Why Your Way Is The Best Way
As many of you know I am an outdoor sports fanatic and spend as much time as possible playing in nature. Whether it’s mountain biking, running, kayaking, paddle boarding, mountaineering, or just good ole hiking and camping, I love it all.
One of my favorite hobbies is rock climbing. Believe it or not I was actually terrified of heights as a kid. As I got older I mostly overcame that fear, although the weird thing is that man-made heights still freak me out a bit. Like roller coasters or skyscrapers.
But if it’s a 2000 foot cliff on a mountain I’m okay. I guess my inner psyche trusts Mother Nature more than the part-time roller coaster mechanic who’s supposed to check the bolts regularly.
I’ve been climbing more than usual this year in a focused attempt to get better. This entails solo rock climbing very often since I have 3 work days off every week after going part-time at my W2 job.
I’m Just An Okay Rock Climber, Actually The Okayest.
I’m a much stronger mountaineer then I am a rock climber. Mountaineering for the most part involves long endurance efforts carrying heavy loads up steep but usually non-vertical faces. I’ve climbed all the fourteeners in Colorado and many other mountains around the world.
But rock climbing requires more muscle, and as an avid cyclist my skinny arms are just not up to the task sometimes. In other words, I don’t have guns!
Last week I spent 4 hours on the local crag training. While I was struggling to successfully climb a particular section it struck me how climbing is similar to the path to financial independence.
There Are Many Ways
Here’s a pic of one of the local climbs near me.
Which line up is the right one? My main answer is “the one I can do”. Sure I’d like to be good enough to do them all, but mainly I just want to climb the face.
The goal is the top. There are tons of different combinations of footholds and hand holds to get there. The hard part is figuring out the combination that works for you.
For instance, I’m 6 feet 4 inches tall, so I can reach certain holds easier than someone who’s shorter. But I also have to hold up a lot more body length on the wall when using small finger holds that are close together. And that’s a big disadvantage as compared to a shorter person.
So I have to find my way up the climb. If I make it, then that’s my way and the way that worked for me. It’s not right or wrong per say, it’s what worked for me.
Financial independence is the same.
The goal is to make it there, but the hard part is figuring out all the proverbial handholds and footholds that you’re capable of doing.
The holds you choose will no doubt be different than mine. The way each person balances their body will be unique to them.
I don’t let the rock climbing snobs tell me I took “the wrong line” up a rock face. If I got to the top, I just tell them to go pound sand.
And you shouldn’t let anyone tell you you are getting to financial independence the wrong way.
Maybe you like cars and have an expensive SUV. But if you’re still saving tons of money and making great progress toward financial independence, then you’re doing it your way!
Semper Gumby
I also notice that when I’m looking at a rock face from the bottom I can usually see the path that I think I will take and that will work for me. However once I start climbing, I’d say 75% of the time I wind up doing something different, and using different holds.
In other words, I’m usually figuring it out as I’m going. And much of my planning gets tossed out the window soon after I start.
The path to financial independence is probably going to turn out the same way. The best laid plans will likely be thwarted by unexpected expenses and life events.
You may think you’re going to get there a certain way, but once you’re in the journey you’ll probably be doing things you would never have expected in the beginning.
The United States Marines have a saying for this – “Semper Gumby” which means “always flexible”. It’s a take off on their official motto “Semper Fi” which means “always faithful”.
Another great term used in the military often that relates to both rock climbing and the journey to FI is “adapt and overcome”.
On some rock climbs I often find myself in very uncomfortable and contorted positions. The only way out is to adapt to that situation and overcome it, by making a move.
In my journey to FI I was also often adapting to new life circumstances. To overcome some of the hardest I had to alter investment strategies or tax strategies. The fact that I kept my strategy simple and mostly boring helped when it was time to tweak things and make adjustments.
Do It Your Way
Queue the Frank Sinatra, but hey, the message in that song is really a great one.
I planned each charted course
Each careful step along the byway
And more, much more than this
I did it my way
So get out there financial warriors and plan your charted course to FI. And don’t let others tell you you’re doing it wrong. The way that works for you is the best way.
