Do You Have A Dream?

What do you want out of life? Have you ever really sat down and thought about this?

I have. And I do, often.

Life, in my eyes, is so precious. You only get one try and it’s important to get it right.

Do you have a dream? What is it? Are you doing everything you can to reach it?

I have a dream. I have a dream where my time is my own, and I owe it to no one else. I have a dream where I can wake up when my body is ready, go to sleep when I’m tired and never again live by schedules other than my own. I have a dream where I can be who I really am: an investor, artist, philosopher, friend, brother, son, partner, fitness enthusiast and would-be philanthropist. I want to make the world a better place. I want to read and learn and become a smarter person every single day.

I have a dream where I can travel the world and learn from other cultures. I have a dream where I can help others in need, where I can give a helping hand to people less fortunate than myself. I have a dream where I inspire others to reach for their respective dreams, whatever they may be.

What do you dream of? Is it for more money? I can assure you that it won’t buy you happiness. Instead of dreaming of money, dream of the things that excess capital allows you to have: more time and thereby freedom to do as you please. This blog concentrates a great deal on money, but only because of the control over my life that I believe money will allow me. I’m saving as much of my net income as I possibly can by living frugally so that I can leverage this excess capital into equity positions in high quality companies that pay dividends and raise them on a regular basis. One day these dividend payouts will exceed my expenses. I could keep working and investing and eventually become a multimillionaire, but once my passive income exceeds my expenses I’m finished, done, finito, kaput. Capiche?

What do you want to be? What do you do for a living? Do these two match? How can you do more of the former and less of the latter if they don’t?

I’m not waiting for tomorrow to reach for my dreams. I’m already indulging in as many of my interests as possible. I consider myself an artist as a writer, and I do my best to inspire others through Dividend Mantra. I spend hours in the gym trying to maintain my physique and push myself to be a better person, physically. I do my best to cultivate the relationships that are important to me by spending my limited time with the people that mean the most to me. I love being an investor and I do everything I can to be the best investor I possibly can. The point is to become aware of what your dreams are, immediately start reaching for them and not wait for tomorrow. Certainly my overarching goal is to realize 100% of my time here on Earth by no longer having to trade away my most valuable commodity to an employer for a paycheck. But while that goal is still a decade off, it doesn’t mean that I can’t try to make myself and the world better in the meanwhile.

I have a dream. I have a dream where I’m as free as the day I was born. I have a dream where the only thing I want to own in life, my time, is mine free and clear. Our time is given to us the day we’re born, yet few of us actually own it. It’s a shame. I have a dream where I take my time and life back, and help others to take theirs back too.

Do you have a dream? 

Thanks for reading.

Photo Credit: samarttiw/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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30 Comments

  1. It’s cool that you’ve found a way to recognize what your dreams are and reach for them now. In many ways, FI is just a means to an end, a way to unlock enough time to enjoy the things that are really important to us. Sometimes it’s easy to get caught up in the fray and lose sight of the real goal.

    What I really look forward to is the dignity that comes with financial independence. FI will allow me to eat the way I want to eat, sleep the way I want to sleep, and work the way I choose to work. The whole BS of waking up early in the morning, worrying about TPS reports, and meeting stupid deadlines is something that I will not miss.

  2. I think I’m lucky, as I enjoy my work. Even after reaching FI, I imagine I will continue teaching, writing, presenting, much as I do now.

    I also enjoy saving and watching the ‘stash grow. Like I said, I guess I am lucky 🙂

  3. Our dream is to raise our three sons to be happy, healthy, contributing members of society through parental example, frugal living, healthy foods, and an active lifestyle. Hopefully our didvidend growth investing, largely inspired by you, will then alow us to enjoy a long, healthy retirement, whenever that days comes. In the meantime, we’re enjoying each day we have together.

  4. For me FI is an insure policy. If everything goes to hell with my job I don’t have to make a made scramble and move to the first place that offers me a job. I be much more deliberate in my decisions because I don’t have to worry about the rent or the groceries.

    As for dreams, I don’t really have dreams that would be achievable with a basic FI level. I would certainly like to travel a lot more, but that would require a lot more money than just enough to cover my basic expenses.

  5. Hi DM

    My dream for FI is to have as many kids as I want without the burden of financial needs. I am sacrificing a lot now so that it can happen.

    Working towards your dream and seeing it reaching closer each day makes me smile.

  6. Very nice overview of your dreams. I believe dreaming is a key motivator and that everyone should have a dream. My dream is to make enough money to live happily in a nice house on a bunch of land with a hobby farm. I’d love to be outside all of the time and raise a bunch of animals.

  7. My dream is to move on from my career to my next – as an innkeeper in northern MN working at my own pace, or not working at all. I wish I’d come across your wonderful site and philosophy years ago. I am now age 57 with a $400,000 401K. Would your strategy be a good place for me to rollover my money to for retirement income? Or is it too late?

  8. Politely Vegan,

    Great dream there! Raising a healthy and loving family is a wonderful life goal to have, and one that many people share. I wish you the best of luck as you walk the path of parenthood. Quite a journey, I’m sure!

