How To Be Rich & Happy On Your Income - Hans Jakobi

Do What You Love . . . And Love What You Do!

If you make enough money, you can achieve financial freedom. Right?

Not necessarily. That's why most people go to work each day - to make as much money as they can so that one day they can retire comfortably. Some hope to get there faster, - so they play the lottery or "invest" in the Casino. Others get caught up in some get-rich-quick scheme only to get their fingers burnt.

Others build their wealth through real estate, shares or achieve success in some form of business. The underlying assumption is always the same: first make some money and then you'll be able to do what you really love - then you'll be able to pursue your passion.

It's almost become a capitalist success formula: Money = Happiness, Fulfillment and the Freedom to pursue what you really love

To make all the money we want we are told to set goals, to make them specific, to write them down and to visualise ourselves as having achieved them. We should read them every day and then pursue the fulfillment of our goals with single-minded, money-making determination.

It all sounds fairly straight forward doesn't it? It even sounds reasonably simple.

So, if that's the case, why aren't more people financially independent? Why are so many people still struggling to make ends meet? Why are so many people still chasing the almighty dollar in jobs they dislike and why are they often working for people they dislike?

Is it because so few people set financial goals? Or are these people just using a faulty goal setting technique? Perhaps they need to visualise the money better - really get the smell of it, see mountains of money stacked in bundles. Perhaps they need to read their goals more regularly. Or maybe they need to make their goals more achievable. What is the answer?

Stephen Covey says that sometimes we are so focussed on climbing the ladder of success, only to find out that once we reach the top, the ladder is actually leaning against the wrong wall. In other words, we need to make sure that whatever it is that we are desiring and pursuing is actually in line with our purpose in life. We want to ensure that our goals are in line with what we want at a subconscious level. Consequently, there are some important things we must do besides goal setting. In fact we need to do these things before we do our goal setting because they underpin the whole process.

Two things we need to establish before we focus on our goals are to define our values and to discover what we are truly passionate about. You see, the path to personal fulfillment is not always clearly marked. You need the right tools to help you move in the direction of where your very own personal treasure awaits you. You need to recognise what is important to you and then plan how to reach where you want to go. You will enjoy life even more as you achieve what is truly important to you.

I often come across people who say to me: "I'm not really sure what I'm good at, what I love most and what really matters to me. In fact, I'm not really sure what I want in life!"

I can relate to that because I've been there too. Most people have ended up doing what they do because of influences from other sources. For example, they may have chosen a career based on the amount of money they could expect to earn as opposed to whether they really love the type of work. Their careers adviser may have told them that they would be well suited to a particular type of career and they later discovered that they didn't really like it after all. Parents and relatives always want to do what is best for you and may suggest a certain direction.

The important thing is to recognise that you can change direction at any time you choose. Just because you started out on a particular path, doesn't mean you have to stay on that path or continue in that direction. It's entirely your choice.

I went to school with a man who went on to university and studied Law. Our families are still friends today and we meet from time to time for family outings. George, (not his real name) also handles some of my legal matters and so the two of us are in contact quite regularly. George is a devoted family man and tries to spend as much time with his family as possible.

George did extremely well in his legal studies at university and became a partner in a suburban practice in his late twenties. More than twenty years down the track, George is still in his same legal practice where he is now the leading partner. Whenever we meet, there are two topics that are certain to be discussed.

The first is about how his practice is going. He'll tell me that this last week has been really busy but that he doesn't know how he'll get through the rest of this month because he hasn't got very many matters in the pipeline. The funny thing is that he is always busy, he has a strong client base and he is good at what he does. He gets on well with people, they like him and they send him business.

My point here is that his outlook for his practice is on his glass being half empty instead of seeing it as being half full. He has so many things going for him that he takes for granted. He focuses more on what may not happen in the future (the lack of clients or new business) than what is happening and what he can do to promote and develop his practice. He is an extremely genuine person, his clients trust him and he is a successful lawyer with a good reputation.

He has the choice of how he views life. To see his glass as half full instead of half empty, is just a decision. It doesn't cost any money and is comparatively simple. What's holding him back though, are his old habits and years of conditioning.

How do you look at life?

The second topic that always comes up during our conversations is that George is tired of law and would like to get out of it. It's not so much that he's lost the passion for it but just that he feels weary. What he would really love to do is go into property development.

For years George has worked with builders and other partners on various property developments. He handled all the legal matters and his partners did the design and building work. It was a good combination for all concerned and George always ended up with a number of units below market value which he has been able to rent out. In this way he has been able to generate an ongoing investment income and increase his asset base.

He often tells me how much he enjoys doing property developments and how he would prefer to give up law to concentrate on development projects full time. He has also explained that he only needs to do a small number of projects each year to enjoy a good income and a more relaxed lifestyle than he currently has.

"So why don't you just go and do it?" I keep asking George.

George tells me he still has to continue with law because he really can't change now. When I ask him "Why not?" he makes up a whole string of excuses where he is basically saying that he is afraid of change and he is bound by his existing momentum and habits. The point is that it's just a matter of choice. If he would make the decision that he really wants to be a property developer then he would look for ways of achieving that goal. At the moment his desire to be a full time property developer is not as strong as his level of comfort with the status quo. When that balance changes, he will make new choices. Until then, he will continue to complain about the law and fantasize about being a full time property developer but will not actually take any action to achieve his dream.

By the way, I'm not saying that what George is doing or not doing is right or wrong, because that is just a matter of opinion. I'm just saying we have choices available to us. Whether we do anything about them is entirely in our hands. The fact is though, that so many people are imprisoned by their own thoughts, beliefs and habits. What's worse though is that they feel they cannot change their current circumstances. I want to assure you that you can!

The only thing stopping you from realising your dreams and highest visions is the courage to start living them now. I want to encourage you now to go beyond your limitations towards your ultimate life purpose.

As Goethe said:
"Whatever you can do
Or dream you can,
Begin it.
Boldness has genius,
Power and magic in it
Begin It Now.

About Hans Jakobi
Hans Jakobi is an educator, author and investor. He is the author of six best-selling books including, How To Be Rich & Happy On Your Income. For all readers of www.femail.com.au Han's would like to offer you a FREE DVD on investment. Visit www.realestateinfo.com.au and quote FEM2005 as your qualifying CODE!