“The one I can do” – I haven’t seen anything else spelled out so beautifully.
I am terrified of heights too. But it is not under control like you. Every single morning, I struggle with an escalator. I look down and stand still. Terrified.
Yikes! But I can commiserate, some of the DC metro escalators are REALLY high and steep! Thanks for stopping by!
I love when you can take something you do in everyday life and find a financial correlate to it. The parallels between Rock climbing and the FIRE path are strikingly similar.
All FI people should climb!!
Another awesome post. Growing up around a Marine taught me “adapt and overcome” and it has served me well. “You do you” is something Gary Vaynerchuk says, and its been helpful for me framing my pursuits. I want to learn from others who have traveled the path, not mirror them.
“You do you”, love it! Thanks for the kudos!
Another insightful post. Telling people who think they know best to pound sand is my favorite part of the post. Not sure what that says about me, but I loved it. Too many in the herd think they know what’s best for everyone else. They don’t. Thanks for reminding the elites.
Climbers are almost always cool people but many take the climbing part too elitist. In the grand scheme, it’s just exercise on a rock, chill out!
Great comparison. No two paths to FIRE are going to be the same and people shouldn’t get hung up on what works for others if it doesn’t work for them.
Thanks!
Semper Gumby – that is my favorite part. Not only do you need it to get to FI, but you need it even more after you quit. To find the “work” you love, the ways to fill your life once it’s on you to decide — many people struggle with that. The “you do you” attitude is key to both.
I think you need Semper Gumby throughout your entire adult life. Once things aren’t handed to you as they are when you’re a kid, flexibility is key to happiness. The Marines know a thing or two!
i get a kick out of some of the youthful plans i read. “i’m 22 and make x dollars and the market will return x percent. i’m outta here at age 29!” until, oops, my girl is pregnant or i’m pregnant!? or the market returns turned out not to mimic past results! adapt and overcome and live your values. nothing is f”d yet unless you allow it.
i was listening to wwoz a couple of weeks ago and heard willie nelson singing sinatra songs including “my way.” it was stellar.
Exactly, I remember being 22 and I have to say, life didn’t turn out like I thought it would. Not even close.
And Willie’s still releasing albums, he can still sing. Must be the pot!
I really enjoyed the emphasis that there’s no single way to make it to the top, that every one will have a different way to get there that will suit them best, and that most times the way that you plan ends up changing by the time you are done. Now, I’m really not an expert in rock climbing, but I also imagine that despite there being many ways to the top, there’s still those foundational things that everyone needs in order to get there (all the safety stuff for one). So in a way, even if there are 100 paths to the goal, all climbers still somewhat share part of a common experience, just like FIRE.
For sure, in rock climbing learning knots, belaying, and the basics of safety are essential to stay alive. So like you mention there’s a “base” common experience, but things can wildly diverge from there.
Thanks for the great comment!
Nice interpretation of the road to FI, particularly with the military reference. Marines, and other service branches, also have the particular advantage of discipline — something so many don’t necessarily have. And that discipline is such an essential part of reaching FI (or training for your competitive bikes or 14ers). As I’ve restarted this ride to FI, I’ve realized I have to continually tweak my habits and renegotiate with myself what is or isn’t worth sacrificing in order to reach FI — in essence, the adapting part you’re referencing. It’s a constant reexamination of my values, but it’s well worth it in the end to gain financial freedom and the time to have fun like you do!
Discipline.
That one word, it’s everything. As Jocko Willink says, “Discipline is freedom”
That he does! 🙂
I really enjoyed this post. Everyone has to find their own path to FI. What works for me, might not work for you. We have to be flexible and adapt as we go along. This message is lost among the experts, bloggers, and gurus. They tend to say do it this way. That works for a bit, but then you have to adapt the message to your unique situation. Anyway, good post.
Thanks Joe, I enjoyed writing it and the idea literally came to me while I was on the rock wall. I get my best ideas when doing stuff outside!
Wise words indeed. Personal finance is persona and there’s more than one path to FI. Whichever path works for you is definitely the best way! 🙂
Thanks Doc!
