Brian McAuley is a senior sales executive in the IT industry.  I sit down with him to get some advice on how to be successful in sales.

Brian, please tell my audience a little about you?

I’m a husband of Jenn for over 23 years, and a father to 3 boys ranging from 12 to 20. I’m active in my community by serving at my local church.  I chair the board at the Alzheimer’s Society of Durham Region, and serve as a director of another charity board.

Professionally I’m a technology sales leader with over 20 years of experience who has enjoyed selling industry and technology solutions at the boardroom level across various verticals. I try to maintain a reputation as a collaborative leader who builds trust with clients, partners, and colleagues. I’ve served in various senior business development and management roles at IBM for over 12 years, led teams at Bell Canada, completed the sales turnaround in a software company specializing in healthcare solutions, as well as took a sabbatical from corporate to re-focus a not-for-profit.

What are some of the qualities one needs to have to be great at sales?

First off, you need to be a good listener.  Far too many salespeople fill the air with their own talking, but the sales profession is all about understanding needs. Customers need to know that you genuinely care, and have their best interests in mind.  Secondly, you have to be good at execution, meaning, you need to have a plan, and be able to be organized and intentional about getting things done.  Thirdly, you need to work well with others and recognize how to leverage the strengths of others.  I truly believe in the saying “if you want to go fast, go alone but if you want to go far, go together”.  Success is never achieved alone.

You worked in the non-profit and then came back to the corporate world.  How was that experience?

Making the transition to a different sector was both rewarding and challenging.  Taking the assignment was a risky one, but I’m grateful for what I learned, and for what I was able to contribute.  There are many transferable skills from one sector to the other, but business disciplines need to be applied differently in the not-for-profit (NFP). There is rigor in business that is not as easily digestible in NFP. In business, it’s all about results and metrics. In NFP, metrics are important, but the mission and relationships take precedence.  The velocity with which you can accomplish things in business, can’t always be achieved in the NFP sector – simply because the culture is not the same.  Reaching agreement through consensus is vitally more important.  The personal rewards received in changing or saving a life can’t be matched.  Great experience.

You talk a lot about approaching everything with abundance. Please explain?

We live in a world where, generally, everyone holds the belief that more is better. With that belief, we carry with us, thoughts that repeat in our heads saying “if I just had more X, then life would be easier”. If you had more in your bank account, a bigger house, a better car, more education, less stress, etc.  When we look around at others, we begin to feel inadequate.  I latched on to a saying years ago that said: “Comparison kills contentment”. On Monday, you can be completely thrilled with your “new to you” 3-year-old used car, until Ken and Barbie drive up next to you at the stoplight in their brand new convertible.  Or, you’re so proud of losing five pounds, until the next person loses ten.

Begin or end each day by being thankful for the details of what you’ve been blessed with.  Getting started is the hardest, but after a few weeks of writing a couple down each day, you will start to look at your world differently, and realize how much you actually have, without even looking at physical things.  You will start to look at relationships as your assets, the gift of encouragement that someone gave you, or the feeling you got for being able to help someone else out in your day.  Your abundance mindset will have you starting to look at the world not by what you don’t have, but by what you have and what you can give to others.  Oftentimes, we don’t recognize our unique gifts – a special skill, a piece of knowledge, undivided attention, or an encouraging word.

How has being a husband and father changed you?

When you become a husband, you transition from only thinking about your needs, to thinking about the needs of your spouse. When you have children, you transition further again and gain a greater sense of responsibility to not only provide physically but emotionally and spiritually for your whole family.  All the investments made in you now need to be imparted to others. Your life is now intertwined with others. Like a new recipe you’re trying for the first time, all the good (and the not so good) come together in a big mixing bowl with the strengths (and weaknesses) of your spouse, to form a new mixture. To make the new recipe work, you need to play with the ingredients. To make it all work, there becomes some give and take, and the ability to say “I’m not perfect, you’re not perfect, but together we are much better”. So, being a father and husband has humbled me and made me more grateful for my family who makes me a better version of myself.

Give my audience some sane financial advice?

I believe that making manageable changes, consistently over time, delivers the best results.  Someone once said, “It takes at least 20 years to become an overnight success”. Give away 10% of your income to help others and the charities you are most passionate about. Save 10% of what you make, consistently over your career.  But do the first two before you spend on yourself.  Often time, we set goals that are too big and fail.  Small sacrifices, consistently over time, pay big dividends in the long run.  Seek wise counsel. Only invest your money with someone who makes their money not by making a commission on what investments they sell you, but by the returns and the growth in your portfolio. Don’t carry a credit card balance. Buy your first house as early as you can. Learn to deny yourself luxuries until the staples are in place.

Tell me a good sales joke?

