In the popular movie Jerry Maguire, this quote sums up the flawed mindset that many people hold about being wealthy: “Show me the money!!!”
Real wealth is built inside of you and within your strong relationships/bonds with family, friends, and neighbors.
We will certainly be talking about financial wealth predominantly. However, first you need to understand that money can never buy you true happiness (see our introduction post in our “Happy” category for more on the concept of happiness).
It is true that financial stability can provide some benefits, such as independence, peace of mind, and security. Outside of fulfilling basic financial stability though, buying material items won’t provide wealth or happiness.
Have you ever heard the saying “you can’t take it with you when you die”?
If you hear this, proceed with caution. People often have good intentions, but don’t understand or have the wisdom to guide you properly.
There is truth in this statement, in that you can’t bring your cash or your car or your fancy Coach purse. The flaw many people make is to use this in justifying any poor financial decision they make. Don’t give everything away before you’ve built that initial security blanket for you and your family.
Maybe you can’t take it all with you, but you can leave a blessing behind for your loved ones!
Some basics for building wealth include:
- Live debt-free. You cannot build wealth while simultaneously being a slave to a lender.
- Find joy in your work by using your skills and talents to leave the world a better place than when you arrived.
- Donate both money and time to your community.
- Read books from all genres to learn from the wisdom of our ancestors.
- Saving money in retirement accounts, traditional bank accounts, and through investments like buying real estate.
Here are some topics we will cover in this category:
- Debt Freedom (Paying Off Debt)
- Purchasing Power
- Spending Money (Self-Control, Rewards, etc.)
- Earning Money
- Entrepreneurship (Starting/Running a Small Business)
- Tipping
- Donating
- Having a Growth Mindset
- Becoming a Lifelong Learner (Reading, following experts)
- This is an ebb and flow – learn all you can and then move onto someone new!
- Saving Money
- Retirement
While there are many obstacles to becoming financially wealthy for the middle and lower class (in the U.S.), you have been blessed to live in the most free nation in the world.
People will, unfortunately, try to discourage you from making the improvements we teach. Please remember that this is a reflection of their own fears and lack of courage. You don’t have to listen to them or believe what they say.
You, and only you, control your future, your life, your potential. Take responsibility, avoid convenience as much as possible, and most importantly, keep in mind the awesome quote that we love and hold as a core value:
“Discipline Equals Freedom.” – Jocko Willink
We seek to become wealthy, not to be rich and powerful, but to help uplift others and make the world a better place. It is a goal to live comfortably and to bless others. We aren’t on this Earth forever, so whether you believe in God or not, we recommend living like He is real.
Money only has value if we, as humans, give it value. It is a resource we use to easily trade goods and services in the process of living life. Don’t make it a god and worship it as such. This will only lead to heartache and an abundance of unnecessary challenges in life.
Take the first step toward financial wealth and pay off your debt with the strategies from my FREE eBook: