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A decision taken is a good one if afterwards, I feel great. If think I should have done it sooner. There are no, “I shouldn’t have done that”.

I just bought my first electronically trade fund (ETF). After doing a bit of research, I decided on one fund based on:

• Its low expense fee;
• Positive correlation to a major US Index (close to 100%); and
• Management structure of the company issuing the ETF

Before I hit the OK button, my friend asked, ‘what will you do if the stock market crashes or you need money in few years’ time?’

My investment strategy is simple. Load cash into efficient investment vehicle. Once invested, it’s gone from my mind for decades. Inaction takes over.

The beauty of compounding interests leading to money making more money babies.

At the end of January this year, I wrote to few US senators in response to the executive order banning people of color from entering the USA. The current US president would like to wield his influence to fill 120 judiciary spots. How do we maintain the checks and balances across the three branches of the US government as per founding fathers’ original design: legislative, executive and judiciary?

What can we do?

I’d like to ask you for your help to uphold the American Dream.

I ask you to address the latest Executive Order denying entry to those with legal right to enter the United States with dignity and respect they deserve.

I am a first generation immigrant. I’ve learned to think and speak in English, better than my mother tongue.

I am a naturalized United States citizen. I have served in the US military.

I’ve earned Army Commendation medal and Achievement medals. I’ve been part of the support command to ensure safe and timely deployment of thousands of soldiers.

I earned my coast guard license. I have added value to American employers. I have been called to and attended jury duty. I pay my taxes.

What if I hadn’t become an American citizen, but remained permanent resident, and from Iran? What if I had visited Iran to tour, conduct research, or meet business partners? Would I find myself in limbo, stuck at an airport? The country that I’ve been calling my home from childhood long lost to me, to find myself having to go to a place that thinks and operates different from my mind, though they look the same from the outside?

Permanent residents should be treated with the same care and respect we extend to our citizens, no matter their travel destinations and point of origin? Law abiding residents committed to live in the USA without causing harm, only adding value?

How about extending respect to our consulate and embassy staff? Have they not applied the latest immigration law by vetting and screening everyone allowed entry? Are we disrespecting their work and commitment? Do we break our promises?  What message are we sending to our citizens, allies, and our enemies?

The American people deserve better. Please look out for the safety of our people in North America and those living abroad. How about US soldier, tourists and travelers scattered around the world?

I’d appreciate your reply on this matter soonest.

Too much admin for a Sunday.

• Pack up boxes before movers come on Friday – 95% done
• Take inventory – Not done
• Power of attorney. Last will and final testament. Reassessing retirement performance against goals – #%$^@#!  This takes so much time to understand. Not done!
• Open an investment fund account – Done
• Pay credit card bill – Done
• Updating the Living in South Africa page – Done
• Dale Carnegie’s “How to make friends and influence people” – Done! Finished the book
• Understand the difference between mutual funds & electronically traded funds (ETF) – Done

Two articles I’d like to recommend after 6 hours on the web:

• Why ETFs are superior to Mutual Funds
• “Why procrastination will steal your future wealth”

“If today is your 20th birthday and you begin a system of saving $263.67 every month—that’s $3,164.04 per year—for 45 years, never pay any taxes or investment fees on it and earn 7% a year, you will have $1 million in the bank when you hit age 65.”

7% annual return is the average return of US indices like Standard and Poor’s (S&P)… which means we need to create appropriate investment vehicles to park our cash. If you were me from yesterday (without today’s all-day research), this probably makes no sense to you.

I feel your pain. I really do.
In the next few days, I’ll translate ‘super scary and gibberish financial talk’ to regular people speak. Starting tomorrow, I’ll start investigating appropriate ETFs with lowest management fee , zero transaction costs, and efficient tax vehicle.

My goal is to park excess cash into an ETF by 10 May.

Feeling awkward around people. Feeling rigid and unsure of myself. Feeling disconnected from the world. Spending too much time inside my head and most likely not getting out. The writer’s depth of thinking increases with every letter I type. It feels as if the serious writer has taken over this body. I’m still stuck on me from a year ago when everything was too much and too fast.

Have you found yourself stuck in the past? How do you bring yourself to the present?

“I’m sorry. I’ve been meaning to read your blog but I just haven’t had the time!” says a good friend.

It’s okay! The blog is for me. I’m the biggest customer. On top of my personal goal of becoming a better writer, I get additional joy from having a fan base of four loyal readers located in the USA, EU, and South Africa. 

I wish people wouldn’t feel bad about not doing the things they don’t want to do. Not having to make excuses for living the life of their choosing. Many don’t like to read. Online content could be off-putting and distracting.

I flirted with the podcast idea. However, there is beauty with print that is like no other.

