A standard life presents a standard quantity of opportunities.
But wouldn’t you like more than a standard quantity of opportunities? A higher quantity of opportunities equals more possibilities for you to get some good ones to choose from.
So how can you be presented with a higher quantity of opportunities?
The most apparent answer is to change something in your life.
The thing I changed was moving to Mexico.
And it worked.
Moving to Mexico provided me with a lot more opportunities than I would have been presented with if I had stayed where I was in the US. I’ll bet the same would be true for you.
Here’s a list of the opportunities I was presented with by moving here to Mexico and what actions I took or insights I gained as a result. If you moved here, you would probably be presented with a lot of the same ones as me.
Opportunities not related to my business
Note: I took the pictures for this article yesterday, by walking around my home and the immediate neighborhood. The high today will be about 75 degrees in late August because I live in the Mexican Highlands, at about 5,000 feet elevation, with close to perfect weather all year. All the amenities (the pool, the tennis and pickleballs courts, the social areas, etc.) are all included in the rent, which is significantly less than my daughter pays in the US. In contrast with her one-bedroom apartment in the Salt Lake City area, for less money than she pays, we get a 3,000 square foot home, lots of amenities included, with a great yard and spectacular views.
It costs a lot less to live here in Mexico. A lot less. If you moved here, this would present you with three opportunities:
• you could have a much better lifestyle in Mexico for the same amount of money you would spend in the US;
• you could spend less than you would have in the US for the same lifestyle here in Mexico; or,
• you can find your place in the middle.
The opportunities are here. The choice is yours.
What opportunities would this lower cost of living give you?
The most obvious one is that you would have the opportunity not to be as stressed and preoccupied with money. Does that sound good? It does to me. What opportunities does this diminution of the importance of money provide? Lots of them. Here are a few.
You can be more gracious. Did a waiter go out of his way for you? Give him a big tip. Does the woman standing in front of the grocery store say she needs food? Go in a buy her a nice meal and just give it to her. Why? Because you can. It’s easy. The money it costs you to make a big difference in the day of this woman just isn’t that much for you, so why not do it?
And speaking of helping others, in Mexico, it is completely different than in the US. In the US, I had experience “feeding the hungry” who were too preoccupied on their cell phones to acknowledge me and my family, and we painted the house of a woman whose perfectly healthy sons were inside, watching TV instead of painting. By contrast, here in Mexico, there are people who really need the help. And rather than giving charity an organization that you hope will get some of the money you give to the people who need it, you give directly to the people who need it. Big difference all around.
Other relationships are better because I don’t need to make as much money to afford our lifestyle. Obvious point: marriages and other relationships are happier when there are not money problems.
We have met the loveliest people here in Mexico who of course, we never would have met if we had stayed in the US. Just one example is our housekeepers. Socio-economically and in many other ways, their background is quite a bit different than ours, which has helped broaden our perspectives and deepen our connections with them.
On a more pedestrian level, when I first came here, I visited the Mexican equivalent of a podiatrist (a “podologico”) about a problem I had put off in the US because I didn’t want to spend the money to get it looked at. Here, I happily spent the equivalent of $12.50 for a treatment that, within three sessions, took care of it. I’ve been going once a month ever since. I also just got a great massage the other day. I’ll be going back weekly. Why? Because here, I can afford to. Both are nice opportunities I’m taking advantage of.
Moving to Mexico has provided me with numerous opportunities for personal growth and development. It has allowed me to experience different cultures, meet new people, and challenge my own biases and assumptions. By being open-minded and willing to learn, I have been able to take advantage of these opportunities and continue to grow as a person.
One of my favorite opportunities is being able to experience different cultures and meet new people, which has allowed me to grow as a person and challenge my own biases and assumptions. The chance to live in Mexico has opened up many doors for personal growth and development. I’ve been able to learn about different cultures, meet new people, and challenge my own thoughts and opinions. By being open-minded and willing to learn, I have been able to take advantage of these opportunities and continue to grow as a person.
Greater Appreciation for the US and Mexico
Moving to Mexico has given me a deeper appreciation for both Mexico and the US. For instance, when I interact with our housekeepers, gardeners, and many others here, it’s clear that I have more money and opportunities than they do, but I’m not necessarily smarter or more hard-working. This disparity is largely due to the geographic accident of birth. I was born north of the border, and they were born south of it. If our situations were reversed, I believe our roles would be too. Thank you, USA.
Business Insights
Whether or not you start a business in Mexico, my experience might offer some insights into living and working here. About five years ago, I founded Best Mexico Movers. Starting a similar business in the US would have been much harder, perhaps nearly impossible.
For example, when choosing a business name, I aimed for one that would rank high on search engines like Google. I expected my first choice, Best Mexico Movers, to be taken, but to my surprise, it was available. This was a sign that I could run a successful business here.
If you have a business idea for Mexico, you’ll likely find less competition than in the US. I employ five Mexicans, aged 24 to 29, who are a joy to work with. They are college-educated, bilingual, hard-working, and possess great values. Finding similar employees in the US would be increasingly difficult.
Mentorship and Opportunities
In Mexico, young people still respect their elders, providing a great opportunity for mentorship. My business also allows us to help clients during stressful times, making their initial experiences in Mexico positive. My staff, who genuinely care about helping others, represent the best of Mexico. Without moving here and starting this business, I wouldn’t have had the chance to make such a positive impact.
How to Avoid Acting on Increased Opportunities
Do all those who move to live in Mexico seize these and other opportunities? No. Some (the infamous “grumpy gringo”) focus on the fact that a repairman didn’t show up on time or tell any local who would listen about how things are done back home. Others become so bored with their extra free time that they overindulge in drinking. However, most of us who have moved to live here in Mexico do take advantage of these opportunities and more, so you can be incredibly proud of your fellow expatriates living here. I’ve never seen the Ugly American, even though I have encountered some grumpy ones – but it’s extremely rare. Most expats here are wonderful, lead fulfilling lives, and make a positive impact.
Could I have obtained these opportunities if I had stayed in the US? Perhaps so, but it would have required making numerous changes to generate the same quantity of opportunities that were available just by moving to Mexico. If I had remained in the US, it would have been extremely challenging to achieve this. The more difficult = the less likely.
I’ll opt for easier and more probable.
How about you?
Source: Forbes
