Hello fellow Yakezie members, challengers, and friends,
This is Joe from Retire By 40 where I blog about my journey to early retirement. Today, I want to write a bit about the person most influential to my goal. His name is Will and he can never work for anyone else for long. He always goes his own way no matter what anyone thinks and here is a bit of his story.
About Mysterious Will
Will was born in Chiangmai, Thailand and was orphaned at 8 years old. He had 3 older brothers, 1 older sister, and two younger sisters. His parents were laborers and after they passed away, his uncle took the boys into his household. The uncle was wealthy and could have raised all the kids as family, but he only took in the boys to work for him and didn’t want the girls.
The oldest sister was 17 and was able to work at the market, so she took care of herself and one of the younger sisters. The youngest sister was just a baby and was given away because no one could take care of her. The uncle wanted the boys to finish the required 4th grade education and then work full time at his business after that.
Will was the youngest boy, but he was the smartest and the laziest of them all. He wanted to keep going to school because school is so much easier than being a laborer. He asked the teachers to come speak to the uncle and the uncle finally relented and told him – fine, you can go to school, but if you don’t work, you don’t eat. So Will did what he had to do and somehow finished high school with many whippings along the way.
Will was a bright kid and he was able to pass the entrance exam to enter Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, the best university in Thailand. He was the only student from Chiangmai to make it into that university that year. He worked and financed his own education by giving private tutoring lessons, selling insurance, selling kitchen wares, selling encyclopedias and many other jobs. He graduated with a Bachelor degree in Education, but went straight into the business world and never became a real teacher. He was always a salesman at heart and went to work selling air conditioners and soon after started his first business doing just that. Will was an entrepreneur and even with minimal resources he could figure out how to get a business off the ground.
Some other businesses he started were a chicken farm, pig farm, copy shop (similar to Kinkos), electronics store, restaurant, liquor store, and more. Many of these businesses were successful initially, but something always went wrong and the business failed eventually. Making money was never a problem for Will. Whatever he did, the money always came rolling in. The problem was that he did not know how to sustain a successful business. He operated on a razor thin margin, over leveraged and eventually, the house of cards always came tumbling down. His risk tolerance was extremely high and he gambled on many things. It only took one wrong gamble to bring down a structure with a flimsy foundation. Will never let any failures stop him though. His motto was “never look back and always keep moving forward.”
Will’s retirement
Currently Will is “retired” and is living in his hometown, Chiangmai. He has a little shop dealing in antique Thai Buddha amulets, collects rents on two rental condos, sells rubies and diamonds on the side, and is waiting for some teak wood to mature on a few acres. He tried doing nothing for about a year and drove everyone around him nuts. These little side businesses keep him busy and are more or less hobbies that make money. He has a good time socializing with his antique collector friends. You can read more about his retirement over at my site.
In any case, you can probably guess by now that Will is my dad.
My retirement plan
My early retirement will be similar to my dad’s retirement. My plan is to make a bit of money from several side hustles so I can keep busy. I don’t think I will ever stop working completely because I would be bored to death. Some readers questioned my definition of retirement and said if I work, how can I be retired? All I can say is my retirement is not going to be golfing all day or sitting around watching TV. As we can see from the retirement accounts of Americans near retirement age, many of us will not be retiring to a life of leisure. A working retirement is going to be the new normal soon.
In my How to Retire By 40 plan, many people wonder why I contribute to 401k and other retirement accounts when it’s not really accessible until I’m older. My motivation is that I want to keep a nice big war chest on the side so I can let it compound and be my security blanket. It is easy to make just enough money with side hustles to pay the rent, especially with Mrs. RB40’s help. I went through many success and failure cycles with my dad and I don’t want to start from scratch over and over again. I’d rather stay small and comfortable. Once I have my nest egg, I will not bet it all on any business. Sure, I’ll never be rich with my plan, but I am comfortable with that. I am not fearless enough to risk it all like my dad, but I am patient enough to go slow and steady.
Thanks!!!
I started Retire By 40 in October 2010 and luckily I discovered Yakezie very soon after. I didn’t know anything about blogging and I learned so much from the Yakezie forum’s great members and challengers. I would like to give a hearty thank you to everyone here especially Chris and Sam. My blogging journey would have been so much more difficult without all your support. Keep having fun everyone!
