The Secret to Building REAL Wealth and Retiring Early - RICKA ✱ (2024)

IDK about you, but I’m at the point in my career and life where I’ve been thinking about an earlier retirement plan. I can’t see myself working for another 10 years. If I can do it in the next 5 years, y’all that would be the dream. And I want the freedom to have the option.

Over the last few years, I have been devising a more actionable plan to build REAL wealth. The kind that allows me to retire early and leave behind a legacy that changes the trajectory of my family… forever.

There is still a lot to execute on, as I have learned new terminology and considered each strategy. It’s important to me that I share what I’ve been learning. I want to see you move closer toward your own financial dream – regardless of what that looks like for you.

Soooooo, does storytime sound good?

The moment I got that shiny diploma in hand, I set my sights on retiring at 35. Yup, 35 is the magic number! (HAHA) I dreamed of a life free of debt, full of joy, and with surprise treats for my family. A life where the grind is replaced by passive income and my well-being takes center stage. This vision acted like a compass, pointing to where I am and where I’m headed.

Alright, I’ll admit, maybe I was a little too early to the party. I still had my fair share of financial hiccups, but they couldn’t dim my fire. Nothing was going to stop me from securing my future, where the hustle takes a backseat, and my bills get taken care of, even when I’m off sipping pina coladas somewhere. Isn’t that the best gift you can give yourself? Literally, my ticket to traveling the world! ✈️🌍

So, want to know the secret sauce? Hold onto your hats… it’s YOU.

Your mindset is a crazy powerful thing. It can feed your family, build savings and put you in league with passive assets that work while we sleep. Cool right?

Here’s a handful of baby steps to guide you on your path to Building REAL Wealth and Retiring Early.

If I told you that a scrapbook holds the secret to building real wealth and retiring early, would you think I’m off my rocker? 🤪 Yes, I’m talking about a vision board, my friend. Wait, hold on, don’t roll your eyes just yet!

I know it sounds a bit like that kooky art project from high school. I mean, cutting and pasting pictures of a big, beautiful house, a sleek home office, a cherry-red dream car, and all the trappings of the good life… Sounds cringe? Avant-garde? I thought so too, but trust me, my world changed when I got elbows deep in this!

Remember that time, I did the Advanced Freediving Certification? My instructor, Marese Secades (read her article about Visualization here) made this insane breakthrough point about visualization. It wasn’t just about the mind-muscle connection for the dives, but it uncannily mirrored what I’d done my entire life – create vivid, technicolor dreams in my head.

And quite unlike fairy tales, these dreams had the power to come to life – a beautiful manifestation fueled by consistent visualization! All the things I’d always wanted started to become my reality. Ain’t that wild?! 🎉

Believe it or not, smarty-pants researchers have got my back on this! I stumbled on a study from the European Journal of Applied Physiology and Occupational Physiology. They were studying volleyball players 🏐 (funny how life connects the dots, eh?). The group that practiced visualization had significantly better scores. The reason? Imagining yourself performing trains your brain and gears you up to replicate it in real life. So, the same mental imaging helps lay the blueprint, which you can reproduce without giving it another thought while in action. Visualize, manifest, and repeat!

So really, your vision board isn’t just a pretty piece of arts and crafts. It’s a passport to your dreams and ambitions, a catalyst that sets your journey to building wealth and retiring early into motion. It’s like your brain’s rehearsal for the grand show – the realization of your dreams. It’s this amazing self-confidence booster that puts you right on track for reaching those seemingly far-off goals!

Open up to the power of visualization, my friend. Let your dreams take shape. Splash your goals in vibrant colors on your vision board. Trust in that incredible mind of yours to make them come true. And remember – acknowledging your dreams, no matter how big or small, is the first step to chasing them down. So, let’s sharpen those scissors and get down to some serious dreaming-to-reality action, whaddaya say? 🎉✨

Yes, I see that look! 😳 Remember, we’re all about the raw and real here. So, let’s not mince words, shall we? As an introvert, I was a certified party pooper. Social gatherings? They were like a mandatory root canal for me. Networking? More like netsquirming (just made that up 🤣).

But then college happened at the prestigious Mapua Institute in the Philippines, and whoa, was that a complete 180°! It was like a trying to ride a unicycle while spinning plates – a thrilling, but unforgiving environment. You could either stand alone and struggle, or join forces and conquer, so…

I took one giant swallow of shyness and plunged right into the crowd.

I remember the hesitant hellos that evolved into comfortable chats, swapping numbers, breaking bread at lunch, and even covering for each other when one of us had to miss a class. The journey from a lone wolf to becoming part of a close-knit pack, gradually led me to some really rad folks in a School Organization – friends who stuck around even after getting our diplomas.

And you know that saying, “Your vibe attracts your tribe?” It’s true! This very network was my launchpad into the world of graphic design gigs and my first taste of the freelance life. The power of your network is no joke – it’s the key to expanding horizons and making opportunities rain!

At times, it does feel a bit like climbing a social Mount Everest (exhausting, right? 🥴). But seriously, don’t underestimate the currency of a solid network. Just look at the spoils – a network of pals who are top-notch engineers, architects, and creative wizards from one of the best institutes in the Philippines. I mean, who would’ve thunk it?

Expanding your network, does require stepping out of your comfort zone. Still, I assure you, it’s worth every bit of that initial discomfort. So, I say, flex those social muscles, nudge open those doors, and invite amazing possibilities into your life.

Your friend here is about to chat real with you about the S-word, Savings! Or better yet, Financial Discipline! Yeah, it does sound like a dreary economics 101 lecture, doesn’t it? 😓

But stay with me here, because mastering this, is like unlocking the secret level in the game of wealth building. Sounds better now, eh?

