When I was young, I wanted to be rich… Now that I’m a little bit older and wiser, I want to be financially free.
“The goal isn’t more money. The goal is living life on your terms.” – Chris Brogan
That might sound a bit selfish… And I know some of my friends will disagree. Not about the money bit, but life on your own terms.
But think about it for a minute. Think of it in terms of what it’s not.
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- Not being bound to the 9-5 grind.
- Not having a ‘staycation’, but being able to go wherever you want.
- Not squeezing into a small flat because you can’t afford something bigger.
- Not having to fix the car yourself when it breaks down.
So what is it?
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- Being able to give generously to make a real difference in someone’s life.
- Buying a house you can leave to your kids one day.
- Going on holiday and having a real break. Yes, camping is great, but wouldn’t it be nice to have someone else do the cooking and cleaning for a bit!
- Replace that old car with one that actually works?
Just imagine the life you could live if you weren’t spending most of your time working to make somebody else rich, earning a wage that only just covers the bills, looking forward to a retirement that keeps being pushed back 5 years?
My name is Gerald. I work a regular job Monday to Friday, earning a very average salary. I rent a flat with my beautiful wife and wonderful little boy in the south east of England (no, we’re not all rich down here). And I dream of breaking free from the rat race, of being completely, totally financially free.
I have spent half of my life working for someone else, working my way up (and back down again) to try and earn a better salary. Get my skills up to impress the boss and hope for a raise (I asked, didn’t get it).
This site is all about my journey and how you too can embark on a journey to financial freedom.
It Begins
That job was outsourced, the next company I worked for was sold. Then I was outsourced again. Then I was fired.
During all this time, I always thought there had to be a better way. There was something not quite right with the system and I felt trapped.
Opportunity always seemed to pass me by.
Always too late to the party.
I arrived in the United Kingdom from South Africa in September 2000. I had no idea what to do with my life and was just drifting around trying to find my way.
I started off working as a temporary contractor going from job to job every few months. And eventually landed a permanent position. “Wow, this is great! I can go on holiday and still get paid!”
I Want To Break Free
I started thinking, I have to get of this cycle. And I started to realize that the traditional way of living life was not going to work for me. Go to school, get a job, get the promotion, get married, have kids, buy a house and live happily ever after. Nope. Not me.
So a few years ago I began thinking it might be possible for me to work for myself. Be an entrepreneur. Work on my own terms.
This stirring in me grew and grew and I was feeling more unease in my job. And then I got fired. Ugh. If something is going to go wrong, it usually goes wrong with me. If something good is going to happen, it usually happens to somebody else…
Ok, that’s not true. I met a girl who is now my wife. AWESOME!! We have a little boy. AMAZING!!
But still, I’d been fired. Never been fired before.
But as they say, “when life gives you lemons, make lemonade!”
And when I got fired, they paid me off to not take legal action against them. They said it was to help me out until I find something else, but then I had to read and sign the part that said I wouldn’t sue them. Yeah, ok, whatever.
Take the money and run!
I saw this as an opportunity to start my own thing.
I love photography, it’s one of my passions. I thought I could make money with it. I worked at it and got it off the ground. Just a little bit. But, then it didn’t. Honestly, it flopped. I spent more than I earned and after a few months had to go back to work.
The Journey
It never goes away once you get it. This stirring, this idea that there is another way. And it’s now even stronger having read Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki. (Good book, give it a read. Get it on Amazon here)
So this is my journey. I am an introvert and somewhat shy. So I’m exploring all the ways I can make money without having to talk to anyone. Making money online, passive income. That’s what this is all about.
My hope is that the articles and information on this site will help you on your journey. There is a better way, we just have to find it.