If you had to sum up your life philosophy in one sentence, what would it be?
If I had to sum up my life philosophy in one sentence, it would be this:
“Take responsibility for your happiness, create your freedom, and design a life you don’t need a vacation from.”
That’s what I’m working toward.
I want to wake up and have a say in what my day looks like. Work on cars I enjoy. Build my business my way. Create something. Spend time with the people I care about. Take a trip because I want to go somewhere, without feeling like I need to escape everything back home.
To me, that’s freedom.
Money plays a part in it. Anybody who’s felt the pressure of bills knows how much of your attention they can consume. I want to make good money, and I have big goals. But I also want to be intentional about what that money buys me. More control over my time. Room to breathe. The ability to make a decision because it fits the life I want.
I’ve also learned that you can collect a lot of stuff and end up giving yourself a lot more to manage. Every purchase comes with some claim on your money, your time, or your attention. These days, I’m thinking harder about what actually deserves a place in my life.
A shop, some cars I love, meaningful work, good people, and the freedom to get out on the road—that sounds pretty damn good to me.
The responsibility part matters, too. I can’t hand somebody else the job of making me happy. I have to pay attention to my choices, my habits, and what I keep allowing into my days. When something isn’t working, I have to be willing to change it. Sometimes that means starting over. Sometimes it means letting something go that I once thought I needed.
I’m still figuring parts of it out. I have stressful days, money pressure, and things that don’t go according to plan. But I can keep taking steps toward the life I want, and I can enjoy parts of today while I’m doing it.
There’s happiness in getting an old car running again. Having a coffee after a productive morning. Finishing something I said I would do. Those moments count. I don’t want to get so focused on some future finish line that I miss them.
And yes, I still want to take vacations. I love getting out, seeing places, and having experiences.
I just want to love the life I come home to.
— Nicholas Francis
Modern Day Dealer | NFAFinance.com
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