{"id":52060,"date":"2020-09-01T16:14:57","date_gmt":"2020-09-01T22:14:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.success.com\/?p=52060"},"modified":"2024-11-15T06:05:50","modified_gmt":"2024-11-15T12:05:50","slug":"the-complete-guide-to-money-how-to-create-wealth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.success.com\/the-complete-guide-to-money-how-to-create-wealth\/","title":{"rendered":"The Complete Guide to Money: How to Create the Wealth You\u2019ve Been Seeking Your Whole Life"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>\u201cHey, I want to make $10,000 over the Labor Day weekend.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It was my business partner calling with an idea for a new online writing course.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He laid out his plan and my first thought was, <em>This will be a challenge, but we can do it.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>My second thought was, <em>Wow, this guy has a great attitude about money.<\/em> I was fascinated by the idea of creating money out of nothing, the only motivation being, \u201cI <em>want<\/em> to make $10,000.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When I hung up the phone I knew we would reach our goal. Then it hit me: This money mindset is the thin green line between infinite riches and poverty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But it\u2019s a mindset lacking in 99% of the population. Let\u2019s fix that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What\u2019s in This Guide?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This is a (mostly) complete guide to installing the mindsets and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.success.com\/10-habits-to-avoid-after-lockdown\/\">habits<\/a> that will help you redefine your shaky relationship with money so you can finally enjoy the financial abundance you\u2019ve been seeking your whole life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s a roadmap for:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Rooting out your negative beliefs about money and replacing them with a rich person\u2019s mindset.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Paying off your consumer debt and inoculating yourself against the Mastercard chokehold.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Practicing the habits that the rich use for creating and growing money, and\u2026<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Putting your money to work for you, instead of working for money, which is the only true path to wealth.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>This is not a casual four-minute read, but it IS the distillation of wisdom from the world\u2019s wealthiest, written by a serial entrepreneur.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When you practice what you learn here, your net worth is guaranteed to grow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Table of Contents:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s your \u201cguide to the guide.\u201d Use the hyperlinks to get around, and feel free to skip to the section that calls to you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><a href=\"#mindset\">Part I: Abundance Mindset<\/li><li><a href=\"#debt\">Part II: Defeating Debt<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#creatingmoney\">Part III: Practices for Creating Money<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#makingmoney\">Part IV: Making Money While You Sleep<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"mindset\">Part I: Abundance Mindset<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><em>\u201cIf you do not see great riches in your imagination, you will never see them in your bank balance.\u201d \u2014Napoleon Hill<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Why do most intelligent, capable people never get rich? We all (yes, you too) have the potential to create Scrooge McDuck-sized vaults of wealth that can let us become our best selves and experience a life that we can hardly imagine now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But the vast multitude falls far short of their prosperity potential because a low level \u201cmoney panic\u201d is always buzzing in our semi-conscious mind, like a penniless devil on our shoulder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you want to change your financial outcomes, then you must start in the mind\u2014by rooting out beliefs that are holding you back and replacing them with\u2026 the Abundance Mindset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Money Panic<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><em>\u201cIt\u2019s more work to not succeed than it is to succeed.\u201d \u2014Grant Cardone<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Anyone raised with a scarcity mindset knows that creeping feeling. It slinks out of its burrow in the small hours of the night, rooting around, sniffing out a way to pay this month\u2019s rent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It comes calling in the form a routine oil change that turns into a $1,000 suspension overhaul. It invades every cell in your body when your child has another impossible growth spurt and you realize that she needs new clothes, shoes and a big-kid bed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That feeling is the Money Panic, and it\u2019s the Great Wall of China between you and wealth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One of life\u2019s obnoxious ironies is that we often have nothing to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.success.com\/coronavirus-or-fear-whats-worse\/\">fear<\/a> but fear itself. It\u2019s the fear of scarcity that creates scarcity. It\u2019s the hand-wringing over lack that breeds lack. The Money Panic is a lot like chronic depression\u2014a dead end with no visible exit; a self-perpetuating disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And much like depression, the only way out of the Money Panic is to rewire your brain and its childhood programming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Thanks, Mom and Dad<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><em>\u201cWe tend to be identical to one or a combination of our parents in the arena of money.\u201d \u2014T. Harv Eker<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you struggle with money, it\u2019s not entirely fair to \u201cblame\u201d your parents for your unhelpful money beliefs (they meant well), but it\u2019s probably accurate to say that they are the \u201cexplanation\u201d for them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Growing up, most of us are hammered with the \u201cgreatest hits\u201d of negative money beliefs:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cMoney doesn\u2019t grow on trees.\u201d<br>\u201cWe can\u2019t afford it.\u201d<br>\u201cThe rich cause all the world\u2019s problems.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Now, imagine going through life being told that bathing is the root of all evil but wanting desperately to have a shower. No matter how bad you want to feel clean, you\u2019re never going to scrub down because everything in your childhood programming is telling you not to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>How can we become wealthy if we believe at our core that wealth is some combination of: a) evil, b) difficult to create, or c) unimportant?