THE 18 PRINCIPLE: A POWERFUL NEW WAY OF LOOKING AT YOUR LIFE

Have you ever wondered about those carefree young people who spend their twenties and early thirties exploring the world, following their passion, and apparently not worrying about getting started on a career?" Have you ever envied those seemingly lucky folks who are able to retire from full-time work in their mid-fifties and spend the rest of their days pursuing activities they enjoy, mentoring others, and just plain living the good life?
Well, you, too, can follow that path. In fact, exploring in your twenties is exactly what you need to do in order to discover the career that will to allow you to take early retirement." I know this because I've seen it work for hundreds if not thousands of people, and it's the path I am following in my own life.
In the course of my career, in both the hospitality and technology businesses and, more recently, as an executive coach and motivational expert, I've had the rare opportunity to speak with and interview hundreds of successful people from around the world and all walks of life. The one thing almost all of them had in common was that they made deliberate changes in their life at regular intervals, and these changes almost always occurred at the 18-year mark.
Interestingly, the number 18 holds a special significance for many cultures and religions. In the Jewish tradition, it is the number signifying Life. In the Bible, it is the number of years missing from the life of Jesus Christ. The Bhagavad Gita (Song of God), regarded as a sacred text in Hindu traditions, is comprised of 18 chapters. In China, the number is associated with prosperity, the 18th floor of many buildings is the most expensive, and during the Tang dynasty scholarly groups numbering 18 members were considered particularly auspicious. In Japan, the number 18 is derived from the Buddhist concept of 6 x 3, where six represents color, voice, taste, smell, touch, and justice, and three represents good, bad, and peace. Daisuke Matsuzaka, the Japanese baseball superstar now playing for the Boston Red Sox, never parts with his number 18 jersey.

The 18 Principle is based on the idea that life can be divided into 5 distinct stages, each lasting 18 years. Each stage provides specific learning opportunities on which you need to focus in order to achieve maximum results:
1. The Dreamer (birth to 18)
During this time you are acquiring skills and generally finding out as much as you can about yourself and the world.
2. The Explorer (18 to 36)
This is the time to search for the lifework that is really going to make you happy. Most people don't take the time to find this out. Instead, they rush into a job or a career as soon as they're out of school and often start down a path they never should have followed in the first place. Then, by the time they do discover what they wish they could have" been doing instead, they feel stuck. They believe they have invested too much time and energy to change courses or turn back. But, as you will see, this is not true.
3. The Empire Builder (36 to 54)
This is the only eighteen-year period when you will be focused primarily on work. During this time you will be implementing the strategies and achieving the goals you defined in Stage Two. It's about executing your plans and realizing your dreams on a grand scale in order to achieve financial independence.
4. The Mentor (54 to 72)
Now the fun begins again! You no longer need a regular paycheck because you are financially independent. Instead of continuing to work day in and day out when you no longer need to, it's time to move on. It's your turn to enjoy the fruits of your labor while you also mentor a new generation of Empire Builders.
5. The Giver (72 onwards)
This is your chance to give back, to leave a legacy, and to help create a better future for the next generation. Whatever cause is closest to your heart, use whatever you've got in terms of knowledge, passion, and finances to advance it. This last stage of life is all about generosity and compassion.

While it is certainly best to start off on the right foot (or down the right path) to begin with, one of the beauties of the 18 Principle, is that it's never too late to change course. As I always tell people, The best time to start something was 18 years ago. The next best time is today!"
The 18 Principle explains the goal of each phase and provides the information needed to put the principle to work in order to create more balance, peace, and fulfillment in your life.
While many people (beginning with Freud and continuing with Erik Erikson) have written descriptively about life stages and, more recently, what we can expect to experience as we reach mid-life or retirement age, the success and self-help industries have virtually ignored life stages in favor of cultivating a specific set of skills in order to create individual success." The 18 Principle recognizes that not everyone is interested in or capable of acquiring the same skills; rather it focuses on discovering your individual passion and unique skill-setthe particular desire and ability that will work for you and you alone.
To follow The 18 Principle is to take the road less traveledjust as this book takes a new approach to self-actualization. Those who choose this road will be like the moso plant, a type of bamboo that grows in China. After the moso is planted, there is no visible growth for up to five years. Then, as if by magic, it suddenly begins to grow at the rate of almost 2 feet per day, reaching its full height of 90 feet within six weeks. But it isn't really magic. The moso's rapid growth is the result of the miles of roots it developed during those first five years of getting ready to mature and grow!