This Is What You Really Want: A Short Story
By Warren Wong
Years ago, I befriended a successful man that we will call Charlie. Charlie was a pillar of the community, owned multiple businesses, involved in philanthropy, and had a loving family.
Charlie was a rags to riches kind of story. He grew up in a poor, crime ridden neighborhood in Southern California. He didn’t have a great start to life, and that held true for many years, but that obviously didn’t stop him.
On a breezy San Diego day, I was lucky enough to have the day off. I was rather listless sitting at home, so I decided to make a phone call. I called Charlie.
“Hey Charlie, I have the day off, so I wanted to call and catch up. Are you free?” I asked.
“Warren, it’s great to hear from you! I have a meeting I’m wrapping up, but I’ll be free later in the afternoon. Let’s meet then,” he said excitedly.
We met up at our usual spot in the park. It was particularly sunny, and the first signs of summer were appearing. Our little wooden bench overlooking the lawn of the park was where we usually caught up, and where I asked questions and he would give patiently thought out answers. You see, Charlie is my mentor.
“Warren, I’m so glad you’re able to take some time off, you sound like you could use it,” Charlie laughed.
It had been a challenging year at work, with 80 hour weeks, and on-call duty that required late nights and weekends. Charlie’s comment was an understatement and I sorely needed some R & R.
“I wish I had the same flexibility with work as you do Charlie, I feel like someone else controls my every action, from where I’m supposed to be, to how long I’m there. There has to be a better way,” I said exasperated.
“Warren, look around you and tell me what you see.”
“Well, I see a park, some benches, and trees.” Clearly I was missing the point.
“All around us are beautiful trees, sunshine, fresh cut lawns, and benches, but where are the people?”
“It’s a Tuesday Charlie! They’re all at work,” I said matter of factly.
“That’s exactly it, this park is just a representation of all the wonderful things around us, for our enjoyment and appreciation, yet no one can enjoy it because they’re all stuck at the office, working a job they don’t like, with people they don’t particularly care for. It’s a tragedy.”
“Yea, but that’s normal, that’s what everyone does, and I don’t see how we can escape that. I certainly would if I could.”
“But, you can Warren. That’s what I’m telling you. From a person who’s done it, I’m telling you that you can too,” Charlie exclaimed.
At that moment, I was confused and intrigued. I honestly couldn’t fathom how I could be free of the metaphorical shackles of my day job. Didn’t we all just work from the day we get our first job to retirement, 40 years later, if we’re lucky? To me, I still had another 35 years left on the docket, and it sure looked like a long and miserable road ahead.
“Warren, it doesn’t have to be that way. Sure, money is a part of the answer, but freedom is ultimately what you’re after. Believing it’s possible is the hardest part.”
Now, I was a little skeptical. “What do you mean I have to believe in it?” I asked.
“If you don’t believe that it could be done then you won’t put in the effort to make it into reality. Seeing is believing. You’ve never had a role model to look up to, so how could you think differently?”
I was confused by what Charlie meant by a life of freedom. I couldn’t visualize it, but I felt like quitting my job wasn’t really an option, especially when I had bills to pay.
Charlie could see the confusion on my face, so he elaborated, “A life of freedom is the ability to do what you want, whenever you want, for however long you want. It’s how you feel on a Saturday morning, a day full of possibilities. A life of freedom feels like a Saturday, everyday.”
I was in a daze. I felt all the possibilities running through my head and it was scary. I could travel the world, spend more time with family, and try new hobbies and interests. Charlie continued, “Look, I understand your apprehension, I was like you too when I was around your age. I thought that life revolved around my 9 to 5 job and lived for the weekends, but there’s more to life than that, and the first step is believing it’s possible.”
“That’s great and all, but I need to know how, Charlie. Tell me it’s not just make believe,” I sighed.
“Behind every successful wealthy person I know, they are savvy with money. In order to be wealthy you need to learn how to make money work for you. They say, ‘money never sleeps’. Money is a tool that needs to be leveraged so that it grows with time. Never be a slave to money, make it work for you. That is the key to your freedom,” Charlie said.
“So you’re saying that I need to learn all I can about money and building wealth?” I asked.
“Exactly. If you don’t understand money, you will always be a slave to it. Don’t be like the average Joe or Nancy, seek to learn how money works, how to grow it, and how it’s a tool that can be leveraged to buy your freedom and you’ll be well on your way.”
I didn’t fully understand what Charlie meant, but I was starting to piece together that it was possible to buy your freedom. My mind was spinning at 100 miles per hour, as he threw out words like financial freedom, leverage, compound interest, and FU money. I was hooked.
“Charlie, you’ve given me a lot to think about, as always, I appreciate the time you took to explain things to me,” I said.
“Not a problem at all! No one taught me any of this, so I feel like it’s my duty to give back to the next generation,” Charlie exclaimed.
As I said goodbye to Charlie, and started my walk home, I couldn’t help but feel like a changed man. I went into the conversation with a dulled spirit, with an unhealthy outlook on life, to a renewed sense of hope and enthusiasm to learn as much as I could about building wealth, and ultimately the freedom it affords. It felt extra bright that day.
