I keep an annual spreadsheet detailing my blog posts for each week. When I don’t post, I write “No Post” in red.
As 2024 began, my goal was to post every other week. That felt doable versus weekly since I was focused on launching a coaching business.
My spreadsheet has made me quite aware I’m missing the mark on this bi-weekly blog post cadence.
We’ve had some significant life changes though in the past four weeks that have kept me from writing.
In fact, you could say our plans have gone out the window.
2024 Projections
Like most people, we had a general plan for how things would go this year. We made projections on January 15th, based on longer term goals, for how we anticipated 2024 would unfold:
| Mike believes by the end of 2024: | Lisa believes by the end of 2024: |
| Purchase a new truck to tow larger RV | Purchase a new truck to tow larger RV |
| Execute a two month RV trip | Execute a two month RV trip |
| Mike hopefully downshifted to working 3-days per week | Mike will be struggling to downshift work to 3 days/week |
| Possibly purchase a larger RV | Purchase a larger RV |
| Possibly purchase a property | Lisa will start a coaching business |
Plans? What Plans?!
As I discussed on the blog, I started a coaching business (and seek new clients!). And we’ve made progress on a few other items listed. We’ll share more soon!
But the universe threw us for a huge loop on March 25, 2024.
As of that date, Mike isn’t working anymore.
Obviously this wasn’t anticipated or planned, and we are both still in shock. I can hear your questions now…
What happened?!–I thought he liked his job?!
Um, is this good, or bad!?
But are you financially independent?
Will he have to find another job, or will you go back to HR work?
How does this change your short and long term plans?
If you follow us on Instagram I shared more details about what happened earlier this week. While we both have lots of feels and thoughts, we are still processing. I will say we both agree in the long run this is most likely a huge blessing. And also, we just cannot believe this happened.
We’ll share more once we can do it justice. I know there are many lessons and take-aways that others may find helpful, whether or not you prescribe to the Financial Independence Retire Early (FIRE) movement.
How We’re Steadying Ourselves
Our situation is a good reminder for us all how unpredictable life is. We know this. But, it’s so easy to fall into our comfortable routine and take everything for granted. And that was us. We 100% took his job for granted.
Even with my HR background–knowing and observing how nothing is guaranteed when it comes to business and how we are all replaceable–I took his job for granted.
So yeah, it’s a lot to process.
How are we staying steady and sane in the midst of this wildly unexpected change?
There are three specific things we’ve intentionally built for years now that are truly providing comfort and support.
1. A community who gets and supports us
We’ve talked about leaning into the Financial Independence (FI) community over the past several years.
In the immediate aftermath of March 25th, we reached out to our FI friends sooner than anyone to share the news and ask some urgent questions. We received nothing but support and reassurance on how to proceed regarding our finances, health insurance, legal stuff, etc.
We even had a well-timed, long weekend with our FI friends to experience the mid-west eclipse on April 8th!
2. A financial safety net
I don’t care if you think the FI movement is real, made up, and/or a cult.
Everyone needs and deserves a financial safety net to help protect against job loss and other emergency financial constraints or demands. What this looks like will be different for everyone.
A financial safety net (F-You money, emergency fund, whatever you want to call it) gives you options and less to worry about in the immediate aftermath.
For us we can focus on processing and supporting one another instead of worrying about how to pay our bills. We can take time to zoom out and reevaluate our priorities in light of this huge change.
Regardless of your financial situation, do your future self a favor and start building a financial safety net for yourself today.
3. A clear vision of what we want our life to look like
One thing that particularly drew us to the FI movement and starting our financial independence journey was the focus on intentionally creating a life in alignment with our values and what we enjoy most.
Over the years of talking, dreaming, experimenting, reading, refining, and learning from others we developed a clear vision of the life we were moving towards and why.
The most ironic part (and hopefully the blessing) is that his job was one of the biggest “obstacles” to fully leaning into the life we envisioned. Now this “obstacle” is removed and we are able to both jump in wholeheartedly. Combined with our financial safety net, we’ve known the direction we were heading for a long time.
Instead of now what!? –It’s go time!
If any of this resonates with you, keep in mind the key is start building these three areas now. That way you have a strong foundation to fall back on when you need it most.
Buckle Up
So yeah, I think I’ll give myself some grace for missing a few weeks worth of blog posts.
I think things are going to get very interesting around here!
Buckle up, it’s go time!
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Amen! It is a blessing. I’m excited to see how things go as you both enter this new chapter.
Thanks for your support!