Everything here is a God willing, by the way.
Until recently, I imagined myself on my deathbed (hopefully in 7+ decades) with $100M to my name.
Of course, you can't take that to the grave. I get that.
I think a net worth of that sort would amount to the contributions I'll have had on the planet by then.
So, you have me, at 98, on my deathbed, with $100M about to dish out in inheritance, charities, etc.
Then I remembered one of the most interesting quotes I found about goal-setting - either from Tim Ferriss or Jim Rohn.
And if neither of them said it, I'll claim it.
"Set a goal so audaciously high not for what you achieve, but for who you become in the process of attaining it." ~Carerra (until I find the source.)
And that made instant sense.
The Right Question in Setting Goals
In setting goals, we often ask, "What should I do?"
But we forget an even more critical question:
"Who should I become?"
The rationale is that you want to imagine yourself as having achieved that goal, asking yourself how you would feel like having accomplished the goal. Thus, I think visualization and clarity on the end goal are essential here, and the clearer your goal, the more aligned your pathway toward getting there. Read Mindvalley's Article on The Power of Visualization.
"Visualization only works if you work hard." ~Oprah Winfrey
Journey > Destination
Another thing I noticed, and you might agree:
We don't really like the goal itself.
Rather, we like the pursuit of it instead.
We like pursuing the goal rather than owning it because the goal itself becomes a momentary facade.
You will enjoy years of chasing that promotion until you finally get it, then ask yourself, "What's next?" or, "Was it worth it?"
And after hitting every goal we could think of, "What's next?" becomes a never-ending recurring question.
Figures why, contrary to public opinion, the journey overrides the destination.
The infinite game (loving the process) over the finite (hitting a goal).
I like how Alex Hormozi puts the Infinite Game.
And life is an infinite game.
Play it that way.
Anyway, back to the original point: Setting a big and audacious goal that you evolve in the process.
And that gave me an instant perspective switch.
I don't want $100M at 95.
Instead,
I want $1Bn at 65.
The Billion-Dollar Problem
Now, here's the problem:
I have a hard time visualizing myself as a billionaire. At least by 65.
I've divided my life into seven different facets:
Me at 8 - He's a proud kid right now.
Me at 23 - Currently.
Me at 30 - In six years.
Me at 45 - At the boil of my career.
Me at 63 - Retired.
Me at 85 - Waiting for the Lord to call me Home.
These facets are always talking to each other.
And I talk most with Me at 30.
Millionaire-Me vs Billionaire-Me
I'm confident that 30-YO Me will be a millionaire; probably multi, but deca unlikely.
He'd also be married with a kid on the way, fresh from an MBA and closing on corporate retirement.
That's whom I converse with daily before I sleep.
Now, back to my problem.
I can visualize myself at 30 and a bit at 63.30-YO Me is a millionaire, 63-YO Me a billionaire.
However, I can't get the answers right away to becoming a billionaire.
I asked my 30-year-old self this, and even he doesn't know it.
He asked 63-YO me, but the old man was, "Just figure it out. You've got this."
"I have the secret sauce," he said, "but I don't want to spill it out yet, else you'll miss out on all the fun."
And he has merit to say that.
First, life offers no cheat code. You get what you want through the hard (and sometimes the only) way.
Second, if it was easy, then what would've been the point of life if not enjoying the journey all along?
Three, you won't always have all the answers, and that's okay. If 30-YO Me is my epitome of success, and even he hasn't figured it out yet, then who am I to do so?
And four, you must know your place and work your levels accordingly. Make your first $100,000 before your first milli, and so on.
Conclusion
So that's how my mind looks right now as I chart my path toward (my definition of) success.
~I have the goal in mind - $1Bn.
~It's a SMART goal - by age 65.
~However, I don't have complete clarity on the plan yet, so that will be a work in progress.
But I do know what will get me to a milli by 30, God willing.
And in closing, recall that everything I mention here is a work in progress.
I don't have all the answers yet...and possibly never will, and that's okay.
And for transparency's sake, I'm starting right now with relatively nothing other than grit, curiosity, discipline, the internet, and the Will of God.
And if you're a billionaire reading this, I happily welcome your mentorship.
Let me know your thoughts.
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~T.K.K
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