Live the Life You Love – Sailboat

I once asked a friend what he wanted from his portfolio. He said he wanted a million dollars and a $500,000 sailboat. I asked him why he wanted a million dollars. He didn’t know. I asked him if he had a sailboat now, how much it was worth, and how often he’d sailed it this year. He said, “yes, $20,000, once. “I asked him how old his kids were. They were 10 and 13. He asked why. I said, “Maybe you’d be better off if you figured out how to grow your company, while cutting your hours back to 20 per week, so you’d have the freedom to enjoy your life with your kids before they’re all grown up.” His exact words were, “You’re f***ing high.”

Four years later, I got a call from him on a Tuesday afternoon. He asked me if I knew where he was. I guessed a Mexican prison. Nope. Instead he said, “I’m sailing on Lake Minnetonka, I’ve been here all day with my daughter. Last week I worked seven hours in the office and yet my company continues to grow. My daughter goes off to college this fall. I’m so glad I took the time to enjoy our time together these last few years. You saved my life. Thank you.”