The One Decision I Made 14 Years Ago

Good morning!

I hope this finds you well.

Welcome to another edition of The Matt Viera Newsletter.

The newsletter with the goal to inspire you to invest in life experiences.

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This past Saturday marked one year since we moved into our new home.

As I reflected on that milestone over the weekend, I couldn’t help but admit something to myself:

I’m in a good place in my life.

And I have a lot to be thankful for.

But here’s the thing…

I’m only in this place because of one decision I made about 14 years ago.

The decision to quit practicing law.

That decision was based on one simple truth:

I didn’t want to spend 60+ hours per week in an office with one week of vacation per year.

Period.

So I made the decision. I walked away. And that’s what set the rest of my life in motion.

Truth be told, it wasn’t an easy decision.

There were risks.

There were unknowns.

There were financial obstacles.

There were moments when I questioned myself.

But the decision was made.

And I accepted whatever came with it.

Good or bad.

One day at a time.

And that single moment of choosing differently became the catalyst for everything good that followed:

• A stable career with a healthy work-life balance

• Cross-country road trips

• Time spent off-grid in nature

• Mini-retirements across Europe

• Owning a home in one of the most expensive cities in the world

All of that traces back to one decision I was willing to make.

The Lesson

As we approach Thanksgiving, take a moment to step back and reflect.

Give thanks for what’s in your life right now: the good, the steady, and the quiet wins you’ve earned.

But also ask yourself:

“Is there one decision I’ve been avoiding that could change everything for me?”

Because your life may not change through some long, complicated process.

Sometimes it changes through a single moment of clarity.

A moment where you decide to stop tolerating what drains you.

And start moving toward what you actually want.

What’s the Point of All This?

The point is to remind you that most people stay on the same path not because they want to, but because it’s familiar.

Predictable.

Safe.

But if you’re not where you want to be, the path you’re on won’t magically lead you somewhere new.

You don’t need a perfect plan.

You don’t have to overhaul your entire life.

You need a willingness to choose differently.

Because one decision (even a small one) can shift the entire course of your life.

The Final Point

As you sit with family and friends this week, take a moment to think about what you truly want.

And know you may be one decision away from a different chapter.

One decision away from building the life you actually want.

Quote that caught my attention:

“A year from now you will wish you had started today.”

―Karen Lamb

You can find the collection of financial tools & resources that helped me grow from a 6-figure debt to a 6-figure net worth by clicking here.

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