FINCON 2018, The All-Star Game

Wow, FINCON. To say it exceeded my expectations would be an understatement.

I’ve figured out money, how to save it, invest it, maximize it’s utility in my life.  I reached financial independence in my early 40’s and semi-retired from my W2 job in my mid 40’s.

At the risk of sounding arrogant, in that aspect of life as compared to most Americans, I feel like a star.  I’m far from having many other aspects of life figured out, but I’ve done well with money. 

So when it comes to money, it’s easy to feel like the guy who’s hitting .340 with 45 homers on the otherwise crappy baseball team.

Well, to carry that analogy, going to FINCON was like getting selected for the All-Star game.  I showed up and realized I’m not that special.  All these other guys and gals are hitting .355, and they have 50 home runs.

When I got to the hotel they should have said “Please check your ego at the door and you can retrieve it in a shrunken state before you leave.”

 

Learn From The Best

But what a blessing.  Once I got the 20 seconds of ego-deflation out of the way all there was left to do was learn from these incredible all stars.  Learn how to get my batting average even higher, and hit more homers.

But most importantly what was important was to learn who they were.  To just meet them.  To talk about stuff, anything.  Not just money and blogs and side hustles, but life.

To get back to old-school conversations about life, passions, problems, whatever.  And preferably over a beer or two.

That sums up how I spent probably 90% of my FINCON.  Just chewing the rag with people about anything.

If you’re saying “I can do that at home”.  Well, yes.

But not with these people.

With these all stars any conversation had the potential of exploring the intellectual depths of science, health, and society – whatever.  Or it could just as easily transition into thoughts on beer and the Onion.  Ultra smart, and super fun. 

FINCON proved that the FI lifestyle is way more than money optimization.  It’s the people, the stories, the sharing of knowledge and lessons.

The money stuff is pretty straightforward.  Can it be hard to execute?  Absolutely. 

But that’s why you engage with the community.  To get help, to share the journey with them, the ups and the downs.

 

 

FI Serendipity

At one point on Saturday Susan from FI Ideas and I were sitting on a couch chatting about health related topics.  We were geeking out and exchanging ideas about VO2 max, hematocrit levels, A1C blood tests, and vitamin D deficiencies. 

If you’re wondering, no, we’re not doctors.  We’re just curious people who read a lot.  And what good is money anyway if you don’t have your health?

During the conversation I was telling her about my small skin cancer from a few years back and just as I spoke the word “dermatologist”, a woman who was randomly approaching to sit on the couch anyway said “oh I’m a dermatologist”. 

???  Where else does that happen?

It was Bonnie from Miss Bonnie MD, she was just passing by.  Serendipity.  Then a minute later her friend Carrie from the Hippocratic Hustle Podcast joined and the four of us discussed skincare, the state of healthcare in America, and why they want to retire early. 

I walked away from the conversation smarter, and with a slightly higher batting average.

 

Thank You

I met more people and had more conversations about more stuff in a four day period than ever before.  And I can’t remember ever being surrounded by a more intelligent, down to earth, and fun group of folks in a long long time.

What’s best is the overarching umbrella, the ethos that served as our common denominator, was winning at money as a tool to win even bigger at life.

To everyone I interacted with – THANK YOU.  I don’t want to even try to list all of the interactions I had for fear of leaving someone out.  But I learned from each and every conversation and I hope to meet you again.

I’d like to especially thank Doc Green and Susan. I spent most of my time with these two wonderful people and I’m far richer for it.