There are plenty of people out there who, on the surface, have it all. They’re financially successful, have a beautiful family and are perfectly healthy. But many of those people are incredibly unhappy and are putting on a front all day while still feeling depressed and empty when they take any time to reflect.
Peter Finn of Face Contracting was in this exact circumstance roughly 6 years ago. He was wealthy beyond what he could imagine growing up as a working-class kid in Cobar, Australia. He had a lovely wife who was also successful in her work. But he was deeply unhappy.
So Peter took some time to reflect on what was really important in life and came to some enlightening conclusions. On a recent episode of the Get Invested podcast, Peter and I had a wonderful chat about what Peter thinks we should really be focusing on: namely relationships. For Peter, the relationships you make with those around you, and the reputation and legacy you leave behind, are the most important things you can put your time and energy towards.
When you’re on your deathbed, he told me, you’re not going to think about the investments you made or the jobs you worked. You’re going to meditate on the relationships you had, and whether you were a force for good with those in your life. It’s a scary thought, coming to the end of your days and realising that you spent all of your time obsessed with work and numbers, but it’s something you should think about.
What we all chase in life is fulfilment and achievement, Peter tells me. That feeling you get when you lose weight, or help an old lady cross the street, or receive praise from your peers — that’s what makes the difference between a fulfilling life and one that is merely spent passing the time.
In my own business, I help people make roadmaps in their lives so that they can cultivate passive income and reach financial freedom for themselves. Money isn’t everything, of course, but achieving financial security is a major step in having a healthy social life. Being able to take care of your family, or take the time off to visit an ailing parent or go on vacation, are all impossible without a comfortable nest egg.
These are, of course, just a few aspects of maintaining a healthy social life. People devote their entire lives to trying to understand relationships, and a short article isn’t going to cover all the bases. But if nothing else, I hope Peter’s words make you take a few moments out of your day to think about what’s really important in your life.
Listen to my entire conversation with Peter here.
