Friday, October 29, 2010

Financial Freedom

The phrase 'Financial Freedom' has been popularized by the personal financial guru, Robert Kiyosaki via his best selling book 'Rich Dad, Poor Dad'.

Most of the financial consultants or financial planners would suggest one to reach financial freedom status before hitting the retirement age. In this case, if you are a Malaysian, you shall target yourself to reach financial freedom by 55-year-old.

Imagine if you are able to achieve the status of financial freedom only at the age of 55-year-old, a part from maintaining your lifestyle as a employee after the retirement, you will be financially fit to do what you want to do but do not have the luxury of time during employment. One who reach financial freedom will also live with pride as he or she will not become burden to family (But taking care of the parents including financial support is the responsibility of the son or daughter.)


From my point of view, if you have already plan or half way through the journey of financial freedom, let set a more aggressive time line for achieving the status of financial freedom at the age of 40 to 45-year-old. Getting financial freedom at 55-year-old could be considered as remarkable achievement, squeezing the time line to achieve it 10 to 15 years earlier would be very challenging, but it is worth the effort as such:

1. You are more energetic and bodily fit at 40-year-old as compared to 55-year-old. Freedom and money is more meaningful at middle age than golden age.
2. An option for early retirement.
3. An option to venturing own business.
4. Less pull back for career change which could be challenging and risky as hire and fire is common at the top level position.
5. Spend more time with the aged parents and your spouse by accompany them on what they dream to do like traveling to certain places or visiting to some relatives whom are staying far apart.
6. Educate and grow with your kids before they move on to college.
7. Etc. (Please comment)

What would you like to do upon reaching the status of financial freedom? Are you planning for it?

Thursday, October 21, 2010

感恩的故事

他通過了第一級的面試,董事長做最後的面試,做最後的決定。

董事長從該青年的履歷上發現,該青年成績一貫優秀,從中學到研究生從來沒有間斷過。

董事長問,你在學校裏拿到獎學金嗎?該青年回答,沒有。

董事長問,是你的父親 為您付學費嗎?該青年回答,我父親在我一歲時就去世了,是我的母親給我付的學費。

董事長問,那你的母親是在那家公司高就?該青年回答,我的母親是給人洗衣服的。

董事長要求該青年把手伸給他,該青年把一雙潔白的手伸給董事長。

董事長問,你幫你母 親洗過衣服嗎?該青年回答,從來沒有,我媽總是要我多讀書,再說,母親洗衣服比我快得多。
董事長說,我有個要求,你今天回家,給你母親洗一次雙手,明天上午你再來見我。

該青年覺得自己成功的可能很大,回到家後,高高興興地要給母親洗手,母親受寵若驚地把手伸給孩子。

該青年給母親洗著手,漸漸地,眼淚掉下來了,因為他第一次發現,他母親的雙手都是老繭,有個傷口在碰到水時還疼得發抖。

青年第一次體會到,母親就是 每天用這雙有傷口的手洗衣服為他付學費,母親的這雙手就是他今天畢業的代價。
該青年給母親洗完手後,一聲不響地把母親剩下要洗的衣服都洗了。

當天晚上,母親和孩子聊了很久很久。

第二天早上,該青年去見董事長。

董事長望著該青年紅腫的眼睛,問到,可以告訴我你昨天回家做了些什麼嗎?

該青年回答說,我給母親洗完手之後, 我幫母親把剩下的衣服都洗了。

董事長說,請你告訴我你的感受。

該青年說,第一,我懂得了感恩,沒有我母親,我不可能有今天。第二,我懂得了要去和母親一起勞動,才會知道母親的辛苦。第三,我懂得了家庭親情的可貴。

董事長說,我就是要錄取一個會感恩,會體會別人辛苦,不是把金錢當作人生第一目標的人來當經理。你被錄取了。


這位青年後來果真工作努力,深得職工擁護,員工也都努力工作,整個公司業績大幅成長。


假如一位孩子從小嬌生慣養,習慣了被人圍著寵著,什麼都是“我”第一,父母的辛苦都不知道,上班後,以為同事都應該聽他的,當了經理後,不知道員工的辛苦,還要怨天尤人。這樣的人,會有好的學校成績,會有得意風光的一時,但社會上的這類人,都不能成大事,都不會感覺到幸福,都要跌跟鬥,那父母是愛孩子呢還是害孩子呢?

你可以讓你的孩子住大房子,吃大餐,學鋼琴,看大屏電視,但你在割草時,也要讓你的孩子在大太陽下拔拔野草,你在吃飯後,也要讓你的孩子洗洗碗,不是你沒有錢雇人,而是你真心愛孩子。你要讓孩子知道,即使父母掙不少錢,但早早的白髮,和那位洗衣服的母親沒有本質的差別。但更重要的是,要讓你的孩子學會感恩。

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