    Great thoughts there on retirement. Definitely something to look forward to, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy today too.

    Best wishes!

  9. Spoonman,

    I’m completely with you about not having to wake up early in the morning and worry about TPS reports. “Yeahhhh, I’m gonna need you to come in on Saturday….thanks”. Umm, no thanks.

    Best of luck as you near the end of your journey toward FI, and begin the journey of the rest of your life as a free man!

    Best regards.

  10. sendaiben,

    You are definitely lucky in the regard of enjoying what you do for a living. I’d venture to say you’re in a small minority – maybe around 5% or so? That’s really fantastic though, and I envy you! Although I will say that even if I really enjoyed working I’d build the ‘stash like you’re doing because flexibility and freedom is priceless. Things can change, and I like to roll with the punches.

    Best wishes.

  11. MFIJ,

    FI is a wonderful insurance policy. Shit hits the fan and you can leave with no worries. Financial flexibility is very wonderful.

    I’m definitely interested in traveling, but doing so on a budget and engaging in slow travel. I’d like to live in a country for a year or two and get to really know the culture, and then maybe move on to another country and do the same thing. This would cut down on airfare costs which can balloon a budget, and this would be less travel and more adventure (in my opinion).

    Take care!

  12. B,

    Sounds like a great dream there. Raising a family is a huge dream for many, many people. I can honestly say that I don’t share that desire, but I applaud those that do. It’s an honorable dream!

    I’m with you. Having a clear set of goals and seeing yourself get closer to achieving them every single day is a wonderful feeling. I love seeing the net worth grow month after month and ticking the days off of my career. I know that at a young age I’ll be free to live as I really want, and it makes me smile every day.

    Good luck in pursuing your goals and dreams!

    Best wishes.

  13. Jake,

    Sounds like a great dream there! My parents live in the country and have plenty of pets and animals. They really love that lifestyle, so they’re living their dream every day.

    I don’t place a lot of value on property or a home, but I definitely wouldn’t mind having a nice loft in a downtown setting somewhere, or a beautiful pad on the beach. I don’t value those ideas nearly as much as my dreams of financial independence, so it’s highly likely they’ll never come to pass. But I’m completely fine with that.

    Have fun striving towards your dream!

    Best regards.

  14. Suzanne B,

    An innkeeper? Very interesting and cool! You’d definitely get to meet people from all walks of life.

    I have a kind of idea in my head where it might be cool to work on the beach. I’d be one of those guys who manages umbrella and chair rentals or something along those lines. How much more laid back can it get?

    Great job achieving a sizable amount of wealth for your age. If you spend a lot of time around personal finance/investing blogs you’ll lose perspective in the sense that that’s a lot of money. You’re well above average, so don’t compare yourself to people who write about money.

    As far as rolling over your 401(k), you could roll it over into a self-directed IRA and then invest it how you feel fit. I’m not sure what kind of investments are available in your 401(k), but most times an IRA is significantly better in this regard because many 401(k)’s are limited to mutual funds, and limited in number of available fund depending on who is administrating the plan. There’s a lot to think about here, so I would definitely do some research on this. There would be questions about how fully vested you are, any employer stock you have and so on.

    Good luck. 🙂

    Take care.

  15. My most important goal is to become financially independent and be able to provide for my family without stress. All other dreams are developing from this goal. Trying hard whatever it takes.

  16. When you reach F.I go and live in a cheap paradise for a year or two and live frugally there. Then you won’t touch your capital which will then have more time to compound. A beautiful double whammy to finish off your F.I quest and start your F.I journey.

  17. Something that bothers me a bit is that you can ask anyone this question and they will have an answer for it. But if you then ask the follow up question of “What is your plan to get there/do that?” and most people have no clue.

    I have way too many things pulling for my attention for whenever I reach FI it’s not even funny. Figuring out which one is 1st on that list is going to be very difficult.

  18. I think, life is good to me!

    I have a wife, a wonderful son, a good and cool job and since this month a debt free house. It´s not a big mansion, but enough for us.
    Now my dream is to get a huge portfolio.

    If I use the dividends to quit and stop working or if I work furthermore and use the additional money for journeys, nice holidays or a new car (Ferrari 🙂 ) – I don´t know.

    But the more dividends you receive, the more choices you have.
    With a lot of dividends you are free to do everything!

    Onassis

  19. My dream started at around 12 when I saw a very wealthy businessman live a very comfortable life. I wanted to be like him so I studied my arse off in high school and college so I could have the opportunity. I’m glad I put in the time to retire at 34 and go travel and write.

    If I never saw extreme poverty and extreme wealth I probably wouldn’t have tried so hard.

    Sam

  20. I had a dream and experienced traveling to Tokyo for two weeks as an American.

    I lost 8lbs in two weeks from their amazing Fish and veggies diet, water only, with no excess rice really, and from walking/biking all over Tokyo every single day while relaxing with friends in the evenings. All the Japanese were dressed in suits, lean and thin, but no smiles on their faces as they raced to work for their custom 12 hour day shifts even for professionals.

