I’ve been sharing tales of sun, exotic places, affordable living, and travel for months now. Many of you have commented with things like, “Oh my god! You’re living the dream!” which really brightens my day and reminds me how lucky I am.
But let’s be honest for a moment. Who would really want to live here with me? Just so you know, I don’t snore and I make the best guacamole! But would you be okay with nearly 100-degree heat some days, bugs, snakes, cockroaches, scorpions, and mosquitoes? Could you live without makeup because you’re always sweating, and fit all your clothes for the year into one suitcase? What about having only a small town 30 miles away for daily needs, and the nearest major city being 9 hours away for serious health treatments or decent shopping? Could you handle the city’s crime or deal with public workers without having to bribe them?
I manage to deal with all that because when I wake up each day, I see a stunning body of clear water. I eat food that’s almost entirely locally grown and tastes amazing. I can afford to hire people to help with anything I need.
This is pretty much my dream life. Sure, I had to make some trade-offs like dealing with the distance from Europe and the local wildlife, but otherwise, I’d still be stuck in an office working towards my goal. Your dream is probably different from mine. I’m okay with seeing my friends and family three times a year, while many of you wouldn’t want to be more than an hour’s drive from your parents. Some people don’t enjoy living abroad in unfamiliar places, and that’s perfectly fine. Your dream should be uniquely yours.
Are you working towards your dream? When I was in college, I knew I wanted to explore the world before settling down. I saved aggressively and graduated with $25K, which allowed me to buy my first rental property and travel for a year. When I wanted to work abroad, I searched like crazy and found a job in Guatemala within a week. That job led to others, taking me to three more countries before I came back to Guatemala.
It might sound like I just went where the wind took me, but that’s only partially true. I never accepted a job that didn’t pay me enough to live comfortably, save, and travel. The last job I took in the UK was specifically to purchase a second rental property, and once I did, I left to explore more.
For the past 10 years, I’ve been steadily working towards my goal. I saved money, looked for passive income sources like trading and freelance gigs. Trading has a learning curve, but nowadays, platforms are easier to use, and there are plenty of choices to suit your needs.
Now, I own a little house by the lake and don’t need to work in an office ever again. I generate enough passive income to spend the rest of my life doing what I please.
This isn’t about luck; it’s about determination. You can achieve anything if you make it your top priority. Whether you want to work four days a week, be a stay-at-home parent, start a new hobby, or go back to college—do something to move in that direction.
But make sure your goal is 100% what you truly want. Have kids because you want them, not because everyone else is having them or you think your biological clock is ticking. Buy that expensive car, watch, or dress if it genuinely makes you happy, not because you’re trying to keep up with others. Simplify your lifestyle if it makes you feel freer, and ignore those who say you need a big house.
Don’t try to reach my goal; it’s mine. I can tell you how I got here and how you can reach your own goals: through determination. Create your own luck. Knock on doors, ask for help, find a mentor, and don’t take no for an answer.
No mountain is too big to climb if you start small. Put $20 towards debt. Run for two minutes. Eat one piece of fruit each week. Soon, these actions will snowball, and you’ll be debt-free, run a marathon, or eat five portions of fruit daily. Just remember to pursue what you truly want.
Take a moment to think about your life plan, either alone or with your spouse. Detail each goal as much as possible. Visualize yourself achieving them. Are you happy with this vision? Adjust until you are.
There’s endless advice out there, and you’ll read about people doing incredible things all the time. Remember, you can follow their methods but tailor them to your unique goals.