Liz's Financial Freedom Paradox

Audience: People focused on financial independence and early retirement (FIRE) but feel lost.

• Liz, successful at her job, mastered personal finance to achieve early retirement.
• After learning how to invest and save, she realized she didn't know what she wanted to do with her life, leading to depression.
• Contrasting with Ernesto, who knew his goal (summiting Mount Everest) and marshalled resources accordingly, Liz focused only on resources without a 'why'.

> "She had spent so much time concentrating on this fuel, this potential energy that was going to get her what she wanted. But she'd never spent a lot of time figuring out what she wanted in itself." - Jordan Grumet

Metacognitive Question: What is the purpose of money?

Action Steps:

1. Define your passions and goals before intensely pursuing financial independence.
2. Regularly re-evaluate your goals to ensure your financial pursuits align with your values.

Salaried Professionals: Don't fall into the trap of maximizing income without considering what truly matters to you outside of work.

Social Media Hook: "Are you saving for a dream, or just saving? Liz saved her way to depression. #FinancialFreedom #PurposeDrivenLife"

Contrarian View: Some might argue that having financial freedom opens doors to discovering passions, while others say that it's dangerous to wait until financial freedom to pursue them.

Specific Example: Someone who is passionate about climate change could allocate a portion of their investments to sustainable companies or renewable energy projects. This way, their financial strategy also contributes to their personal values.