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Overcoming the lies you were told growing up is the first step in cleaning up your money act.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Change Your Thinking, Change Your Bank Balance<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><em>\u201cIdentity is this incredible invisible force that controls your whole life. It\u2019s invisible, like gravity is invisible, but it controls your whole life.\u201d \u2014Tony Robbins<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the most powerful forces over us is our identity. Identify as someone who is fit and healthy? You\u2019ll prove it by working out daily. Believe that you\u2019re great at math? Then you ace those tests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And when you identify as someone who is \u201cjust not good with money,\u201d you will prove that to yourself over and again by quitting a good job, spending recklessly or losing your wallet every few months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Humans are incapable of acting out of line with our identity and our subconscious works tirelessly to make us consistent\u2014for better or worse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you want to get rich, then, the solution is to change your identity. And THAT starts with changing your thinking. Here are some questions you can ask that will do the trick.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. What negative beliefs do you have about money?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Dig deep for your own greatest hits. What do you believe about money that\u2019s preventing you from having it? Do you have a rich uncle with horrifying political views and think all wealthy people must be like that?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Money is only a tool, and wealth is not correlated to a person\u2019s character or political views.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>How can you discover your beliefs about money? Pay close attention to the language you use. \u201cI can\u2019t afford it\u201d is a mantra that shuts off your brain. Yes, you can afford it in some future state\u2014you just need to get creative. A healthier replacement belief might be, \u201cHow can I afford it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. Why do you deserve money?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>The most common block about making money is the feeling that we don\u2019t deserve it. We tell ourselves in myriad ways that we\u2019re not smart, kind, attractive, capable, experienced or <em>fill-in-the-blank<\/em> enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Challenge that thinking. Make a list right now (yes, right now!) of all the reasons you deserve money. You might write down, like I did, that I deserve money because I\u2019m a kind, ethical man with an abundance of integrity and that the money will be put to use for humanity\u2019s good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Maybe you deserve it because you work especially hard, or take care of a sick loved one, are incredibly intelligent and capable, because you\u2019ve paid your dues\u2014or, because everyone deserves wealth and abundance, including you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. Who could I become with money?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>I\u2019ve had the pleasure of experiencing that formative life lesson that is being <em>broke<\/em>. I\u2019m grateful for the lessons it taught me, but I\u2019d never want to go back there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As a broke person I was always stressed, which erased my sense of humor. I stopped seeing friends. I stopped buying new clothes and having a beer on a patio in the summer, which made me happy. I lost my self-confidence and self-esteem, and because of that, couldn\u2019t possibly do great work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Learning how to create and grow wealth changed all of that and helped me become a more vibrant, generous, less uptight person\u2014my <em>real<\/em> self. I like myself much more as a prosperous person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Who would you become without the guillotine of poverty hanging over your head?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. Who could I help with money?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>A sole focus on yourself is a good recipe for ending up alone and miserable. The secret to a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.success.com\/you-can-choose-happiness\/\">happy life<\/a> is to constantly be contributing. We all want to be useful and that happens because of what we give, not what we get.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you had all the money you want now, who could you help? Could you pay off your parents\u2019 mortgage? Send your daughter to the best school in the world? Be less stressed and a better partner at home? Give to charity?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Find a reason outside of yourself for creating wealth, and the dollars will flow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5. What has money already given you?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>There\u2019s a psychological effect called \u201cdisqualifying the positive,\u201d and it happens when we ignore good experiences and focus only on the bad. People do this often with money: We forget how much that money already does and has done for us and see only what\u2019s lacking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We can combat this by literally counting our blessings. On a piece of paper, write down the amazing things you have or had in your life because of money\u2014your home, car, education, lifesaving surgery or medication, vacations, toys, food, or gym membership. Thanks, money!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When we remind ourselves of what money is capable of giving us, we appreciate it. And when money feels appreciated? Well it comes to visit more often.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">There Is Plenty to Go Around<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><em>\u201cThe truth is that there\u2019s more than enough good to go around.\u201d \u2014Michael Beckwith<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There\u2019s one specific money belief that\u2019s probably more important than all the others, and it\u2019s the complete opposite of what most people believe:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There is plenty of wealth to go around.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>No, we\u2019re not talking about printing money, we\u2019re still on the subject of beliefs. If you think that wealth creation is a zero-sum game, i.e. that someone has to lose for you to gain, then you will always struggle with money. That\u2019s the scarcity mindset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The truth is, wealth can be created out of nothing\u2014just put an industrious pioneer in the middle of a forest and you\u2019ll see. The economy grows not because of clever tricks by central banks, but because real people are creating real value for other people through a product or service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The pie is constantly growing, and when one person gets a slice, they don\u2019t deprive someone else of theirs. Adopt this belief with full faith, and you\u2019ll stop competing for wealth and start creating it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"debt\">Part II: Defeating Debt<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><em>\u201cThe fact is, none of us really has a choice: We are all playing the money game whether we want to or not. The only question is: Are we winning?