It's been 3 years since my official retirement following the achievement of Financial Independence and Early Retirement (F.I.R.E.). I've been cherishing every moment of the freedom it brought me.
Reflecting on this journey, I've come to realize that aside from essential financial skills, certain non-financial mindsets have significantly contributed to achieving my goals. Below, I present a list of these mindsets and explain why they're crucial.
1. Being Honest with Yourself
Be honest about your desires
Understanding what you truly want is crucial. The journey to financial independence is lengthy, and it's vital to avoid reaching your destination only to realize you've been heading in the wrong direction all along.
Do not pursue this path simply because you dislike your current job or life circumstances. Take the opportunity to explore the true reasons behind your troubles.
Do not pursue this path just because it is a popular trend and receives extensive attention on numerous TV shows.
Do not pursue this path just because you are fantasized by the glamorous travel videos advertised on platforms such as Instagram or TikTok.
Individuals pursuing F.I.R.E. generally prioritize freedom above all else. If your primary focus is nurturing strong family bonds or building a business empire, F.I.R.E. may not align with your aspirations. Be honest with your unique desires, and take your time to discover what truly resonates with you.
2. Being realistic and patient
Ensure that your plans are realistic and then proceed with patience, patience, patience
It is important to base your efforts on scientific calculations and rational predictions rather than succumbing to overly optimistic and emotionally-driven delusions.
For example, the average growth rate of the S&P 500 index over the past 90 years has been approximately 10%. This implies that over a period of 10 years, one could expect a return of around 2.5 times the initial investment. Therefore, if someone invests $100,000 and wishes to retire with $1 million in 10 years without additional contributions, they should recognize that such a goal is unattainable. If they persist in attempting to rush this process, they might resort to risky investments beyond their control, potentially jeopardizing their financial foundation.
Drawing from my personal experience, it took me nearly 13 years to achieve F.I.R.E. due to my initially low income when starting my career. However, I exercised patience and resisted the urge to chase seemingly profitable yet highly risky investments. In hindsight, I'm grateful for sticking to my plan and resisting impatience.
Realism and patience are paramount in the pursuit of financial independence.
3. Continuous learning new skills
Learn to do things yourself.
Learning to do things yourself can save you a lot of money. For instance, instead of hiring professional cleaners, you can clean your bathroom yourself once you've learned how to do it correctly.
Similarly, cooking is another area where developing basic skills can lead to significant savings. Many people are unaware of simple, time-efficient cooking techniques that can prepare healthy and delicious meals in just five minutes. Imagine the annual savings if you can save just one dollar per meal, multiplied by three meals a day and 365 days a year.
The more skills you acquire to handle tasks independently, the more you can save.
4. Choosing your Career Smartly
When it comes to choosing a career, people are normally stuck in a dilemma between the job pays well but less interesting or the one more interesting but pays little, at least initially.
So how to to align your career choice with the pursuit of F.I.R.E,
It's simple!
Select a job that you excel at and one that provides optimal financial benefits.
Finding happiness in the freedom to pursue your interests surpasses the desire for higher social status. You will eventually leave your job upon attaining financial independence, making your previous career insignificant.
If you prioritize your career over freedom, F.I.R.E. may not be the right path for you. Revisit the "being honest with yourself" section and reconsider before committing to the F.I.R.E. movement.
Choosing a career in which you excel and that offers substantial financial rewards will significantly reduce the time needed to achieve early retirement.
5. Don't Forget About Your Health
While it is understandable to strive for financial success and savings, it should never come at the expense of your health.
Neglecting your well-being will inevitably result in paying a much higher price in the long run.
Maintain a healthy diet and engage in regular exercise. Do not skimp on these essential aspects of life. By cooking meals at home and exercising at home, you can save money without sacrificing your health. This not only reduces the risk of falling ill but also benefits your long-term financial well-being.
Additionally, since the ultimate goal is early retirement rather than climbing the corporate ladder, there is no point in working so hard that your health is compromised. Your F.I.R.E plan should be based on a reasonable workload that does not push your physical and mental limits to their breaking points.
Remember, true freedom is not attainable without good health. Your well-being forms the foundation for happiness and freedom.
These mindsets, while not as specific as concrete investment strategies, have been instrumental in my journey toward financial independence. They have contributed to my personal growth and continue to be beneficial to me. I hope you find some of these mindsets useful as well. Please share your thoughts with me!