I enjoyed your transformation of a non-financial hobby into a useful financial parallel. You speak truth with saying every person’s path differs and no two routes are the same. The only items which matter are making forward progress and reaching your goal. Getting from A to B might have a few detours, but just make sure you get from A to B. In the case of climbing, finding those grips, holds, and contortions unique to you and making the most of them.
I don’t know about you, but I find most of my blog topic ideas and related perspectives come to me during my evening runs. The physical endurance clears my mind of a lot of useless preoccupations and allows me to focus. Likely a result of the endorphins, but it’s therapeutic nevertheless. I wonder what path deviations I’ll encounter along my way. Hopefully, I adapt and overcome. Great post!
So true for me too! I get most of my ideas on bike rides and runs! It’s a well-researched phenomenon that we produce all sorts of endorphins and dopamine doing those activities, which is why they’re just as healthy for the brain as they are for the body.
Thanks for the kudos!
Usually once climbing I am thinking, where the hell did that obvious line go. A whole lot of hang on and get the hell up there so we can get off this rock. I have never done a big pitch route and can’t imagine from my mountaineering preference what being on a big wall is like. I guess with Financial Independance and Climbing it’s all about how much “exposure” you are comfortable with along the way.
Love that, didn’t think of the double-use of the word exposure in the context of this post. Nice!
Lol only you and I would probably get it anyhow 😉
“The one I can do.” Love it. Such a beautiful way to describe most things.
Seems so simple it should be in a Dr. Seuss book or something 😉
Very true. There are so many different pathways and each persons may change mid climb. Great metaphor.
Thanks!
Beautiful way to describe the path to FI, great post! The focus should be on reaching the top, and everyone takes a different path.
Thanks Matt, I appreciate that!
I also rock climb. But I live in a big city so all the holds are plastic…I look forward to being out in the country one day and enjoying some outdoor climbing.
Outdoors is where it’s at, you’ll love it!
What a great analogy! At the end of the day, our lives are our own. It’s great to learn from others, but nobody else is gonna walk our paths for us.
Thank You!
Love this! It’s why I shy away from writing absolutes (5 steps to do x) and just write about my own story. Personal finance is personal, after all!
Thanks Erin, and that’s why people love your blog. Only you have your story, and we all love stories. So keep telling it!
It is a great analogy but it has a dark side too. While a great many things exist that the world’s best rock climber can do that are beyond the ability of the world’s okayest rock climber there are very few differences in what people are capable of financially. It can be used as an excuse to say I can’t do that when it comes to controlling expenses. That simply isn’t true for anyone other than someone with high medical expenses. Lacking willpower isn’t the same as lacking extreme strength. I’ll never dunk a basketball regardless of training or effort but it’s a cop out for me to say I can’t save money. There are differences in people’s ability to earn, some people don’t have much in the way of marketable talent, but nobody has to buy a $68,000 SUV.
GREAT comment Steve! Very true about the dark side and I like how you explore the other side of this.
“Nobody has to buy a $68k SUV” – drop mic, walk off. So true!
This reminds me of a Mike Tyson quote: “Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.” 😉
I agree that everyone has to find their own path. That applies to many things in life, especially personal finance. There are certainly some standard things that are recommended, but there are a number of ways to get there. Some people like real estate, some people like stocks, some people like affiliate marketing…you get the idea. The most important thing I’ve found is that the person believes their way is the right way for them and won’t get talked out of it by the first naysayer they encounter.
Also, I love that you’ve climbed all the 14ers. That’s a work in progress for me.
Love that Tyson quote, and he got punched hard by Buster Douglas!
Good luck with the 14ers man, it’s a wonderful journey. Can’t wait to get back out there an do some 13ers or repeats!
This is so true. To reach FI and strive for stronger financial gains you cannot follow advice for the masses. Some things will work for you that won’t work for others. We all have to follow our own paths in life. That’s why some people strive to earn more while others try their best to spend less. Or some will plow away in their jobs to make the most of them while others will search for entirely different careers or leave the 9-to-5 all together. We all have to remember to follow our own hearts, minds and journeys!