Great story Joe! It must be great to have such an influential role model in the family. I can see myself continuing to work when I’m retired too. Who could just sit around all day doing nothing? Anyone that is able to do that probably will never have the resources to live that life anyway.
I don’t think I will ever stop working completely either. It’ll just be too boring to do nothing.
Hi Joe, As a long time follower of you site I was excited to see your picture (great!) and learn more about you as a person! Inspiring story, great mentor, and valuabe understanding of dad’s strengths and weaknesses.
Barb, Thanks for being a reader! My dad has many weaknesses and I guess they also shape my belief and personality.
I loved the story about your dad. Did he ever find the younger sister that was just a baby when his parents died? It is nice to hear the story behind your blog. I will be going to check it out today.
Hi Melissa, Yes, they did tracked down the youngest sister. She was adopted by a Hill Tribe mom and I think they kept track of her. She went to live with my oldest aunt at some point. I don’t know the whole story. I should find out. :)
Will, great story about your dad and how it gave you a decidedly different view of finances. I have a relative who was very similar to your father.
Like you, I too could never fully retire and sit around watching TV, and I share the plan of just dabbling in entreprenuerial ventures until I can’t dabble any longer!
Thanks Coach! I don’t think you can sit around either. You are too entrepreneurial for that!
Oops sorry, Joe, I accidentally addressed that comment to Will instead of you! sorry! Doesn’t look like I can edit my own comments :)
Very great story joe! I always enjoy what you’ve got up on your site and I’ve got to say the one about your dads retirement was a great article. Keep up the good work and welcome to yakezie!
Jeff, Thanks! I also enjoy your sustainable posts. :)
A very inspiring and entertaining story Joe! By the time I got to ‘Buddha amulet’ shop I knew you were talking about your dad (remembered from your earlier post!).
Heh heh, thanks for being a reader! :)
Great and inspiring story, Joe. I love your blog and will always be your big fan. Nice picture by the way. I did guess that you were talking about your Dad. :-)
Thanks Aloysa! It’s great to have a great blogging friend like you.
Sort of sounds like the beginning of a book series LOL
Seriously though fantastic story – even though your blog is new I am a huge fan of it. You capture much more than just the frugality spirit often found in PF Blogs
Thanks Evan! That’s very encouraging to hear. I’ll have to write about my mom sometime. :) She has some stories too.
[…] news! I’m finally a full Yakezie member! I complete the Yakezie challenge and my Yakezie member post is up today. We started Retire By 40 in late September and joined the Yakezie challenge right away. The blog […]
Great story! I always thought that the entrepreneur spirit was passed down in my family as well. You will get there! Once you retire, what will your working retirement look like?
Hopefully, my retirement will also be full of side projects as well. I’m definitely not as entrepreneurial as my dad because life has been easier for me, but I’m going to try harder. Thanks!
Awesome member post! Nice twist, too. I was thinking, what’s up with all these entrepreneurs from Thailand? :) It turned out to be one and the same. You’ve got a lot of your dad in you, but you seem to have your own way of doing things, too. Don’t forget the little people when you’re sipping on Thai iced teas, collecting rent, and retired at 40!
Thanks man, I won’t forget Buck Roger. :)
Hey Joe, it was great reading about your dad and how he influenced your view of retirement! It’s been great interacting with you on our sites and in the forums as well. Do you think you will visit Thailand often when you retire?
I would love to live in Thailand for a few years. I think we would have a great time. It’ll probably be 18 years from now once baby RB40 goes off to college though…
Great story about your dad! Our parents are a big part of the way we act and think, so it sounds like he had quite the influence on you!
I enjoy reading your blog, it’s exciting to see where you’ll go with it!
Thanks! I’m starting to have blogger block, but I’ll fight through it and keep working to make the blog better.
What a story! I like the way you presented it here. Nice job on the member post overall, and as a frequent visitor I can say nice job on the blog! Glad to have you aboard officially.
Thanks Squirrel! I was thinking this post sounds like one of the Yakezie scholarship post. I guess I’ve been reading a lot of those lately. :) I’m really exited to be a full member. Yakezie is the greatest!
