Is it pressure, or a privilege?
Stay positive
Keep your options open
Thursday night I flew 9 hours overnight
Back in the day, I was a big overnight flight fan
Then as I got a touch older, I started flying in the day
Joining frequent flyer programs and using points to get upgrades
Now I’m testing both approaches…. To see objectively what is the best
Sadly, no points upgrade available, online said do it at the desk, desk said it’s a no go
Ok, plan B…. See if I can secure a free row or 4
Plane configuration was 2-4-2
At least get to lie down
Asked at the desk, they said there was a free row
Booked the middle seat
Then, when boarding, I asked them again, they confirmed it was still an empty row
Looking good!
Aaaand….
Last people on the plane, sit down next to me
Apparently very late additions to the flight
Options then? Get upset at the loss of a good sleep, get frustrated at the breakdown in
communication somewhere, feel sorry for my future tired self?
Initial reaction was misery
Sleep gone, tomorrow will be a wasted day - or in the worlds of Steven Bartlett It would
ruin the next three days of my life …. (Ha)
Then I remembered, flying overnight is not a hardship, real hardships are mostly things I will
likely never experience - flying overnight is a privilege
(Which reminds me of this great video when Rassie Erasmus, the worlds top rugby coach,
was asked about the pressure of South Africa playing in a World Cup final)
Real hardship? Not being able to put food on the table, living in fear of violence, seeing
loved ones getting ill and not being able to help them
Most of you reading this, I hope, will not be experiencing real hardship
Options then?
Stay positive, keep your options open….
Quick scan of the plane
Free set of two behind me, two rows back
Take off, wait for seatbelt sign to go off, gather 4 pillows, move to the 2 seats
Not quite a lie down sleep, but with the pillows stacked against the window, it was a 45
degree sleep
Lovely
So many of us, myself included, stress about ensuring we do the right thing when it comes
to the future
Where should I live?
Should I move jobs?
Should I move house?
Start a business?
What asset class should I invest in?
Should I buy property?
In which country?
Region?
What type of property?
The reality is that being in a position to worry about these things is a privilege
Something only a small percentage of the world will ever get to worry about
At any given time time are potentially millions of different combinations and ways to invest
your cash
With property the world is your oyster….
Want a second passport? Buy in cypress or the Caribbean
Want a holiday home in Asia that you can use and rent out? Phuket, Bali, Ann Lombok
Want one of the most secure and stable legal systems? The Uk
Want as much income as possible? Student property, HMOs, one bed flats, holiday lets
Highest growth possible? Russia or turkey in recent years (beware headline figures)
It’s not pressure, it’s a privilege
Set your goals, do your research, make a decision
Stick to the decision and don’t look back
Life is too short
Content of the week;
Equity markets are at a level only once seen before in 155 years…. Should you be worried
and what should you do about it?
Callum