Financial Freedom Is For Everyone
The path you create to attain financial freedom is a part of what you offer to your community.
Google search and you will find a million-plus resources out there on how to achieve financial freedom, from podcasts to books to YouTube tutorials. Although some of these resources have helped me strengthen my basic financial literacy knowledge, none of them have truly instilled my overwhelming desire to achieve financial freedom.
We hear the term “financial freedom” a lot these day; it’s used excessively by entrepreneurs, life coaches, writers, and finance bros (if you like Shark Tank, you’ll know Kevin O’Leary is all about it too). MoneyFit defines financial freedom as having enough savings, financial investments, and cash on hand to afford the kind of life we desire for ourselves and our families. A lot of people tend to agree with this, but some will take it one step further in saying financial freedom is having your money work for you.
Let’s cut the bullshit. Most of us are not about to drop our 9–5 salaried jobs to start a not-yet-proven-to-be-successful business. Most people don’t have that high of a risk tolerance, so “having nothing to lose” is just a false cliché when we pretty much have everything to lose. We may have other talents and passions but is it worthwhile to sacrifice consistent, guaranteed income to see if becoming a full-time Instagram influencer might result in a huge payout?
The good news is achieving financial freedom doesn’t have to be that glamorous or elaborate. In fact, most of the time, it isn’t. I didn’t have to quit my 9–5 job to understand what financial freedom entailed, or to start working towards attaining my financial goals. It actually meant complementing my current career with other hobbies and passions that could potentially be billable.
What I have learned is that it doesn’t matter what type of gig or hustle it is, but make sure you a) enjoy it and b) there’s a market for it. I’ve dabbled in many part-time and contract jobs, spanning various industries and sectors: serving at restaurants, cold calling leads, selling photography, editing resumes, promoting clubs, and sampling goods as a brand ambassador, just to name a few (drop me a line if you’re interested in any tips or connections). In all these jobs, I was able to connect with others and bring them some form of joy, service, or fulfillment. And I also knew there was a market because there were companies and individuals who demanded these services.
How did I adopt this mindset towards attaining financial freedom? It was mostly some deep reflection on my long-term goals and a solid vision board (thanks to some good ol’ Pinterest) with clear pictures of what I envisioned for myself. I set my vision board as my desktop wallpaper and on my refrigerator door, wherever I could see these reminders daily. As a visual person, being able to see what I wanted and where I wanted to be in 5 years was all I needed to keep wanting to pursue more, learn more, and work more. Every day, I saw what I could have and aligned myself closer to my vision, both consciously and sub-consciously.
And knowing my motivation was easy.
[Attaining financial freedom] actually meant complementing my current career with other hobbies and passions that could potentially be billable.
I’m a first generation Canadian with immigrant parents from Hong Kong and Malaysia, who worked blue collar jobs to start a new life in a country where they barely spoke the language or understood the culture. No university degrees or corporate jobs — my parents worked tirelessly to create better opportunities for me and my brother. My biggest goal in life is to give back to my family the life experiences and opportunities that they’ve blessed me with, but have not been able to afford for themselves.
I’ve been able to explore 13 beautiful European countries on foot, from the long canals of Amsterdam to the exquisite Roman Colosseum to the vast coastal beaches of Spain. I’ve been able to expand my love for academia after my Bachelor’s in Political Science to obtain Business Management and Data Analytics designations. I’ve been able to move across the country from Vancouver to Toronto to fully immerse myself in the real estate and tech industry and further my career and grow my network. My parents can’t even fathom the lifestyle and experiences I’ve had or what they’ve been missing. But without their unwavering love and support, I would not have had the access to opportunities that I’ve already been blessed with in my mere 26 years of life.
And I couldn’t forget my community of friends: the people who have witnessed and sparked much of my personal growth in my most formative years of adulthood. My friends too have studied and worked hard to give back to their loving and caring families, all while supporting me in my journey towards independence, self-awareness, femininity, emotional stability, and success. I am forever grateful for their support and acceptance — like family, my friends are my everything.
My parents can’t even fathom the lifestyle and experiences I’ve had or what they’ve been missing. But without their unwavering love and support, I would not have had the access to opportunities that I’ve already been blessed with in my mere 26 years of life.
Now is the time to give back to my community. What drives me is the freedom and lifestyle that I can award my parents once they retire, free from the constraints of limited money or time. No more excuses like “we can’t afford that” or “is it worth the money?” — if it’s a destination you want to visit, I will get you there. If it will help automate chores around the house, I will buy it for you. If it offers you a stunning view of the mountains and the Pacific Ocean, the home will be yours (just give me a few years).
What are your passions and strengths? What brings you fulfilment and energy?
The one thing I know is that your motivation has to come from within — intrinsic motivation is what will drive long-term fulfillment. Find what drives you and what motivates you to succeed, not just for yourself, but for all your loved ones. Then find what it is you enjoy doing the most and do it on the side; before you know it, you will have built a strong repertoire of skills and talents beyond your 9–5 job and be getting paid to do what you love. Everyone’s path is unique: the path you create to attain financial freedom just becomes a part of what you offer to your community.
No matter what avenue you take, dive deep into the reasons why you want financial freedom in the first place — to give back to the people around you. Our journeys start when we realize that we can bring our loved ones sustenance and happiness through work that we genuinely enjoy. And that’s why we should all want financial freedom.
