“Wealth consists not in having great possessions, but in having few wants.” – Epictetus

Just as success means different things to each of us, so does wealth. But the truth is, most of us somehow end up associating both words with money and possessions. We all want to be millionaires, even billionaires.

But even if you had all that, would you consider yourself wealthy or successful if the rest of your life was a complete mess?

Don’t get us wrong, becoming a millionaire is a great goal to strive towards. In fact, in today’s world, money is very important if you want to thrive, and it’s a key ingredient to happiness for many. But we at Six Figure Profession believe that real wealth is more than the figures in your bank account—it’s about the quality of your life. It’s about freedom.

Here are a few areas that could likely be improved to enhance your quality of life and achieve real wealth.

Owning Your Time

How many hours a day do you spend at the office? Chances are your job leaves you with little time to do much else—many of us find that the office has become a second home. Working overtime often takes precedence over everything else—even family.

Ask yourself the following questions regarding your current lifestyle:

• If you’re sick, can you see a doctor whenever you like?
• If you want to go on vacation, do you have to request time off?
• Do you have the time and opportunities to enjoy your hard-earned money?
• Do you get to spend regular quality time with those you care about the most?

Essentially, in most traditional careers, your time belongs to someone else. Sure, your bank account looks healthy, but at what cost? It’s important not to let life pass you by while you try to “make it big”. Instead, take the time to focus on other aspects of your life that are important to you.

Flexibility: Doing What You Want, When You Want

In the same vein as owning your time, a life of flexibility is something we often envy in others. But what’s the difference between owning your time and flexibility?

If you work a 9-to-5 job, you can still own your time after hours by not letting work take over your personal life. But between 9 and 5, you have to be working. In this sense, flexibility looks like having the ability to work (or not work) at whatever time suits your lifestyle. Did a friend just drop into town unexpectedly? Instead of having only a couple hours to grab drinks after work, what if you could clear your entire day and dedicate the time to catching up with an old friend? Or how about being able to drop everything and head to Mexico to catch the big Marlin run before it’s over? Now that’s flexibility!

Rather than schedule your life around work, what if you had the ability to schedule work around your lifestyle? Sign us up!

Financial Freedom

Just because you have six figures doesn’t mean you have financial freedom.

Wait, what?

You read it right. How many times have you heard of celebrities becoming bankrupt even though at one time they had millions? Financial freedom comes with financial education: knowing (and understanding!) your current financial situation, and defining exactly where you want to go.  Knowing how to make your money work for you, instead of you working for your money.

This often comes down to smart investment. Once you get to the point where you have your finances covered for today and tomorrow, your quality of life will be greatly improved—leaving your “money chasing” days in the past.

Choosing Your Own Life Path

Have you chosen the life you truly wanted, or the one that societal pressures dictated for you? Look back on your life path so far: High school, college degree, get a job, make a living, have a family, work hard so you can enjoy life when you’re older.

Why not enjoy life now?

Take that trip to East Asia and explore the region for several months, instead of a few days.

Write that novel or business book you’ve been talking about for years.

Learn jiu-jitsu—or take your yoga or meditation practice to the next level.

Many of us aren’t living out our dreams today because they’re not “realistic.” We choose career paths that will supposedly bring us more money, but they end up making us miserable even if we do have fat bank accounts—or we just continue to struggle to pay the bills each month (in which case, what was the point?!).

Is someone who’s rich and miserable more successful than someone with comfortable means who’s happy and living their dreams? We think that’s real wealth.

“Real” Wealth = A Fulfilling Life

There’s much more to improving your quality of life, but real wealth comes down to living a fulfilling life, in all aspects—both financial and otherwise. Don’t let life pass you by while you’re busy chasing money. Time waits for no one.

Focus on your health (without which you can’t do much else), your family, and your personal goals. As cliché as it sounds, a well-rounded and fulfilling life really is the best way to live.

Not sure how to achieve real wealth in your life? Contact us at (858) 837-1505 or www.sixfigureprofession.com for more information about how Six Figure Profession can help you gain financial freedom and improve your quality of life.