You and I are encouraged to live our lives with dynamism, including that of our financial lives. It will be difficult. It requires hard work and discipline. But as successful men and women have said, it will be rewarding.
In one of the big conferences I attended, Bo Sanchez, a prolific author, successful entrepreneur and also a financial coach, shared that some people live their financial lives on debt, some on dependence, while some with dynamism.
Let me share with you what I learned plus some other things that I realized from my own experience and observations.
First, some people live their financial lives on debt. Either a person is not earning that he has to get into debt to survive or a person is earning but he is living beyond his means which demands him to get into debt just to finance his wants, luxuries or very expensive lifestyle.
To live your financial life on debt is dangerous. It is like being eaten alive. If you have debts, you have to pay interests. At times, very high interests.
Second, some people live their financial lives on dependence. While this is better than those who are living on debt, it is also not the best. These people are those that are living from paycheck to paycheck. They are dependent on their salary alone. Once their salary is gone, they cannot move because they only have one source of income and they also do not have savings and investments.
Most people are in this class. While I have started to move out of this class, I still have not moved out from it totally. In other factors, I am still dependent. We have to start moving to the third class.
Third, some people live their financial lives with dynamism. These are the people who have multiple streams of income and they have more than enough savings and investments.
It may be that a person is earning salary while doing a business on the side. While doing so, he manages his finances well and is able to set up his savings, emergency funds, insurance, and investments.
It may be that a person is not earning salary but has businesses that earn profits. While managing his businesses well, he also manages his finances well. This way, he is able to accumulate assets and is able to set up his savings, emergency funds, insurance and investments.
At its best, a person in this class may have charity works or ministries he is funding. He is now earning not just for himself and his family, but for all the causes and advocacies he supports.
You and I want to be in this class. After all, we are called to live our financial lives on dynamism.
It may be difficult to be in this class but let us not despair. The time to start – if you have not started yet – is now. Start learning how to save and invest. If you have started already, keep going. Never underestimate the value of every peso that you save and invest.
Ultimately, we are meant to live our lives – not just our financial lives – with dynamism. When we do so, we are not just living for ourselves but for others as well. That is success and significance.
(Chris Dao-anis, CPA, DTM is a trainer and speaker on communication, and personal and organizational leadership. His latest book ‘Living Large in the Little Things’ is available at Mt. Cloud Bookshop, Casa Vallejo, Upper Session Road, Baguio City. For talks and trainings, email him at chrisdaoanis@gmail.com or visit his website at www.chrispoweracademy.com.)