Ha – I actually respect your readers too much to share a sales joke.  I have yet to hear one that isn’t really corny.

How do you balance faith, finance, family, and food in the 21st century?

You create balance by putting priorities in their place and allowing everything else to fit around them. Priorities are established based on your values. For example, if I told you that my faith was important to me, but I never made it to church because of sports, would you say my priorities were in line with my stated values? Probably not.  I balance my life by prioritizing what I value and being intentional through my goals and actions. My faith is important to me, so I make sure I start each day by reading scripture and spending time in prayer.  I do it not because anyone says I have to, but because I need that time in order to stay connected to my faith, which I value so much.  I value my family, so I spend a lot of time with them. I value financial stability, so I make sure I save, and I don’t overspend, but I make sure I enjoy the fruits of my labor. Food – I don’t know what to say about that. Food for me isn’t important unless it’s shared around a table with those I love.

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Do you want to save money? Here are my favorite quotes on saving money.

Never spend your money before you have it. – Thomas Jefferson

Do not save what is left after spending; instead, spend what is left after saving. – Warren Buffett

He who buys what he does not need is stealing from himself. – Swedish Proverb

The price of anything is the amount of life you exchange for it. – Henry David Thoreau

Therefore, it is not how much you make, but how much you save that matters.

It was 2001. I was a young, aggressive, investment advisor on Bay Street. A call came in and being the broker of the day I answered.

Meeting potential clients

The caller was in his late 30’s, an executive in the hydro business and his wife was a marketing executive. They had two kids. He wanted to meet with me as he needed help to save money and start saving for retirement.

Are you kidding me? Sure…. It was an opportunity of a lifetime.

I called the wife and told her I would be late for dinner.

I am dressed to kill. The car is washed. I am ready to make an impression. I am ready to open an account and help this couple save money.

I drive around and check the hood. I see a Mercedes and BMW parked outside their home.

I am excited. My heart is beating fast. I have my pitch perfected.

I ring the doorbell and they welcome me.

Zero Savings

After the basic get to know chat, we sit down to have a more serious conversation. The numbers are impressive. They have a total family income of 250,000 plus bonuses. I can work with that. I can give them tips on how to save money.

After that, I ask how much do you save at the end of the month?

Their face completely changed. They had zero savings.

The monthly payment for the mortgage was $ 3,000, each car was leased for $ 500, private school per child was $ 2,000, trips, vacation and eating out took the rest.

I made some recommendations that included some lifestyle changes to be made in order to reach their goals and how to save money.

As a result, I left empty-handed and never heard from them.

As a VP with a US discretionary manager, I covered Ontario and Manitoba. I would only go to see a potential client who had a minimum of $ 750,000 to invest.

I flew to Sudbury to see a surgeon, an executive in the construction business and a retired janitor.

How to save money

As a result, I googled the home of the janitor and it was not impressive. To be honest it was in a derelict state. I thought to myself he probably wants free information on our stock picks and is not interested in our services.

I went to see him at 5 pm and he preferred that we sit out in the balcony. After the usual small talk, I explained a little about our services and asked him the usual getting to know your client questions. I asked him about his net worth and he did not have a clue. He brought out two statements from different banks and the total was about $2.5 million.

As I am looking at all his holdings, he tells me he also has some share certificates and bonds. He brings about 30 share certificates and bonds and they consist of all blue-chip stocks listed in Toronto and New York.  His liquid net worth came to approximately $5 million.

I recommended that he convert them to electronic shares.

Above all, I was fascinated. I wanted to know his story.

He shared that he started off as an 18-year-old janitor and saved a lot of his money and invested in shares. He retired at 55. He was not interested in impressing anyone. He lived within his means and took vacations. Overall, he lived a simple life. He did want to leave a legacy with a few charities. He was good at saving money.

Conclusion

In conclusion, if there is something, I have learned from being two decades in wealth management is that it is not how much you make but how much you save.

It is important to go out, travel, spend time with family, and do other fun stuff but it has to be within your means.

Photo Credits: Michael Longmire Vanessa Lee Javier Reyes Zan Allef Vinicius Benedikt Geyer

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Money touches everything. It affects how we sleep, how we eat, how we raise our children, and how we dream about the future. Yet too often, we treat finances like a separate compartment of life, disconnected from faith, family, and well-being.

What if we approached money the way we approach health, looking at the whole picture instead of isolated parts?

In this conversation, Jason Trueman, Portfolio Manager with Cumberland Private Wealth Management, shares why a holistic approach to household finances matters. From buying a quality mattress to investing with discipline, Jason explains how thoughtful spending, long-term vision, and balance can create not just wealth, but freedom and peace of mind.

Welcome to Four Columns, where food, faith, finance, and family are not separate conversations, but part of the same story.

