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| One of our many Kingfishers who visit |
We had found our dream land and had a plan for Kingfisher
Cottage. Apart from saving costs (part two of the series) we also wanted to
make an income from the land.
Cottage. Apart from saving costs (part two of the series) we also wanted to
make an income from the land.
We love growing and seeing the land blossom. When we bought
the land at Matakana in 2009 it was part of our ten year plan to become
self-sufficient and stay active. The land had to be more than a park, it needed
to pay for itself. In 2004 we sold a three acre property in Kumeu . For over
eleven years we struggled to grow and keep the land there without earning
anything from it. We were working as workaholics in a consulting business where
I was away for weeks and often driving late at night to get from one job to
another. We also ran a management retreat in a second building we constructed
after three years there – it was good to roll out of bed and into a
facilitation job!
the land at Matakana in 2009 it was part of our ten year plan to become
self-sufficient and stay active. The land had to be more than a park, it needed
to pay for itself. In 2004 we sold a three acre property in Kumeu . For over
eleven years we struggled to grow and keep the land there without earning
anything from it. We were working as workaholics in a consulting business where
I was away for weeks and often driving late at night to get from one job to
another. We also ran a management retreat in a second building we constructed
after three years there – it was good to roll out of bed and into a
facilitation job!
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| The homestead at Kumeu. Our first property on land. |
In our spare time, we worked on developing the home and
land. Maintenance was a full time job – we didn’t know how to design an easy
maintenance garden! At one time we had two gardeners working twenty hours a
week and two cleaners for the house. We were earning big money but most of it
was going out on employing people and expensive holidays to recover from the
work load! We were exhausted.
land. Maintenance was a full time job – we didn’t know how to design an easy
maintenance garden! At one time we had two gardeners working twenty hours a
week and two cleaners for the house. We were earning big money but most of it
was going out on employing people and expensive holidays to recover from the
work load! We were exhausted.
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| The Management Retreat at Kumeu |
After selling that beautiful home that we created from
scratch (it is now operating as Motu Lodge), we had years of set-backs as ill
health taught me a big lesson; balance. When I started to recover from my brain
tumour, we decided to have land again but change the way we lived this time. We
wanted to enjoy the land and that meant that we needed to work on it. Less time
in my consulting business would mean more income needed to be earned doing what
we loved, and this time, planning for lower maintenance. It took us another
eight years to recover enough financially to build a home on that land. We had
been renting for twelve years by the time we moved in.
scratch (it is now operating as Motu Lodge), we had years of set-backs as ill
health taught me a big lesson; balance. When I started to recover from my brain
tumour, we decided to have land again but change the way we lived this time. We
wanted to enjoy the land and that meant that we needed to work on it. Less time
in my consulting business would mean more income needed to be earned doing what
we loved, and this time, planning for lower maintenance. It took us another
eight years to recover enough financially to build a home on that land. We had
been renting for twelve years by the time we moved in.
We decided we will never have ‘all our eggs in one basket’
again. A single income, no matter how large it is, can be ripped away over
night by a health problem. Some executives in large corporations have the
luxury of knowing that they will be supported and get large handouts and a
pension if they crash, but we had decided to leave the world of corporate
employment for freedom. We also put a high priority on working in areas that we
love – where there is a purpose we want to achieve.
again. A single income, no matter how large it is, can be ripped away over
night by a health problem. Some executives in large corporations have the
luxury of knowing that they will be supported and get large handouts and a
pension if they crash, but we had decided to leave the world of corporate
employment for freedom. We also put a high priority on working in areas that we
love – where there is a purpose we want to achieve.
The Charles Handy
idea of a portfolio income is perfect for us. Several income streams that can
stand alone if any of them crash. At least one needed to keep us active and fit
and at least one more should be able to be a passive income in case one of use
had health issues. It is hard to find one income of $150,000 but relatively easy to find five that average
$30,000 each. If one of these is scalable, i.e. able to bring in infinitely
more without being tied to our personal time, even better. We want a base line
that we can multiply when the opportunity presents itself; there is nothing
more exciting to us than knowing we have potential to grow. A set, safe income
would never give that to us.
idea of a portfolio income is perfect for us. Several income streams that can
stand alone if any of them crash. At least one needed to keep us active and fit
and at least one more should be able to be a passive income in case one of use
had health issues. It is hard to find one income of $150,000 but relatively easy to find five that average
$30,000 each. If one of these is scalable, i.e. able to bring in infinitely
more without being tied to our personal time, even better. We want a base line
that we can multiply when the opportunity presents itself; there is nothing
more exciting to us than knowing we have potential to grow. A set, safe income
would never give that to us.
