The Voluntary Life

Become A Patron of TVL to get bonus episodes and rewards! This episode presents some very interesting data on the average age of entrepreneurs when they start their first business. You might find the results surprising... The research cited is the Kauffman Foundation study in the US and the Sandler Training study in the UK.

Become A Patron of TVL to get bonus episodes and rewards! This episode presents the implicit principles that underpin non-peaceful parenting, and contrasts them with the principles of peaceful parenting that was discussed in Episode 278. Show Notes: Episode 272 Why I Choose Peaceful Parenting    Episode 278 Three Principles Of Philosophy Applied To Parenting

Become A Patron of TVL to get bonus episodes and rewards! Is unselfishness a virtue? Or is the idea of unselfishness a trap used to prevent you from living your own life? What is selfishness anyway? This week's episode is about different theories of selfishness, including Harry Browne's idea of the unselfishness trap and an alternative definition of selfishness by Oscar Wilde. Show Notes: Become A Patron of The Voluntary Life

Become A Patron of TVL to get bonus episodes and rewards! This week's episode is a response to this listener email: "I am very close to the financial independence. I have listened to some podcasts you have on the topic, but I still have some doubts. I know that my parents will not understand why I am not getting up every morning to go to the office. I know that my friends will ask about my next professional challenges and why I decided to quit. I cannot mention the financial independence because it will generate envy, and that is not a comfortable situation. Is lying the only solution? Or breaking up with your parents, brothers and friends?" Show Notes: The Millionaire Next Door by Thomas Stanley TVL Episode 189— Envy: A Theory Of Social Behaviour By Helmut Schoek

Become A Patron of TVL to get bonus episodes and rewards! There is a saying in investing that "cash is trash", because cash provides such low returns and loses value owing to inflation. Yet every investor has to deal with cash in some way and there is always some role for cash within a portfolio. So how much of your net worth should you have in cash? Why hold it? When should you rebalance in and out of cash? Harry Browne thought carefully about the role of cash with his permanent portfolio strategy. His insights on cash are useful for all investors, regardless of your particular approach. In this episode I explain the role of cash in investing from a permanent portfolio strategy perspective. As always, your money is your own responsibility. I am not a financial advisor. Show Notes: Become A Patron of The Voluntary Life Fail-Safe Investing by Harry Browne  

Become A Patron of TVL to get bonus episodes and rewards! This week's episode is a response to this listener email: "I've been a long term listener, but honestly I'm having a difficult time [seeing why I should be] a paid subscriber. I listen to several podcasts and a similar characteristic seems to be FI and hosts who are millionaires. Provide real value for those who don't enjoy that status and the money will come. There's too many of us who want to be financially independent but don't have a system to get there. Figure out a way to teach the methods and you'll never have to ask for donations."   The Voluntary Life now has a Patreon page! In the first week of TVL on Patreon, my patrons have received: The first exclusive patron podcast episode (How To Sort Your Life Out Part 2) An Evernote template for Areas of Responsibility from my own productivity system Behind-the-scenes information about the running costs of the podcast Three e-books by Jake And lots more! Become a Patron today to get all these goodies and more to come, including this week's patron-only episode, "How To Do A Daily Review". Show Notes: The Voluntary Life Patreon Page

Become A Patron of TVL to get bonus episodes and rewards! The Areas of Responsibility framework is a very powerful productivity technique for sorting your life out. It helps me answer questions such as: What am I doing with my life, and why? Is what I am doing right now a good use of my time? What should I devote my efforts to in order to build the life I want? In this episode, I introduce Areas of Responsibility and explain how to start implementing them. I've also got some big developments to tell you about. I want to completely upgrade The Voluntary Life, provide a whole new range of bonus content, and enable new ways for you to connect with me and other supporting listeners. Please help me by becoming a patron of the show and supporting me with a monthly amount of your choosing, through Patreon. Sign up and get your bonuses now at patreon.com/thevoluntarylife The first bonus episode has already been recorded and it goes deeper into the same theme as this one, as Part 2 of How To Sort Your Life out. Show Notes: The Voluntary Life Patreon Page TVL 232 The Next Level — Horizons of Focus Part 1 (School Sucks Interview) TVL 185 How To Set Meaningful Goals For The Year Ahead

"Non-stupid people always underestimate the damaging power of stupid individuals. In particular non-stupid people constantly forget that at all times and places and under any circumstances to deal and/or associate with stupid people always turns out to be a costly mistake." Carlo Cipolla In the 1970s, an economic historian called Carlo Cipolla wrote a provocative article titled "The Basic Laws of Human Stupidity". His theory emphasises the destructiveness of stupid behaviour, and explains why it is so underestimated and misunderstood. Show Notes: The Basic Laws Of Human Stupidity by Carlo M. Cipolla The Five Universal Laws Of Stupidity by Corrine Purtill Become A Patron of TVL to get bonus episodes and rewards!  

This week's episode features Hannah and me discussing our move to Girona. We talk about adapting to a travel lifestyle with a baby, the challenges of minimalism and travel, beautiful Girona as an expat location, and many more topics! Show Notes: Hannah Braime TVL 254: Perpetual Travel With Kids Part 1: Interview With Go Curry Cracker Become A Patron of TVL to get bonus episodes and rewards!

A response to this interesting listener question: "Hi Jake, I would like to hear your thoughts on making the decision to have a child. I am 33 years old, and there are lots of expectations on this one. I find it difficult to escape this identity trap and to know for myself if I want to become a parent or not.  I know it's a BIG one, and it is personal, but your podcast is probably the only place which talks about parenting from a unique perspective different than the norm. I will be curious to hear your view, especially as a new parent." Show Notes: Episode 290: Escaping The Identity Trap Episode 283: Minimalism and Parenting (Featuring Hannah Braime) Episode 268: Family Pressure, Expensive Weddings, And Kids Become A Patron of TVL to get bonus episodes and rewards!