A few weeks ago, I was having a beer on the terrace of a bar on Calle Larios, in the center of Málaga, when something happened that caught my attention.
It was a sunny Wednesday. 12:30 am.
Normally I work at this time, but that morning I took it off because I wanted to accompany my wife to an event that was important to her.
So there we were, childless and carefree, talking and dreaming about what it would be like to live without an agenda, when some executive-looking guys were sitting at the next table.
There were 3 men and 2 women. They would be between 30 and 40 years old. Suits, ties, elegant dresses, high heels, briefcases, bags… His effort to stand out was more than evident.
The waiter approached our tables. Both.
I ordered another beer and my wife another glass of wine. Executives ordered coffees and bottled water. Everything in order.
so isThey started talking loudly about work issues:
- One complained that he had to suspend his vacation “because of the fucking meeting”.
- another replied “At least your family lives in the same city as you.”.
- The women talked about joining the gym on the night shift: “At 11:30 pm we can be back home”.
- Then they started talking about the year-end bonus and a “uphill and transfer to the center”.
The truth is that it was impossible not to hear them.
And I, who am very observant (because observing helps me write), I deduced two things:
- They worked at the bank.
- They didn't look very happy.
A few minutes after the waiter served the coffees, the cell phone of one of them rang, the one who seemed to be responsible, and I could hear a “No problem, we arrived in 5 minutes”.
The five quickly got up from the table, left their half-full coffees and left with their scent of expensive perfume to another place, but not before each paying a euro or more for the coffee.
Five coffees, five different bills, one stressed waiter.
My opinion?
Well, look, in the most optimistic possible scenario, these people can earn between 2,000 and 2,500 euros per month, I doubt it anymore.
If we stayed on the superficial and just looked at the clothes they wore (they looked expensive), the iPhones, bags and briefcases (chic) or the way they spoke (ostentatious)…
… we came to the conclusion that they were successful people in their jobs for whom life had smiled.
I won't lie to you my 20 year old self aspired to be something like this.
Now, if we have a few drinks at 1906, let the smoke clear and sharpen our eyes, what do we really see?
I would say people with a rather poor lifestyle.
Look, my wife and I, who are an example of almost nothing in this life, sat on that terrace from 12pm to 4am and they couldn't finish the damn coffee because of a phone call.
Gel in your hair, mascara on your eyes and an iPhone 14 Pro Max with the calendar on the top of calls.
I do not know.
In my unsolicited opinion today, this is by no means the concept of wealth that anyone should aspire to. My dreams, at least, go elsewhere.
Today I can do whatever comes out of my balls
Let's talk seriously.
In my opinion, the summun Wealth is the possibility of getting up in the morning, opening your eyes and thinking:
“Today I can do whatever comes out of my balls.”
It sounds a little rude, I know, but think about it for a moment…
True wealth cannot be measured in money, but in terms of freedom.
Being able to do what you want, when you want, with who you want, where you want and for as long as you want is priceless.
I can't think of a greater benefit that money can bring.
The feeling that you are in control of your life and that you can do whatever you want because you have no financial problems is quite rewarding. I have a good friend who would say it's a sensation felt especially in the groin.
And whether you accept it or not, this feeling is closely related to happiness. Yes, happily.
The feeling of owning your life is much more rewarding than the feeling of having a bigger house, a more powerful Porsche or a more prestigious job.
Money is important, yes, but it is just a means of accumulating wealth to buy freedom.
I like to imagine it as a game in which whoever starts from absolute zero, as was my case, can accumulate points and advance to the next level.
What I mean to say:
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Saving a little money, maybe $ 3,000, means that if an unexpected expense arises, like a car or refrigerator breaks down, you won't need to take lorazepam to sleep.
-
Doubling this savings means that if you lose your job, you have a small margin of safety to calmly look for another job, rather than being forced to take the first rubbish job you're offered.
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Saving a cushion of 12 to 18 months of expenses means that if your income goes to zero overnight, you have 12 to 18 months to slowly rebuild your life.
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Achieving savings several times greater than the previous one means that you have a freedom bonus to make important decisions in your life, such as changing your job for one that pays less (but allows you to spend more time with your children) or taking a sabbatical.
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If you keep climbing this pyramid fuck the money You may reach a point where you can retire at the age you come out of your balls, and not at 67 or 70 as the politician on duty decided.
Well then.
The executives who were drinking coffee while having a beer, I have no idea which of these points they were at.
What I know is that they had little ability to make very simple decisions like…
…fly to another city.
…sleeping with your family.
…do a little sport every day.
Does it seem normal for you to not be able to decide when and how to do these things?
These people were not in the driver's seat of their own lives. They were not in control of their schedules. They had no freedom.
Look, I'll be honest:
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I don't care about your salary fivemileurista if some unknown guy in your office has the authority to cancel your vacation.
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I don't care about the money you have or the cars you drive if, to pay for them, you are forced to sleep far from your loved ones.
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I don't care about your mannequin outfit if the only time of day you have time freedom to go to the gym is 10 pm.
It stinks of a moneyed rat spinning on a spinning wheel. True wealth has nothing to do with this absurd lifestyle.
I already told you a little above, and I also talk about it a lot in my newsletter:
True wealth cannot be measured in money, but in terms of freedom. Being able to do what you want, when you want, with who you want, where you want and for as long as you want is priceless.
Or at least that's how I see life.