Most of us put off getting started because we don’t understand the rules of the game and which vehicles are necessary to make it to the championship. It can be scary and overwhelming. These concepts are not taught in schools, discussed in the workplace or in the homes in which we were raised. Many people learn about these concepts at weekend seminars from gurus who promise wealth or financial freedom. The reality is that if it were that easy, everyone would be winning the game.

So what does it really take to win your financial game and create a new financial future? Stay tuned for the next article, where we will go deeper into the strategies, rules and tactics—the playbook. I’ll dispel the myths of what it takes to win the game and give you practical tools for what you can start to do today. 

Playing these three games for a new financial future is not something you do for a few days, weeks, or months and get the result you are looking for. These games require an entire shift in your lifestyle, knowledge about money and financial choices. Most people are too comfortable to make the necessary adjustments. If you are ready, have the commitment and are willing to go the distance, I recommend you look for the next article where we go deeper into the strategies, rules and tactics—the playbook. 

Can’t wait for the next article? Want access to free tools designed to educate you and create a values-based financial plan? Visit www.cpa-moms.com/tools and click on the “free tools” button for access to free audio training and worksheets to begin to create your financial plan and future.

by Mayumi Young, CPA

Hawaii was symbolic choice for me.  In high school, my mother's partner of 11 years died of cancer within 6 months of the diagnosis.  He was a retired foreman from a manufacturing company after 30 years or so of service, and had saved up about $100k in the bank.  His biggest dream was to go to Hawaii someday.  He clearly had the funds to take the trip, and having been retired for several years prior to his death, also had the time to go.  He spent every dime on medical bills "surviving" the last 6 months of his life.  As a 16 year old kid, I was enlightened early to the very real understanding that tomorrow isn't promised, and someday might not ever come if you wait too long. 

His sudden death left an impression certainly, but the thing that stuck with me most was the fact that he never went to Hawaii.  What good was all of that money he worked so hard for if he couldn't at least have the ONE THING he wanted most.  I vowed that this would most certainly never happen to me – EVER!  I went through a phase (as you may have read in my "default life" blog) where I used my concern for my eminent death as the anti-venom of delayed gratification.  I waited for nothing.  If I wanted an experience, I found a way to have it.  I was a compulsive shopper - so much so that I thought I had a biological predisposition for shopping.  It was a downright gift, and self proclaimed badge of honor when I trucked home 5 bags filled with clothes for under $500 – every weekend.  The downside was I wasn't living for anything.  Despite my love for shopping, I was not so dead as to consider this a meaningful life.  It was all I knew.  But, I was always searching for the meaning of my life…

The upside of the "anti-venom" was that it came with a profound appreciation (almost need) for new opportunities and experiences.  My fear of dying-with-regrets overrides my fear of taking risks and stepping into the unknown.  My acute awareness of how much time I have to accomplish things in life has perpetuated a constant state of urgency.  Morbid view - perhaps – but one of my favorite authors, Carlos Castenda, often talked about the life principle of "using death as an advisor" for overcoming our own indulgence in our self-pity and complaints about life. 

I can't say that I had the kind of enlightenment that Eckhart Tolle describes in his book "Power of Now."  I wish!  I have most definitely been consumed by my own life drama – why else do you think I need to create a blog to document the past ten years.  If I were so enlightened, I would have 2 blog entries and nothing much to say that anyone could relate to.  I like to believe that I would have preferred getting the "get out jail free" card, do not pass go, do not collect $200.  Go straight from awakening to peace, happiness, fulfillment and financial freedom right!  Instead, I have the dichotomy of opposite moments to share: total freedom and utter suffering, and the insights that have shaped my view of life.  I do believe - despite all of my resistance to aging – this is called wisdom. 

Before the "Law of Attraction" was popularized by the movie "the Secret," I couldn't describe the freedom that I experienced in a way that people wouldn't describe as "airy-fairy."  Now, I can simply say that my trip to Hawaii brought into my life the first wave of experiences where I was completely in-the-flow.  I was a magnet for attracting everything that I needed, exactly when I needed with just the mere thought.  There had only been one other time in my life that I recall having this totally magical experience and unencumbered feeling of being free from constraints and opinions of others.  Whereas the Hawaii experience lasted a few months, this lasted only about 1 hour during a long hike in Joshua Tree, when I felt totally free.  My hiking buddy (who was walking in front of me) turned to find me strolling around with a big smile on my face with nothing but my socks and shoes.  I just had a sudden urge to just be naked.  

