FISH | Financial Independence Seeking Happiness: Planning

Early Retirement at 36 - Charity Time?

Contender 0 charity, Early Retirement, financial independence, frugality, Planning 16:00

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Evening fight fans your host for the evening is the THE FUTURE here on FREEDOM FIGHT NIGHT. This evening we are interviewing THE.CONTENDER on his extraordinary decision to Retire Early. THE FUTURE wants to know is THE.CONTENDER going to fade into the distance or stay in the spotlight? 
 
Our champion glides into view floating like a butterfly onto the comfortable leather reclining chair. A hush comes across the audience all eyes are on THE.CONTENDER . 
 
INTERVIEWER: THE.CONTENDER , so kind of you to take time out from your busy schedule looking after the kids:). Your retirement came out of the blue and has shocked a large number of people. Surely is is too early to hang up the gloves? 
 
THE.CONTENDER : Taking early retirement from the ring is a blessing, I have taken some hard knocks down the years. I want to see the kids grow up and secondly I think it is time to "give back" to the the community. 
 
INTERVIEWER: Give back to the community..... THE.CONTENDER you are recognized all over the world are you going to use your ugly mug for the Halloween? 
 
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">THE.CONTENDER helped to put on a school sports day for this special bunch</td></tr>
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Audience laughs 
 
THE.CONTENDER : Freddie's (Kruger) stunt double doesn't have to worry.  I want to be active in the community in a different way! I have been inspired by an orphanage charity project I was fortunate to participate in. As my face is well traveled and the kids were not scared easily....... 
 
THE.CONTENDER has seen poverty first hand. He doesn't think it has a place in the modern world. He has visited rural Africa on two occasions; Zambia and Zimbabwe followed by South Africa. THE.CONTENDER has also seen poverty in Poland, Czech Republic, Thailand and good old Blighty itself in some London housing estates. It's not pretty and really in this day and age should not be there. 
 
It is the Trip to South Africa THE.CONTENDER would like to talk about today. The team that THE.CONTENDER traveled with raised money for and worked on a much needed orphanage for 150 children (1/3 infected with HIV). It is a fabulous example of charity, learning and independence. It was a heart warming, sad, inspirational and joyful experience all at the same time. Is this what all early retirees could dedicate some of their time to? 
 
Charity, Early Retirement and Poverty 
 
THE.CONTENDER did not really understand poverty properly until he saw it first hand. Yes THE.CONTENDER had seen Live Aid and all of the daily horrific news stories on the BBC. THE.CONTENDER had sympathy for them and donated to charity but never actively with his own time. Was this really making a difference? 
 
Thinking back to my upbringing I was dead fortunate. I was brought up in a one parent loving family. Living in a declining coal mining area in South Wales. THE.CONTENDER was happy. He ran free in the beautiful Welsh Valleys with his mates and kicked rugby balls around the playing fields. Even though as a family, we had little money, we did not go without. THE.CONTENDER had access to a very good education system. He was heavily subsidised and had a sponsor to go to an exceptionally good University in Manchester studying engineering. 
 
THE.CONTENDER has benefited from resources a large part of the world population would bend
 over backwards for. THE.CONTENDER has been given it all on a plate - he has been
 very, very, very (yes three times!) fortunate. Did THE.CONTENDER know this at the time - perhaps - definitely now though. 
 
A good education resulted in a good job and the amazing opportunity to be financially free by the ripe old age of 36. Our little tribe has a very comfortable life that is easy to take for granted. We have running water, electricity, rent a nice property, can go to the store and buy Alaskan salmon, French saussion, Italian Chianti heck our local market sells fish from New Zealand! (We think this is completely silly by the way and buy local as much as possible.) Lucky indeed. 
 
Why has THE.CONTENDER been fortunate enough to thrive like this? THE.CONTENDER worked hard but was helped due to the specific advantages of a developed country. So what can THE.CONTENDER do more of to give back to society which has helped him all these years? Can we be charitable and help where it is needed? 
 
THE.CONTENDER 's first real experience of poverty, and how a little charity goes a long way, was his first trip to Africa. My sister was teaching in Zambia at the time. It is an amazing place - even more so if you are a foreign tourist! My sister took us to some places that were completely off the beaten track. This is where poverty first really became real for me. From the funeral parade of at LEAST 50 COFFINS each day out of Lusaka to the bush where they probably never see a white man. It was in a small isolated hamlet THE.CONTENDER inadvertently scared a bunch of kids with a balloon - completely alien to them. Ooops! 
 