\u201d \u2014<a href=\"https:\/\/www.success.com\/16-timeless-truths-of-financial-freedom\/\">David Bach<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cYou owe me one.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There\u2019s an uncomfortable feeling, right? That\u2019s because humans evolved in social tribes, where our best chance of survival was to help our kin through you-scratch-my-back-I\u2019ll-scratch-yours reciprocity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When someone does us a favor, we feel the nagging need not just to repay them, but to give back <em>more<\/em> than we received. And in the case of financial debt, a repayment with interest is not just the custom\u2014it\u2019s legally binding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Being in debt is stressful. It leads us into the Money Panic, where we can\u2019t do great work. It robs us of a huge chunk of our hard-earned wealth\u2014dollars that could be invested to create more dollars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you have debt, make clearing it your first priority.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Good Debt\/Bad Debt<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><em>\u201cHe who is quick to borrow is slow to pay.\u201d \u2014German Proverb<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Not all debt is created equal. <em>Consumer debt<\/em> is that shiny toy you put on your credit card, the payments on your new Lexus and <em>any<\/em> balance on a credit card that\u2019s not paid off in full each month, before it costs you interest. This is BAD DEBT.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But there\u2019s also the debt we incur that will create more wealth. Let\u2019s just call this <em>good debt<\/em>. A mortgage is a huge loan, but one that we gladly take on because we expect that our home will grow in value and let us live there without paying rent that lines someone else\u2019s pockets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A business loan is another form of good debt: It allows us to invest in a venture that will (in theory) let us repay the debt and create loads more wealth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Investing in yourself is another good debt strategy. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.success.com\/25-self-help-books-you-havent-read\/\">Books<\/a>, courses, a degree or diploma. You should be happy to go into debt for these reasons as long as you expect a positive return on investment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why We Get Into Bad Debt<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><em>\u201cWhatever your income, always live below your means.\u201d \u2014Thomas J. Stanley<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The formula for being overweight is uncomplicated: Eat more calories than you burn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The path to debt is also dead simple: Spend more than you earn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Our voracious economy and advertisers encourage spending money we don\u2019t have. We finance our cars, TV, cell phone and cosmetic procedures so that we can enjoy a lifestyle we haven\u2019t earned yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But this \u201cbe rich now\u201d approach is a faulty mindset that slows down our progress toward our fortune.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sure, we\u2019re often careful to spend only what we earn, which is called living paycheck to paycheck, but let\u2019s be honest\u2014unexpected expenses come up regularly. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.success.com\/this-pandemic-is-our-teacher\/\">Learn<\/a> to expect the unexpected, budget a safety buffer for these \u201crainy day items,\u201d and you\u2019ll avoid slipping into the red.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Don\u2019t Invest Until You\u2019re Debt Free<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><em>\u201cWhatever interest rate you have \u2014 it might be a student loan with a 7 percent interest rate \u2014 if you pay off that loan, you&#8217;re making 7 percent. That&#8217;s your immediate return, which is a lot safer than trying to pick a stock or trying to pick real estate, or whatever it may be.\u201d \u2014Mark Cuban<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Everyone tells you to invest your money. Mutual funds, pensions, ETFs, GICs, real estate; there are exceptional opportunities out there to grow your wealth at 5, 8, even 12% returns\u2014wow!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But what if you\u2019re paying 18% interest on your credit card? If you have $1,000 to allocate, what should you do with it? If you invest it at 8%, you can earn $80. Sweet! But in the meantime, that same $1,000 could have saved you $180 in credit card interest. You\u2019re $100 poorer because you neglected to see the tyranny of consumer debt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Does that mean you should pay off your mortgage in full before you invest? Well, since mortgage interest rates are around 3-4% in North America right now, it probably makes sense for you to make only your minimum payments and put the dollars left over into any investment that can earn <em>more<\/em> than 3-4% interest (any index fund, basically).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The rule of thumb is this: Follow the highest interest rate. If the rate on your consumer debt is higher than what you can earn in the market (and it usually is), then don\u2019t invest until you pay off your debt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The 70-20-10 Rule<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><em>\u201cA part of all I earn is mine to keep.\u201d \u2014George S. Clason<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Having said all that, we know that humans are not purely rational creatures. The best policy might be to crush your debt first, but when you\u2019re $10,000 or $50,000 in the hole, the idea of spending a year or five years ONLY paying debt while stashing away nothing for yourself is depressing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you feel this way, then try the 70-20-10 rule:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Live on 70% of your income.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Allocate 20% of your income to paying your debts.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Save 10% for yourself\u2014preferably in stable growth investments.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>This system will allow you to clear your debt while creating a modest nest egg that can eventually create more wealth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"creatingmoney\">Part III: Practices for Creating Money<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><em>\u201cWealth beyond your wildest dreams is possible if you follow the golden rule: Invest ten percent of all you make for long-term growth.