There’s an anecdote about authors Kurt Vonnegut and Joseph Heller who both attended a party hosted by a billionaire. Vonnegut remarks to Heller that their host had made more money in a single day than Heller had earned from his best seller Catch-22 over its entire history. Heller responded, “Yes, but I have something he will never have: Enough.”

I love this quote, because “rich” is totally a matter of perspective. If you ask someone who owns a mansion, three cars, and has a private golf club membership who is rich, they might point to someone who has a nice yacht. If you ask the yacht person, they might point to someone who has a private jet and a helicopter pad on their yacht. If you ask someone who isn’t sure how they’re going to get their next meal, they might say that someone is rich when they can afford food whenever they’re hungry.

Rich is totally a matter of perspective. If you have financial or materialistic goals, I think you’ll find that when you reach your goal happiness isn’t waiting for you. Instead, the goalposts will move. In my early 30s I was driving a ’99 Ford Explorer, renting a bedroom, and had roommates. I thought it would be so incredible if I could get enough money for a down payment to buy the cheapest one bedroom condo in San Diego. Now I own a 2 bed, 2 bath, fully remodeled home, with two garages, steps from the bay. And I’m wishing I had a third bedroom that I could use as an office/studio while still having a guest room. It’s all a matter of perspective. And you’ll never be satisfied if you never decide that you have enough.

Instead of getting more stuff, I try to focus on the things that matter. Relationships, freedom with my time, helping people. I’m hoping that’s what will make for the most rich life.

As always, reminding you to build wealth by following the two PFC rules: 1.) Live below your means and 2.) Invest early and often.

-Jeremy

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