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At 60 years old, most people imagine winding down their careers, preparing for the next chapter, or stepping confidently into retirement. My reality was very different. After serving as a missionary for 20 years—literally living by faith and relying on God’s provision—I found myself with virtually no retirement savings. No pension. No nest egg. No financial safety net.
What I did have was a conviction: if I was going to build a retirement fund, I needed to learn real estate investing—and learn it fast. I set a bold, almost audacious goal: acquire or invest in 1,000 doors in six years. It wasn’t just a number; it was the only path I could see to create the financial security my wife and I had never had.
That journey required sacrifice. A lot of it.
Sacrifice #1: Time—Long Days and Even Longer Weeks
To say I became disciplined would be an understatement. I was starting from scratch at an age when most people are thinking about slowing down. Instead, I kicked into overdrive.
I read everything I could get my hands on—many books, biographies, how-to manuals, strategy guides, market studies. I devoured podcasts until they became the soundtrack of my life. I worked 12-hour days, six days a week, learning, networking, analyzing deals, and pushing myself harder than I ever had in my 40-year working life.
It wasn’t glamorous. It was grinding, relentless, and exhausting. But it was necessary.
Sacrifice #2: Comfort—Choosing Discipline Over Ease
Learning real estate at 60 is not the same as learning it at 30 or 40. I had to wrestle with new technologies, new terminology, new investment structures, and new skills. Every day, I stretched myself beyond what felt comfortable.
Instead of settling into a gentle glide toward retirement, I put myself into a steep climb. I traded comfort for growth, ease for effort, and familiarity for the unknown.
Sacrifice #3: Privacy—Turning My Journey Into a Public One
One of the most surprising sacrifices was opening up my life to the world. I started a podcast—The Old Dawg’s REI Network—not because I was an expert, but because I wasn’t. It became my journal, my accountability partner, and my way of helping others who were “starting late” — just like I was.
I shared my failures, my fears, my learning curve, and my wins. I interviewed seasoned investors who became, in many ways, my unpaid instructors. Guests like Robert Kiyosaki, Ken McElroy, Brandon Turner and more. I also was a guest on other podcasts like Bigger Pockets. The podcast took a huge amount of time and energy, but it also forged relationships and knowledge I could never have gained alone.
Sacrifice #4: Short-Term Enjoyment for Long-Term Freedom
There were moments when my wife and I had to tighten our belts. Moments when travel, leisure, or downtime had to wait. Moments when the immediate pleasures of life took a back seat to the long-term goal of financial independence.
But we kept our eyes on the finish line.
So… Were the Sacrifices Worth It?
Absolutely—without question.
By God’s grace, the sacrifices paid off. We hit our goals. We built a portfolio that provides the income we need. We bought our home and vehicles with cash. And today, we live comfortably, debt-free, and financially secure for the rest of our lives.
Even better, I now get to enjoy my retirement—fully and without worry. I get to spend time with my family, pursue the things I love, and continue sharing what I’ve learned with others who feel like they’re “starting too late.”
If you ask me whether the sacrifices were worth it, the answer is simple:
Definitely. Without a doubt. 100%.
Because sometimes, the life you want is on the other side of the comfort you’re willing to give up.
And because it’s never too late—not at 60, not at 70, not ever—to change your financial future.