\u201d \u2014David Chilton, <\/em>The Wealthy Barber<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Wealth starts with the Abundance Mindset and continues with practical actions you can repeat, aka <a href=\"https:\/\/www.success.com\/the-ultimate-guide-to-habits\/\">habits<\/a>. Think of mindset as the fertile ground for wealth and these practices described here as the seeds we plant, which in time grow and bear fruit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The #1 Secret to Wealth<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>There is one cardinal rule for creating wealth, and it\u2019s this: <strong>Pay Yourself First.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Each month you receive your X dollars of income. Part of that goes to pay your landlord or the mortgage lender. This much goes to the grocery store owner. This much to the cell phone corporation shareholders, and this much to the restaurant owner down the street.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What percentage of your hard-earned dollars go to <em>you<\/em>? No, I don\u2019t mean how much are you splurging on nice toys and self-care at the spa. I mean, how much money are you <em>keeping <\/em>for you?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Paying yourself first means taking the <em>first<\/em> 10% (minimum) of your paycheck and tucking it safely away into an investment account, preferably one that\u2019s earning a high rate of return.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Do this with discipline for enough years, and eventually your nest egg will start to throw off more interest than your salary pays. It\u2019s the get-rich-slow strategy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Start paying yourself first now, today, even if you think you can\u2019t afford it. No matter how poor you think you are, you probably won\u2019t even notice a 10% reduction in your income. But after a few years, you will certainly notice the significant source of new income.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Get Clear on Your Why<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><em>\u201cRICH: Able to afford all the things and experiences required to fully experience your most authentic life.\u201d \u2014Jen Sincero<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ninety-nine out of 100 people want more wealth than they have. Maybe half of those know exactly <em>how much<\/em> more they want. But perhaps only five of those know, at an emotional level, <em>why<\/em> they want this money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What would you do with a 10% raise\u2014blow it on more junk you probably don\u2019t need? Be honest with yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Or can you think of a truly compelling reason? Would you take that trip to Paris you\u2019ve been dreaming about; get a dog; finally pay off your student loan; help your parents out?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Until you have a reason for making more money that gets you <em>emotionally<\/em> charged up, how can you possibly have the drive to go out and do what it takes to create your fortune?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s a great way to light the fire that will cook up your why: Go get a taste of what you want. Lusting after a new car? Great, go take that Tesla for a test drive. Want to finally move your family into that dream house? Go to viewings for houses you can\u2019t afford (yet). Try on the clothes that would make you feel like a million bucks. Create a Pinterest board to inspire that trip to Rome, or the tattoo you want, or the lifestyle of your best self.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Get a taste of what you want before you can afford it, and your subconscious will chase it like a ravenous wolf.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Tally Up the Cost<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><em>\u201cMoney often costs too much.\u201d \u2014Ralph Waldo Emerson<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI want to make a billion dollars!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Cool dream, but <a href=\"https:\/\/www.success.com\/why-self-awareness-is-important-and-how-to-develop-it\/\">are you aware<\/a> of how much hassle comes with vast wealth? You can\u2019t just stick those nine zeroes into your checking account, you need to carefully manage it if you don\u2019t want to lose it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Chances are you don\u2019t need even a small fraction of a billion to live your wildest dreams. One percent of that is still $10 million, and at a modest 5% return, that gives you $500,000 to live on <em>each year for the rest of your life<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So do the math\u2014what does your dream life cost? Think about:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The down payment and mortgage on your mansion.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A few thousand for your new wardrobe.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Three epic vacations a year. (Hint: don\u2019t buy a private jet or a mansion\u2014rent them.)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The best restaurants three times a week.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>An exciting car.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The top education for your kids.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>I guarantee that the total figure will not nearly approach a billion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When you see that this level of income is a realistic five, 10 or 15-year goal, your motivation to earn will be a lot higher than if you\u2019re chasing some arbitrary, astronomical and unnecessary amount.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Elevator List<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><em>\u201cIf you want to change your life you have to raise your standards.\u201d \u2014Tony Robbins<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>James Clear tells a great story about elevating your lifestyle. I\u2019ll paraphrase\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As a philosopher, art critic and writer, Denis Diderot was the master of his domain. But a wealthy man, he was not. In fact, he was so poor into his 50s that he couldn\u2019t afford to pay for his daughter\u2019s wedding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So he did what any of us would do and got in touch with the Empress of Russia and asked for some cash. Well, she loved the encyclopedia he wrote so much that she was happy to crack open her coin purse. Diderot\u2019s daughter got her fantasy wedding, and Denis bought himself a nice red robe for the heck of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>All of a sudden Diderot\u2019s digs looked like a trash heap by comparison. He absolutely HAD to buy a new rug. And a table. And a few sculptures to ease his loneliness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And just like that he birthed the term \u201cThe Diderot Effect\u201d\u2014the need to buy new things to accompany your other new things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sure, this could lead to rampant materialism if we\u2019re not careful. But it\u2019s also an excellent tool we can leverage to spike our motivation to become prosperous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The specific tool I use is the <strong>Elevator List<\/strong>: a written list of items, posted on the fridge, that would really improve my lifestyle: a new couch and bed sheets; burning all my old clothes and going on a shopping spree; a new laptop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This isn\u2019t a bucket list or goals list, but a list of tangible perks that would truly fancy-up your life. Why do this? Because when you get a taste of the good life, you want more. And when you upgrade your environment, you\u2019re happier and do better work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Upgrade Your Friends Circle<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><em>\u201cNever contract friendship with a man that is not better than thyself.