You have to understand.  I was an auditor for a public accounting firm.  I wore black suits, pantyhose, and neat little neck scarfs.  Walking around the desert without the constraints of my clothes without the influence of any kind of alcohol or drug was not in the calendar as a scheduled activity in the life of Mayumi.  I was in my mid 20's, and I had never been able to recreate the experience until Hawaii. 

Not to confuse people, being in-the-flow doesn't equate to nudity; however, it is a bit like shedding the weight of life and the significance of our circumstances.  In a way, I discovered that my experience in both Joshua Tree and Hawaii was more about surrender than anything else.  I had come to realize that I really didn't know how to create happiness.  I just knew what happiness was not. Most people get here when they get a "second chance" at life.  I am grateful that my high school experience provided me with the same kind of "second chance" moment without the physical suffering.  Forever trying to piece together what it was about this moment that made it so sacred, I realized that one of the aspects of bringing forth the "law of attraction" or getting-in-the-flow was surrendering to and stepping into the unknown. 

So, what happened in Hawaii?  I flew my mom out for the first half – a sort of acknowledgement that her partner's wish might have been hers as well – and I camped the last 10 days.  I slept a good portion of the first half of the trip…sorry mom!  I rented a car, a mountain bike, and set out to camp by myself for the last 10 days.  My independent nature was (no doubt) a difficult burden to carry for my mom, but she gave me a lot of room to spread my wings in the world…thank you!  I didn't know much about camping.  My first try many years ago with a friend in the Grand Canyon was an interesting beginning as I lacked the basic necessities one would bring to the wild like a lantern and toilet paper and a sleeping bag for the sub-50 degree evenings.  However, it didn't dampen my love for being in nature. 

Of course I didn't plan ahead and didn't consider the possibility that campsites might be booked out in advance.  I just went to Maui with my backpack, and decided I'd figure it out when I arrived.  I managed to book a camp-site for the first 3 nights (that was maximum number of consecutive nights you could stay per site) in Haleakula at 7,000 feet.  I was surprised to find the site completely empty.  I went about setting up camp and preparing my dinner – still noone.  I'm surrounded by woods and pretty much nothing else for miles.  So, I'm starting to freak out a little bit at this point.  I drive to the nearest set of payphones – to phone a friend – and decide that if noone shows up I can always get a bed and breakfast spot later.  As I drive back to camp, I pass a pickup truck with a group of men unloading their shotguns just outside of the campsite.  Now, I am past freaking out, I am terrified.  I contemplate what the next move is going to be as I am in the woods by myself without a cell phone, where noone knows how to find me except for the men with guns.  I somehow manage to calm down and decide to stay the night. 

Well, I did remember the toilet paper, but didn't realize that at 7,000 feet it is extremely cold at night despite being 80 degrees during the day.  So, I was in bed by nightfall and awake by 1 or 2am still clutching the pocket knife, freezing and shivering.  Grateful for some quick thinking, I pulled the tarp from outside under the tent and wrapped in around my sleeping bag as another layer of warm.  It did the trick, I was like a warm burrito and back to sleep.  By 4am, I was awake again.  Scared and tired, I dragged myself into the rental car, turned on the heat and asked myself – what the hell am I thinking!!! 

Having almost never been up this early in the morning, I decided to drive to the summit of Haleakela some 14,000 feet to watch the sunrise. There are a few moments that take my breath away.  Watching the sunrise over the clouds at the tip of a mountain was truly breath taking.  Filled with a sense of peace and awed by the power of nature, I drove back down the mountain to the site, and just put out there to the Universe that I would stay if someone arrived at the site and I would leave otherwise.  I made peace with my choice and just trusted that it would all work out.  Shortly after my morning walk, lunch, and afternoon nap, a young couple drove in and later filled the site with the welcome sounds of their acoustic guitar.  I stayed and the journey of trusting and letting go began to deepen. 

