A few years ago, success looked very different to me.
Work harder.
Earn more.
Get promoted.
Make more from trading.
I was chasing career progression and trying almost everything to grow my money faster.
Forex.
Crypto.
NFTs.
Higher-risk trading.
Looking back, I wasn’t just chasing returns.
I was chasing the feeling that I was getting ahead.
The irony?
I wasn’t very good at it.
I lost money trying to move too quickly, and I spent many nights working past 10pm and too many weekends thinking that sacrificing more time was the only way to build a better future.
Then I became a dad.
Slowly, my definition of success changed.
These days, one of my favourite moments is something very ordinary.
Sitting around the dinner table.
Listening to my daughter laugh.
Feeding her because she insists Daddy does it.
Moments that would have seemed too small for me to notice years ago now mean everything.
I still work hard.
I still care about growing my wealth.
I still invest.
I still sell options.
But the goal is different now.
I’m no longer chasing money for the sake of making more money.
I’m chasing flexibility.
The flexibility to make it home for dinner.
The flexibility to be present instead of always thinking about the next promotion or the next trade.
That’s one reason I eventually moved away from constantly chasing high-risk trades and found a style of investing that suited this season of my life better.
For me, options selling isn’t about trying to get rich quickly.
It’s about slowly creating more choices over time.
Because the older I get, the more I realise that financial freedom isn’t just about having more money.
It’s about having the freedom to decide how you spend your time.
Options create options.
And today, the option I treasure most is being present for moments like this.
Not financial advice. Just sharing my journey as a working dad learning about investing, options selling and building a life I don’t feel the need to escape from.
#workingdad #sgdad #Lemon8SG #financialfreedom #optionstrading
Reflecting on this personal journey, I realize how crucial it is to align our financial goals with what truly matters in life. Like many, I used to believe that working longer hours and relentlessly pursuing faster financial gains were the keys to success. I ventured into forex, crypto, NFTs, and high-risk trading, chasing returns but often feeling anxious and burnt out. The appealing promise of quick profit was overshadowed by frequent losses and the emotional toll of stress. Becoming a dad profoundly reshaped my perspective. The image of "success" shifted from numbers on a bank statement to a more meaningful vision—being able to cherish simple yet precious moments, like sitting around the dinner table and hearing my daughter’s laughter. It became clear that true wealth isn't just financial but also freedom—the freedom to be present and engaged with loved ones. I gradually moved away from impulsive, high-risk trades toward a more sustainable investing approach. Options selling, once intimidating, became an effective way to build wealth steadily while maintaining the flexibility I value. This investment style isn’t about getting rich overnight but about creating choices over time. It allows me to work diligently without sacrificing my family's moments or my well-being. This journey has taught me that financial freedom means having control over how I spend my time—be it for family, hobbies, or rest—rather than being enslaved by the pressure to constantly earn more. Options truly create options, offering not just potential income but also flexibility. For anyone feeling caught in the endless race for money, I encourage re-examining what success means to you personally. It might be time to prioritize balance and long-term freedom over short-term gains. After all, the moments that seem small today—like a family dinner or a child's smile—often become the most treasured memories tomorrow.