\u201d \u2014Confucius<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I hammer this Jim Rohn quote often because it\u2019s so ridiculously powerful: \u201cYou are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Now maybe you don\u2019t sit around with your friends comparing bank balances or salaries, but you can probably guesstimate how each of them are doing financially.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ross, Monica and Chandler didn\u2019t even break a sweat in the face of a $62 dinner bill, but for Rachel, Phoebe and Joey that would practically break the bank. (Hey, remember when we all watched that show <em>Friends<\/em> for an entire decade?)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I\u2019m not knocking Rachel or Joey, but if you hung out with them all the time, you\u2019d start to match their financial results. This is because our peers help us set our standards for ourselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When your friend insists on going to the $3.99 burrito place on 2-for-1 night every time you meet, you\u2019re going to live a burrito lifestyle (not to mention one of gastrointestinal distress).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But if your friend picks you up in his convertible to drive you to his boat at the marina for a night drinking Veuve with successful entrepreneurs, you\u2019ll start to feel a bit uneasy about your own results, but also inspired after seeing what your life <em>could<\/em> look like.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A friend circle of achievers will help you aim higher, hold you accountable, and show you what\u2019s possible, not to mention have you rubbing shoulders with contacts and opportunities that can accelerate your success. Choose your new friends and let them give you a hand up to the next level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"makingmoney\">Part IV: Making Money While You Sleep<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><em>\u201cIf I have to work there, it\u2019s not a business. It becomes my job.\u201d \u2014Robert Kiyosaki, <\/em>Rich Dad Poor Dad<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Most people work for money, but the wealthy let money work for them. That\u2019s a cute soundbite, but what does it mean?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It means that by harnessing the magical forces that you\u2019re about to learn, like compound interest, you can let the money that you have start to multiply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here we go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Assets vs. Liabilities<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Most people call their home an asset. Is it? It\u2019s certainly worth a sizeable chunk of change. But is it earning or costing you money? When you replace the furnace, or slap on a new roof, or buy a beautiful new robe, does that investment multiply and bring you more money?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Yes, if you live in most cities, the value of your house is probably increasing. You\u2019re almost guaranteed to sell those four walls for much more than you invested (setting aside any 2008-style calamities).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But all of that value is imaginary until you sell the home. You can\u2019t pay for groceries with a home appraisal. All the while, you\u2019re paying interest on your mortgage, property taxes, utilities, and for repairs and upgrades. Unless you\u2019re renting a part of your home, or flipping houses for a profit, your home is probably NOT an asset, at least not a good one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Owning a vending machine is an asset, because you prosper when someone buys a Mars Bar. A condo that you Airbnb or a convenience store you own is an asset that brings you rent. Having a song on the radio, a patent or a published book brings you royalties. Investments bring dividends. A university education increases your earning potential. These are assets because they generate more money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Your beautiful clothes, car or fancy dining room table are liabilities because these lazy slobs don\u2019t earn their keep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On this subject, <em>Rich Dad Poor Dad<\/em> author Robert Kiyosaki says it best: \u201cRich people acquire assets. The poor and middle class acquire liabilities they think are assets.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And the most powerful asset we have is our mind, so apply the old clich\u00e9 \u201cit takes money to make money\u201d and start acquiring more assets, like stocks and bonds\u2014anything that grows in value or generates income.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Passive and Recurring Income<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><em>\u201cIf you want to become really wealthy, you must have your money work for you.\u201d&nbsp;\u2014 John D. Rockefeller<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Active income is what you get when you trade time for money, which is a terrible deal for you. It\u2019s a fixed amount, like your salary, where the upper limit is your hourly wage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Passive income is earned even while you sleep, even if you\u2019re on vacation or in another country. Passive income comes from assets like that viral YouTube video you posted, or the dividends on your stocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Your passive income stream is, in theory, unlimited because it\u2019s not tied to the number of hours you can work before you keel over and die from exhaustion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Recurring income is usually also passive income, but it refers to income that comes to you on a regular basis, like rent from that condo you own downtown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Time is a finite asset; we all get only 86,400 seconds each day. But money is a renewable resource: We can create unlimited abundance. Handcuffing your infinite earning potential to a fixed quantity like time, then, is a horrible strategy. Start <a href=\"https:\/\/www.success.com\/12-efficiency-secrets-of-the-worlds-busiest-people\/\">prioritizing<\/a> passive and recurring income, and you will take the limits off your life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If this all sounds foreign to you, start by asking, \u201cWhat product or service could I create and sell within the next three months that would earn me a passive, recurring income?\u201d Then go out and build it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Investing for Financial Freedom<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><em>\u201cIt&#8217;s not how much money you make, but how much money you keep, how hard it works for you, and how many generations you keep it for.