These people had a roof over their heads, some small necessary possessions for cooking and gardening and that was it. No schools, no health care, no idea of money really - poverty to a westerner but THE.CONTENDER only saw happiness in the eyes of this vibrant group. Sadly THE.CONTENDER was sure their life expectancy was low. They they probably did not really know what health care was or what a hospital looks like and all the benefits it brings. 
 
My sister is back in the UK and regularly provides donations of clothes and fills her suitcase up with essentials each time she travels back to Africa. Good one sis! 
 
This brings me on to the main part of this post; how the skills THE.CONTENDER has learnt were put to use in a charitable manner and how a modest amount of money can make a huge difference to so many (150 orphans in this case). Please read on about this exceptional project!

Early Retirement at 36 - Charity Time?

Evening fight fans your host for the evening is the THE FUTURE here on FREEDOM FIGHT NIGHT. This evening we are interviewing THE.CONTENDE...

Early Retirement, Lean and Maslow what do they have in common?

Contender 1 Early Retirement, Education, Ethical, Freedom, frugality, Happiness, health, Investing, Life, Planning, Saving, Toolkit 09:27

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Hello Fight Fans, welcome to Fight Night on channel CONTENDER! Let's get ready to RUMBLE! Introducing in the red corner weighing in at 13st 2lb THE.CONTENDER! In the blue corner weighing in an impressive 16st 9lb is THE FUTURE.  
Tonight's fight is over 12 rounds. The prize is for the UFF (Undisputed Freedom Fight) Belt  
 
THE.CONTENDER has been training for the future for some time. Since he was born actually; just like everyone else. THE.CONTENDERhas been fighting to achieve his goals and desires; funnily enough just like everyone else. THE.CONTENDERhas searched for the key to making them happen; just like everyone else, where is it damn it! 
 
So this post is about THE.CONTENDER's personal thoughts on what this key could look like. In particular could it unlock the secret to an effective Early Retirement and Life Planning approach? THE.CONTENDER's approach is based on three key parts: 1) Maslow's hierarchy of needs, 2) a concept called LEAN and 3) Monthly Planning process. This is what it looks like in THE.CONTENDER's world: 
 
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6QEj-mPPFjc/UGyWvS4_T9I/AAAAAAAAB2k/akM4hlRgZFE/s1600/Maslow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6QEj-mPPFjc/UGyWvS4_T9I/AAAAAAAAB2k/akM4hlRgZFE/s320/Maslow.jpg" title="Maslow's Pyramid of Needs" width="320"></a>1) MASLOW 
 
Maslow placed the most important aspects of life at the bottom of a PYRAMID. Water, food and shelter at the bottom as they are essential through to self-actualization at the top. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--jJqJ6b2XN4/UGyW8K4qa_I/AAAAAAAAB2s/Ul_nhiiRV1g/s1600/Lean+House.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>2) LEAN 
 
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THE.CONTENDERwould like to introduce Tachi Ohno of Toyota. He is considered the father of  <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lean_manufacturing" target="_blank">LEAN</a> in the manufacturing world. LEAN is all about removing waste (Japanese for waste is "muda") and making the products as close to the point of  delivery as possible (JIT - just in time). 
 
What is interesting is that LEAN principles have been simply represented as a house. You need strong foundations, build the walls and top off with the roof while regular maintenance will keep it in tip top condition. 
 
3) PLANNING (Making it Happen): 
 
Project management has lots of models and different approaches depending on what the project is. It can can be very complex such as building a skyscraper or simple in the case of planning a journey to the Zoo. 
 
Over complication and missing steps, have put THE.CONTENDERin hot water in the past. THE.CONTENDERhad to learn how to mange projects and people effectively to make sure he could not see the wood from the trees.  
 
