The Lottery

If I had a dollar for every time I heard someone say, “If I won the lottery, I’d…” I’d be rich with my own lottery. A few weeks ago, the Mega Millions jackpot reached over six-hundred or so million and was won by several players in different states. I can only imagine what those winners have planned to do with their winnings, but I will say that I also believe it is easier said than done.

In my day job, I work for a financial firm and I watch people pull money out of retirement accounts every day. I see other accounts too but I point out the retirement accounts specifically because many do not treat them as such, even with the 10% penalty the IRS assesses for pulling funds out before the age of 59.5. Many times, without asking, clients will go into lengthy explanations about why they need the money. Presents, a new car, a house, credit card debt, a boat, medical bills, I could go on and on. The point is they always feel a justification to withdraw their funds.

One would imagine those who win end up living the “good life.” According to a Fox News report on March 29th, many of lottery’s biggest winners don’t necessarily end up with better lives. Many winners may start out buying houses for their family, putting money aside for family members’ educations, maybe even following up with some long time dream of theirs. What I never understand is why we need to wait until retirement or winning the lottery to achieve our dreams. Granted, if you want to use money to travel or buy your dream car, perhaps your retirement account is not the best source, especially if you aren’t at the retirement age; however, that’s my point. We can achieve dreams before retirement and without winning the lottery. We just need to be smart about planning our dreams and going for it. In finance we always say that without risk there is no reward—and that is completely true!

Writers are proof that people can work toward their dreams without winning the lottery. Most writers I know are not making millions but they are still working toward their dreams or living them. We writers also have a lot of power in numbers which makes us great for supporting causes or organizations or each other. So the next time you hear someone say, “If I won the lottery, I’d…”, ask them what is stopping them from working for their dreams now.

Okay, that’s it for this week.  Happy writing to you all and don’t forget to follow your dreams!

Filed under: Business, Toni Kelly, Writer's Life