\u201d \u2014Robert Kiyosaki<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disclaimer time: I\u2019m not a financial expert, only your average guy who\u2019s read much financial wisdom from way smarter people. Do your own research.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Investing is a broad and emotionally charged topic, with as many opinions about it as there are investors. At best, most of it is noise. At worst, it\u2019s disastrous advice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Switch on the business news or go to most investing websites, and they will tell you exactly which stocks to buy and sell. Heck, even your bank\u2019s investing platform might save you a lot of time by \u201crating\u201d stocks for you. Great, right? Except that they are always wrong in the long term. Stock picking is a recipe for disaster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Tony Robbins, in <em>MONEY Master the Game<\/em> (probably the only money book you\u2019ll ever need to read to learn how to invest), points out that most stock pickers\u2014even the ones that are employed full time as traders\u2014<em>do not beat the average returns of the market<\/em>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cAn incredible 96% of actively managed mutual funds <em>fail to beat the market<\/em> over any sustained period of time!\u201d Robbins says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Why are most people gambling their hard-earned dollars in the slot machine of stock picking then? In a word, marketing. Mutual fund managers don\u2019t get rich by making you rich but by charging you fees, so they make their products sound sweeter than Nutella.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And the financial media? Jim Cramer and his fellow personalities are in the <em>financial entertainment <\/em>business, not the <em>financial education<\/em> business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Index Funds for the Win<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><em>\u201cWhen you look at the results\u2026 there\u2019s almost no chance that you end up beating the index fund.\u201d \u2014David Swensen<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Are we smallfolk doomed to collect the scraps from the mutual fund manager\u2019s table then? Not at all. Warren Buffett has the solution: \u201cThe goal of the nonprofessional should not be to pick winners\u2026 but to own a cross section of [the market].\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can own a cross section of the market with a simple, miraculous little vehicle: the <strong>index fund<\/strong>. Those resemble mutual funds in that they are buckets that contain a number of stocks. But they differ because they are not managed funds; nobody is placing casino bets on which stocks will win and lose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And because these funds are unmanaged (instead, they contain stocks from a cross section of the market, say the S&amp;P 500), the fees you pay are much smaller. And even a 1% savings in fees can put tens or hundreds of thousands of additional dollars into your Scrooge McDuck vault.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Then, Diversify<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><em>\u201cRule No. 1: Never lose money. Rule No. 2: Never forget rule No. 1.\u201d \u2014Warren Buffett<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are index funds for high risk and low risk stocks. Funds for commodities and gold. Long and medium-term and municipal bonds. International and domestic funds. Earnings and dividends-focused, and socially responsible index funds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Don\u2019t let that overwhelm you. Ray Dalio, founder of the world\u2019s most successful hedge fund with a modest $138 billion under his management, puts forward a simple diversification strategy for the average investor, which I use:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>30% to stocks<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>15% to intermediate government bonds<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>40% to long-term government bonds<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>7.5% to gold<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>7.5% to commodities<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Why this ratio? Because no matter what happens in the market, this is a strong defensive play against losing money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Is this the right strategy for everyone? No. The younger you are, the most risk you can (and maybe <em>should<\/em>) take. Do your homework, but diversify.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Real Estate<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><em>\u201cThe best investment on earth is earth.\u201d \u2014Louis Glickman<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>No, we\u2019re not talking about the liability of owning your house, although there are strong arguments in favor of that. The subject here is real estate investments, which can mean offering for rent a house, condo or commercial space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2014 I made a down payment on a ridiculously overpriced semi-detached home in the red-hot Toronto market. I immediately created a rental unit upstairs, which mostly covered the mortgage. When I moved out of the lower unit, I found another great tenant, and now this place throws off a modest but appreciated monthly income for our family. (Passive income, anyone?)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On top of that, in Toronto\u2019s insane market, the value of the home has almost doubled in six years. You can\u2019t eat imaginary money, but this isn\u2019t a bad retirement plan. And, because we own the home, we\u2019re building equity that we can leverage to invest in other assets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As you can tell, I like real estate. Just be careful not to put all of your eggs into this one basket. 2008\u2019s housing meltdown is still a painful memory for many would-be real estate moguls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Yes, You Can Afford It<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><em>\u201cWhen riches begin to come, they come so quickly, in such great abundance, that one wonders where they have been hiding all those years.\u201d \u2014Napoleon Hill<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This week my business partner and I unveiled our new Sell Your Non-Fiction book <a href=\"https:\/\/soyouwanttowrite.org\/products\/sell-your-non-fiction-book\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">writing program<\/a>, that will run over the Labor Day weekend. We\u2019re confident we\u2019ll fill the program and we have a plan to do that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But a month ago, this course wasn\u2019t even the seed of an idea. We created it out of a desire to generate wealth from nothing by serving up excellent content to our clients. It required a healthy mindset about money\u2014faith that if we create value and promote it, people will show up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then it required the application of the science of making money\u2014tried and tested practices for creating wealth, like understanding exactly what our clients want, then creating an irresistible offer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And when this four-day program is finished, we\u2019ll have a recording of the sessions that we can turn into a digital product that we can sell over and over again, generating passive income.