THE.CONTENDEReventually learnt that planning really is a simple process wits for key repeating steps PLAN - DO - CHECK - ACT. When carrying out these steps a list of checks and skills must be used. Below is a list of the key aspects of planning, leading and execution that THE.CONTENDERhas been rigorously trained on. In THE.CONTENDER's opinion consider all of them, in a robust review process, and you won't go too far wrong: 
<ul>
<li>What is your VISION - what do you want- your end goal - Early Retirement and Happiness?</li>
<li>Do you have a PLAN to get there - this can be on the back of a biz card or a spreadsheet? </li>
<li>Are you keeping everything SIMPLE?</li>
<li>Be prepared to ADAPT your plan and goals, make sure you have regular checks </li>
<li>Do you have the right ATTITUDE - are you really committed to being frugal for early retirement?</li>
<li>Do you see the PROBLEM clearly? is it that you have to pay your debts first or get a new job close to home?</li>
<li>Have you DISCUSSED this with your close family / friends and do you have everyone on board?</li>
<li>Who is in CONTROL - tracking progress and spotting deviations, obstacles and opportunities and getting back on track if you fall behind.</li>
<li>ASSERTIVENESS - get on with it, have a go, back up your convictions</li>
<li>INVOLVE everyone in the decision making progress - THE.CONTENDER and his tribe are moving to France, the reason is that the living standard is higher, decent warm weather and it has good schools for the kids; so THE.CONTENDER turned to the grandparents: "what do you think?"</li>
</ul>
So what if we try combining the life (Maslow) with the continuous Improvement and removal of waste of Lean (Tachi Ohno), with the principles of planning and financial freedom? Here is THE.CONTENDER's interpretation, please read on ;)

Early Retirement, Lean and Maslow what do they have in common?

PERL Hello Fight Fans, welcome to Fight Night on channel CONTENDER! Let's get ready to RUMBLE! Introducing in the red corner weig...

10 Career Skills for Early Retirement

Contender 1 Critical Thinking, Early Retirement, financial freedom, financial independence, Planning, Work 10:51

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THE.CONTENDER 's career has been short and sweet. He is now officially semi retired* after only 13 years on the job - lucky B******. So it is hard to call it a career really. 
 
As a graduate THE.CONTENDER went straight into a process improvement role (adding new computer planning systems, training, creating reports and interactive tools) and actually enjoyed 90% of the experience and learnt a few tricks along the way. 
 
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This post is about some of the amazing skills learnt on the job. Specifically how THE.CONTENDER has since applied them in his quest for early retirement and how THE.CONTENDER will use the skills in the future.</div>
 
First here is a list of 10 business skills that THE.CONTENDER learnt from work and considers highly beneficial in his personal life. This will be followed by a section on how they can be used in respect to financial freedom / early retirement: 
<ol>
<li>Discipline -  THE.CONTENDER had to act like an adult from now on. Work had to be completed on time and correctly. Mistakes cost money and made THE.CONTENDER loose face let alone slowed down my career advancement.  </li>
<li>Project management - THE.CONTENDER was meant to deliver projects on time and get everyone involved......at lest that was the idea, this really took some practice! It was one hell of a learning ride on the way. From the indemnity of being pulled up in front of senior management for a delay to being proud of oneself in delivering a valuable time saving tool to my colleagues. The project management skills eventually set THE.CONTENDER up to succeed. THE.CONTENDER considers project management as one of the hardest skills to learn and actually excel at. If you are good at it you will build significant trust making you the go to guy to get something done.  </li>
<li>Learning business interpersonal skills - simple communication, adjusting your style to the person you are dealing with, listening attentively to that person and addressing their concerns (Or in THE.CONTENDER 's early career telling them they were wrong because they were.... so there! Opps! I was right 80% of the time, sort of :)  </li>
<li>Independence and Responsibility - booking business travel to go to different countries, planning your own workload, deciding on priorities (and what to ignore). Taking ultimate responsibility for your appraisals - without significant effort how will you get noticed. </li>
<li>Time management - work on what was really needed 80:20 rule (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pareto_principle">80% of results come from 20% of the work</a>) - THE.CONTENDER is adamant that you work on the really important stuff, complete 80% of it and move on - but how many people work that way! So THE.CONTENDER learnt how to delegate it onto someone who will actually finish it o  </li>
<li>Critical thinking - Why do we want to do that? Is it worth the effort? What will other people think?  </li>
<li>Mentoring - Really this is all about networking. Two main benefits : 1. Learning who and how to influence to get your way 2. To get a promotion - Sorry THE.CONTENDER's opinion.! What THE.CONTENDER really got out of mentoring was crystalisation of my thoughts towards EARLY RETIREMENT through the interrogation \ questioning process - :)  </li>
<li>Computer skills - reporting, basic programming, websites, writing training documents. Computer allow you to get things done quickly and in our data overload world if you have the right skills analyse the data to get to the real problems and opportunities and present them in a way that conveys the importance of you message. Get noticed.  </li>
<li>Change management / influencing - possibly the hardest skill to learn and master and the biggest problem THE.CONTENDER had in this short career.  </li>
<li>Presentation skills - Professional training in this area is invaluable - watching a playback of a presentation you give followed by some professional coaching - the end result is astounding. Maybe one day THE.CONTENDER will post his video in the future...... </li>
</ol>
Not forgetting the need to be paid A reasonable salary for the work- more you earn the faster it is to retirement ;) 
 
