Gen Z Guide to FI

I do something weird when I spend months/years trying to achieve a goal. I do nothing. Once I’ve completed the goal, I move on to the next thing without acknowledging or enjoying the fact that I have reached a fantastic goal.

Why do I do this? On a recent episode of the psychology of your 20s, the host talked about ‘the psychology of the overachiever’. I felt attacked.

Now I’m here to make you feel attacked as well.

It’s not normal to feel useless because you got less than 700 on the GMAT. This is to everyone who was told they were gifted or a prodigy as a child. And now, the prodigy is covered in hives, burnt out, sleep-deprived, and paying $400 a month for therapy. This is my current life most days. Thank God for therapy, melatonin bubble baths, and allergy pills, though.

A few months ago, I got promoted at work. It was a significant promotion with an 8% raise. I had been working towards it for 2 years. What did I do once I got it? Nothing. I literally just remembered it while listening to the podcast. I’m now thinking, ‘damn, I really trained my mind to expect overachievement so much that I don’t acknowledge my wins.’ 

I can think of a few more examples, like when I got into both my pre-MBA fellowship programs or when I graduated college (technically, it was 2020’s fault that I didn’t celebrate). But I remember doing absolutely nothing to celebrate those accomplishments.

I am living most of my dream life right now. That alone is worthy of a celebration. Teenage me wanted to be a star in LA and be financially independent from my parents. I have been a star for years; the world just isn’t aware yet & I’m financially free. I’m so grateful that I’m making 13-year-old me proud – so I should get a few bahamamama from Applebees to celebrate. 

I have new dreams now. Well not new if you’ve been following my blog, but a dream for my 40-year-old self. Spoiler alert: the dream is to be free from working for money. Every action I take gets me closer to that dream. In 16 years, I will look back at this post and shed sentimental tears for how far I’ve come.

But until then, every milestone is worth celebrating. Every debt payoff. Every promotion. Every birthday. Every day I get to 8 cups of water. Every day I walk 10,000 steps. Every new subscriber to the blog.

Every moment of joy matters! Tell me your wins and I’ll celebrate them with you ❤

XOXO Gen Z Fire Baby