3 Plans

I've been re-reading pretty much all of Kiyosaki's books lately. I just finished "Cash Flow Quadrant" and now I'm on to "Guide to Investing."

It's made me re-think the 3 plans for financial core value choices rich dad and Kiyosaki mention. The plans are:

1. To be secure.
2. To be comfortable.
3. To be rich.

Every person has their own definition of what it means to be #1, #2, and #3. This is very important because it examines your financial core values and just what kind of life you want to live.

I thought it was interesting that rich dad advised Kiyosaki that all 3 plans are important, and you first have to accomplish #1 and #2 before #3. Each one relies on the prior. If you want to have a life of the rich (#3), you have to have a plan for security (#1), comfort (#2) and being rich (#3). And, if you want to have a life of comfort (#2) you have to have a plan for security (#1)and comfort (#2). If you just want a life of security (#1), then you just have to have a plan for security (#1).

Kiyosaki's initial goal was #3. But, when he got to #3 and became a millionaire he lost it all. He then goes on to state that after this experience he revised his plan to include being rich and also being financial free, thus #1 and #2.

So, I've been thinking about my 3 plans and what they mean to me. Here's what I came up with:

1. To be secure.

For me being secure means having enough passive income to cover my expenses. This is my first goal. I am almost halfway there and should be half through with this goal by the end of the year. By the middle of next year, I will have completed this goal.

2. To be comfortable.

For me being comfortable means doubling the passive income coming in from #1. Being comfortable means being able to live a nice life with nice things. This is what most people strive for.

3. To be rich.

Being rich to me is having unlimited passive income coming in and having freedom to do anything I want at any time. Of course, within legal means ;) I don't really want to put a # or price tag on being rich because that is limiting to me.

Being financially free is not just about money to me. It's about having the freedom and the time to do other things I want in life besides just working for someone else. It's sad that we work 80% of our lives and only enjoy 20%. (aka Pareto's 80/20 principle).

Working for someone else is making someone else rich. People think what I'm doing is too hard. Just like Kiyosaki, I've gotten the "...why don't you just get a high paying job OR go get your MBA? Or, "...your making life so hard on yourself, it'll be easier to just go get a job."

Yes, the above statements is what everyone else does and considered the easier road to take. But, I believe everyone has their own path in life. Just because everyone else is taking the same path does not mean I have to. Mine just happens to be different.

Though it's been a lot of hard work and taken up a lot of my time, I know what I am working for will pay off in the end.I always come back to the statement,

"Success is a journey, not a destination."

It is the journey and the experiences and lessons I learn along the way that are invaluable. And, that is priceless.