THE.CONTENDER has no way mastered any of the skills but all are highly useful compared to some of the education THE.CONTENDER had in school <a href="http://www.getintheringwithme.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/10-education-topics-for-financial.html" target="_blank">(please see </a><a href="http://getintheringwithme.blogspot.com/2012/09/10-education-topics-for-financial.html" target="_blank">THE.CONTENDER's post on missing education skills)</a> 
 
So THE.CONTENDER has provided a list of "boring" but must have business skills lets have a chat how actually each skill can contribute to early retirement and a successful private life. Please read on.....

10 Career Skills for Early Retirement

View from the Sears Tower Chicago - BIG Business THE.CONTENDER 's career has been short and sweet. He is now officially semi retir...

PLAN DO CHECK ACT Life Objectives

Contender 0 Early Retirement, Life, Planning, Toolkit 19:52

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THE.FUTURE: "CONTENDER you are wasting your life your time has come to relinquish your crown and come with me!"   
THE.CONTENDER : "I am only 27 I can change my ways! "   
THE.FUTURE: you have one year to change your destructive ways. I will return at the stroke of midnight on New Years Eve! 
 
What did THE.CONTENDER want out of life? Where to start? First THE.CONTENDER needed understand what he was good at what did he enjoy. Secondly what was THE.CONTENDER going to do about it! 
 
This post is going to look at   
1. How THE.CONTENDER started to plan for THE FUTURE   
2. How the THE.CONTENDER tribe use the PLAN DO CHECK ACT life planning process on a monthly basis using a spreadsheet, whiteboard and a calendar. 
 
THE.CONTENDER self analysis - what needed to change for the better 
 
In looking for a place in society and work THE.CONTENDER had to find something he was good at. THE.CONTENDER was never going to excel at music so no there was no point learning the saxophone because it is COOL to be plain bad? Would this be a good use of my time? THE.CONTENDER must work on skills and areas he is good at or that help achieve early retirement and independence. 
 
Firstly  general traits; 1) THE.CONTENDER likes making things but dislikes finishing them to perfection (another reason not to be a musician:) 2) THE.CONTENDER 's personality is unique and what makes me but can be too abrupt and willing to take the lead. So there are areas of opportunity and other areas that need some work on. 
 
Core skills - why THE.CONTENDER is an Engineer 
 
THE.CONTENDER is a thirty five year old and found himself as an engineer by trade. As a result he likes to be practical and put things into action (a key part of this blog). Is he?: 
<ol>
<ol>
<li>creative</li>
<li>problem solver</li>
<li>analytical</li>
<li>have an end result in the real world</li>
<li>enjoy what I do</li>
</ol>
</ol>
THE.CONTENDER has always been a numbers guy and interested in sciences. THE.CONTENDER is not going to be the following though.... 
<ol>
<li>Going to be a famous writer or sports star (really only a very small % of society excel in these areas)</li>
<li>Pander to people's every needs and be the best shoulder for someone to cry on. THE.CONTENDER is a direct person who wants results. THE.CONTENDER wants to get things done which can come across as forceful and sometimes insensitive.</li>
<li>Complete things (THE.CONTENDER is a firm believer in the 80:20 rule 80% of results from 20% of the effort). Perfection produces diminishing returns and you only have a finite time on this planet (saxophone player is definitely out for me) . This is to the annoyance of Mrs C who believes in 120% all the time. She is coming around to my thinking now that we have 2 kids. A rounded approach to bringing them up instead of trying for the perceived best of everything such as enrollment of the 3 year old in every extra activity we come across. And no we are not going to make them learn the saxophone.</li>
</ol>
THE.CONTENDER must to carefully consider the use of his skills in the future planning. Can these skills be used on this blog effectively but can THE.CONTENDER make the blog readable can he overcome some of his weaknesses?  
 