Nice post and nice picture Joe!
Sounds like your dad was a real risk-taker that has inspired you to do something similar, but also more prudently.
I’m sure you’ll do great! Glad you recognized the Yakezie Network as soon as you started blogging. Great Xtranormal video again btw!
Best, Sam
Thanks Sam. My dad takes way too much risk for his own good. I think he has mellowed out a bit in his old age though. I’m really glad I found Yakezie Network so quickly, everyone here is so helpful.
Thanks so much for sharing your story Joe and opening yourself up to us. I like your blog and I wish you the best success in the future.
Thanks Miss T!
Great story Joe. An inspiring story.
Thanks SPF. My dad has many good and bad points to his personality. I just try to take the good and avoid the bad.
Joe, your dad sounds a lot like mine. I think that when our generation “retires” we’ll find that sitting around watching the weeds grow is not what we will want to do. We are so much more educated about the world around us and curiosity never dies.
I think we are so much more busy now. It will be so difficult to live leisurely. I’m sure many from the earlier generation are also restless.
I love this story! I was so involved I didn’t even realize it was your dad until you told us, I was just so enjoying reading about this person.
What an interesting life he has lead. Does he talk to his siblings much? Did he ever find his youngest sister?
You have a great blog Joe, and I think you will accomplish anything you set your mind to!
He talk to his siblings often, but they always have a lot of arguments. I guess that’s from growing up in tough situations. Unfortunately, 2 of his older brothers already passed away, one drank a lot and the other smoke a lot….. My youngest aunt was reunited with the family at some point. She lives with my oldest aunt now, but I don’t know the whole story there. I need to find out. Thanks for the compliment Kris.
Joe, I always liked your blog’s name. Now I see where the impetus comes from…your dad!
Thanks Mark!
Great to put a picture with the name, now I will always associate that orange and white logo with that smile Joe. I have always enjoyed your material and especially your interaction on my blog. You are fortunate to have such a role model, and a Father that you learned so much from in your own way. All the best to you and as always please let know if I can be of any help.
Thanks Sunil. It’s been so crazy lately, I haven’t stop by your site for a while. I’ll add you to my reader now so I don’t miss it. I’ll always think of you as Sponge Bob. :)
[…] always, there’s more writing contest essays over at the yakezie, and a few new member posts (Joe @ Retire by 40 and The Financial Blogger) as well. Go check them out, and if you’re a blogger, join the […]
I guess this is proof that positive role models are important in children lives! You have a lot to live up to for your children. I am enjoying your quest to retireby40, because of my own journey. You are on the right track, keep learning more about real estate. If I can help, let me know.
Thanks Krantcents. My dad has a lot of problems too, it’s just easier to write about good things. ;) Thanks for your advice about real estate!
Great story about your father! I had not guessed he was related to you at that point. When I first opened the article, I thought the picture was of you, and I was like “ah–finally a face behind the blog”.
I am a very motivated person myself, and always take on lots of projects (currently the kitchen pantry redo, garage reno, and ebook to name a few). I think my retirement will be similar, as it is difficult for me to slow down and just be (though I do need to cultivate this more often).
Thanks Amanda! The story is about my dad, but the picture is me. :)
Joe!! That’s your real name? I didn’t know your dad was born in Thailand, no wonder he is retired there now. Your father sounds like an amazing person, and he must be very proud you are following in his footsteps :)
Agree with Sunil, great to finally put a picture with a name! Nice to meet you :)
Actually, he is having a conniption that I’m going to quit my well paying job. :)
He knows how tough it is to make a living with small business!
Hi Joe, I think you did something very different with your introduction post which was great. I only hope to inspire my kids and grandkids half as much!
Thanks! I must have been reading too many scholarship posts. :p
Great post, and it was good to learn about your dad’s story and where that drive comes from. He sounds like he’s had a tough but rich life, and there is so much you can learn from that.
I agree that it’s good to have stuff to do on the side and a plan for “retirement”; you’re already doing great things with the site so I’m sure you’ll have no problems with that. Good luck on the journey! :)
Very inspiring story! I too, cannot imagine myself just sitting around doing nothing. I always want to be productive. BTW, I really like your dad’s motto, “never look back and keep moving forward”. :)