Big news...I was promoted to Branch Manager yesterday! This is good news for my career development and of course for my bank account. I still want to start my own business and will do it before the end of the year. The best thing, however, is that I am getting critical sales and management experience in a very hectic work environment.

 

I forsee my company taking a couple of years to get off the ground properly and in the meantime, I have to pay my bills. I think that I will stay with my current company until the end of the year. At that point, I will demand a promotion...or go to another company.

 

I have decided that it is a good idea to keep all bases covered. My strategy now, therefore, involves continuing to develop my sales management career, whilst building my own business. When my business gets to the point where I am making more money than what I can by working for someone else, I will move 100% into running my business.

After much thought, I have realised that I am not getting any younger. I am 37 years old this year! Life extension therapy not withstanding, this means that I am probably around halfway through my life. I have had a pretty amazing life. I've seen an done things most people don't. Some things I am proud of, some I am not.

 

At this point in my life, I am starting to think about my retirement. I don't want to work for other people, making them rich, for much longer. Although I have a BA with honours, I haven't done much with it in regards to career. In any case, I left my run a bit late in that area, having graduated from university at 32. While one can be a mature age university student in my country, it doesn't do you much good!

 

So here I am, 37, at a crossroads...in the middle of life. At the moment, I am working around 10-12 hours a day, 6 days a week...making someone else rich. This someone else is starting to give me more money, but I don't have enough time for me...for my family, and the money isn't nearly enough for what I want to do with my life.

 

And what about money? How much do I actually need? In a word...LOTS! Maybe I am getting old, but I find myself feeling less and less selfish these days. I would like to HELP others in a big way. The world is a pretty screwed up place...there are many suffering. I want to help them. Our planet is dying...I want to do what I can to make it a better place for my children. But first, I want to make my life and my family's life a whole lot better.

 

After much thought, I need to change direction. I am going into business for myself. I tried this in China, but China is not a good place for me when it comes to business. I need to raise a bit of startup captial, I can do that easily here in Australia. I have an idea for a business that is going to achieve a lot the things I mentioned above. I will make lots of money, I will have lots of time for myself and my family, I will be helping the planet, and when I have enough money for myself...I will start helping other people.

 

I could tell you what kind of business I am going to start here...but it is a bit of a secret, and I'd have to kill you if I told you. Once things are off the ground, I will invite you all to my new website.

 

This is the beginning of something big...more soon!