How to retire at 40s. Lessons from the Parable of the Pipeline

The story is about Pablo and Bruno who take two different paths and request for financial independence. What you are about to read, is the delightful form animated story of their adventures. So, sit back, relax, read and enjoy the life changing lessons in The Parable of the Pipeline.

Far away, in a small village, near a beautiful valley, lived two friends Pablo and Bruno. They are both young and dream a better life for themselves. They often discuss their dreams about how they would become the most successful men in the village. They wont afraid of hard works. They search for opportunities to help realize their goal and achieve their dreams.

One day, an opportunity presented itself. Mayor of the village decided to hire two people to bring the water from the spring upon the mountain across the valley, back down to the village. They’ll be paid based on the amount of water delivered to the village. Bruno and Pablo enthusiastically got to work. Every day from morning to evening, they worked hard, carrying water to the village. In the evening, they returned home with their daily wages.

Bruno was satisfied with his works, and the money he earned. He would sure that with this works, he could achieve his dreams. Bruno thought that to increase his wages, he can use bigger buckets to bring more water on each trip. He believed with larger income, he was soon be able to buy a cow, and the house he dreamed about.

Now Pablo was not satisfied. At the end of the day, his back and hand ache, and he was exhausted. He was looking for an easier way to earn more. One day, an idea occurred to Pablo. He imagined building a Pipeline to deliver the water from the mountain spring to the village. With this pipeline, he can get more water to the village without carrying buckets back and forth from the spring to the village. Soon, he got very excited about his idea and began to plan.

Pablo of course shared his idea with his friend – Bruno, and asked him to join with him to work on and help build the pipeline. Bruno thought the idea was crazy. All Bruno can think about was what his money can buy today and how to get it quicker. He felt that building the pipeline will slow him down, and delay him in achieving his goals. Instead, Bruno got bigger buckets and went more often back and forth fetching the water. He would sure that with this method, he can make more money.

Pablo decided to build the pipeline on his own. He understood that would not be easy to build. And that will take time to complete the pipeline. Pablo knew that it could take several years to finish. But he set his mind on his goal. Every day he worked, and carried water like before. But at weekends and during his spare times, he worked hard to dig in the rocky soil, and build his pipeline. In the first month, there was little to show for his works.

Bruno and the villagers laughed him, teased him. They called him – Pablo the pipeline man. During this time, Brunos income doubled. He already bought a cow, and a bigger house. His lifestyles changed. He now spend time after work in the bar, enjoying his harder earned wages from delivery the water. What Bruno didnt realize was that his body was starting to stop from carrying heavy buckets every day. His face looked worn and his body tired. Soon, he began to carry less and less water, due to the wear and tear of his body. Month after month, Pablo worked. Soon a year past, and then the second year. Finally Pablo finished his pipeline. He now used his pipeline to deliver water to the village instead of carrying the buckets. Pablo was now earning more money than ever before. The water continued flowing to the village while Pablo wasn’t working. While he slept and ate, the water flowed. Pablo was happy and proud of it inside. Persistent and hard work. Now his income flowed as long as the water flowed through his pipeline.

The story of Bruno and Pablo is the reflection of life. The job similar with most people do for money. Bruno get his money using buckets. He goes back and forth carrying his buckets from the spring to the village and exchange for money. To increase his income, he either has to go more frequently to the spring or to use larger buckets. It’s common to realize to increase our income by working harder. For example, working overtime or getting a second job. We also increase the size of our buckets by accepting higher paying position, which often including spending more time on the job.

Most of us exchange time for money, like Bruno. We know that every person has only 24 hours in a day and it is not possible to use all our times to work. The most difficult time come when we can no longer exchange times for money either because of middle ages, healthy or other reasons, then our income stuck.

Now lets review what Pablo did. Very wisely. Pablo did not exchange all his time for the limited income, but he used some of his time to build the pipeline. He knew that the pipeline will bring ongoing income as long as the water flow. And ongoing income that multiply the times he worked each day. Pablo knew that someday maybe because of age or health, he will no longer be able to exchange his available times for money.

Pablo knew that he can make his idea of the pipeline works, that he only has to do the hard work of building the pipeline. After the pipeline is completed, Pablo was able to monitor and maintain the flow of water to ensure his income will continue.

Pablo has shown to earn an income, we dont always have to directly exchange times for money. There really are the better ways. How about you? Are you still like Bruno who directly exchange his times for money? Or you want to be like Pablo, building and maintaining the pipeline for ongoing income?