Jason, welcome to Four Columns, a holistic blog on food, faith, finance, and family. Please tell me a little about yourself.

I am a Portfolio Manager with Cumberland Private Wealth Manager. Cumberland is headquartered in Toronto. I work with a talented team in Kingston, Ontario, including a CFP, CA, CPA, and TEP, providing holistic wealth management services for successful Canadian families and business owners.

How did you end up in personal finance?

I graduated from Queen’s University with a Bachelor of Commerce Degree. I received my CFA charter in 2001. I started my career as an Underwriter with Chubb Insurance. I was recruited by AIG and worked in Bermuda for 7 years before returning to Kingston to raise our young family in 2010.

Give me three tips on how to have a holistic approach to personal finance?

Control your spending by buying things you need and on an average cost basis (i.e. you will spend one-third of your life on a mattress so buy a good one).

Be disciplined with your investing. Buy dominant companies with great management who care about both their customers and their shareholders (these are rare and require work to find).

There is a balance between disciplined spending and enjoying your life; life is short so if you need a trip or a new car or new shoes to enjoy your life then spend the money.

What happens when we live on credit cards and not on our salary?

Credit cards that you pay off in full on a monthly basis and never pay interest on and accumulate rewards are great. When you overspend and pay exorbitant interest living beyond your means then you will suffer from difficult financial decisions and increasing stress.

How important is it to have a budget as part of a holistic approach to our personal finance?

I find long-term goals are helpful in providing meaning to your actions like why am I going to work and saving for my child’s education or retirement. Budgets help keep your life and spending in order; like a calendar and daily to-do lists.

What are some important tips to start saving?

Paying off your higher interest-bearing debt is most important. Taking advantage of government savings programs like RESPs, RRSPs and TFSAs is enormously important as well. Again, buying things you need (healthy food, a quality mattress) instead of buying things you want for status and cost a lot on a per-use basis (the tenth pair of shoes, vacation properties) is critically important.

How do you balance faith, food, finance, and family?

I believe in humanity; if we all do our part to contribute, we collectively accomplish amazing things. If you don’t spend money on healthy food then you’ll pay the price with poor health and physical limitations. Finance is about independence; ideally, a career doing something you enjoy while creating financial freedom to do nothing if you so choose. Raising kind, caring and confident children who find something productive they love to do in life are our number one job as parents.

Can you recommend some great restaurants in Kingston?

Kingston has an enormous array of awesome restaurants – having 35,000 students in the city helps. I prefer local family-owned restaurants such as Tango, Woodenheads, and Harpers.

You manage money for the wealthy, what have you learned from the experience? Do they have a holistic approach?

Success usually requires some form of sacrifice at some stage in their life. For many that mean focusing on academic excellence instead of always finding the nearest party. For others, that means pursuing an idea, a vision, and taking on considerable financial risk, and working excessive hours to make their dream a reality.

How important is food to you?

Food has an enormous impact on how you feel and how you look. Humanity would benefit from healthier eating with lower health care costs, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and an overall more productive society and cleaner earth.

The post Holistic Approach to Household Finances appeared first on Four Columns of a Balanced Life.

Meira Dholakia is a go-getter and a super achiever. I admire her focus, strength, and determination. We talk about her journey after university.

International Women’s Day (IWD) is celebrated on March 8^th every year. It is an important day for women’s rights. On February 28, 1909, the Socialist Party of America organized a Women’s Day in New York City. In 1910 at the International Socialist Woman’s Conference, German delegates Paula Thiede, Kate Duncker, and Clara Zetkin suggested a ‘special Women’s Day’ be organized. In 1917, women gained suffrage in Russia and March 8 became a national holiday. Women’s Day was celebrated only in communist and socialist countries. In 1967, the feminist movement adopted it. In 1977, the United Nations began celebrating it.

Four Columns is all about inspiring and empowering women to live a balanced life. To celebrate Women’s Day, I am interviewing various women, from different backgrounds.

Meira Dholakia, a pleasure to have you on board. Do tell me something important about you?

I was born in Dubai and raised in Richmond Hill, Ontario. I studied International Business with a major in Accounting at the Schulich School of Business at York University.  I represented York University on the Track & Field team. I am about to obtain the CPA designation, having recently passed the final CPA exam. I am currently working as an Auditor at Deloitte and work part-time as a Group Fitness Instructor at Movati Athletic in Richmond Hill. Fitness has always been one of my passions.  After retiring as a track athlete, I obtained the Personal Training Specialist certification to keep fitness as part of my lifestyle and those around me.

Meira, you are cool, an athlete and an accountant.  An exciting combination. Talk to me about your passion for accounting?

