Money isn't just about what you have – it's about how it flows.
I think one of the aspects of money that I like to explore nowadays is how it flows, specifically from a personal finance perspective.
This phrase above didn't fully dawn on me until I was much younger and dreaming of my first laptop, which at that time was a purchase that seemed as out of reach as the stars in the sky.
Like many lessons about money that I've learned along the way, it started with a simple desire.
I needed to build my first dam a.k.a a saving system that could capture and hold enough money to make this significant purchase.
Every small stream of income I could find was channeled into this reservoir. Sometimes, it'll take me a week to put money into it, other times, two weeks or a month.
Part of me patiently watched the water level rise, though slower than my eagerness would have liked.
What I didn't expect was how my dedication to building this dam would attract unexpected rapids. If I'm determined enough, I find it easier to tell people what I'm doing.
And my aunt, noticing my disciplined approach to saving, was moved to contribute a significant flow – 43% of the funds needed!
Apart from the uncontrolled excitement I had, It was one of my first intuitive understanding on how a rather mindful money management could create its own momentum, attracting additional streams I hadn't anticipated.
Upstream Sources And Flow Dynamics
Many rivers by nature do have tributaries, which develop into smaller streams that feed into the main river.
It's obvious that the main river is our main income source here. Tributaries or additional income streams are not always inherent in our financial landscape, we often have to build it ourselves.
This may include side projects, investment returns, or passive income streams, in general.
Depending on the state of the financial journey, it may be of utmost importance to first maintain the health of the main income stream through:
- Regular assessment of its strength and reliability
- Understanding what affects its flow (market conditions, skills, industry trends)
- Protecting it from erosion (staying competitive, maintaining skills)
- etc.
Before dabbling into building smaller streams.
I think it's a classical mistake many of us make before realizing that we need to concentrate our energy and resources first, then diversify if we choose to do so.
In this current moment, it's understanding what affects its flow that I spend most of my focus on.
The current trends in the digital space hint at a drought for roles that rely on outdated skills, such as traditional graphic design or basic content management.
And monsoons of opportunity for those fluent in "tech language", like data storytelling.
Arguably market conditions have contributed into the erosion of predictable career paths. It makes more sense to respect the river’s rhythm and go with it, adapting along the way.
Because obsessively digging new channels during dry seasons wastes energy, so to speak. Interestingly, patience lets rain (opportunity) do the work.
Unprepared Windfalls
Then there are the springs, which can be defined as unexpected upwellings in our financial landscape.
For example, a surprise bonus at work or an investment that performs beyond expectations.
When they do surface, having a predetermined plan helps you channel these unexpected flows effectively.
Watching them disappear into the ground of impulsive decisions is something that I'll forever see as one of the great financial lessons I had to learn. In a way, abundance ignored is scarcity earned.
What would you do if a spring suddenly bubbled up in your financial landscape? Would you reinforce your existing dams, dig new channels for future growth, or let it naturally find its own path? Or would you rather just figure it out when the moment arrives?
In my experience, those who prepare for abundance tend to manage it better than the ones who are caught off guard by it.
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