By the way I was always told that rock climbing is more about the legs then the arms. A friend of mine used to take us climbing in college. He said if our arms were tired we weren’t doing it right. I don’t know if that’s true, but when he reminded us of that fact it did feel easier. Look for a place to plant your feet before you search for a place to place your hands.
Yes that’s true that climbing moderate grades like 5.5 – 5.7 is indeed mostly legs. But when you start getting to the harder stuff (5.9 and higher) with overhangs etc then upper body plays a much bigger role. That’s where I struggle with my cyclist arms ha ha. But it’s a great workout nonetheless!
Be better Not Bigger 🙂
Great analogy! To expand on “your own path,” it’s reassuring to know that different people have different strengths to get through a crux, wether it be financially or physically. The man with the bigger biceps is going to power through a section that a kid with tiny fingers can crimp through. My family and I are climbers as well and have recently started our path towards FI and, ironically, I get to work in the indoor climbing industry! As a Routesetter, I am creating and designing the courses to help both the novice and expert climber find their way to the top! It would be pretty cool to start a fincancial advising side hustle to compliment this metaphor…
Cool – what a great job! That’s probably a job that you’re not necessarily seeking to retire from anytime soon. I’d love to work in an environment like that… as you know climbers are cool folks and being around fit and active people is always a good stoke!
Nice to meet a mountaineer in these parts. It seems that FI and outdoor pursuits are often overlapping.
Enjoyed the post and look forward to more!
They are overlapping, and I think there are all kinds of themes that can be drawn between the two. Thanks for the comment!
I love this analogy! My ex was a very avid rock climber, and this brought back memories of staring at the rock faces. As a complete newbie, I would look up and try to figure out what path I would take (not that I climbed, I was just a spectator) and then would be puzzled as to why he or the other climbers went a completely different way. But it’s exactly like you said – they took the best path for them – their height, their weight, their skill-set. 🙂
Yep, I climb with some women who are pretty short, and they typically do things VERY different than me. And they kick my butt too!
Thanks for the compliment!
I do agree. It is true that there are so many different pathways. I will write my story very soon. The main thing is that the Personal finance is personal always. Thanks anyway!
Thank you!
I love the rock climbing-FI analogy! I wonder if you could take it even further? Have you read The Rock Warrior’s Way by Arno Ilgner? In it he emphasizes a way to get your head straight rock climbing; how to mentally cope with risk and fear.
He defines two types of fear: Rational and irrational.
Rational fear is what keeps us from trying to free-solo a 5.13 (climb a really hard route with no rope). There is a good chance you will fall (100% chance for me!), and if you do you will die. Your fear is rational. We should listen to our rational fears. They keep us alive.
Irrational fear is when our natural instincts trigger a fear reaction when it isn’t warranted. An example is being afraid of a SAFE fall (one where the protective gear is very good and you won’t hit anything but air before the rope catches) just because you are very high off the ground. We should NOT listen to our irrational fears. They keep us from our full potential, and these “safe falls” are where all the learning and growth comes from.
The investing analogy would be …
Rational Fear: “Bitcoin has shot way up. Seems like a weird bubble.” I am afraid to buy in. This fear was rational, and I’m glad I listened to it a few months back when everyone else was going crazy.
Irrational Fear: “I don’t want to buy any stock index funds because I’m afraid of a crash and loosing my money.” This is an irrational fear. Just like the safe rock climbing fall, your index fund won’t fall all the way down. The correct answer here could be to ignore this fear. It may fall a bit (or a lot), but it won’t go to zero and it will keep climbing eventually. Index funds are like a safe overhanging sport climbing route. You can whip all day long and never hit the ground!
Sorry for the long reply, you got my brain spinning!
THANKS for that, no I have not read that book but just put it on my list. Another example of rational vs irrational fears is in transportation modes. The fear of flying, which is extremely safe (on commercial planes) versus driving, which not many people fear and is extremely dangerous. People just ignore the numbers and focus on the sensationalism of the experience.