I have always loved math as a child. After taking the accounting course for the first time in high school, I realized that this is a career, where I could use my math and analytical skills. In university, I learned that there is much more to accounting than simply numbers. I learned that it is not always black and white and that professional judgment is what makes it more exciting. The fascinating part about accounting is the story that you can tell, by simply reading a company’s financial statements.

Walk me through your life experience. What did you learn from these experiences and how has it changed you?

I’ve learned that if you love something enough, you will always make time for it – as I have for sports, Track & Field, and fitness today.  I have had the opportunity to teach street kids in India, Math, and English. I was amazed that they could teach me about how lucky I was to live in such a great country with innumerable opportunities.

This experience reminds me to be thankful for everything I have. My exposure to the Far East when I studied one semester in Singapore, was amazing. I learned about different cultures and food, and adaptability in any environment. I documented this experience through a blog, capturing important moments that were read by many.

Who are the Millennials? What do they want? What do they want to change in present-day society?

Millennials want to change society’s old ways of chasing money. Millennials want to make a difference in the world and feel like they are making a direct positive impact. We want to help our environment and benefit society while making money – that’s why there is an increased awareness of corporate social responsibility for businesses.

What should employers know about you and treat you at work?

Employers should know flexibility is important. The more flexibility I am provided, the happier I will be. I am fortunate that Deloitte allows me to pursue my passion for fitness outside of work as it provides me with the perfect balance of mental and physical challenges. My work environment has been supportive in my endeavors, which places me among the lucky few; and I am thankful for that.

What are some of the social and other causes that you are passionate about, which the past generations missed out on?

I am passionate about health and wellness. ​Our society is becoming increasingly competitive as the generations progress. With this increased competitiveness, we overlook the importance of our health and well-being – whether it be exercising, eating healthy, or making time to do the things that make us happy. As a certified personal trainer, I am passionate about improving the mental and physical health of others through the power of exercise.

What do food, faith, family, and finance mean to Millennials?

Family and faith are extremely important. I find that most Millennials forget about the importance of family and family time. I enjoy eating home-cooked meals at the table with my family and spending time with them because I know that they are always there for me no matter what – this should not be taken for granted. Managing finances is also very important, which many Millennials lack. I’m happy that financial literacy is now being introduced in the Ontario school curriculum for students. Through Deloitte’s Impact Day I taught elementary school kids ‘Financial Literacy’, in partnership with Junior Achievement.

What do on fleek, dipset, bae mean in Millennial speak?

On fleek = perfect, dipset = to leave, bae = someone you love (ex. girlfriend/boyfriend).

All right, Meira, you tell me accountants are not boring. I get it. Let’s see if accountants have a sense of humor. Tell me a joke?

Why do we tell actors to “break a leg”? Because every play has a cast.

What should Gen X and Baby Boomers know about the Millennials?

Millennials are a very misunderstood generation. We are not lazy, as seems to be depicted, and neither are we self-absorbed. We are a generation that cares about their planet earth, social causes, well being of people, and are more efficient and innovative. We believe we can make the world a better place.

The post Meira Dholakia: Who Says Accountants Are Boring? appeared first on Four Columns of a Balanced Life.

Amarilla Nirmala is the co-founder and Chief Marketing Whizz of WeDO5, based in Vienna, Austria. WeDO5 believes in the power of women, especially women who want to make a difference. The focus is on female-led impact start-ups, that not only create businesses that make money but also push the status quo to be more ethical, transparent, and create equal opportunities. They support female entrepreneurs, who are driven to establish long-term business solutions.

WeDO5 contributes to the value chain in the start-up ecosystem through community building. They are the first yes for early-stage Startup-founders and offer support from idea generation to conception until growth and internationalization.

Amarilla has years of experience in executing and developing marketing strategies in the UK and Dubai. I am a big believer in start-ups. It is small businesses that are the growth engine of the economy and that create jobs. I talk to Amy about her life in Vienna and what she wants her legacy to be with female entrepreneurs.

Amy welcome, I want to know a little about you?

Hi, I am Amy; I am an Indonesian living in Austria. I have lived in 4 different countries in the past 12 years. I have 2 kids, and currently am a social entrepreneur. I have several businesses that focus on giving back to the community as a business model. I love cooking, gardening, paddling, and in my spare time, I love to play a tourist in my own city.

Talk to me about your social entrepreneurship and what WeDO5 is all about?

WeDO5 is the new name of KulturenReich (German words for Culturally Rich). We started as a social initiative focusing on immigrant women and Austrian women with migrant backgrounds. Austria is a rich country. Vienna has won the #1 city with the best living quality for several years in a row. However, for many foreigners, they find difficulties in starting their professional life again upon residing in the city. Most of them spend years to fully integrate, mostly because of language capability, and tight competition.

KulturenReich focused on empowering foreign-born women to be professionally successful and financially independent, through various activities such as workshops, focus groups,  and on the job training.