Improving interpersonal and skills 
 
Lots of training has been taken to improve interpersonal skills. Here are some of the key areas that needed refinement: 
<ol>
<li>Listening to others and trying to understand their point of view (Professional training and <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/NLP-Workbook-practical-achieving-results/dp/0007100035/ref=sr_1_6?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1345560271&sr=1-6" target="_blank">NLP Workbook</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Listening-Self-Teaching-Guide-Wiley-Guides/dp/0471015873/ref=sr_1_7?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1345560369&sr=1-7" target="_blank">Listening - a self Teaching Guide</a> books)</li>
<li>Simply my presentations (<a href="http://www.communispond.com/" target="_blank">Communispond professional training - click here for their site and blog)</a>)</li>
<li>Thinking about how other people would use any solutions that I have developed so that they buy into rather than reject them.</li>
</ol>
THE.CONTENDER was and is missing other skills. THE.CONTENDER needed a way to track and improve these skills and make sure he had life goals and objectives. 
 
Creating a life plan using PLAN DO CHECK ACT 
 
Using a planning and reviewing technique - PLAN DO CHECK ACT THE.CONTENDER got to work on a life plan (for more information on planning in business a very good book is:  <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Project-Workout-Ultimate-Programme-Management/dp/0273723898/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1345560741&sr=1-1" target="_blank">Project Workout</a>): 
 
1. Plan 
       Listed my strengths and weaknesses 
       Chose the areas I want to work on 
       Listed my desires and dreams in life 
2. Do 
        Created goals and objectives 
        Made sure goals are SMART Specific that can be measured it is achievable, realistic and timed 
3. Check 
       Checked the objective are aligned to needs and plans for happiness 
4. Act 
       Cleaned up the goals and objectives 
       Created actions for each goal and track progress 
 
This keeps on changing due to our circumstances. Becoming a dad 
threw a curve ball at me - it is the most astounding of all of the "new" 
challenges I had to consider. Lets have a look at each of the 4 parts of the planning process:

PLAN DO CHECK ACT Life Objectives

THE.FUTURE : "CONTENDER you are wasting your life your time has come to relinquish your crown and come with me!" THE.CONTENDE...

CALP! Where to Live in Early Retirement?

Contender 0 Early Retirement, frugality, Happiness, Life, Planning 20:46

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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DtjFOsah5_I/UCv-fcOphjI/AAAAAAAABp4/bpPkqNWsmiI/s1600/BrightSideOfLife.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="209" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DtjFOsah5_I/UCv-fcOphjI/AAAAAAAABp4/bpPkqNWsmiI/s320/BrightSideOfLife.jpg" width="320"></a>Our tribe has a financial freedom plan in the CPH (Contender Plan for Happiness). It is one thing to be financially free but what are we going to do with it? We have developed our own CALP (Contender Awesome Life Plan). So our CPH consists of the CFFP (<a href="http://getintheringwithme.blogspot.com/p/muff-tools-and-check-lists.html" target="_blank">Contender Financial Freedom Planner</a>) and CALP :) 
 
This post is how we have chosen (with a scorecard posted below) where we want to live considering education for the kids, community, food, climate etc. Read on to find out why the French Countryside (but not too far from the amenities of a city) are right for us at this point in time. 
 
Our goals early in life were like any other young couple, have fun travel and socialise. We were discussing some longer term plans but we too busy in the NOW having FUN. We were testing the water you could say. Would we like to get married have kids etc. Work was fulfilling but what were our long term aims and how are we going to get there? 
 
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="266" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/A3oIiH7BLmg?feature=player_embedded" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="320"></iframe>At the time 7 years ago we were in no position to make more radical decisions about our careers but after 4 years of saving we started to see options. With the arrival of our first child my wife had a year off on maternity leave. During this time the advantages for our child were clear. My wife had time to recover and enjoy quality time with our daughter. 
 
Management books had made way for baby books and as a Dad I had started reading up on work life balance. We needed a blueprint for the next few years. Was career a key driver for us or something different? We decided we needed some balance like anything in life. We needed a new definition for what is a career and what is achievement in life.

CALP! Where to Live in Early Retirement?

Our tribe has a financial freedom plan in the CPH ( C ontender P lan for H appiness). It is one thing to be financially free but what ar...

