I once came across this quote: “If your vision only benefits you, it’s too small.”
It sounds inspiring, doesn’t it? Almost poetic.
But in reality… life isn’t always that simple.
For someone who’s living day to day, wondering how to pay rent or whether there’s enough for the next meal, talking about financial freedom or helping others might feel like the furthest thing from their mind. Their focus is only one thing — survival.
As a financial planner, I’ve seen this cycle over and over again. I often call it the financial journey through phases:
- Survival Phase
Money comes in, money goes out. No savings, no space to plan long-term. The goal is just to get by. A big vision? It’s not even on the radar yet. - Stability Phase
When emergency savings start to build up, there’s finally a little breathing room. Now people start thinking about the future — children’s education, safer housing, long-term health needs. - Growth Phase
With investments and some passive income coming in, they begin asking: “What else can I do with my life?” Maybe start a business, take some risks, or try things they’ve always put off. - Contribution Phase
Once financial independence or near-independence is reached, the focus naturally shifts to legacy — giving back, creating jobs, helping the community, leaving a mark beyond yourself.
And this is why I believe telling someone in survival mode to “think bigger than yourself” can feel out of touch. It’s not that they don’t care; it’s that they’re fighting just to stay afloat.
For me personally, if my focus was only on my family’s needs, I wouldn’t have set up my own firm. Trust me, running a company is no small thing. Being responsible for employees, clients, advisors, and even regulators — it’s complex and exhausting.
But because my vision is bigger than me, I chose this path.
I want to make financial planning accessible to as many people as possible.
I want to improve financial literacy so that everyone can make better decisions about their money and their future.
Because when people achieve financial stability, their lives transform.
And when lives transform, communities become stronger.
Sometimes we have to accept this: big visions rarely appear when life is in chaos. But as capacity grows — as we move from surviving to thriving — the space for a vision beyond ourselves slowly opens up.
