Sometimes, I forget that short-term successes become long-term successes.

I was in debt when I first started teaching with student loans. Now 25 years into teaching, I own several real estate, paid off all my student loans, and have a teaching job that pays me well; I also have several side hustles.

When I look back at my teaching job and my early years of tutoring and second jobs, those early years of working and saving have got me here financially.

My writing income is still small, but I've done okay with my teaching job and my tutoring side gigs.

Recipe for success

Keep working and living one day at a time. Be thankful for the little successes and celebrate them because they add up after 25 years.