Plan for achieving financial freedom at any age

Despite what you might think, it is not too late for you to achieve financial freedom. It is really very simple. Whether you know it or not, there are ways you can achieve financial freedom and in today’s article you will learn four of them. Easier said than done you say? Absolutely. But trust me — if you do the four things we will discuss, it is not nearly as difficult as most people think. It is certainly not impossible.

Whether you work on one area per month for the next four months or simply concentrate on the areas that seem critical to you right now, I promise you this: your life will change.

Imagine how much better your life would be and how you would feel if every time you put your mind to something, you got it done. You did not start and stop. You never got off track, you just finished what you started — no questions asked.

The difference between unsuccessful and successful people is that when successful people say, “I’m going to…” lose weight, write a book, quit smoking, etc., you know they will do it. Before we cover the four ways to achieve financial freedom, it is important that I share with you a system that will allow you to stick through the process of applying the four techniques.

Jerry Seinfeld, popular American comedian, understood the secret to sticking to a course and claims that the following formula was responsible for his climb to success: Get a big wall calendar that has a whole year on one page and hang it on a prominent wall. The next step is to get a big red magic marker. He said for each day that you perform key tasks, to put a big red X over that day. “After a few days you will have a chain. Just keep at it and the chain will grow longer every day. You will like seeing that chain, especially when you get a few weeks under your belt. Your only job next is to not break the chain.”

Only a small percentage of us achieve the financial freedom we long for. We all want to have enough money so that we never have to worry about money again. The only question is, “Are you ready to do it or not?”

Empty Your Cup

Once, a long time ago, there was a Zen master. People from far and near would seek his counsel and ask for his wisdom. Many would come and ask him to teach them, enlighten them in the way of Zen. He seldom turned any away. One day an important man, a man used to command and obedience, came to visit the master. “I have come today to ask you to teach me about Zen. Open my mind to enlightenment.” The tone of the important man’s voice was one used to getting his own way.

The Zen master smiled and said that they should discuss the matter over a cup of tea. When the tea was served the master poured his visitor a cup. He poured and he poured, and the tea rose to the rim and began to spill over the table and finally on to the robe of the wealthy man. Finally, the visitor shouted, “Enough, you are spilling the tea all over. Can’t you see the cup is full?”

The master stopped pouring and smiled at his guest. “You are like this teacup, so full that nothing more can be added, come back to me when the cup is empty. Come back to me with an empty mind.”

Too often we think we know everything. As you read through and begin applying the next steps laid out here, remember to first empty your cup, open you mind and carefully consider everything you will read — especially if you have heard it before.

Here is the four-point formula that you can use to help you accumulate wealth, become happier, and achieve financial freedom in the years ahead:

Learn More

If you want to be able to pay your bills and have excess to do the things you want with the people you want when you want, it is not going to happen unless you take this first step. Take time every day to invest in learning something new related to your field of interest. You will be amazed by your growth a year from now.

By sticking it out for a year, you will likely see that you have been building up your ability to sell yourself, your products and or services. If you are a writer, write every day for a year. If you are a singer or artist, practice your craft and study the developments for distribution of your work. If you are a property investor, analyse two properties every day. Any professional can also use their calendar to book in spaces for in-person and/or online training and development.

Read for 30 minutes in your field every day. Set aside 1 hour each day to make cold calls to attract new business. Learning more and the experience gained through learning, sets the pace for the momentum you will generate in step two.

Make More

The feeling of being stressed about money begins to go away when you increase your income. While traditional experts tend to focus on getting out of debt, I take a completely different view on this. I believe that we attract what we give energy to. The idea that where focus goes, energy flows, is not hocus-pocus or legend. Both science and religion agree that the laws of attraction exist.

As you focus on increasing your earning, ideas to build upon what you discover will appear. There are endless ways you can increase your income, but not all of them are viable and not all of them can be done in the timeframe that suits you. Identify and follow through on ways to increase your income. Once they are up and going you could supplement your income by hundreds, if not thousands of dollars per month. Create a plan to invest and re-invest the profit.

Give More

In his book, Give And Take: A Revolutionary Approach To Success, Adam Grant does a convincing job of proving that givers can achieve much more than cautious, self-protective takers who “believe the world is a competitive, dog-eat-dog place,” where they need to put themselves first, for fear someone else will elbow them aside.

When we give back to other people and our community, it reminds us what we are made of. Focusing on the needs of others has a way of motivating us to do more than we thought possible. Life supports that which improves the quality of life.

Live More

Anyone can be successful, learn, make more money, and give back to others. Happy people are people who appreciate living in the moment. What can you do right now to live more? Use Mark and Karin Sixl-Daniel’s wealth wisdom check-up, to discover your next move:

• Do you have an understanding of your financial needs — now and in the future?

• Do you have a clear set of financial objectives?

• Do you have a written financial plan?

• Do you have savings and investment targets?

• Did you meet those targets last year?

• Have you documented all of your expenses and reviewed them for potential savings?

• Are all your expenses fully understood and under control?

• Will your current savings and investment rate make it possible for you to achieve your investment targets?

• Are you content with your current salary and future salary prospects?

• Do you have a contingency plan for emergencies?

• Do you have adequate life insurance?

• Do you have a will?

• Do you have a retirement plan?

• Do you have a clear understanding of your retirement needs?

• Do you have a clear understanding of your retirement income?

• Will your pension adequately cover your retirement needs?

• Are you satisfied that your finances are fully under control and that your money is working for you?

There is no point in worrying about the past. Influence your future by doing something you can do right now. Yesterday was history and today is a gift, that is why they call it the present. Learn from your past and use the future you want to inspire you.

Eliot Kelly is recognised as a serial Entrepreneur, and has been featured on CNN, BBC Three’s Be Your Own Boss and an extensive list of magazines and articles. His four books have been translated in over 7 languages and are sold in 29 countries, recently being shortlisted for Best Self-Help and Best Advice Books 2019 by The Author Academy. He is regarded as a top Sales, Business and Leadership Management Coach who creates opportunities for his success partner’s through financial literacy and life skills training. He is also a Professional Speaker and continues to inspire present and future entrepreneurs around the world. You Know More Than You Think You Do releases this Spring! Pre-Order Today.