Great summary. Life is measured in its totality. When I was driving around an old Integra, friends made fun of me, but they did not see that I was spending my money investing (fun), travelling the world(funner), and sleeping well at night knowing that I can be my own man (funner still)...

Money buys you some freedom.. Freedom to tell your boss, I think I am done with this! See ya....
As you get older, this becomes more difficult, but we keep trying....

In America, toooo many people live in the moment and our current financial situation shows that (need the biggest and best house now, need the Suburban, need the master suite with fireplace and Louis 14th gold sinks, etc...
Enjoy life, but save for rainy days. A good steady life is filled with satisfaction...

At least somebody had the balls to admit it!!!

(I'm nowhere near this mark, and am quite sure my count is as high as it's ever going to get.)

Mike,
I'd agree with that. One thing my wife and I have readily come to learn..... the most difficult thing in life is figuring out what you want!

Fact is, we are ever expanding creatures.

As for age, I was ready to retire years ago, this allowed me to read more, a passion I "developed" years ago. Did you know that more success comes from the population of senior men than any other source. Dont be afraid to apply your lifes experiences to your current situation buddy.... get your head out of your A$$ so to speak! (see your avatar; ha!) Life is Great, enjoy every frickin day!

Cheers,

I've got 3 years until I hit thirty.

Owning a Ferrari was always on my list. ...Having a house, too. I'm looking at houses right now, and (wisely) didn't buy last summer, as the house I want is still on the market and 30K cheaper. I'd like to be at the FAA within the next 6 months.

I thought I'd be dead by 25, so being upright was a major accomplishment.

I find the "goal" thing to be somewhat counterproductive. There is a story about a student who goes to a Sifu to study kung fu. He asks the Sifu, "if I study hard, how long will it take to get my black sash?" The Sifu replied, "five years." The student, upset at the prospect of waiting that long then asked, "but Sifu, what if I work harder than anyone else you've ever seen?" To which the Sifu replied, "then it will take ten years."

The student was puzzled, and the Sifu said, "if you have one eye on your destination, then you only have one eye to use to find your way."

My "goals" are to create things and try to make a difference. Beyond that, it is all about what comes up along the journey. I certainly have things that I want to do, but I try very hard not to attach a particular metric to them. I'm not always very successful at that though...

Getting divorced and "losing" a lot of "stuff" was a good lesson. The million dollar house, comfy existence, etc...it isn't really important. My son doesn't care how much money I make or even where we live. The key is to have friends with nice places who like to let us visit :p

I agree completely, but I believe you have to attain "stuff" first before you really believe this concept. It's easy to say "stuff" doesn't matter when you really want "stuff" and you're unable to get it. It's different when you've proven to yourself and the world that you're able to attain it, and realize the value in life is elsewhere. Otherwise, it sounds like sour grapes.

do everything you can NOT to peak by 30...i know poor suckers that had the best years in high school. eff that. this one dieck was a pompous arse. quarterback, chicks..hot car...i saw him recently, and he was a toad. fat, broke...

any 29 year old virgins need to expedite...

I find it's best to forget any goals or aspirations I might have had. :D

The overall goal is always to be happy and be a good person.

Specifics for 30?
Family: I was happily married with 2nd lovely kids.
Health: Look after it while you are well, not when you are sick.
Wisdom: Do not stop learning and growing. Live a principle centered life.
Career: On solid ground doing something l love and getting paid well for it. Single Income with a profitable hobby business.
Material Stuff: Have excess income after monthly expenses and mortage to save a third.

Cool parable. I like it.

Another one that I like is from Racing: Never look at the wall, or you will steer right in to it.

In other words... dont look at the negative aspects of your world, or you will go right to that and be mired in them.

I made that mistake for many years unfortunately.

A better way to life is to focus on the positive and on your goals that are consistantly in mind. The human subconscious is "magnetic" drawing us to what our thoughts are.

By 30 I was married, two kids owned my own house and was working 12 hr days 6 days a week.

But I always knew that working hard back then would pay off....eventually.

Now at 53 I am still married, have the two greatest kids in the world and am a partner in a company that I have been with for almost 33 years. I can finally reap some of the fruits that I have planted long ago.

Set your sights in the distance ....not too close. Time creeps up very quickly.

The best lesson I've learned is "not knowing what I want, but knowing what I don't want".

Evaluate what is important to YOU. Make a plan, write it down and follow it like a map to your goals and the future will be there.

Earning a specific dollar amount as a goal is pretty shallow IMO.

As I rapidly close in on half a century old, I am most proud of the fact that I have been a faithful and supportive husband for 29 years. I have raised two happy, healthy, genuinely kind children. Along with my wife, I have provided a very stable, comfortable and safe life for our family. I am a grandfather of two wonderful boys. I am able to honestly say I am a good, kind person and I have done very few things in my life that I am ashamed of.

Money goals and material wealth mean NOTHING. Focus on something of more value.

Mike

Thank you, thank you :D