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I grew up being told \u201cwe can\u2019t afford it.\u201d I entered adulthood financially illiterate. But I went looking for the wisdom I\u2019ve shared here and started applying it. Now I know I can afford it. You can, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.successacademy.com\/successinsider\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Do you need weekly inspiration, success tips and self-help resources? Click here to sign up to join our weekly newsletter to help you achieve all your goals!<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\"><em>Photo by @lira_n4\/Twenty20.com<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When you practice what you learn here, your net worth is guaranteed to grow.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":31626,"featured_media":52062,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"ub_ctt_via":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[14060,122],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-52060","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-money","category-success"],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/www.success.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/The-Complete-Guide-to-Money.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"Michael Pietrzak","author_link":"https:\/\/www.success.com\/author\/michael-pietrzak\/"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v25.1 (Yoast SEO v25.6) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>The Complete Guide to Wealth: Creating the Life You Seek<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"When you practice what you learn here, your net worth is guaranteed to grow.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The Complete Guide to Money: How to Create the Wealth You\u2019ve Been Seeking Your Whole Life\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"When you practice what you learn here, your net worth is guaranteed to grow. | SUCCESS\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.success.com\/the-complete-guide-to-money-how-to-create-wealth\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"SUCCESS\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/SUCCESSmagazine\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2020-09-01T22:14:57+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2024-11-15T12:05:50+00:00\" 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wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\u201cHey, I want to make $10,000 over the Labor Day weekend.\u201d<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>It was my business partner calling with an idea for a new online writing course.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>He laid out his plan and my first thought was, <em>This will be a challenge, but we can do it.<\/em><\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>My second thought was, <em>Wow, this guy has a great attitude about money.<\/em> I was fascinated by the idea of creating money out of nothing, the only motivation being, \u201cI <em>want<\/em> to make $10,000.\u201d<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>When I hung up the phone I knew we would reach our goal. Then it hit me: This money mindset is the thin green line between infinite riches and poverty.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>But it\u2019s a mindset lacking in 99% of the population. Let\u2019s fix that.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What\u2019s in This Guide?<\/h2>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>This is a (mostly) complete guide to installing the mindsets and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.success.com\/10-habits-to-avoid-after-lockdown\/\">habits<\/a> that will help you redefine your shaky relationship with money so you can finally enjoy the financial abundance you\u2019ve been seeking your whole life.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>It\u2019s a roadmap for:<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:list -->\n<ul><!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li>Rooting out your negative beliefs about money and replacing them with a rich person\u2019s mindset.<\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item -->\n\n<!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li>Paying off your consumer debt and inoculating yourself against the Mastercard chokehold.<\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item -->\n\n<!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li>Practicing the habits that the rich use for creating and growing money, and\u2026<\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item -->\n\n<!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li>Putting your money to work for you, instead of working for money, which is the only true path to wealth.<\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item --><\/ul>\n<!-- \/wp:list -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>This is not a casual four-minute read, but it IS the distillation of wisdom from the world\u2019s wealthiest, written by a serial entrepreneur.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>When you practice what you learn here, your net worth is guaranteed to grow.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Table of Contents:<\/h2>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Here\u2019s your \u201cguide to the guide.\u201d Use the hyperlinks to get around, and feel free to skip to the section that calls to you.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:list -->\n<ul><li><a href=\"#mindset\">Part I: Abundance Mindset<\/li><li><a href=\"#debt\">Part II: Defeating Debt<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#creatingmoney\">Part III: Practices for Creating Money<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#makingmoney\">Part IV: Making Money While You Sleep<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n<!-- \/wp:list -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"mindset\">Part I: Abundance Mindset<\/h2>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"align\":\"center\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><em>\u201cIf you do not see great riches in your imagination, you will never see them in your bank balance.\u201d \u2014Napoleon Hill<\/em><\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Why do most intelligent, capable people never get rich? We all (yes, you too) have the potential to create Scrooge McDuck-sized vaults of wealth that can let us become our best selves and experience a life that we can hardly imagine now.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>But the vast multitude falls far short of their prosperity potential because a low level \u201cmoney panic\u201d is always buzzing in our semi-conscious mind, like a penniless devil on our shoulder.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>If you want to change your financial outcomes, then you must start in the mind\u2014by rooting out beliefs that are holding you back and replacing them with\u2026 the Abundance Mindset.