Bill Perkins challenges us to rethink things…really big things. By aiming to die with zero, you will forever change your autopilot focus from earning, saving and maximizing your wealth to living the best life you possibly can. Perkins builds a case through examples from his own life when he was solely focused on making money but not truly living his life. He explains to the reader that experiences give us memory dividends that work does not provide. I agree with him that we should be rich in things that include:
- Rich in experiences
- Rich is adventures
- Rich in memories.
And so Perkins asks the reader to critically think about what meaningful and memorable experiences do you want to have? Once you know this, start mapping out time buckets in five-to-ten-year increments and list your desired experiences. Perkins helps with the math and addresses that people often fear running out of money or we operate on autopilot to continue to work and amass money that in the end we will never spend. He suggests that you donate to your beloved charities now and spend time and money on your kids and people you love now. Don’t be fooled to think you must continue to work and accumulate and then when you are finally able to retire, you no longer have the health to spend all that money you accumulated.
At the end of the day, Perkins asks, why people fear running out of money more that wasting their lives…a very good question indeed. Some concepts in the book include:
- Look at your fears and what is holding you back.
- Take more chances when you are younger.
- Every moment is a choice. Choices reflect priorities. Be intentional. Health and the ability to enjoy experiences.
- Fear wasting your life and your time.
- Peak ages are 45-60…so use it wisely. Plan accordingly. Peak is a specific date tied to your biological age instead of thinking peak as a dollar amount.
- Cost to live times number of years left to live.
- Overly delayed gratification and regret. People on their deathbeds regret not doing things, not spending time with loved ones etc., not working more or making more etc.
- Shifting balance of health, time and money. Young= great health, lots of time and less money. Middle age (31-60) time, money and health equal. 61+ money and time high, health low.
Life goal is not about maximizing your income and wealth but instead maximizing your life experiences and fulfillment and lasting memories of those experiences.
seniyegroff 