I found friendly neighbors in the Hana campsite during my next 3 day stay, and enjoyed the lively site by the ocean.  While driving into town on my last day at the site, unsure of where I would sleep that night and for my last 4 days on the island, I passed a young man and woman hitchhiking.  Never in all of my life have I ever picked up hitchhikers, but there was something about the look in the young man's eyes that made me pull over.  He was so peaceful that it grabbed me.  I had a car, they didn't, what was the harm.  I drove them to the town, and learned about their respective 2 and 3 year journeys with nothing but a backpack across the world.  Made me really question how brave I was actually being in my rental car in the great wild.  Nonetheless, we all had an instant connection.  They invited me to a "full moon rave."  They explained that every so often, locals would gather by this cave on the shore with their tents and listen to music.  I thought a few guitars, couple of tents, and another night of safe sleep sounded perfect. So, Viola!  The need was resolved.  I arrived to a DJ setup in a cave adorned with lights, lots of tents, the friendliest people I have ever met, a couple with an infant about 6 or 8 months old sleeping peacefully in her mother's arms as she rocked to the captivating ambient music that filled the space without overtaking any of the conversations.  The full moon lit the coastline, where the ocean met rocks the size of large papayas which spilled into the softest white sand I have ever felt on my feet.  Every time the ocean waves crashed on shore, and the moon pulled the water back to the ocean, the drag against the rocks created this soothing rhythm - nature's music.  It simply lulled me in a trance-like state.  I could have never planned an experience like this.  This magical experience showed up when I needed it, through an act of generosity to another, and from an action outside of my normal routine. 

And so it went like that for the rest of my trip.  I needed a warm shower.  Without looking for it or asking for it aloud, I met a couple with a 3 year old little boy who surprised me with an invitation to dinner and use of their hot shower.  I needed a place to camp for 3 more nights, and I met a local at a concert in the park who taught me the rules of camping on public beaches (sorry, can't divulge the secret.)  I was totally taken care of, and never went without.  I had no doubt that I was not guiding the ship, but rather a willing and grateful passenger to the magnificence and awe of the laws of nature.  I was humbled and blessed.

On my flight home to San Diego, I sat in the emergency row with another middle aged gentleman.  The flight attendant came to us reminding us of the rules of sitting in the emergency row and asked us if we agreed to perform our duties.  We both said yes.  She continued to hover over us for what seemed like a long minute, and asked us if we knew that you had to be at least 15 years of age to sit in the emergency row.  My fellow passenger and I were both chuckling at this point, and replied affirming our understanding.  And, she remained still.  I looked up to her interestingly, and she finally blurted out to me "are you at least 15 years old?"  I smiled and replied simply, "I'm 27."  The man next me gave himself whiplash flipping his head to stare at me, and whooped loud enough for the entire plane to here, "WHAT?!!"  The flight attendant clearly younger than me, apologized and moved on.  What was funny is that she didn't think I was even 15.  How old exactly did I look?  The moral of the story…go to Hawaii…you'll drop at least 12 years off your age. 

No, in all seriousness, for a while, I thought it was Hawaii that created the magical experience, brought back my youthful exuberance, and gave me peace.  After several returns to the islands in the past 10 years in hopes to re-ignite a lost flame, I've come to realize that it is a truly beautiful island, but not the source of my freedom.  In fact, on my ten year anniversary of freedom and one year wedding anniversary this year (April 2010) my husband and I went back to our favorite island of Kauai.  During our stay, we trying to piece together the formula of what has been the source of our in-the-flow life experiences.  After vigorously debating whether or not visualizations and daily expressions of gratitude or daily mediations were at the source, my husband and I recalled the magical moments we've had and came up with few central themes seemed to reappear consistently for both of us. 

Each time we experienced the presence of MAGIC and became master manifesters, we were always INSPIRED, had complete FAITH in the fulfillment of our inspiration, and stepped completely out of our comfort zone SURRENDERING TO THE UNKNOWN. 