In 2020 we changed our name from KulturenReich to WeDO5, the number 5 stands for the fifth point of SDG by the UN, gender equality. We are now focusing on women impact entrepreneurs, those who aren’t only making money but also giving back to the community.

Help me understand mental health and your group Sahabat Jiwa?

Sahabat Jiwa (means soulmate in Indonesian), is a project that basically started in 2013 by my partner Anya. In 2019 I joined the organization as I believe I need also to give back to Indonesia, my home country. Mental health is a sensitive issue where people with problems receive stigma and often they also don’t realize they have issues. We provide literacy about it, and free consultation for young adult Indonesian people with mostly SES C- and below. The consultants are professionals with license, so even though free of charge but it is reliable. However, we do not accept life-threatening or emergency cases.

I want to know a little about the city you live in, the food and the culture?

I’ve been living (again) in Vienna since 2017. I came here in 2011, but moved to different countries in 2013, came back here in the middle of 2017, and found out the city has been changing quite fast!

Vienna is a classical city with beautiful landmarks and parks everywhere. The size isn’t big but very convenient as many things are easily reachable by public transportation.

What I like about the food here is that we have high standards, from eggs till meat, vegetables till desserts!

We try to buy our food from organic farms, and meat from local Austria as it provides certain standards and quality. We are quite concerned about where we get our food from. Things like how the animals slaughtered, how the chicken that produces eggs, what kind of banana we have, how sustainable the honey is, etc. And I must say that many people here are also thinking the same.

What does women empowerment mean to you and how is the modern Indonesian woman different from a few decades ago?

When people think about Indonesia, they think about the exotic paradise Bali, and it is a Muslim country. The fact is, Indonesia has the biggest Muslim population, but we aren’t a Muslim country. Since I was a child, I grew up reading some powerful and inspiring Indonesian women, such as Christina Martha Tiahahu from Moluccas province, or Cut Nyak Dien from Aceh province who bravely led an army to fight colonialism.

My mother, she was also a career woman, independent but also a loving mother. She worked in a British bank with high responsibility, oftentimes she came home late. But in the morning she was the first who wakes up, prepared stuff for my father and us, the kids. She didn’t have a me-time at all, because she spent her time caring for others.

This isn’t bad but she should have taken good care of her life too! So if we are talking about empowerment in Indonesia, it isn’t about women not getting an education or being forced to marry at a young age (although this is also still some cases in several provinces), but moreover about less judgment to women. Let them choose what they feel right. We still expect women to perfectly manage all aspects of their lives. People still expect women to do everything from cleaning the house and raising the child. Household responsibility needs to be shared. People need to be less judgmental to women who are still single.

Tell me a little about your role as a mentor in micro-entrepreneurs?

Currently, I am also active in Micro Mentor; I am giving free mentorship for micro-entrepreneurs in Indonesia.

My current mentee is an Elementary school teacher who produces brown sugar with low glycemic as an alternative for diabetes people.
I am giving guidance on how he should market his product, from marketing strategy to basic branding knowledge. We have 12 sessions, 1.5 hours per week.

You have a Masters in Design & Brand Management. Are you using it presently?

Yes! It has helped me helping female entrepreneurs market themselves.

How has social media changed your country and life in general?

My private Instagram is basically about things I find amusing. It can be a beautiful pic of Vienna, my plants, everything.

But currently, I am using Quora Indonesia to also share my knowledge about branding and marketing, giving advice and some simple steps about career and education. I believe social media is a powerful tool we can utilize for anything. Selling your products? Creating your professional persona? Building your company’s image? Or getting your 15-minute fame as Andy Warhol said last time.

It all depends on us; we just need to be careful about what kind of image we’d like to be remembered.

For me, my focus in life is about legacy. Surely I won’t win a Nobel prize, but I still can help some women who start their small business, I still can inspire young Indonesian people to decide their career path better, and also making good memories with my kids

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The strength of your personal financial resources is equivalent to the quality of your financial decision-making. –Wayne Charisa

Financial success isn’t just about the numbers in your bank account—it’s about defining what truly matters to your happiness and making choices that support that vision. I first learned this lesson during my very first week at a brokerage firm on Bay Street. David Wilkes, one of the most successful advisors I’ve ever met, pulled me into his office and shared three pieces of advice that have stuck with me ever since: buy a small house, keep the first wife, and drive your car for at least 15 years.

David’s wisdom extended beyond investing—it was about creating a life of stability, balance, and intentionality. Over the years, I’ve taken that guidance to heart, refining it into a set of strategies that have helped me—and can help you—build financial security and freedom. In this post, I’ll share 15 practical strategies for financial success, from setting goals and budgeting to investing wisely and living intentionally, all grounded in lessons I’ve learned from experience and observation.

