Sunday morning and I’m in The Bunker, reconciling my personal expenses for the previous 7 days in my “Mother of all Spreadsheets”, a habit of many years.

I reflect upon an interesting analysis.

If we take my living expenses in January 2012 as a numerical “100%”, then look at what has happened since then:

January 2012              100

January 2013              90

January 2014              68

January 2015              40

So I’m living – very happily – on 40% of what I was earning 3 years ago.

A part of that has to do with 7connections being a “lean start up” and all the members of the business managing their expectations accordingly.

Irrespective of the business performance, overall circumstances, both macro and micro economic, necessitated a long hard look at my lifestyle and the consideration of how much I actually did need money to make me happy (no guesses at the answer).

Children becoming adults and fending for themselves is a small part of that overall process and I’m blessed with 5 great kids who appreciate what they have had so far and know how to build their own financial independence.

My experiences on a desert island last year were synchronistic to say the least.

Here’s what I’ve re-discovered in the course of this journey.

The less money I need:

• The less time it takes on a Sunday morning to manage it
• Which gives me more time to do other fun things
• The fewer irritating people show up in my life
• The easier it is to close my submarine air-locked door if I wake up at 03:00
• The more I appreciate the simpler things in my life

Last night I came home after a challenging 6-day week, satisfied and exhausted.

80% of the time (because that’s life), I work with a brilliant team, the best business partners I could ever have wished for and a client base that are easy to love working with. I coach, write and speak, fulfilling my unique abilities.

As I walked in the door at 20:00, the aroma of dinner cooking in the oven was like a signal leading me from the vast ocean into a safe harbour.

As soon as the door opened, 2 ridiculously excited gun dogs, waggling from head to tail in excitement, created a rosy glow in my heart.

A glass of good red wine, poured and waiting in the kitchen was a reward for a tired mind.

And the unconditional love of a good woman, glad to see her man home, was food for my soul.

Less is more.