Debbie's Version of Lee's List
Debbie’s Version of Lee’s List
Debbie walks that fine line between describing her Lee’s List in terms that are concrete yet not too superficial – at least it seems that way to me … feel free to cross-reference to her Rear Deck Speech to see if she is indeed supporting her Life’s Purpose. We all need all the help that we can.
And remember, even if you are NOT one of the 7MITs your opinion is as valued as anybody else’s AND we would even appreciate anybody who is brave enough to share their Lee’s Lists 🙂
This is what I’ve come up with. I’m not exactly clear I’ve done this correctly, but I have tried to give what I would need at a minimum to fulfill my Life’s Purpose… and tried to give it a dollar amount as well.
I think I would need:
1. Time with Family/Friends tops my list for being most important (time when I’m not also trying to work that is!) So this requires replacing my active income with passive income (and increasing total income to account for required lifestyle updates!) $120,000 per year. (Replacing active income with passive also affords the time to try new ventures and experiences that I would not otherwise be able to do b/c all of that time is spent working to earn a living…)
2. Ability to travel with family 4 “big” trips (both domestic and international) per year. This would, at least for the next 10 years or so, probably include bringing my parents along and/or a nanny to give adults some vacation time as well! I once traveled from NY to Sydney, Australia in coach class seats and vowed never to do it again- so I’m looking at business class at a minimum, and nicer hotels than I’ve experienced so far! Estimating $20,000 per trip, or $80,000 per year.
3. Start-up Moolah! I am full of ideas for businesses and inventions, for ways to help others see their own businesses and inventions become reality, as well as various marketing techniques that could result in huge returns but that require money up front to make them happen. Gotta spend money to make money, so I would say I’d allocate a good $1 million here – but fully expect this “category” of my lifestyle to be self sustaining in time (businesses and inventions would begin earning money and replacing the money I’ve spent, and earning more than what I spend)
4. Some time for me. Granted, I’ve pretty much accounted for the cost of this time in my first list item (having passive income supporting me, enabling me not to trade hours for dollars to earn a living) but it’s so important to me to have this time that I’m including it here anyway! Instead of writing for everyone else, I could write about things I want to write about for a change. I could think about all the start up businesses and inventions and marketing ideas I want to try out. I could read books for fun rather than just research/work purposes. I could have time to hear myself think, and in return- become a better mom, daughter, and friend- with more energy to devote to the kids since I’m allowing myself some time, as well.
The above 4 items cover my People & Passions. What about possessions? I discovered during this exercise that I’m not as focused or motivated by the possessions as I am the people and passions that are important to me. That being said, a dream house is one of the few “possessions” I certainly would want, so I’ll just include that here as well to finish out my list:
5. There is a house on the corner of a quiet area in my town that everytime I drive by it, I say “I want that house.” So much so, that my 5 year old will now beat me to it and s
ay “Mommy wants that house.” as we approach it. I would just like to relocate that house to waterfront property, so that it is a lot like being on vacation all the time! This photo is much more extreme than what I’m really looking for, but it sure does paint a pretty picture, doesn’t it??
@Debbie – that’s a nice house! I want it too! That reminds me of a quote from Robert Kiyosaki. Instead of saying, “I can’t afford it.”; try “How can I afford it?”. It will program your mind differently. I think choosing a more positive language can help.