The Lion King: 3 FIRE Lessons

The Lion King was first released in 1994 and it was my first experience in a movie theater at the age of 8.

It was a school trip and the top 5 students of each Primary 2 class were given this opportunity. I was one of the lucky ones and it was a truly magical experience. Honestly, more than 25 years later, I can still recall some of the vivid details of that outing.

So when the Mrs decided to subscribe to Disney Plus earlier this year, I made sure that the first movie that we watched on the platform was the 2019 remake of The Lion King.

Even though there was nothing novel in the plot, I still thoroughly enjoyed the updated musical drama film. And obviously, I am watching it through a different lens as compared to the 8-year-old me.

Here are 3 Financial Independence Retire Early (FIRE) lessons that I was reminded of:

1. Expenses < Income (A Hyena’s Belly Is Never Full)

When Scar (Simba’s uncle) betrayed Mufasa (Simba’s father) and took over the kingdom with the help of the hyenas, the Pride Lands of Africa was quickly ravaged by the hyenas.

The hyenas in the movie were portrayed as voracious predators who did not care about the sustainability of the land. Resources were quickly decimated as animals either fled or were preyed upon. The whole ecosystem collapsed and the Pride Lands became a drought-stricken wasteland under Scar’s reign.

Moral of the story: Don’t adopt the behavior of the hyenas. Always ensure that you save a portion of your income. If you earn ten million dollars but decide to spend eleven million dollars, you will never FIRE.

2. FIRE By Backing The Right Horse (Or Lion)

Timon is probably my favorite character in the movie and the one I can identify with the most. He is a meerkat which is essentially a small mongoose. A typical prey in the animal kingdom.

But he is really smart. He befriended Pumbaa, a much bigger warthog and puts up with his pungent odour. Together, he was able to enjoy a happy-go-lucky life in the oasis and epitomizes Hakuna Matata.

And when they found Simba, Timon knew it was an opportunity not to be missed to befriend a lion cub. He was also not a leech and proved to be a great help as the movie approached its climax. He helped to distract the hyenas which allowed Simba to return to the Pride Lands.

Beyond the ending, it’s highly likely that he became one of the most powerful and influential characters in the Pride Lands of Africa eventually.

Moral of the story: Be like Timon. It’s ok to start at the bottom. Position yourself well to climb up the ladder. Be useful. Adapt and be open to opportunities, whether it is a business opportunity, a side hustle, dividend/tech stocks or even cryptocurrencies.

3. FIRE Is A Lack Of Ambition For Some (A Lion Especially)

Simba left the Pride Lands out of shame and guilt after witnessing the death of his father. He managed to find refuge in an oasis and adopted a happy-go-lucky life with his two new-found best friends, Timon and Pumbaa.

There was neither stress nor worries but it was probably not a fulfilling existence. Simba could not find a partner and had to live on insects, not meat. Ironically, this is not too different from a Lean FIRE.

Simba’s life was turned upside down once Nala turned up in the oasis. She asked him to return to Pride Lands to improve the dire situation for his tribe and family. A lion like Simba was always meant for bigger things.

Moral of the story: If you have lion-like abilities, it can be selfish to stop once you FIRE, especially if you have the opportunity to improve the lives of your loved ones quite easily. Lean FIRE might even be a miserable existence for some. There is a reason why politicians, entrepreneurs or even some financial bloggers do not stop after amassing their first pot of gold.

So are you the Hyena, Meerkat or the Lion?

Thanks for reading.

The Monk, The Warrior And The Farmers

Mr Fredricksen Should Have Saved More For His Trip!

Aladdin’s Choice: Superior Saving Rate Or Superior Investment Return