I want to offer to young people that they can do anything they put their minds to do; happiness and success are very personal and individual.
When I was 11, we moved from the city in California to rural Idaho. So when I wanted to go to a friend’s, I would complain to my dad. He would say, “You'll figure it out.” So I either biked two miles each way or in winter I ran. This was not easy and at times, it did not seem safe, but later, I would do the same to get to school if I didn’t want to take the bus and its inconvenient schedule.
When I got into my first apartment, I lived four miles from college and two from work. Owning a car was out of the question, so I ran or biked. In six months, I moved closer and paid the higher rent. It took my first year to save for a car; I was 18. I bought my dream car, a 1966 red Ford Mustang. I also realized it was going to take a little longer to graduate since I worked two jobs.
When it occurred to me that life would be happier if I owned a home, I had no idea that a single lady could qualify so I did the legwork necessary to buy one at auction, in a desirable area. Again, I had to work two jobs to pull this off. My peers at work seemed to have an easier time in life; they had time to socialize but I noticed a lot of them lived at home still. I got married to a nice, conservative man. After I paid that home off, he was hesitant when I told him I wanted to pay cash for rentals. I had no idea how to do this, but I inherently realized I would figure it out so he supported my dream.
J.R. Simplot was my hero. I remember him saying, “My advice to young people is to grab a piece of the action.” I still considered myself young (34) so I took that leap.
Several years passed. I realized I wanted to try my hand at the stock market and offering real estate notes. Then, we’re in a deep recession in 2006. Things flatlined for a very long time, but I kept investing and working two jobs.
As I planned my next great thing, I would meet up with the investment advisor at work for my annual meeting. One day he said, “You know, I travel throughout the state and help people with their retirements. No one is getting the rate of return that you are (16 percent). Do you mind if I ask you how you are doing that?” Can you imagine him (a background in finance) asking me (a civil servant) that question? I didn’t walk out of that meeting, I levitated. One year later, at age 54, I retired and on to my next great thing.
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