What is financial success

Financial Success is how you define what is most important to your happiness.

It was my first week at the brokerage firm on Bay Street. David Wilkes pulls me into the office and tells me ‘Jerry, I am going to give you three pieces of advice. In other words, buy a small house, keep the first wife, and drive your car for at least 15 years.’ A great piece of advice from one of the most successful advisers on Bay Street. David was great at investing his money. He was one of the best entrepreneurs I have met. As a result, I have listened to the above advice, and here are my 15 strategies for financial success.

Write down your goals

It is important to write down your financial goals. It is your blueprint and vision for your financial success for instance.

Know the difference between wants and needs. Food, shelter, heat, hydro and water are needs in order to sustain your life. In addition, wants are cappuccinos, going to the movies, vacations, and an expensive watch. Make sure needs are covered and then take care of wants.

Set short term (less than a year), medium (1 to 5 years), and long-term goals (more than 5 years). Be precise, realistic; set a time frame and a dollar amount. Write beside the goals whether it is a need or a want. Figure out the cost of each goal, how many months you need to achieve it, and then how much money you need to save each month.

Create a budget

A budget is how you will spend your money in any given year. The budget tells you how much money you will have for the things you want to purchase. In my two decades of voluntary counseling, every single person who was ever referred to me never had or followed a budget. In other words, a budget also allows you to live within your means and gets you a step closer to financial success.

Create an emergency fund

As the name suggests, this is for emergencies. What happens if you are laid off? What happens if you are in an accident? The dishwasher breaks down or you need winter tires. In conclusion,  open a high-interest account at a bank and have at least 6 months of your salary saved up in this account.

Pay off your debts 

A Globe and Mail survey in 2018 found 48 % of Canadians live paycheck to paycheck. This is a stressful situation. Is it really worth carrying credit card debt at 21% interest? Once you are debt-free, you are not at the mercy of the lenders or anyone. You are free and can live life as you choose. Imagine if you paid off your mortgage, car and student loans. That means you do not have to pay rent or mortgage payments, no car or student loan payments. You can take it easy. You can take a less stressful job or work from home or work fewer days a week.

Save 10 percent

I strongly recommend that you start saving 10 percent of the money you earn. As you get more disciplined you can save more. Above all, this is your nest egg.

Save for retirement

At some point in our lives, the paycheck stops coming. Many of us will live at least more than two decades after we retire. We will need money for this. The best thing to do is to invest in a Registered Retirement Savings Plan.

Give to charity

The National Institute of Health did research on the brains of individuals who donate money. The act of giving money to a good cause activated pleasure centers in the brain. When you give money to a charity that is aligned with your goals and values you are making a difference and impacting other people’s lives.

Be patient

Rome was not built in one day. When you buy a home, do not go and buy a brand-new car, new furniture, install hardwood, new interlock and remodel the kitchen. The extra debt will add unnecessary pressure on you. Take your time and do one thing at a time to become financially successful.

Stay away from credit cards

The average credit card debt in Canada is $2,600. Many pay only the minimum balance. That means paying 21% interest on it. Use credit cards only if you have the money in the bank account.

Do not buy on impulse

This is your biggest enemy. It can derail any plan you have for simplicity and frugality. Avoid malls and do window shopping. Stick to your goals, budget, and plan and avoid online retail.  A walk, volunteering, going to the gym, talking to a friend, or having someone over can make up for retail therapy.

If you are married, keep the first wife

Many successful married men have asked me what is the best financial advice I can give them. I always tell them to keep the first wife. Divorce messes you mentally, emotionally and financially. Keep her and treat her well.

Keep track of your spending

Have an excel spreadsheet or write down your major expenses and expenditure so you know you have the funds in your bank account.

Invest in a TFSA

If you have extra funds, invest in the Tax-Free Savings Account. You are allowed to invest a certain amount every year and you do not have to pay tax on any interest, dividend, or capital growth in this account.

Do not keep up with the neighbor

Make a promise to yourself. You will not keep up with the neighbor. Do you really need to spend $40,000 on interlock? Do you need to install an outdoor pool which you will barely use? If you have a paved driveway, is an interlock driveway any better?

Drive the car for 15 years

If you buy a new car, as soon as you drive it out of the showroom it loses thirty-five percent of its value. You are better off buying a car that is one year old. If you do decide to buy a new car, drive it for the next 15 years or at least 300,000 km before you get a new one.

In conclusion, these are some of my strategies for financial success, let me know if you are using them and how they have worked out for you.

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When I think about where my journey in hospitality truly began, it wasn’t just with a job — it was with a feeling. The sense of wonder that comes from walking across a polished marble floor, hearing the soft hum of a busy lobby, and catching the aroma of freshly brewed coffee in the air. My first job at the Ritz Hotel lit that spark in me. I was barely eighteen, yet I knew I had found my calling.