The first decade (post-Hawaii) has affectionately been themed: FREEDOM.  I know this now because on April 1, 2010, I was absolutely clear that the theme of that decade was over, and that what my life was next about: FAMILY.  I've discovered much about my FREEDOM journey these past 10 years.  Next chapter I'll share about INSPIRATION and the discovery of my purpose and meaning of life upon my return from Hawaii.  And, in case you were wondering, I came back "cured" of my biological predisposition to shopping.  I think I've shopped in 10 years (post-Hawaii) as much as I shopped in 10 weeks (pre-Hawaii.)  Another interesting discovery that I'll share in another blog.  Until next time…

Aloha,

Mayumi

I'm 37 and my husband is 33 (yes, Demi isn't the only smart girl on the planet.)  I am the typical corporate ladder climber turned entrepreneur.  I became a CPA because I got an "A" in my Accounting 101 class in college.  I found out how much accountants were paid out of college, compared that to my Syracuse University student loan balance, and basically said "I'm in!"  Not that $32,000 a year (before Uncle Sam) took their share was anything to get excited about.  For me, getting hired by Price Waterhouse (one of the Big Six accounting firms at the time) was a big deal, especially coming from a small town in Massachusetts, raised by a single mom who had an 8th grade education.  Of course, I was going to go to college and get a job.  My mother sacrificed everything for me, my education and my future, and I wasn't about to let her down. 

After 2 years at PW, I realized that I was getting paid less than minimum wage (they didn't pay overtime and I worked a lot of overtime), and I was deeply unhappy.  I thought that a warm, sunny climate change would solve my regular bouts of depression.  So, I asked a couple of people, and San Diego came up in the top 3.  I looked a map, saw that it was South (yes, despite having an expensive college education I didn't know where San Diego was on a map).  I moved almost immediately.  The change of environment was exactly what the doctor ordered…no more depression, but I was still unhappy.  So, I did what any one would do under the circumstances…I shopped.

After 4 years of public accounting I was "burned-out," I thought about starting a business, but didn't know what I'd do and thought that I should buy a home…next step to fulfilling the "American Dream" right?!  So, a headhunter called me, and offered me a job doing international finance for a telecom company.  I left PW, got my pay increase, bought my house and was excited for the next adventure.  Buying a house was one of my better decisions in life (pre-real estate boom purchase in San Diego,)  and pure luck.   Now, making about $60k a year, I found myself working even harder to "earn" my higher pay (let's call it self-worth issues.)  I was just trying to make sure they didn't know that I wasn't that smart so I worked harder to prove that I was worth the "high pay."  Where I come from, $60k a year at 25 years old was something to be grateful for.

After 2 years, I found myself in another airport somewhere in the world and met a little girl (probably about 9 years old) and her mother.  The mother asked me what I did for a living and I proudly parroted with a big fake smile "I love my job!  I am an international finance director and get to travel all over the world."  The mom looked at her daughter and said "that is so wonderful, wouldn't you like to be like that someday!"  I felt sick.  The little girl looked at me in a way that gave me the chills.  It was as if she was saying – you are such a liar.  The truth was that I was dead inside.  I hadn't shed a tear in about 8 years. I was an emotionless human robot.  I was working about 1,000 hours of overtime a year and had no life, no friends, no happiness.  I worked harder each year to hide from all of the pain of bankrupting my life for my career.  Of course, at the time, I blamed corporate America for the inadequate pay to cover the insane overtime, but my memory is pretty clear on this point…No one held a gun to my head and said "work until you kill off everything you love in life."  Since children have a special spot in my heart, the fact that I felt like I just lied to a kid (and she knew it) was unacceptable.  That airport incident began a chain of events that led me to quit my job at the "height of my career." 

I was tired of living a "default life" of increased responsibilities and income, with decreased happiness and health.  Despite the increased income, I had the exact same amount of money left in my bank account as I did when I left FOR college – $0 (more on this point in another blog.)  I considered my options only briefly (I think it was about 30 seconds):  spend another day in my own personal purgatory and probably contract a fatal disease or have a heart attack from stress at the age of 28, or live a life on purpose and become an entrepreneur.  It was clear to me that I couldn't spend another minute of my life doing what I was doing. 

