Desires and Choices
We are all driven by desire to identify ourselves with aspirational things. Even in an emerging era of minimalism, living the way we do costs money. For many, this leads to overextending ourselves by taking on the pressures of debt, including home ownership when the interest rate environment is rising. But where does it end? How much is enough? Do we really need it? Is there a better way? Vanessa is joined by Jenny Josling to dive deep into the lessons learned from fictional characters pulled from Vanessa's finance novel "The Breakfast Club for 40-Somethings."
Meet Josie
Josie is a successful business owner, running a $10m turnover communication and events business pre COVID. She has never been married, but has dated many men, some wealthy, and others handsome and often broke, meaning money always became a factor in her relationships. Her one true love is Brad, who she reunites with again at the reunion.
About Jenny Josling
Jenny Josling is the Chair of Orbis Investments' distribution business in Australia. Orbis is a global firm with offices in eight countries around the world, around four hundred employees and almost $40 billion in assets under management. She is a mother, pianist and equestrian rider, and a creative at heart.
LINKEDINWill Josie avoid business failure with rising costs? Will she be able to keep up the pace? Will she find a better balance between life and work? Will her relationship work?
Key Takeaways
How desire is a treadmill, not a cul de sac. We can get caught up in the chase without realising we're picking up the pace.
When high-net-worth individuals like Josie get trapped by desire, needing to go to upmarket hotels and travel business class because they think that’s what’s expected of them.
Running your own business can put you in maximum control, and also at maximum risk.
The direction and insight a financial planner can offer.
"Desire pulls us forward, and fuels our ambition. But unchecked desire can come at a heavy price, dragging us in to pay for it all."
"Once you get into a situation where you’ve got losses that you’ve got to pay off, that’s scary."