Free Tools

Contender 0 Education, Finance, Investing, Planning, Saving, Toolkit 12:46

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Free Toolkit Manifesto - Provide simple, accessible, customizable planning tools</h2>
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Free CPT's (<a href="http://getintheringwithme.blogspot.co.uk/p/muff-tools-and-check-lists.html" target="_blank">Contender Planning Tools</a>) that cover radical solutions to life's challenges are a key part of this blog. A blog post will accompany each tool and a how to use guide. Is this a new concept - definitely not. My objective may be different though : "Provide, free, clear simple, very user friendly planning tools with the specific goal of the Pursuit of Happiness". I know this is a very ambitious, difficult, complex if not impossible task but I sincerely hope it will be a fun collaborative effort and interesting to see where it ends up. </div>
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All the great things are simple, and many can be expressed in a single word: freedom, justice, honor, duty, mercy, hope.
 
Winston Churchill
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Qualified???? - CLSAD (Contender Life Skills and Disasters) 
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How have I learnt how to plan \ create ad-hock tools? 12 years work in process design has laid a solid foundation. I have found that business tools are readily transferable into social life. The challenge is to simplify and adapt their purpose. 
 
I have read a huge number of business books gone on numerous training courses. A vast amount of information and too much to remember and apply. I applied, succeeded and messed up in places but then adapted and ultimately worked hard to get results in work. The same is true in my personal life and a <a href="http://getintheringwithme.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/round-5-15-secs-muff-family-financial.html" target="_blank">later post</a> covers some of the bad decisions the Tribe have learnt from. 
 
Does this qualify me to have a go at a bunch of tools for life? Definitely not but someones got to do it. I am willing to have a go, try them out in real life situations to find out 
 
Tool Contents - CBBT (Contender Big Bag of Tricks)  
 
CBBT includes planning, strategy building, risk planning, tracking, calculations, graphs and diagrams. They cover the key points from the start of the planning process to the final long term goal (it is almost always a good idea to state your long term goal and work backwards). 
 
I have found that having a plan that you can update easily with checks \ action lists is extremely important. This makes sure you do not miss the obvious and you stay on track. A plan helps you to be realistic with yourself. A regularly reviewed plan gives you a sense of control and comfort that you are going in the right direction. If you are off track you can adapt and not panic onto bad decisions. </div>
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Free Tools

Free Toolkit Manifesto - Provide simple, accessible, customizable planning tools Free CPT 's ( C ontender P lanning T ools )...

Four Key Planning Rules

Contender 0 Compound Interest, Critical Thinking, Planning, Risk, Rules, Saving 21:44

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Pulling himself off the floor and onto the ropes - Learning to fight back</h2>
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THE.CONTENDER has always had a go at work and life challenges and took some knocks along the way. THE.CONTENDER never liked failure and generally took failure to heart (still the case). Perhaps that was because THE.CONTENDER was never really taught that failure was actually a really good thing. Learning from mistakes is a gift and structured feedback is invaluable (but don't repeat the mistake again!). 
 
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THE.CONTENDER has learned a some very important lessons and skills from my failure in work that are invaluable in my personal life. </div>
 
Interestingly, in my corporate career, having a go was not really encouraged. Generally it was do as your are told and cover your back. THE.CONTENDER found that having a go in work came at a cost to my career. Steady as she goes and take you time to set expectations. Expectations were everything. 
 
THE.CONTENDER may have been late on a few projects but why the demonisation of the late delivery? The new process THE.CONTENDER had devised off his own back was saving significant time and money. It was all politics, egos and control tactics. As a result the majority of people kept their heads down and just wanted to go home each day. Is this true in other workplaces? 
 
Failure at a young age should be embraced and encouraged. With extra coaching expectations can be managed while problem solving and common sense nurtured. THE.CONTENDER's mistakes in the work environment could have been "learnt" earlier. Here are some of them: 
 
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<li>Keep it simple stupid -  being well educated I expected other people to be able to understand complex issues as well.</li>
<li>Setting expectations and planning ahead - being over optimistic can cause problems come up with a plan make sure it is realistic (criticize it) make sure if it is going wrong you are open and address the issues early.</li>
<li>Falling for the latest gimmick - this can being sold some thing you don't need at great cost and time to making bad choices (where to live, choice of job, latest investment mania)</li>
<li>Is there another way to get this done faster what are the risks if we go down this route and how do we manage them?</li>
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This blog is my attempt to take some of the "work" tools and skills and adapt them to life in general. Here are the 4 core principles of this blog which may well expand with time. 
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Four Key Planning Rules

Pulling himself off the floor and onto the ropes - Learning to fight back THE.CONTENDER has always had a go at work and life ...