Financial discipline, can feel like a slippery eel at times. Easy to chase, hard to catch. Just like that extra slice of pizza on a cheat day, it’s oh-so-tempting to indulge as your income starts to grow. You could easily talk yourself into believing you’ve earned that flashy car or swanky new pad, right?

I’ve seen heaps of folks raking in serious dough but still living almost paycheck to paycheck (or even in the red! 😱), because they’re trying to keep up with the millionaire lifestyle on a ‘thousandaire’ budget. It’s an easy trap to slide into, and can take ages to climb out of. What’s the smart move, then?

To fight the shiny-object-syndrome, you’ve got to fall in love with boosting that bank balance first, keeping that cash flow steady. Just hold off on sprucing up your lifestyle for a little while. It sounds crazy, I know! But trust me, it’ll be worth it.

Before updating my lifestyle software, if you will, I beefed up my savings, topped up the emergency fund, acquired a few stocks and bonds, and took a chance or two on business opportunities. This move saved my hide more times than I care to count in the unpredictable rollercoaster ride of a young professional’s life.

Want to know my secret mantra? “Is it a need or a want?” 🤔 It’s as simple as that. When you’re faced with the temptation to upgrade—be it your phone, car, or home, just hit pause and have a mini chat with yourself. It’s amazing how such a simple question can bring clarity and keep you in check.

Remember, your discipline has the power to take you on a fantastic journey towards long-lasting wealth. Once you’ve got that armor on, you’ll be unstoppable, my friend. So, what do you say? Are we up for this challenge together?

Yep, that magical little phrase you’ve no doubt heard floating around. I know what you’re thinking—”Is it actually possible, or just some mythical unicorn-rainbow creation of the internet gurus?” 🦄✨

Well, let me tell you about my experience with it. Yup, cue the snickers and jabs when I first blabbered about the prospect of passive income. I confess, I wasn’t too sure myself. But hey! In the words of my grade school teacher, “every little bit counts!”

I dove right into the endless possibilities of affiliate marketing, dipping my toes into commission pools here and there. Oh, don’t worry, I’ll soon share all the deets on the platforms I tried in an upcoming blog. You’d be amazed at the dollars—and even cents – that can roll in from referring a product or service. Little by little, money’s piling up just like your Spotify playlists. 🎶💰

Passive didn’t just mean easy dollars, though. It taught me to work smarter, too. As a creative at heart, outsourcing designers for my small creative agency was my best lightbulb moment. It felt like going from a one-note solo act to a well-tuned ensemble. Believe me, it wasn’t always a walk in the park. But investing time and money in building a team led me to a slow living lifestyle – one that let me do what I love most, generating ideas, while my trusty creative crew brought them to life.

So, friend, your takeaway from our little coffee chat: setting up a passive income is real! Sure, there might be a few tumbleweeds and stumbles along the way, but remember, even the tiniest trickle of income adds up over time. And when you experience the sheer joy of crafting the life you’ve always dreamed of, you’ll know it was all worth it. Cheers to chasing those unicorn-rainbows and riding on ’em!

What if I told you the grand finale of our coffee rendezvous (and, pretty much, the secret to living your best life) is about love. Self-love, actually. And just so we’re on the same page, I’m not talking about spa days or bubble baths (though nothing’s wrong with those). When I say self-love, I mean investing in yourself.

I get it; it’s a tough mindset to switch on. We’re naturally caring, thoughtful, and we put everyone else first. We live in an ASAP world with ‘others’ always on the receiving end and ‘self’-care on the backburner, out of sight. But you and I, my friend, we need to remember that we too deserve the love, understanding and, yes, a little (or a lot!) of spoiling.

I’ll confess, it took me a while too. I was a classic case of ‘think-of-everyone-else-first’. But the moment I started treating myself as my primary investment, everything changed. I’m not just talking about the financial uptick (though it was pretty sweet!), but also the overwhelming peace, love, and joy that follow. It was like striking the wealth of spirit!

It started small… investing in a durable, stylish pair of shoes for those face-to-face client meetings (a designer’s gotta have style, right? ). Then came a high-quality bag, an array of self-help books, paid education/courses, and top-notch tools to bolster my skills.

Remember when we all tried to crack Adobe software versions? Guilty as charged. But when I realized that paying forward in my business and myself was a must to flourish, I went ahead and subscribed to the legit things. Watch out, pirated software – we’re showing you the door! I even upgraded my stuff and my junior designers’ gear, investing in quality subscriptions that helped all of us deliver top-tier designs to our clients. A bit hard to swallow, I know, but hey, we’re all about taking those baby steps towards giant leaps of growth, aren’t we? 🚼➡️🏃‍♀️

Remember, investing in ‘you’ is the most profitable venture you’ll ever make. Let’s turn that self-love dial up, stride confidently into our story, and watch as success finds us. After all, the first person you need to convince of your worth is you. Ready for some self-investment, my friend?

Keep pushing, keep dreaming, and keep doing, beshy ko. Remember, we’re in this together. The victories, setbacks, laughs, and breakdowns are all part of YOUR unique story. So here’s to us banding together, sharing our stories, and building real wealth and Retiring Early!I can’t wait to share and hear more stories when we nestle down for that next cup of coffee. Until then, stay rockin’, and keep your dreams shining bright! 💖✨

Cheers, my friend, to the treasure chest of ‘real wealth’ and ‘early retirement’. The journey ahead may be turbulent, but the sky is vast enough for us to spread our wings. So here’s to living life on our own terms, being unconventional, and here is to us! 🥂