My friend Adaobi, a vibrant 50-year-old, found herself at a crossroad and full of regrets concerning her younger days; when she had access to a lot of money she could have saved and invested.
She kept asking me, Lara do you think there’s still hope for me? I have barely 10 years to my retirement from active work.
She carried a question that weighs heavily on many: Is it too late to step onto the path of financial freedom?
Facing life at a crossroad, Adaobi brought to me her canvas of regrets. She detailed a history splattered with financial opportunities—the kind of opportunities that once seemed endless. Luxury purchases, travel escapades, the allure of shining cars; her younger years were a whirlwind of instant gratification.
Now, doubt shadowed her; could she still pivot to a future of financial growth?
The essence of my reply to Adaobi was steeped in hope: “The dawn arrives at the moment you decide to wake up.” [whenever you wake up is your morning] But, I tempered this encouragement with realism, affirming that while it may require a more rigorous stride than for those in earlier decades, financial growth still remains within her reach.
As our conversation deepened, Adaobi’s eyes began to mirror a sense of rebirth. I shared narratives of individuals, akin in years, who nurtured their wealth from the same starting blocks—stories brimming with late triumphs and fulfillment. These testimonies of success kindled in Adaobi a realization that age is not a defining metric in the ledger of prosperity.
With this epiphany, Adaobi vowed to shed the cloak of comparison that had long overshadowed her journey. She decided to commit to action, defying the lure of delay. Her goal was set; it was time to chart her own financial voyage with tenacity, measuring success on her terms.
She began to believe again the possibility of working rigorously towards her financial independence. She now realizes she will need to save more than 20% of her current income, and set apart some funds towards her retirement. She sold off some of her luxury items and put the money into an investment. Thus began the chapter where Adaobi’s late start became an emblem of her resilience.
She started her private coaching with me and set her on a customized financial roadmap. Together, we created a personalized roadmap that aligns with her goals, established an emergency fund account for her, with no debit card, and no access to online transfer, and did some debt management techniques to manage her loans.
Adaobi became more confident with valuable insights, resources, and practical tips which improved her financial literacy and decision-making skills.
She became accountable to other women on the same journey as her and she received and gave the necessary support to wade through.
Adaobi’s journey is always a sweet journey I love to share because I understand that the essence of embracing one’s journey lies not in the starting point but in the recognition of growth, learning, and experience gained along the way. Every journey is unique, filled with its own challenges and victories. The starting line is just that—a place to begin. What truly matters is the path you carve for yourself as you move forward, the resilience you build when faced with obstacles, and the joy discovered in unexpected moments.
Be like Adaobi. Start your wealth creation journey now.
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