Plan A is life. Financial independence in plan B. Do you agree with this statement?

Today we have Doc G - a physician who reached FI before realising what he'd done. He then discovered the FI community and now focuses on the philosophical aspect of FI: finding your purpose, the importance of being employed and fulfilling your identity.

You'll love his story.

We also chat about...

The emotional aspect of FI
How he reached FI and discovered the community
His blogging journey
The amazing influence of the community
Why he loves what he's currently working on

Enjoy this chat with Doc G, and please subscribe to us in iTunes if you enjoyed it!
 
Show notes and links from today's episode

Doc G's blog: DiverseFI
Doc G on Facebook and Twitter
Episode: White Coat Investor

Key takeaways from our chat with Doc G
1 - FI is a huge part of our identity
Doc G explains how he felt when he realised he had reached FI: depressed for several months. This was because he realised that he no longer enjoyed his job, and quitting and being FI meant losing that identity as a physician. When you spend years working in one job, of course it becomes part of your identity. Reaching FI and quitting means you lose that identity - which can be very hard to accept.

Doc G also explains how FI in itself can also become a huge part of your identity; you can get so involved in the goal that you forget that FI is 'supposed to be a plan B'.
2 - Life is Plan A, FI is Plan B
What does Doc G mean when he says this? Basically he means that best case scenario you get a job that you love and want to dedicate your life to. This is what you want to be aiming for. Plan B is FI - if you get a job you dislike and don't want to do forever, then FI is your 'escape hatch'.

This is what Doc G is doing now (also called FIOR, Financial Independence Optional Retirement), where he works 10-15 hours a week and devotes all his free time to his passion of writing, communicating and speaking.
3 - The FI community is life changing
Anyone who's part of the FI community know how amazingly supportive it is. Doc G and Gwen talk about how they felt always out of place in school, work, college, etc. The FI community is a place where everyone is welcome and extremely supportive, and where people keep pushing you to become a better person, improve your life and lifestyle. As Doc G says, FI is irrelevant if you always know how to make money, what makes the difference is the community.
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