I called my mom and told her about my decision.  My clarity and fear of my own presumed death, combined with a renewed sense of control over my life gave me the courage to tell (not ask) my mom that I was quitting my stable job for a complete unknown with not a dime in the bank.  The woman who never held a credit card balance in her life, and who managed to raise and send her daughter to a private University on $5 an hour (I never went without), did have concerns about my rash decision.  I reminded her that she always told me as a child "you can be anything you set your mind to."  I told her that THIS is what I am setting my mind to, and I asked her to support me and my decision.  She did.  My mother is an amazing woman.  

With the right dose of "20 something" confidence, my mom at my back and a whole knew life waiting for me, I was excited beyond measure.  Now…what am I going to do for a business?  No idea.  I know…I'll go to Hawaii for 3 weeks on frequent flyer miles, find myself, take a few months of much deserved rest, learn how to surf, and decide in 3 months.  If I don't come up with something by then, I can always get another job.  Thinking back to my PW days, I decided I could do a better job than all of those nimwit business owners that didn't even reconcile their bank statements.  Right?!  It's not THAT hard.  Hmmm…not enough money in the bank account to pay for 3 months of living expenses.  No worries, I'll figure that out when I get back from Hawaii.  Oh look – a tax refund check arrived in the mail a week before I took off for my trip to Maui.  I forgot that I had bought a home just over a year prior, and had my first full year of deductible mortgage interest payments.  It just happened to be equal to 3 months of living expenses.  This was NOT luck. 

That is the first half of my story.  Not much else to say there except, thank goodness it is in the past…onward to the journeys of a new future.

Hallelujah,

Mayumi

This blog is intended to bring together a community of like-minded people who are committed to a life of FREEDOM!  Better said, this community is primarily intended for those who have recently quit their jobs and never want to go back to corporate america, for those who have been entrepreneurs or investors for so long that we are categorically unemployable, and for those who may love their job, but are committed to living an "invented life" – free from so many of life's constraints.   This is a place to share thoughts, resources, experiences, insights, and lessons for anyone who has chosen to venture onto a path in life that is a pure invention of one's own imagination, vision, commitments, and values.  Since my husband and I have been working in the world of finances for so long, the conversation will start with financial freedom, and can expand to freedom in all aspects of life.

Why listen to what we have to say?   You don't have to.  This is for us as much as it is for any one else.  Collectively we have 14 years of experience as entrepreneurs and investors, and we just wanted a place to journal our journey.  I could just kick myself for not starting this sooner.  Our personal values include: lifestyle, family, legacy building, and love.  We have found the process of integrating the entrepreneurial visions and personal values to be the most challenging part of the process.  It is easier to create business opportunities that are profitable, but don't align with what you value most in life.  It is also easier to create projects that are purposeful and make your heart sing, but don't pay the mortgage.  Integrating the two is what we call a values-based approach to designing a life worth living.

I'll do my best to recollect the high points and low points of the past 10 years in a few short blogs, and will start from 2010 forward with real time accounts.  Since we are trying to start a family, passing on a legacy to our children has become important to us.  If we accomplish nothing more than leaving a history of our path of discovery for our children, it will be worthwhile. 

That all being said, we are people who happen to be very committed to making a difference for others, so we want to share with others & invite others to share what it was REALLY like to be entrepreneurs (not a sugar coated kumbaya circle, but the unfiltered, uncessored truth).  People just getting started can learn from our mistakes, laugh with us, and cry with us.  We, in turn, will be able to learn from those who have something meaningful to contribute to us. 

We LOVE to read biographies of heroic people.  We are drawn into the rags to riches overcoming great odds story (so much that I wonder if I am not recreating that story unnecessarily in my own life).  Movies like "In Pursuit of Happyness" and "Cinderalla Man" and "Sea Biscuit" are some of my favorites.  I love reading about the Southwest Airlines in "Nuts" and empirical studies of successful business models like "Good to Great" by Jim Collins.  That all being said, we will share our story as it is happening.  Some day, we trust that it will inspire others to live an invented life.

Welcome to the Club!

Aloha,

Mayumi and Clinton