Death of a “Saleswoman”
I remember one of my first observations when I arrived in the US, twenty years ago, was that everyone I met had an Accountant or a Financial Planner. Perplexed by the need to have either; I came from a country where the government automatically taxed you (unless self-employed), we had Socialized Healthcare and the primary investment vehicle, was the company pension. Nobody, I knew owned stocks, and the only thing I knew about “a 10-K” was that it had four zeros!
However, what I did know, is that I didn’t want to play the role of “Willy Loman,” the protagonist in “Death of a Salesman,” by Arthur Miller, in my own life and be defined by my biggest deal, enslaved by the mantra “You’re only as good as your last sale.” Even in my twenties, I knew that one day, I wanted to live a life unencumbered by the Corporate Machine, but “just how” to do it, was the million-dollar question, and one so familiar to those of us chasing the elusive American Dream.
The lure of a steady paycheck, while arguably a powerful force, becomes an ineffectual lever over time. A paradox, in itself, it invites us to follow the road well-traveled blindly, instead of our heart’s desire, one I know so well. We collectively become Pavlov’s Dog. Salivating at the promise of that commission check, that promotion or peer recognition, whatever the trigger might be. And only after years on automatic pilot, do the feelings of diminishing return set in, where you work harder to stand still. “The Winner” becomes worn out. A cycle of “rinse and repeat” prevails, and the realization that it will never be enough, and that you have one life to live.
I was lucky to break my “co-dependency” to Corporate America, and its endless KPI’s thanks to the Financial decisions I made in my 20’s when I was barely making anything and didn’t know what the hell I was doing. Every day, I thank my younger self for having the wisdom to invest for a rainy day. The foresight to not blow my commission checks. And the strength of character to choose practicality over vanity, when I drove “a piece of s**t car” for years as my peers pissed away their commission checks on high-end leased car payments, all while watching me drive a beaten up 1999 Ford Taurus! It was a running joke, and one I was in on, you could say, since I’ve had the last laugh!
To all, you young ladies, college-educated or otherwise, if you don’t want to play “Willy Loman” or some washed up “Corporate Exec” in your own life, take control of your Financial Health from the first paycheck. Don’t wait for someone to do it for you. Also, don’t be fooled by your friends/peers with their high-end cars and upscale apartments; most of the time it’s just an illusion all for “show,” or as we like to call it in Scotland, “Fur coat no knickers.” You don’t need to start big; you just need to get started! Educate yourself on stocks, 401k’s, property, anything that can lead you to Financial Independence, and hopefully one day, you will be thanking your younger self!
I believe that the key to living an empowered life is to live one free of financial constraint, to be surrounded by great people, and to give back to those you value, and to society when you can. Financial Freedom allows you the ability to make decisions because you want to and not because you have to. To be with people because you want to, not because you need to. You can’t be bought, you won’t be owned, and likewise, you measure people by their true value, their authenticity, their kindness and not by “what they can do for you.” In doing so, you create amazing and equitable relationships where great people only want the best for you, and you for them.
