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The Monk and the Riddle #1

I am currently reading this book that I have been aiming to read for the last 1 year.

Here is the summary of what I've read so far (some words are my own opinion):

Many people try to live their life in two stages:
1. Do what I need to do,
and when I successfully complete the first stage, I could
2. Do what I WANT to do.

many of us believe that our first aim is to achieve the holy grail, that is the financial freedom.
and in order to achieve that, we will have to do what we need to do, even if it is not what we want to do. that's the goal of the 1st stage.

be it climbing up the corporate ladder, or joining the brigade of high-flying bankers, or like me.. becoming a property agent hoping to close some huge deals in 3-5 years and achieve that holy grail.

now.. nothing wrong with that plan. it is reasonable and logical.
but as you know.. many times things don't happen the way we like it in life.

ask yourself this question: what if i never get pass the 1st stage?
i am sure many bankers who, two years ago, were well on their way to their goal to retire in 10 years time.. are now wondering if they will need another 10 years.

and here's the funnier part.
some people manage to get pass their 1st stage, only to find themselves lost when they try to figure out what they REALLY WANT TO DO.

yes they got enough money, insurance, and asset to live till their 100th birthday.
but.. after all the hard work, all the sacrifice they made, missing on all the things they had wanted to do, they find themselves lost.

ask yourselves, and your friends, "would you be willing to do what you do now for your entire life?"
i am sure that 8 or 9 out of 10 will tell you a big NO.

indeed.

you started off by telling yourselves, "i will work hard for 10-15 years, and then i will say goodbye to all these stuff."
you spent years pursuing your financial goal, doing those things you thought you 'need to do'.

it has become an integral part of yourselves. so much so that when you really have the luxury to let go, to pursue what you want to do.. you end up coming back to the very job you have been doing in the 1st stage.

why? because you've come to know your profession more than you know yourselves.

there's nothing wrong with putting all your effort into achieving your financial goals. but.. if you are hoping to use the financial freedom as your mean to pursue your passion, you could well be in for a big surprise.

-to be continued-

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