Hey what’s going on.
Today I wanted to share with you how I’m starting to take control of my finances.
For a while, my income has been unstable.
If I had a larger paying client, I’d have a good month. And once I had 10k coaching launch. But I kept reinvesting into self education and not really paying attention to how much I was saving.
Now, since June I’ve finally started earning a consistent income.
It’s unlocked a lot of freedom for me.
I can take my girlfriend to a restaurant and not feel a sense of anxiety about the 50 Euro bill. I can live in the center of Munich, with a rent 3x my first month in Germany, and not really notice it. Or take Jeanne to Austria for her birthday and be present in the moment rather than concerned about how much it’s going to cost.
But beyond earning more, theres a new habit that’s really unlocked a sense of control over my money.
Playing the Money Video Game
Every week, I have two one on one coaching sessions with our founders.
They’ve went from normal dudes to building an 8 figure info product business and making a boatload of money online.
One of my bosses told me that when he wanted to escape Wall St, he started to track his net worth daily:
open a spread sheet
open your accounts
track it like a video game
Up down up down.
I haven’t done it daily. But I’ve started to track my accounts weekly, every Sunday morning.
Now I know exactly how much I have, earn, and spend.
If I spend a lot in one week I viscerally see it on the spread sheet, rather than it remaining an abstract idea on a credit card I need to pay later.
Not only has it motivated me to
make more money
waste less money on stupid stuff
It’s also opened up a sense of detachment in decision making.
Moving to Amsterdam
I’ve been planning on a move to Amsterdam.
It’s one of the biggest decisions I’ve made in years. In 90 minutes from now, I have a meeting with a lawyer to set up my Dutch corporation and favorable tax ruling.
But the hardest part has been finding an apartment.
There’s a housing crisis in Holland and I’ve been desperate to find anything.
Finally, I realtor was able to help me win a bid last night.
2050 a month right down the road from Vondelpark and a couple canals.
In the past, this would’ve been an entirely emotional decision for me:
Want apartment = get apartment
But this time, I ran the numbers.
I saw what the effect would be of dropping $14,000 on the first months rent, housing deposit, realtor fee, incorporation fees, visa application and realized, this makes no sense.
I could do it, but it’d be a lot of pain.
Especially when I’ll be home for half of December and attending a mid November mastermind in Miami.
And so, with my numbers I was able to make a tough, rational decision to avoid a financially vulnerable position for no reason.
Amsterdam will still exist in January.
So mom and dad if you’re reading this, I’m coming home for the Holiday season.
But the point is:
Most people just leave their finances up to chance.
It’s too daunting to look the spreadsheet in the eyes and understand the naked situation. But if you want to improve your situation, start tracking.
As the old saying goes:
“If you’re not measuring, you’re not managing.”
Hope this inspires you to do the same.
I have to admit, when I saw you said you were coming home for the holidays, I couldn’t stop smiling!! Fun watching you on your journey. Makes me very proud. Dad
Yahoo!! 🦃🍂🎄🎁 It’s so great to hear your insights to life. So many of the things you’re learning now take others years to comprehend. And just like dad I’m so happy you will be home for the holidays!!!🏠