Get In The Ring?

Contender 0 Blog, Education, Finance, Freedom, Happiness, Life, Planning, Toolkit 09:53

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FISH | Financial Independence and Seeking Happiness   
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CoNTeNDeR: "Who is next in the ring?"  </div>
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PLAN.AHEAD: "The future my son he is unforgiving, surprising and always your shadow"   
CoNTeNDeR: "A venerable adversary what do I need to learn if I am going to face him?"   
PLAN.AHEAD: "CoNTeNDeRwe constantly need to learn. THE FUTURE is there he is real and he is constantly changing. Are you ready to getinthering my lad?"   
CoNTeNDeR: "I am only on this planet once and I intend to make the most of it lets get on with it" 
 
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Welcome! Lets get straight to the chase this blog is all about gaining financial independence as quickly as possible while seeking happiness along the way.</div>
 
THE.FuTuRe "I'm one step ahead of you boy, look left, look right, around every corner I am ready to strike. Go home boy to your job, your routine accept your fate." 
 
Why the FISH Blog?  </div>
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Our Tribe have been on quite a ride for the last 15 years. 
 
We have taken some hard knocks from THE.PaST, picked ourselves up from the canvass and are  expecting surprises from THE.FuTuRe. 
 
All the time we have grown a little older and hopefully a little wiser :0) Learning bit by bit how to set ourselves up for life. 
 
We are in better shape for THE.FuTuRe after a dramatic change in lifestyle over the past seven years saving like mad to gain financial independence. 
 
This change has caused us to addressed the challenges of a growing family, education, finance and work. We have changed from short term consumer thinking to long term goals of the pursuit of financial independence and happiness. 
 
Old habits have died hard (reckless spending, hedonism, just living the now) and replaces by new ones where we can clearly see THE.FuTuRe and are taking him on on our terms. 
 
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This blog is a collection of articles and tools that we found useful in planning for Finacial Independence and Seeking Happiness. </div>
 
Here are a few backgroun articles from the site: 
 
<a href="http://getintheringwithme.blogspot.com/p/about-me.html" target="_blank">Who Am I</a> 
<a href="http://getintheringwithme.blogspot.com/2012/07/round-5-15-secs-muff-family-financial.html">Family Financial Independence in 7 Years! Almost FI this is how we got there</a> 
<a href="http://getintheringwithme.blogspot.com/2012/11/30-rules-of-very-early-retirement.html">30 Rules of Very Early Retirement</a> 
<a href="http://getintheringwithme.blogspot.com/2012/10/10-career-skills-for-early-retirement.html">10 Career Skills for Early Retirement</a> 
<a href="http://getintheringwithme.blogspot.com/2013/10/stuck-generation.html">Stuck Generation - Generational cycles and the impact on the next generation</a> 
 
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How do you become Independent? 
 
Gaining financial independence and working out what you want requires alot of research, thinking, learning and doing. Some of the key sources of information are linked from this site.  
 
Skills need to be honed in finance, health, work, education, environment. Unfortunately it is is easy to get overloaded by information and sidetracked by marketing. 
 