That passion soon took me far from home, into the heart of the Swiss Alps — to Les Roches, one of the world’s most prestigious hotel schools. What began as a young man’s dream to chase the glamour of the hotel world turned into a life-changing education in culture, friendship, leadership, and humility.

My first job was at the Ritz Hotel. I was barely 18 years old. The marble floor in the lobby, the Italian restaurant, and the coffee shop were all enticing. I was hooked on the glamour of the hotel business. It was something I wanted to pursue further. I was looking at different schools like Cornell, Hawaii, and Nevada. A friend of mine was heading to Les Roches. I got some information from him and slept on it. I looked at all the permutations and combinations and realized I would come out ahead going to Les Roches. One of the better decisions of my life.

A few weeks before I was heading to Les Roches, I was informed that the school had caught on fire. We would be living in Hotel Central in Crans-Montana.

As I headed to Sierre, from Geneva, the train passes between Lac Leman on one side and the beautiful wineries on the other side. Beauty hits you. It uplifts your soul. I was excited.

From Sierre, I took the world’s longest funicular at 4192 meters. This was my first time on a funicular. Slowly, slowly the funicular fights and climbs the mountain. C’est Bluche, the conductor announced. I had arrived at the stop.

I check with the admissions office. Miss Clivaz and  Miss Roduit welcome me. After processing my ID and the payment, I am all set to go. The bus would take me to Hotel Central.

I barely check in to my room. An hour later, Donny Wowor comes into my room. Donny had just done a course in English and is my roommate. He tells me, he is living off-campus. I have a room all to my self.

I am in Service 1. I am still in touch with my classmates Lily, Kang Nee, Michelle, Gigi, Clive, Ton-Joost, David and Max. Janak and I get together quarterly for lunch. In service, I made lifelong friends with Ton-Joost, Alan, Yalon, Honny, and Didi.

I will always remember Mr. Schnyder’s wine classes and Miss Poggio’s French classes. Ortiz, Rankl and Fournier headed service. Fournier always reminded us in his French accent that he went to Rochester Institute of Technology. The language teachers were Mr. Sherry and Mr. Berry. Finally the guardian angels of Petit Paradis, Gilberte et Armand Mounir. One of the favorite rites of passage was to attend La Pacha nightclub. The whole of Les Roches was jam-packed listening to the tunes.

The classes were held mostly in Mirabeau. The Malaysians, Indonesians, and Singaporeans were always told not to bring hot sauce to the table. We had to taste European food with all its flair.

The trip to Gruyere and the Beard cutlery factory were the highlights. Everyone looked forward to the cultural night. You got a chance to eat and taste different foods from all over the world. However, the trip to the abattoir in Cher-mignon will be etched in our memories.

Derek always knocked on my door every Sunday morning to go to church. I never went. John Leo would organize Bible lessons on campus, I never attended a single one.

During our first break, Alan and I headed to Paris. It was the first time, I was in a TGV heading at 200km/hr from Lausanne to Paris. Oh yeah. Talk about two foodies and fashion geeks heading to the food and fashion capital of the earth.

The first year, I was at school, Les Roches wins the Grand Prize Triumph of European Excellence founded by Rene Cassin, Noble Peace Prize recipient. We all get a chance to serve at Dinner. It was my first experience serving at a state banquet. It is something that will always be embedded in my mind.

The summer batch was fun with the good weather and it was time to look for a stage. I headed off to Hotel De La Paix in Geneva.

During my first week at Hotel De La Paix, Geneva, Mauro Berta the Maître D’hôtel wins the best Maître’ D award in Europe. De La Paix was this 200-year-old hotel with many residents of royal blood. Lalin joins me from Les Roches and Udo Hamm joins from Lausanne. It was the start of an amazing life long friendship. Udo with all his connections would take us to the UN in Geneva. Udo is still the only Swiss friend that I made and he lives in Zurich. Udo was the F&B stagiaire and had access to the cellar.

I cannot share some of the crazy things, I did with Udo, but let’s just say, I got to taste some of the best Lafite, Margaux, La-Tour, and Haut-Brion. It was amazing to see some of the bottles lying there for like forty or fifty years. The highlight was tasting a 1920’s Chateau d’Yquem. That flavor drinking it in a 200-year-old cellar where there was no F & B electronic control will be with me till I die.

At Dinner, every night was like ok Natasha Kinski and her family are sitting on that table, the German ambassador is on that table, the Czar’s family is on that table, the Egyptian gun runner is on that table. The wife of the arms dealer wanted her ashtray changed after every flick of her cigarette. The prize for doing that. You got 10 Swiss Francs every time.

