EMAIL # 261 -07TH APRIL 2024 - "NEVER STOP WORKING"
“The Dream is in the Doing”
Winning is knowing that you’ve got enough.
According to Forbes magazine, the US Lottery in is the 9th largest business in the world.
In 2023 Americans spent over 100 billion dollars on Lottery tickets.
Last week someone in America won the biggest prize in Lottery history, $1.0 billion dollars and became the first ever “overnight billionaire”.
Has US society gone completely nuts?
For someone that has never bought a lottery ticket, the answer is definitely - yes.
However, the reality for many people is different.
“Work is just something I’m doing until I win the Lottery.”
Every week millions of Americans make the conscious decision to buy Lotto tickets. The most troubling statistic is that some of the poorest people in America spend up to 5% if their income on the lottery. The dream of becoming rich is so powerful that they prioritise spending on the lottery ahead of some of life’s basic necessities. They are buying hope and paying dearly for a dream.
Financial experts and commentators generally agree that winning a large sum of money from the Lottery is often a curse. Anything significant that comes this easily in life and that you have not worked for, usually disappears just as quickly, and leaves a trail of destruction in its wake.
“The biggest prize in life is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.” Theodore Roosevelt
All we really control in life is our work and our values. Possessions and recognition are nice to have but only have real value when they are achieved from your own hard work and consistent effort. The real accomplishments that have long term meaning are your health, your family & friends, and having a “crowded table”.
“The reward for work well done, is the opportunity to do more.” Jonas Saik
I’m a big believer in goal setting and life plans.
I love the “soul searching” process involved in writing down your goals. My goals keep me focused, motivated and always looking for what’s next.
I have been thinking a lot about the next “work optional” phase of my life. So, Maryanne and I have recently prepared a “10-year life plan” which maps out a detailed year by year financial plan and the associated goals and actions we intend to accomplish.
The biggest take away from producing this 10-year plan is that “we already have enough”. We can now capitalise on what we have built over the last 35 years and plan ahead for the next 20 to 30 years and beyond.
“The less energy we waste regretting the past or worrying about the future, the more energy we have for what’s in front of us.” Ryan Holiday
Tony Robbins famously said, “Everything in life is self-improvement in disguise.” Every day is an opportunity to work hard and grow. This is why I love building (and more recently gardening). Each day on each project there are dozens of opportunities to learn and improve. Every day is different with new challenges around every corner.
My father did productive work until well into his 90’s and he demonstrated that “our work is never done”, it just looks different as we age and adapt to different challenges.
“Nothing is really work unless you would rather be doing something else.” James M Barrie