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This blog is primarily about providing the information in one place. Discuss how to create a personal financial 
independence plan and how to put it into action. It further considers future 
trends and why become financially free and seek happiness in the first place.</div>
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"It's all about money, not freedom, ya'll, okay? Nothing to do with 
fuckin' freedom. If you think you're free, try going somewhere without 
fucking money, okay?"<a class="extiw" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American:_The_Bill_Hicks_Story" title="w:American: The Bill Hicks Story"> American: The Bill Hicks Story</a> </blockquote>
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FISH Blog Goals 
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<li>Poke some fun at conventional wisdom</li>
<li>Share useful information</li>
<li>Investigate topics such as finance, health and education and their impact on happiness</li>
<li>Provide a set of simple planning tools for you to hopefully view \ use \ get some ideas >>>> </li>
<li>Have some fun </li>
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A bit more information on the Blog 
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<li>Work out how to be financially
independent and understand WHAT is happening in this world and
how to GROW wealth regardless of world events</li>
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a.     Real World Education – what are we NOT taught in school about finance</div>
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b.     Getting the right job and the benefits of multiple income streams</div>
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c.     Compound interest - One of the wonders of the world and its impact on growing your   savings and investments.</div>
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d.     Investigation of different investments and how to evaluate their worth 
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<li>Applying Simple Business skills (project planning, negotiation, influencing
etc.) to plan for financial independence <blockquote class="tr_bq">
 "Children are smarter than any of us. Know how I know that? I don't know one child with a full time job and children." - Bill Hicks</blockquote>
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<li>How to get a continuous balanced real world education for life  </li>
<li>What is Self-sufficiency
and resilience what can be useful whilst not being extreme and living in a hut in the woods. </li>
<li>What can constitute a good life?</li>
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<a href="http://getintheringwithme.blogspot.com/p/stock-screen.html"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Qa8eONAOZxA/U4HmozW1lkI/AAAAAAAADPc/ttZMRslvSJk/s1600/Focus3.PNG" /></a>  
Please feel free to have a look around perhaps start with the <a href="http://getintheringwithme.blogspot.com/p/all-posts-get-in-ring.html" target="_blank">All Posts</a> page which has summaries and descriptions of the sites articles 
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"I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman, 
"Where's the self-help section?" She said if she told me, it would 
defeat the purpose." - George Carlin   </blockquote>
FISH Tools 
 
THE.CoNTeNDeR has developed a Financial Independence and Seeking Happiness  <a href="http://getintheringwithme.blogspot.com/p/muff-tools-and-check-lists.html" target="_blank">Tool Kit</a>. Hopefully the tool will be a valuable addition to the financial freedom and life hacking / planning community. 
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The tool covers financial freedom, health, education and general life. It is really a continuous self education planning tool interspersed with investment choice and management. </div>
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"Most people work just hard enough not to
get fired and get paid just enough money not to quit." - George
Carlin  </div>
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A CoNTeNDeR after all? 
 
Whilst our Tribe has made some blunders on our road to Financial 
Independence that is part and parcel of the joys of learning from 
mistakes. On top of that life has a habit of throwing up the unexpected.
 Don't worry they are all covered in this blog. 
  
These blunders were a gift to us that helped us learn some skills that are benefiting us to this day. Does THE.CoNTeNDeR have a chance against THE.FuTuRe after his scrapes with THE.PaST? They will all be documented here on this blog. 
 
Peace and prosperity and I hope to see you soon,</div>
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<a href="http://getintheringwithme.blogspot.co.uk/p/about-me.html" target="_blank">THE CONTENDER</a> 
 
Kindly share this post >>>></div>
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Get In The Ring?

FISH | Financial Independence and Seeking Happiness CoNTeNDeR : "Who is next in the ring?" PLAN...

Welcome to FISH !
You have come here looking for answers. How to get out of debt? How to save and invest? How to retire early and how you want to live in retirement.

Well this is the right place for you as out tribe has been through all of these steps. We no longer work for a corporate employer and have saved enough to retire early. How we did this is shared here on this site for you.

Our little tribe found out these secrets to financial independence in our late 20’s. Since then we have taken early retirement, in our late 30's, in just 7 years. We now live in the South West of France with our two young children.

Along the way I decided to share everything I learnt. My articles and tips on aggressive saving and compound investing are there to help you meet your financial goals fast. I discuss ways to help you decide what you want by building a life plan. This helps to work out how to get where you want to be whilst avoiding the pitfalls along the way.

My expertise was built up working in blue chip corporate jobs, extensive reading and putting it into practice. I have condensed this knowledge into simple strategies to help you meet your goals and not those of the bank or the place you work.

There are free planning tools on this site that help you make a life plan. A plan for your future. The tools calculate how to reach your financial goals in a timeline that suits you. The tools help set out your life goals, make them happen and how to exceed them.

There are tips on how to simplifying your life to remove day to day headaches. These include ways to pay off debt fast buy eliminating wasteful spending habits. How to reduce your monthly bills through choices that actually improve your health and wellbeing. Identifying things you don’t need that sap your time and wallet.

There are little sustainability projects to reduce your dependence on shops and utilities whilst saving money to spend on things you want.

All of these little steps will show you how save 50%+ of your salary so you can meet your goal whatever it is. This huge saving rate can be compounded for very early retirement. I am sure you will find something here for you.

Darren Lee (A.K.A the Contender as in my blog)

FISH | Financial Independence Seeking Happiness