The Elephant in the Room: Sharing the Secrets for Pursuing Real Financial Success

INTRODUCTION

My name is Michael Davidson. I never imagined I'd find myself looking for advice at a time in my life when it seemed I had already achieved so much. Sure, I had needed advice during my younger years and in college, but now I was facing down 30, with a wife and two kids. Madison was five, and our baby, Alexandra, was about to turn two. Time was flying by, and life was good. Jennifer, my wife, had been very supportive of my new career. From the beginning of our marriage, it seemed she had always been in my corner, cheering me on through every job interview, promotion, and new project. Despite the late nights and travel my job required, she was always there, taking care of the kids, juggling schedules, and managing our life. So what was the problem?

The problem is hard to pinpoint. The arguments started small, a purchase here, an expenditure there. She'd buy something, I'd question it, and she would get defensive. I'd buy a new suit for work, and it seemed as if she'd resent it. She wanted things for the house; I needed things for my job—a new briefcase, a tie. There never seemed to be enough money at the end of the month, despite the long hours I worked. I suppose if there had been, we never would have argued at all. Sometimes Jennifer resented working, but at other times, she seemed to love her teaching job. I just wished we had more options and more money.

It was after one tense discussion that I decided I had nowhere else to turn. I had to start making some changes, ...