21st Century Academy

It’s important to go further than to achieve a dollar-figure for wealth. We talked last time about the 1% who will be “rich” by age 65. But what we didn’t do is qualify that categorization in terms of achieving real wealth.

More Than Money

Here’s the thing—being wealthy is about more than just reaching a magical number. It’s not about having one million dollars in the bank, or about owning your home, or several homes. It may be in part about those things, but achieving wealth (at least what we are trying to achieve through the 21st Century Academy) is really about achieving lifestyle. So what is lifestyle, then?

What Is Lifestyle?

Jamie McIntyre defines lifestyle with this simple equation:

· Lifestyle = Time + Money

You see, achieving a wealthy lifestyle is not just about getting money into your bank account. It’s not just about owning property and “things.” Achieving the wealthy lifestyle is about having money, but also time. You can, and many people do, have money without the time—these are the people, probably most of the world’s population, who work and have money, but need to continue working to maintain those properties, life needs, and possessions. If those people stopped working tomorrow, they’d lose their things. So they have not really achieved a wealthy lifestyle. Obviously you could have time on your hands and not have money, but that would leave you without the lifestyle you are dreaming of, unless that lifestyle is to be penniless and homeless.

You do not have freedom in lifestyle until you have the financial flexibility to make your choices and pursue the lifestyle you want. That comes from having an abundance of not only money, but time, too. When you can say truthfully that you have a level of freedom, comfort, and flexibility in both, you can say that you have successfully achieved financial freedom and a wealthy lifestyle.

To Your Continued Success!
Sean Rasmussen
21st Century Academy
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