NFA Finance

I thought about it for a minute.

Maybe somebody wealthy. Somebody powerful. Somebody with an incredible house, a collection of cars, complete freedom, and access to everything imaginable.

But the truth is, I wouldn’t switch lives with anybody.

Not even for a week.

There are plenty of fictional characters I admire. I like the underdog who refuses to quit. I like the villain who walks into a room with absolute confidence. I respect the self-made character who starts with nothing, ignores the odds, and builds an empire.

I can admire their confidence, ambition, discipline, and fearlessness without wanting their life.

I want mine.

My life isn’t perfect. There have been setbacks, bad decisions, failed relationships, businesses that didn’t work, money lost, and plans that took longer than expected. I’ve had seasons when everything seemed to be moving forward and others when it felt like I was starting all over again.

But it’s my story.

I earned the lessons. I survived the difficult chapters. I developed the experience, instincts, and resilience that I have today because of everything that happened before now.

Why would I hand that over to become somebody else?

At 47 years old, I’m not looking backward and wishing I had lived a different life. I’m looking forward at everything I still intend to build.

Modern Day Dealer is growing. The vision for 7101 Motors is becoming clearer. There are businesses to build, vehicles to create, places to visit, videos to make, and miles still waiting to be driven.

My best chapter hasn’t happened yet.

That may be the biggest reason I wouldn’t trade lives with anybody. I’m too interested in seeing what happens next in my own life.

It’s easy to look at somebody else—even a fictional character—and want the finished product. You see the money, power, confidence, house, cars, or lifestyle. You don’t always see the cost attached to it.

Every life comes with a price.

I already know what mine has cost me, and I’m not walking away before I collect the return.

I don’t need somebody else’s victories because I didn’t fight their battles. I don’t need their identity because I’ve spent decades developing my own. And I don’t need to escape my life for a week when I’m still working to turn it into exactly what I want.

I’ll take the ambition from one character, the discipline from another, and the fearlessness from somebody else.

But I’ll keep my own life.

I’m not finished building it yet.

—Nicholas Francis
NFA Finance