The Geneva car show is famous all over the world. Rolls Royce since the beginning chose De La Paix to show off its latest model. One got a chance to meet and serve the who’s who of the car world.

After my stage was over, I asked if I could work in reception for two weeks. Mr. Olav Vaage, the GM himself from Lausanne agreed with pay. Bien sur, Gerald.

I was loaded with six months of tips and headed to London for a couple of weeks before Kitchen.

I have to be honest. I was not looking forward to the kitchen. I had never cooked in my life. The thought of getting grease all over me and smelling at the end of the day was not my idea of work.

We were housed in Hotel Bristol in Montana. The girls were still at Hotel Mirabeau.

Chef Bider with his chak chak, Chef Bertini talked more about his diving than cuisine, Chef Rey in a la carte, I never understood a word he said. Oh yes, pastry Chef Harris with his sarcastic English and Chef Luetolf with his put it in the hofer (excuse me, oven).

I learned to cut vegetables, meat, and fish in every form and cook it using various methods. I learned to eat snails, snakes, and even horses (yes, disgusting to a North American).

I hated butchery. Mr. Emery could not speak English and the whole instruction was in French. I will never forget Glen Garcia and me were told to cut this whole leg of a cow. It took the two of us, to carry it from the fridge. After the amazing instructions, we look at each other and say do we know what we are doing. We just dug in our knives and just started cutting. Mon Dieu, le viande cest cher. Cest la merde. Check out the translation.

Then came the trip to Cher-Mignon. The slaughterhouse. The day we attended, it was the huge Valaisanne cows getting slaughtered. Farmers were famous for making the cows drink water before being weighed. Each cow was weighed and discounted for drinking water. They got an electric shock to the brain. Hung up and one knife to the heart. Within 10 seconds, the skin is taken and you saw the whole raw flesh.

I liked the kitchen demonstration. You sat for six hours seeing the chef’s cook and got to taste all the food. It was during this time that a young pastry chef called Dominique Stoeckli joined. From our time, he is the only staff member left.

Honny Khatwani was my roommate and we are friends till today. Just last week we were talking about all the ethnic problems going around in the world. At Les Roches, Yal (Jewish), Kabir (Muslim), Honny (Hindu) and I were buddies.

It was time for stage again. I headed to Hotel de la Rose in Fribourg. Statira and Thitiporn were also doing their management stage at reception.

I got a chance to work with Chef Robert Vielgrader. The guy spoke perfect English. However, he only spoke to me in French. Let’s just say that by the end of stage, my French was pretty decent. After stage, Statira, Thitiporn and me headed to Austria for 10 days. After the trip, I headed back to school.

As I got into the third year, the new building was getting constructed. The Diploma would also be from the Swiss Hotel Association. We would be the first batch to be given that diploma. Mr. Maes would teach accounting. Max would drive him nuts with his jokes. The German classes were boring. I am still not sure how I passed. Economics was fun. Mr. May taught housekeeping and public speaking.

The new building was ready by June. For the opening ceremony, the who’s who of Valais and Switzerland was there. The management students had to coordinate the whole event which was an amazing experience.

The farewell dinner was emotional. Everyone had tears in their eyes. Three years were over. We knew that there is a good chance we would not be seeing each other. 120 joined the first year, it was down to less than 90 the second year and less than 60 graduates. The hotel business is demanding.

In the last month of the school, Ortiz taps me on the shoulder and asked me if I would be interested in working for the school. I was barely 21 and the thought of teaching 120 students was a little frightening. I told him I would think about it. John, Berndt and I ended up doing our stage at school.

It was an amazing time and I built some life long friendships. I learned a lot about leadership, communication and delegating.

As I was taking the funicular for the last time heading to Sierre, my time at boarding school, university residence had come to an end. It was a ten-year stint and I knew the days of my bed is made, the clothes getting washed and getting my meals done were over. I backpacked Europe extensively before heading to Dubai. It was in Berlin I ran into Honny and Joanne.

I get asked a lot if the $ 200,000 tuition is worth it. In Europe, hospitality is a tradition. In North America, you do it while you are doing something else and you get good tips. I learned about food, culture, studying with more than 100 nationalities. That kind of experience is hard to find. The skills I learned at Les Roches prepared me for life.

Out of all the dating couples, only Glen and Leefen ended up at the altar and are still happily married with two beautiful daughters.

I wish I could send the president or prime minister of every country to Les Roches. However, that is not realistic. Here is my call to action to every Les Roches graduate. You are an ambassador of peace. You need to be the game-changer in society. You need to tell people that we are all the same and the same blood runs through us. Make friends with everyone in your class. You will learn so many things from each human being that will prepare you for life.

Les Roches is just not a school. It is a way of life.

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