Good life starts with a clear intention

Money is power. It cannot buy you love, but it sure can buy you a good life. 

The definition of good life is individual, and there is no one size fits all. Many people don’t have clarity on what it means for them. 

The famous Maslow pyramid is designed to apply to everyone. Money predominantly helps you with the first two bottom layers, and it is a lot.

As an artificial intelligence executive (main job), I know from experience that the best insights come from a place where strategy meets data. It is where your goal, experience and intuition are contrasted with data, truthfully reflecting what you actually do. 

You need to start with deciding what good means for you. 

Describe, or picture, what your view of a good life is, and this will help you understand what assets and actions you would need to get there. Don’t overthink it in the beginning, and don’t get discouraged if the gap between there and now seems too big. Take it as an exciting challenge with multiple steps: much like a computer game. With time and perseverance, you can achieve it! 

And remember: it is definitely not about owning things you don’t really need to impress people you don’t really like. 

It is about having an enjoyable and fulfilling experience during your tenure on Earth. 

Once the goal is set and clear, your brain will automatically start searching for the best path. Believe in yourself, and give yourself time. You know more than you think. 

Bill Gates said: "Most people overestimate what they can do in one year and underestimate what they can do in ten years." And Lao Tzu said, "A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step". 

Over the years, I’ve compiled a kit of tools that support on the way to the good financial situation. Each tool in the collection and the rationale behind it requires a separate conversation. On the surface, the main components are: knowing your goal, understanding your desires, being mindful about your spending, having liquid financial security, learning constantly and effectively, automating core moves, investing well, and being gritty in all the above. Grit is the key differentiator of success in whatever you do, really.  

Stay tuned if you are interested to continue the conversation about personal finance, including how AI can help - a view from a pro with 15+ years of experience.

Thank you for reading and sharing your thoughts.