FIRE世界
实现财务自由所需的5个关键心态
实现FIRE（财务自由和早期退休）不仅仅需要财务技巧，还需要一些关键的心态。
自从我实现了FIRE以后已经过去了快三年（2021年起），我一直在享受它带给我的自由。回顾这段旅程，我意识到除了重要的财务技能外，某些非财务的心态对于实现我的目标也起到了重要的作用。以下是我列出的这些心态以及它们的重要性的原因。
1。对自己诚实
对自己诚实，勇敢地承认自己真正的欲望。
诚实地面对自己并确保真正理解自己想要什么是至关重要的。通向财务自由的道路是漫长的，重要的是避免在达到目的地时才意识到一直以来都朝错误的方向前进。
不要仅仅因为你不喜欢现在的工作或生活环境而选择这条路。要探索不幸背后的真正原因。
不要仅仅因为这是一种流行趋势，电视节目上大肆宣扬而选择这条路。
不要仅仅因为你被Instagram或TikTok等平台上宣传的令人向往的旅行视频所吸引而选择这条路。
根据我的经验，追求FIRE的人通常将自由置于首位。如果你主要关注培养紧密的家庭纽带，FIRE可能与你的愿望不符。同样，如果你的幸福来自于打造一个商业帝国或追求名利，FIRE可能会让你感到不满。比如，如果你的梦想是有朝一日去火星旅行，为什么还要费心追求财务独立呢？没错，埃隆，说的就是你。
记住，你是一个独特的个体，诚实地了解自己的真正渴望是至关重要的。不要急于行动，花时间去发现与你真正共鸣的东西。
2。理性和耐心
确保你的计划是现实的，一定要耐心，耐心，耐心。
重要的是基于科学计算和理性预测来进行努力，而不是陷入过于乐观和情感驱动的妄想中。
例如，过去90年标普500指数的平均增长率约为10%。这意味着在10年的时间内，一个人可以期望回报约为初始投资的2.5倍。因此，如果有人投资了10万美元，并希望在10年内退休时有100万美元的资金，而不进行额外的投资，他们应该意识到这样的目标是无法实现的。如果他们坚持试图加速这个过程，可能会采取超出他们控制范围的风险投资，可能会危及他们的财务基础。
根据我的个人经验，由于我刚开始职业生涯时的收入较低，我花了近13年的时间才实现FIRE。然而，我一开始就意识到这一点，并保持耐心，抵制了看似有利可图但风险极高的投资机会的诱惑。回过头来看，我很庆幸自己坚持了自己的计划，抵制了匆忙行动的冲动。
在追求财务独立的过程中，现实和耐心的重要性多强调都不过分。
3。持续学习新技能
学会自己动手
例如，你的浴室很脏，有很多霉菌。你可以自己清洁，而不是请专业清洁工。一旦你知道如何做 — 相信我，这很简单 — 你就会自己动手。这样可以省下很多钱。
同样，除了聘请专业清洁工，你还可以自己打扫浴室，这样一来，一旦学会了正确的方法，就可以节省大量的费用。同样，烹饪是另一个领域，掌握基本的烹饪技能可以节省大量开支。很多人不知道简单而节省时间的烹饪技巧，可以在短短五分钟内做出健康美味的餐点。想象一下，如果每餐节省一美元，每日三餐，一年365天，可以节省多少钱？
你掌握的技能越多，独立完成任务的能力就越强，你就能节省更多。
4。聪明选择你的职业
在选择职业时人们通常陷入一个两难的困境，一方面是工资高但不太有趣，另一方面是自己喜欢但薪水较低，至少初期是这样di。
那么如何将职业选择与追求FIRE的目标保持一致呢？
很简单！
选择一份你擅长的工作，并能提供最佳的经济效益。
请记住，在能够自由自在从事你的兴趣能够带给你比获得更高社会地位的更多的幸福感。最终，你会在获得财务独立后离开你的工作，使你以前的职业变得微不足道或不重要。
如果你对此表示怀疑，并将你的职业置于自由之上，那么FIRE可能不适合你。请参考"对自己诚实"部分，并在承诺加入FIRE运动之前重新考虑。
最终，如果FIRE或自由真正是你所渴望的，选择一份你擅长的工作，并且提供丰厚的经济回报。这种做法将极大地减少实现早期退休所需的时间。
5。不要忽视你的健康
虽然追求财务成功和储蓄是可以理解的，但这绝不能以牺牲你的健康为代价。
忽视自己的身体健康将最终付出更昂贵的代价
保持健康的饮食习惯并参加定期锻炼。不要在这些生活的重要方面吝啬。通过在家做饭和在家锻炼，你可以节省金钱而不牺牲健康。这不仅可以减少生病的风险，还有益于你的长期财务健康。
此外，由于最终目标是早期退休而不是攀登公司的高位，没有必要工作得过于辛苦，以至于危害到你的健康。你的FIRE计划应该基于一个合理的工作量，不会将你的身心极限推到崩溃的边缘。
请记住，没有良好的健康，就无法获得真正的自由。你的健康是幸福和自由的基石。
这五种心态虽然不像具体的投资策略那样直观，但在我追求财务独立的过程中起到了关键的作用。它们对我的个人成长产生了影响，并继续对我有益。我希望你也会发现其中一些心态对你有所帮助。
欢迎留言，让我知道你的想法！
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