A few weeks ago, I was having a beer on the terrace of a bar on Calle Larios, in the center of Malaga, when something happened that caught my attention.
It was a sunny Wednesday. 12:30 in the morning.
Normally I work around 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 a schedule, when some executive-looking guys were sitting at the next table.
There were 3 men and 2 women. They were between 30 and 40 years old. Suits, ties, elegant dresses, high heels, briefcases, handbags… Her 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”.
- Women talked about joining the gym on the night shift: “By 11.30 pm we can be back home”.
- Then they started talking about the year-end bonus and a “up 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 to 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 departed with their scent of expensive perfume elsewhere, but not before each had paid a euro or more for the coffee.
Five coffees, five different bills, a stressed waiter.
My opinion?
Because you see, in the most optimistic possible scenario, these people can earn between 2,000 and 2,500 euros a month, I doubt more.
If we stayed on the surface and looked only at the clothes they wore (they looked expensive), the iPhones, purses and briefcases (chic) or the way they talked (ostentatious)…
… we came to the conclusion that they were successful people in their jobs for whom life had smiled.
I will not lie to you my 20-year-old self aspired to be more or less 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 examples of almost nothing in this life, were sitting on that terrace from 12:00 to 4:00 in the afternoon and they couldn't finish their damn coffee because of a phone call.
Hair gel, eye mascara 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 view, 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.”
Sounds a bit 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 whom 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 don't have 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 only a means of accumulating wealth to buy freedom.
I like to think of it as a game in which those who start from absolute zero, as was my case, can accumulate points and move up 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 comes up, like a car or fridge breaking down, you won't need to take lorazepam to sleep.
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Doubling those 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 crappy job you are offered.
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Saving a cushion of 12 to 18 months of expenses means that if your income drops to zero overnight, you have 12 to 18 months to rebuild your life at leisure.
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Achieving savings several times higher than before means you have a freedom bonus to make important decisions in your life, such as changing your job for another one that pays less (but allows you to spend more time with your children) or take a gap year.
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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 that comes out of your balls, not the 67 or 70 that the politician on duty decided.
Well then.
The executives who had coffee at the time of the beer, I have no idea which of these points they were at.
What I do 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 not to be able to decide when and how to do these things?
These people were not at the wheel of their own lives. They weren't in control of their schedules. They had no freedom.
Look, I'll be frank:
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I don't care about your salary fivemileurist if an unknown guy in your office has the authority to cancel your vacation.
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I don't care how much money you have or the cars you drive if to pay for it 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 the freedom to go to the gym is 10 pm.
Stinks like a well-heeled mouse 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 a lot about it 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 whom you want, where you want and for as long as you want is priceless.
Or at least that's how I see life.