Alessandro Meccheri
Sep 1, 2018 · 4 min read

Financial wealth is the consequence of your achievements. Not the opposite.

«I would like to achieve financial stability». That’s what many people tell me the first time they meet me. «Today I decided to sit down and hear more from a financial advisor as I wish to get my financials sorted». That’s a very good intent. Financial independence. Whatever that means for each and everyone of us. I am truly passionate about this kind of conversation. That’s why I chose to be an advisor.

- «What does it mean to you “financial freedom”?»

- «Well… when I will finally achieve it I think I will...»

These are the most frequent wishes, when we think of a life free from the financial burden:

Getting out of the corporate system;

stopping chasing deadlines;

saying bye to my boss;

spending more time with my family;

retiring on a beach in Thailand (or wherever);

traveling more;

working a job that I really like;

devoting time to my true passion (whatever it is);

They say that people who always think about money, do that because they don’t have it. Those who have it, can have the privilege of thinking about something else. I truly believe that we should live the life we want and I am aware that financial solidity plays a big part in it. However, I think that many of us perceive financial freedom as a dream. And partially, that’s because many professionals don’t hesitate to sell it this way. Many individuals see financial freedom as a dream-like promised land that they have to achieve. A sort of heaven on earth that they have to reach in order to start to enjoy life. I have the feeling that even if we are fully grown up (or should be), sometimes we like to think that there is a lamp with a genius somewhere. A big blue dude, who comes out ready to make our dreams come true. And most importantly, we believe that our life will start to be better just right after this dream will have turned itself into reality. We think of financial stability as an achievement that will give us a solid platform where we can finally choose to do the things that we want. No wonder why only 5% of the people achieve financial stability. And the other 95% keeps on buying into this dream, waiting for it to become reality to begin to do what they like to do. And it never happens.

I think it’s a matter of putting things in the right order. Financial independence is a worthy goal, but where does it come from? The kind of mindset that is going to get your financials sorted is the same mindset that is going to get all the other aspects of your life sorted. In simple words: you’ll never become financially comfortable if all the rest is a mess. Financial stability is the consequence of all of your other achievements. Or, at least, it can be built along. Financial freedom it’s about picking the right investments. And I’m not just talking about stocks, bonds, properties or others. I’m talking about the job that you have chosen; the career that you pursue; the environment you created around yourself; the people you decided to spend time with; the knowledge you will want to absorb; the care you’ll give to your health. These are all investments that require time, energy, discipline, commitment and resources. According to how well you’ll be able to invest in these areas, you will or you won’t be ready to start your journey for a better financial situation.

If you still struggle to see the connection, I’ll put it simple. Your financial stability comes from your savings. Your savings will match your earnings. Your earnings will depend on how well you do your job. This depends on how irreplaceable you are, how much you know about the service and the product you provide, how relevant it is for the market. This position will be possible only if you accept the rules of business, its ups and downs, its triumphs and rejections. And that will happen only if you love the game and you go through it with the right attitude. And you can’t buy the right attitude with money. You can only feed it with passion. Attitude has no price tag. It’s free and you can find it any time if you just decide for it. If you do, you’ll start to surround yourself with like-minded people. You will look for them in order to create the right environment around you.

It’s not easy and it will take time, but if you successfully achieve it, its financial counterpart will come as a consequence. And by the way, it doesn’t need any lamp or any genius. It all starts with your decision.