Well, that was a quick 2.5 years . . .

After a 2.5 year hiatus - and I'm not really sure if that was intentional or not - I decided it was time to post an update.  Wow, a lot has happened with a few trips around the sun!  Looking through past posts, I have mixed feelings.  I can honestly say I'm proud of how much I've stayed the course, even without writing this blog to help keep me in line.  However, I also remember why I think I stopped writing for a while.  I think I wanted more out of my writing and I gave up trying to get there.  That lack of fulfillment came maybe as I ran low on interesting material that I was passionate about writing or maybe as I felt my time was better spent on productive activities such as reading or researching ideas, rather than writing about dreams.  Anyhow, I guess I got the bug again . . .



I had posted this on June 23, 2015:

My Goals:

SUCCESS = FREEDOM

1)  No regrets
2)  Maximize time with family and ensure happiness
3)  Financial Freedom by 1/1/2020
4)  Relocate family and purchase home in Chicago area.  Accomplished 3/31/2015
5)  Purchase/Open Business Accomplished 10/1/2017
6)  Travel as much as possible

*Doing all of this with integrity in a way that would make God proud and with the end result of leaving this world a better place than when I entered it.

The big one there is #5, because it's the most tangible.  The others are the end, while #5 is the means of getting there.  Well, in October 2017, I bought a moving and storage company in California with a buddy of mine!  We found an owner who had been in business for 40 years or so and was ready to retire.  We took out an SBA loan, put down a chunk of cash, and made the purchase.  So check that one off the list.  Then, in January 2017, my same buddy and I bought a mixed use property outside of Chicago, with 4 residential units above 2 commercial units.  We are currently in the process of gutting and renovating all four residential units.  The financials on this one are stellar; the previous owner was just ready to sell and move on.  One man's trash is another man's treasure!

THEN, just a couple of months ago right after Labor Day, two other buddies of mine and I bought a somewhat small specialty chocolate maker in Nashville.  We lucked out and found the perfect girl to run the operation and the sky is the limit on this one.  The business was already selling to Fresh Market, Crate & Barrel, and a number of other high profile names.  The previous owner simply didn't have the means or the energy to grow it beyond what she had already done.  We are ecstatic!

So, while my blog hasn't been something I've been able to fit in as much as I probably should or I'd like, I've been able to stay true to pursuing my goal of financial freedom by 1/1/2020.  While stressful at times balancing my "day job" with my extracurriculars, I'm happy to be making steps towards doing what I really want to be doing.  I have refused to bury my dreams and have been proactive in pursuing them, which I believe is all anyone can ask for - the opportunity to pursue their true passions.  I don't know if I'll meet my 2020 goal, but at least I can say I did everything in my power to make it a reality.

So back to writing.  Again, I'm not sure of the next time I'll write.  It's an outlet for me and always has been.  However, It is a constant mental battle of spending time writing vs. engaging in an activity that might be a higher return on investment.  There's something to be said about putting your thoughts down and formulating a well thought out idea - it can be therapeutic.  But there's also something to be said about knowing your true priorities and having a feel for the value you gain from engaging in different activities.  After all, that's the problem with self help, is it not?  ;)