Words have the freedom to enter our minds and shape the imaginative world of our own creation. The shades of rainbow to color the world within, and textures of our choosing to give meaning where they belong. To create necklace of words that can be worn around our hearts.

Back at gym after a month’s hiatus.
Five days later, the body revolts in pain.

10 months to get strong.
3 weeks to lose it all.

It takes four days of practice to be at work by 7 am and push out meaningful content. I often underestimate how much time it takes to get used to something or someone.

It takes ~5 times more energy to start something. The starter motor’s sole function is to start the car before internal combustion takes over. It must disengage quickly, otherwise it’ll burn out. Once started, less energy needed to keep the wheels turning.

Is my starter motor doing what it’s designed to do? To start me up before the procrastination monster takes over and leaves me immobile?

My starter motor is powered by the stillness of early morning before the world invades my personal space. When my mind is clear and full of possibilities, it takes less to do what I’ve set out to do.

The starter motor must engage and disengage with precision. Mindful of the new things started and existing ventures to be maintained. I only have one tank of gas to get me through the day.

Am I prioritizing my start up and maintenance efforts to get to my next destination on time, before I run out of gas? Am I stopping too often? Am I stopping too often, only to start back up again?

I attend a meeting with no agenda and no venue (so I am late).

“What is this meeting for? What is the desired output?” I ask. The facilitator fumbles through an answer. I ask questions that go unanswered. I comment on the absence of key decision makers from two functional areas. He’s been trying to set up a meeting for 3 weeks without success.

Instead of listening, he attacks. He makes blanket statements. “You won’t even look at this document and because of it, you’ll prevent us from moving forward.”

To which I reply with a smile, “We are here to support the business. Please present us with facts and options analysis on the back of a Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) model for us to have a thorough discussion. He doesn’t hear me because he’s not here to listen. He’s here to pummel a decision through. No benchmark has been done aside from simple diagrams.

The dangers of working in silos and not listening to understand.
If he can’t even get key stakeholders in one room, how is he equipped to facilitate difficult discussions that require sensible answers to tough questions?

The power of facilitation is often underestimated. Who are you putting to task?
Is it the right person to represent your brand?

The gap widens between those with money and the rest of us. Aside from the obvious (shrinking middle class, loss of traditional job markets, lack of access to capital, etc), there is a fundamental difference in how we view money.   

It’s no wonder the rich grow richer while regular folk continue to live hand to mouth.

Where do you see yourself between the Regular and Rich folk spectrum? Is money evil? Do you feel uncomfortable talking about money with your loved ones? Are you investing towards the future? Are you most worried about having a ‘6-month emergency fund’ above all else? Do you have unpaid credit card bills? Do you know how much you’re worth today?

Do you want to get better with money? And don’t know how? I’m no expert, but I see myself on the right of regular folk spectrum. The little I know is through self-research but application of knowledge has lagged for far too long. I’m going to take the plunge to become a better investor. Please feel free to join me on my journey towards money happiness.

I am under a powerful spell. Everything in my body screams for more. Senses heighten. The heart meanders towards the source of attraction. To steal another glance. To hear it once more. To experience it over and over again.

The body wants what it wants, and the heart races with curious wonder. I cannot understand it, nor do I care to unravel this delightful mystery. The haunting behind its beauty causes proud obsession.

It hooks me and reels me in. A willing participant, I let the current carry me to the world of someone else’s imagination.

I close my eyes and consume his words that play like the individual notes of his musical composition. As the words unravel, I can imagine his set of notes connecting to create a feeling of joy. Through his words, I can feel the music playing in the background.

I fall in love with the composer’s words used to describe his music. I bite the hook while leafing through a playbill for the New York Philharmonic Orchestra.

Addiction vs. Perseverance. Both words describe one’s focus and action over time yielding self-harm or accomplishment.

• Addiction: Negative connotation often linked to alcohol, drugs and abusive relationships
• Perseverance fueled by passion is used to describe a chef’s journey towards his first Michelin star. A conductor’s stretch into the world stage. A doctor fighting for a cure. A baker perfecting her pizza dough. A child learning to read. The list goes on.

Let’s get rid of the choice of doing nothing. Which word would you choose to describe yourself?

Every morning, say hi to everyone with a big smile on your face. Be obsessed with being kind to others. Play/cook/dance/paint/write no matter what! Incessantly be thankful for the smallest joys of life.

Or do you continue on your path of resistance towards instant gratification? Have another piece of cookie/cake/pudding/chocolate with sugary drinks! Chug another shot! YOLO! Yeah? Yeah!!!! Say yes to the person who makes you feel small and worthless. Complain, complain and complain!

The choice is yours and yours alone.

Addiction. Perseverance. Obsession.
Which word would you use to describe yourself? (Would others say the same about you? Are you sure?)