UPDATED: "I have no career aspirations, only financial aspirations." (Scolded by wife for thinking about financial freedom.)

Reader says:

I am 31 this year. Been working for 7 years and married for 2. 

I have been feeling unhappy at work and discovering your blog a few weeks ago gave me hope. 

I want to get out of the rat race.




My wife is a career woman and we usually have very little time to spend together. 

I am feeling unhappy about this too.

I love my wife and I would like to be able to spend more time together and achieving financial freedom like you would be ideal.

So, a few nights ago, I told my wife about you and how we should do what you did. 




She said that I should try my best to build a successful career and stop thinking about not having to work. 

She said a few other things which I found hurtful.

I should not be surprised by the response. 

She is doing well in her job and I think she is more successful than I am. 

Still, being scolded hurts...

(AK left out most of the reader's email as it got very personal.)





AK says:
I know it is not easy but try not to dwell too much on your current situation or you might end up visiting IMH.

I understand what you are going through and, if it is any consolation, it wasn't easy for me too. 

Some people were derisive and talked down to me over the years.




Scrooge. Stupid. Delusional. 

These were some words that were thrown my way before.

More recently this year in early March, I shared on my FB wall that someone called me a "quack". 

I am sharing the screen capture of that FB post here:

Source:
http://www.sammyboy.com/showthread.php?225976-Reits-good%26%2365311%3B

.



JohnTan said above:

"This investment guru (i.e. AK) sounds like a quack. Is that why he goes around wearing a mask all the time? Or he's Batman?

"If this guy is as talented as you claim, he shouldn't only be earning $5-7k per month for the past twenty years. 

"He should have been promoted to some high-flying director or started his own business by now. I hope you did not lose your shirt following his advice."





AK says:
Alamak. How like that?

See how the message is that a person is only considered successful if he is a high flyer in his career or if he starts his own business?

Like it or not, such ideas are quite pervasive in our society.





There is nothing wrong with career minded people who want a successful career. 

There is nothing wrong with having an entrepreneurial spirit. 

Honestly, we need such people.

However, I don't think there is anything wrong with people who would like nothing better than to achieve financial freedom and to stop working either. 





We are all made differently.

"I wanted the independence. 
I desperately wanted it."
- Charlie Munger.


What about AK? Me? 

I borrowed a phrase from EY:

"I have no career aspirations, only financial aspirations."






You have a responsibility to yourself to be happy.


To be happy, live your dream and not someone else's.

"Not even my wife's?"

Oh, no. AK is not going there! ;p





Related post:
To retire by age 45, start with a plan.