Last week Jamie and I accomplished something we'd been working toward all year.

We completed our Portugal visa application interview!

Documents gathered. Appointment scheduled. Interview finished. Box checked.

This one major step toward our bigger life plan is "officially" done. We've done our part. We've put forth all our best effort and energy.

And now, we wait.

I'm going to be honest with you.

All the documents, navigating the bureaucracy of a foreign government, constant changes to immigration requirements, finding a home across the ocean, meeting banking requirements... that was HARD.

But it's nowhere near as difficult as waiting.

You see, for a Type-A, high-achieving, get-shit-done individual, it is REALLY hard for me to navigate situations that are out of my control.

When I show up to do something, it gets done. It's executed with incredible attention to detail. I control and mold the outcome to match my vision.

That's my superpower. And I'm guessing it's yours too.

It's the same set of qualities that set my clients apart from everyone else. It's the differentiator that transforms dreams into realized goals. It's the drive that turns "I want that" into "I'm going to create that."

You don't just wish for things. You make them happen.

And that trait is absolutely essential for achieving financial independence.

But here's what I'm learning: that same superpower falls completely flat at critical junctions in your lifestyle design.

Jamie and I have been reverse engineering our ideal life. We've made the hard decisions. We've done the work. We've aligned our money, our goals, our entire life around this vision.

And now we've hit a crossroads that is completely outside our control.

All of our hard work, our financial preparation, our pure heart-led desire for this future... it all comes down to a decision by the consulate.

A decision we cannot influence. Cannot control. Cannot force into existence through sheer willpower.

And let me tell you, that is BRUTAL for someone wired like me.

Maybe you know this feeling.

Maybe you've…

• done everything "right" financially but you're waiting for your partner to get on board.
• built the nest egg but you're waiting for the right time to make your move.
• designed the perfect exit strategy but you're waiting for market conditions to align.
• outgrown your job but you're waiting for that one final bonus before you leave.

The waiting is the hardest part.

Because you can't control it. You can't optimize it. You can't work harder to speed it up.

You just have to... wait. And trust. And hope.

So here's what Jamie and I are doing while we wait.

We're making the most of our time.

Needing to fly to San Francisco for our visa appointment was a wonderful excuse to turn a bureaucratic requirement into an adventure.

So we made the trip our mini-moon to celebrate this major milestone alongside our marriage.

We spent days navigating city streets and eating at Michelin restaurants. We took walks in the rain through towering redwoods. We ate pastor tacos from paper bags on street corners.

We celebrated how far we've come.

Because here's the thing about lifestyle design that nobody tells you:

You can't just focus on the destination. You have to celebrate the milestones along the way.

Otherwise, you'll spend your entire life working toward some future version of freedom and miss the freedom you already have.

Right now, while we wait for the consulate's decision, we're not sitting still.

We're not letting anxiety about what we can't control keep us from experiencing life to the fullest.

Starting tomorrow, we're heading out on the next stage of our 2025 Epic Adventure: our road trip across the South.

For the next three and a half weeks, we'll be driving through New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee on our way to North Carolina.

It's a celebration of how far we've come. A time to reflect on where we are today. An opportunity to shape our future together.

Life changes. You change. Plans change.

The vision you had five years ago might not be the vision you have today. And that's not failure. That's growth.

So savor these moments when things are out of your control.

Enjoy the pause after a milestone.

Use the time to get clear on your ideal future and the next steps to get there.

This is what financial independence actually looks like.

Not some finish line where everything is perfect and complete.

But the freedom to take three and a half weeks to drive across the country while you wait for visa approval.

The ability to turn a stressful government requirement into a mini-moon adventure.

The space to pause, reflect, and recalibrate without worrying about PTO or boss approval.

This is what you're building toward.

Not certainty. Not control. But the freedom to navigate uncertainty without financial stress dictating your choices.

If you're stuck in the phase where you're working hard but not sure if you're building toward the right vision, let's talk.

My Next Level Session is designed exactly for this: getting crystal clear on what you actually want, then building the financial foundation to support it.

Because the hardest part isn't making the money. It's knowing what you're making it FOR.

In the meantime, please send us all your good vibes for quick visa approval.

And if you have any food, sights, or activity recommendations along our route through the South, hit reply and tell me. I read every response and would love your insider tips.

Here's to celebrating the milestones while chasing the dreams,
Joe

P.S.

Type-A achievers don't do well with waiting. But we do really well with planning the celebration. If you're curious what reverse engineering your ideal life actually looks like in practice, reply and ask me about it. I love talking about this stuff!

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P.P.S.

Any tree recommendations in the South are highly appreciated. I'm an unapologetic sucker for big trees!

Joe Maddux

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