How to be intentional with your life

A few years ago, I wanted to do something really special for my 40th birthday. Can't view this email properly? [View in Browser]() {NAME}, A few years ago, I wanted to do something really special for my 40th birthday. So I invited my closest friends and family to spend 4 days with me in Mexico at a luxury resort. The only thing I scheduled for everyone was a dinner one night, a boat tour, and a ceviche-making class. The rest of the time, everyone was free to do what they wanted. Ramit with his family and friends Great relationships are part of my Rich Life. Some people lounged by the water. Some went exploring. Others stayed in their rooms, reading and napping. Sure, I got to see everyone and catch up — which was important to me. But more than anything, I wanted to give everyone the gift of leisure. One of the key principles of a Rich Life is spending your time and money on the things that are meaningful to you. Relationships are important to me, so I intentionally spend time and money nurturing them. What people say vs. what they actually do I love meeting my readers. They share their Big Wins with me, then conversations shift toward other topics. Usually, I get to ask them what the most important parts of their Rich Life are. Ramit signing books at a recent IWT student mixer in LA Signing books at a recent IWT student mixer in LA 99.9% of the time, the answers (in no particular order) are health, relationships, and career. Then I follow up with, “What have you spent money on lately to invest in these things?” Silence. This is why the psychology of money is so important! What people say and what they actually do are completely different! This is especially true when it comes to careers. A lot of people say, “Oh, I want to have a job I love going to every day,” or “I’m planning to make more money with my career,” but if you look at what they actually do, you’re not going to see them focus on the things that actually lead to a fulfilling work life! Just like building a Rich Life, you have to get intentional about what you want in your career. Vague answers like “I want time and freedom” don’t amount to anything. There’s nothing tangible to work toward. But getting specific — “I want to spend 1-2 months a year living in NYC” — allows you to work backwards. You can figure out how much it costs, decide which months to live there, and so on. Then you can take action to hit those milestones. Do you have a RICH Career? An amazing career can go a long way toward living your Rich Life. That’s why I created the concept of a RICH Career. Each letter represents a pillar that’s crucial to enjoying your work life. Today, I’m going to dive into the first pillar. The “R” in RICH Career stands for Relationships. Netflix show launch party At my Netflix show launch party. I built some great relationships working on this show. Relationships go beyond just getting along with your coworkers and bosses. - Are you connected with people in your industry that you can talk to about trends and opportunities? - Do you have people you can lean on for specific career advice? - Do you have a network you can tap into to get “backdoor” job offers? - If you lost your job today, do you have people in your network who would hire you on the spot or find you your next job? Sadly, for the vast majority of people, the answer is no. Building meaningful relationships in your career can be one of the hardest things you do, but it also can be the most rewarding. Ramit in Japan Getting specific with my Rich Life. Writing retreat in Japan. You have to be intentional with your Rich Life, and you have to be intentional with your career. Get clear on who you want to meet and work with. Who is a thought leader in your industry? Who is someone you’d LOVE to work with? Then reach out to them and connect! Does the thought of networking terrify you? I get it, “networking” historically has sucked. When you think “networking” you think of a name badge, a dimly lit room, and a bunch of meaningless small talk that doesn’t amount to anything. Real network building is much more than that (and more fun). While I was a college student, I reached out to bestselling author Seth Godin…and became his first-ever intern. I also approached a venture capital firm about working for them. They paid me to show them how young people were using social media. Now, just about everything I do is through connections or warm introductions. And I want to show you how to build thriving relationships in a free live class, Beyond Networking: The top skills you need to build authentic relationships. It takes place on Monday, January 29, at 8pm Eastern / 5pm Pacific. [Click here to sign up]() for free. [Beyond networking]() If you’ve ever gone to a networking event, and stayed in the corner on your phone, or stood awkwardly at a happy hour not knowing what to say, this free live class is for you. I’ll show you that networking is not just about socializing or coming up with the best one-liners. It’s a crucial skill you can learn to do in a way that’s authentic to you. [Just click here to RSVP](). Stay tuned for my emails this week. I’ll be sharing the other parts of a RICH Career. A Rich Career [Signature] [Programs]() [Podcast]() [Netflix show]() [Books]() [Website]() [IG]() [in]() [X]() [YT]() Was this forwarded to you? [Sign up here](). [Unsubscribe here](. 548 Market St #89946 San Francisco, CA 94104-5401