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| Mist over the pond a view that the barn will have |
Our ten year plan is in progress at the end of year one. Here
it is:
it is:
1. Building more wisdom in the world
I will continue my consulting, speaking,
mentoring and facilitating but is focusing specifically on wisdom, the area I care most
about and where I have most experience. I have rebooted my business to
specialise in three main areas of building wisdom for corporates and
individuals. This will bring in less income than the Kumeu days but allow me
more time to spend on other things while doing what I strongly believe in. This
is a feel-good income.
mentoring and facilitating but is focusing specifically on wisdom, the area I care most
about and where I have most experience. I have rebooted my business to
specialise in three main areas of building wisdom for corporates and
individuals. This will bring in less income than the Kumeu days but allow me
more time to spend on other things while doing what I strongly believe in. This
is a feel-good income.
2. Stay Sane Build Your Brain
I will also continue my work in the
community here to help others build stronger brains. Again, this fulfils my
need to contribute by preventing dementia, helping people recover from brain
damage and stay sharp as they age – hopefully developing wisdom in the process.
This will not earn much income unless I can create some on-line approaches that
allow me to reach a larger group at a very low price (scale it up). This is a
feel-good activity with some potential for income. However, if any of the other
incomes provide us with enough support – I would do this for nothing.
community here to help others build stronger brains. Again, this fulfils my
need to contribute by preventing dementia, helping people recover from brain
damage and stay sharp as they age – hopefully developing wisdom in the process.
This will not earn much income unless I can create some on-line approaches that
allow me to reach a larger group at a very low price (scale it up). This is a
feel-good activity with some potential for income. However, if any of the other
incomes provide us with enough support – I would do this for nothing.
3. Investing
John’s
investment company will continue to earn income – this is has the most potential
for sudden increase. It is not scalable and is fickle because there is no
controlling the markets – but by understanding the way they work it’s possible
to make the occasional coup. At best it can be incredible and at worst it can
make nothing. Making losses is the only unacceptable result, which is why John
trades regularly. John has huge wisdom here and although it isn’t a feel-good
activity, he is able to support others by creating the income.
investment company will continue to earn income – this is has the most potential
for sudden increase. It is not scalable and is fickle because there is no
controlling the markets – but by understanding the way they work it’s possible
to make the occasional coup. At best it can be incredible and at worst it can
make nothing. Making losses is the only unacceptable result, which is why John
trades regularly. John has huge wisdom here and although it isn’t a feel-good
activity, he is able to support others by creating the income.
4. Growing
This
is where our love of growing helps! We intend selling high value products
including Limes, Figs, Lotus flowers / seed heads and root, foliage for
florists. In addition we are starting a small nursery to grow plants and trees
from seeds and cuttings. Virtually all of our trees have been grown by us and
we will have far more that we need. Our crops will always be small
numbers of high value products and varied enough that if one of the fails in a
season, it won’t be a disaster! This keeps us very fit without going to the
gym!
is where our love of growing helps! We intend selling high value products
including Limes, Figs, Lotus flowers / seed heads and root, foliage for
florists. In addition we are starting a small nursery to grow plants and trees
from seeds and cuttings. Virtually all of our trees have been grown by us and
we will have far more that we need. Our crops will always be small
numbers of high value products and varied enough that if one of the fails in a
season, it won’t be a disaster! This keeps us very fit without going to the
gym!
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| This years Sweet corn |
5. Accommodation
The huge benefit of living within
walking distance of Matakana village is the potential for a successful
accommodation business. There is a shortage of good places to stay here and
tourism is growing, especially week -enders from Auckland. We plan to build a
barn (the platform is already there) and use it as a long week-end
self-contained accommodation. Bookings only for Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday, two night minimum.
walking distance of Matakana village is the potential for a successful
accommodation business. There is a shortage of good places to stay here and
tourism is growing, especially week -enders from Auckland. We plan to build a
barn (the platform is already there) and use it as a long week-end
self-contained accommodation. Bookings only for Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday, two night minimum.
During the rest of the week we will use it as a small exclusive executive
retreat. The retreat at Kumeu was very successful, so
we know how to make it perfect for customers. However, this time we will bring
in staff to prepare the food and clean the barn! This will be a substantial
business income to add to the less reliable ones but will take us a few years
(3-5) before we can raise the income to build it properly and have the land
landscaped to be a perfect environment. This will be an ongoing income that
will allow us to pay for trips overseas and other expenses as we get older and
will add to the equity in our property. It can also be operated by either of us
if the other has health problems.
retreat. The retreat at Kumeu was very successful, so
we know how to make it perfect for customers. However, this time we will bring
in staff to prepare the food and clean the barn! This will be a substantial
business income to add to the less reliable ones but will take us a few years
(3-5) before we can raise the income to build it properly and have the land
landscaped to be a perfect environment. This will be an ongoing income that
will allow us to pay for trips overseas and other expenses as we get older and
will add to the equity in our property. It can also be operated by either of us
if the other has health problems.
Ten years is a long time and a short time. We are
progressing well on 1, 2, 3 and 4 after a year. Time and our efforts and persistence will tell by next year. The dream continues…
progressing well on 1, 2, 3 and 4 after a year. Time and our efforts and persistence will tell by next year. The dream continues…