    This vacation was what freedom life felt like for two weeks and it really opened my eyes (same with reading Financial Independence Blogs like DividendMantra!), then i was forced back to the cubicle once again, to stare at the overpriced vending machines that have the cans of Soda, chips, pizza evil looking thingy, while i can not exercise, sleep in, or even dose off when i wish too; for 8 hours + commute, and “relax from workday” time, at 50% energy levels until bedtime. Then wake-up and repeat.

    Thus only no spending, examining what i really need to live happily, and learning to invest will free me once again. FREEEEEDDDDOOOOOOOMMMMM! *levitates off of chair, above the cubicle, outside of the building, and around the world!* That is my dream as well. And when that dreamed is achieved, maybe i will stay in Fussa for 6 months, and bike around Tokyo spreading the message of Freedom too!

  21. My dream was to leave Europe and come in North America, and it’s what I did years ago.

    Another one was to dev my game and it is in the process.

    Finally the third one is to not have to work anymore for any human, before my age of retirement, that will be the case in about 10 years. At least I think that we sharing this last one 😉

    Cheers to you and to FREEDOM!

  22. Martin,

    I’m with you. FI offers the flexibility and freedom needed to pursue many other dreams and desires. Being bogged down by spending enormous amounts of time and energy at work makes it difficult to have the drive and resources to pursue other interests.

    Very admirable to want to provide for your family while minimizing your stress. I wish you the best of luck as you strive towards that goal!

    Best wishes.

  23. Wrightius Maximus,

    Interesting name! Thanks for stopping by.

    Not a bad idea there! It would be great to save up maybe $15k or so in cash and live somewhere cheap for as long as that would last, while letting the dividends start to pile up for a couple years. By then you would have likely already had two annual rounds of dividend payouts and dividend raises to really kick things off!

    I like the double whammy idea. 🙂

    Thanks for the thoughts.

    Best regards.

  24. Pursuit,

    Well, I’m going to publish an article about that – having a plan – very soon. It’s good to dream and come up with concrete goals and ideas, but certainly having a concrete plan is completely necessary. Failing to plan is planning to fail.

    Sounds like you’ll be a busy man once your FI. I’ve heard of some people being more busy in retirement than they ever were when working. They wonder how they had time to fit in a full-time career. Funny, isn’t it?

    I find that a lot of basic, daily activities will expand to fit a more open schedule. For instance, I’ll likely sleep more, spend more time at the gym and also read/write more…so right there some of my available time will disappear as the things I already do expand. Kind of interesting how that happens.

    Either way, I’m very excited to see how it goes!

    Best wishes.

  25. Onassis,

    Life is very good to you. I’m really happy to hear it. You have a wonderful life, great job, and now a paid-off house! That’s fantastic. You’re in a wonderful spot, and now the portfolio will just serve as icing on the cake for you.

    And you are right about that last part: the more dividends you have, the more freedom/choices you have. I think it’s important to have flexibility and choice, even if you really like your job. You never know what life will bring and it’s great to know that you could leave at any time and be okay.

    Keep up the great work!

    Take care.

  26. Sam,

    Thanks for stopping by.

    You made your dreams come true. That’s fantastic! You’re one of the rare success stories where you started at a young age and stayed true to your goal all the way until the end. Being able to retire at 34 is amazing. I won’t match you in that regard, but I’m getting a late start and doing it on less money.

    You’re an inspiration to be able to accomplish something so amazing and so rare!

    Best regards.

  27. FYC,

    Sounds like you had an amazing time in Tokyo. I would love to see that city some day. I’m a huge fan of sushi, so being able to eat sushi in the mecca would be a dream come true.

    Freedom is right. Freedom is everything to me. Freedom to come and go as I please and spend my time how I really want. Some people think it’s about not working and sitting on the couch or golfing all day. For me, that’s not it at all. It’s about being able to choose the opportunities that most befit you. Some of these opportunities will pay and be “jobs” and some won’t. But that’s missing the forest for the trees. The point is that once you own your time and no longer have to trade away your dwindling time to an employer for a paycheck, you’re free to live your life however you want. How you could not want that is beyond me.

    Best wishes!

  28. JF Baconnet,

    Congratulations to you for already achieving some really big dreams. That’s fantastic.

    It sounds like you’re making tremendous progress on the third one. I hope we’re both living our lives with complete freedom in 10 years!

    I can’t wait to wake up on a Monday morning, scoot down to the beach and smile while I think of all the naysayers hustling and bustling into work while I’m relaxing and watching the waves come in.

    Take care.

  29. Dividend Mantra, thanks for asking and your blog. I also want my time to be at least more my own (that’s one of the things about work that sucks so much: it takes up most of your day!)

    But you may find if you have kid(s), your time will be theirs, not your own 🙂

  30. Val,

    Thanks to you for stopping by and thank you for your readership. The blog is nothing without readers. 🙂

    I hear you on kids. I don’t plan on ever having kids, but I can see how they would take up quite a bit of your time. However, in that case that’s certainly not a bad thing; rather that’s something that most people look forward to: having time to spend with their children. Fatherhood is just never something I looked forward to. I lack whatever genetic ‘chip’ most people are born with, I guess.

    Best regards.

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