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3} -->\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Money Panic<\/h3>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"align\":\"center\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><em>\u201cIt\u2019s more work to not succeed than it is to succeed.\u201d \u2014Grant Cardone<\/em><\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Anyone raised with a scarcity mindset knows that creeping feeling. It slinks out of its burrow in the small hours of the night, rooting around, sniffing out a way to pay this month\u2019s rent.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>It comes calling in the form a routine oil change that turns into a $1,000 suspension overhaul. It invades every cell in your body when your child has another impossible growth spurt and you realize that she needs new clothes, shoes and a big-kid bed.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>That feeling is the Money Panic, and it\u2019s the Great Wall of China between you and wealth.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>One of life\u2019s obnoxious ironies is that we often have nothing to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.success.com\/coronavirus-or-fear-whats-worse\/\">fear<\/a> but fear itself. It\u2019s the fear of scarcity that creates scarcity. It\u2019s the hand-wringing over lack that breeds lack. The Money Panic is a lot like chronic depression\u2014a dead end with no visible exit; a self-perpetuating disease.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>And much like depression, the only way out of the Money Panic is to rewire your brain and its childhood programming.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3} -->\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Thanks, Mom and Dad<\/h3>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"align\":\"center\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><em>\u201cWe tend to be identical to one or a combination of our parents in the arena of money.\u201d \u2014T. Harv Eker<\/em><\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>If you struggle with money, it\u2019s not entirely fair to \u201cblame\u201d your parents for your unhelpful money beliefs (they meant well), but it\u2019s probably accurate to say that they are the \u201cexplanation\u201d for them.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Growing up, most of us are hammered with the \u201cgreatest hits\u201d of negative money beliefs:<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\u201cMoney doesn\u2019t grow on trees.\u201d<br>\u201cWe can\u2019t afford it.\u201d<br>\u201cThe rich cause all the world\u2019s problems.\u201d<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Now, imagine going through life being told that bathing is the root of all evil but wanting desperately to have a shower. No matter how bad you want to feel clean, you\u2019re never going to scrub down because everything in your childhood programming is telling you not to.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>How can we become wealthy if we believe at our core that wealth is some combination of: a) evil, b) difficult to create, or c) unimportant?<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Overcoming the lies you were told growing up is the first step in cleaning up your money act.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3} -->\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Change Your Thinking, Change Your Bank Balance<\/h3>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"align\":\"center\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><em>\u201cIdentity is this incredible invisible force that controls your whole life. It\u2019s invisible, like gravity is invisible, but it controls your whole life.\u201d \u2014Tony Robbins<\/em><\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>One of the most powerful forces over us is our identity. Identify as someone who is fit and healthy? You\u2019ll prove it by working out daily. Believe that you\u2019re great at math? Then you ace those tests.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>And when you identify as someone who is \u201cjust not good with money,\u201d you will prove that to yourself over and again by quitting a good job, spending recklessly or losing your wallet every few months.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Humans are incapable of acting out of line with our identity and our subconscious works tirelessly to make us consistent\u2014for better or worse.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>If you want to get rich, then, the solution is to change your identity. And THAT starts with changing your thinking. Here are some questions you can ask that will do the trick.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":4} -->\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. What negative beliefs do you have about money?<\/h4>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Dig deep for your own greatest hits. What do you believe about money that\u2019s preventing you from having it? Do you have a rich uncle with horrifying political views and think all wealthy people must be like that?<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Money is only a tool, and wealth is not correlated to a person\u2019s character or political views.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>How can you discover your beliefs about money? Pay close attention to the language you use. \u201cI can\u2019t afford it\u201d is a mantra that shuts off your brain. Yes, you can afford it in some future state\u2014you just need to get creative. A healthier replacement belief might be, \u201cHow can I afford it?\u201d<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":4} -->\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. Why do you deserve money?<\/h4>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The most common block about making money is the feeling that we don\u2019t deserve it. We tell ourselves in myriad ways that we\u2019re not smart, kind, attractive, capable, experienced or <em>fill-in-the-blank<\/em> enough.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Challenge that thinking. Make a list right now (yes, right now!) of all the reasons you deserve money. You might write down, like I did, that I deserve money because I\u2019m a kind, ethical man with an abundance of integrity and that the money will be put to use for humanity\u2019s good.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Maybe you deserve it because you work especially hard, or take care of a sick loved one, are incredibly intelligent and capable, because you\u2019ve paid your dues\u2014or, because everyone deserves wealth and abundance, including you.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":4} -->\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. Who could I become with money?<\/h4>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>I\u2019ve had the pleasure of experiencing that formative life lesson that is being <em>broke<\/em>. I\u2019m grateful for the lessons it taught me, but I\u2019d never want to go back there.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>As a broke person I was always stressed, which erased my sense of humor. I stopped seeing friends. I stopped buying new clothes and having a beer on a patio in the summer, which made me happy. I lost my self-confidence and self-esteem, and because of that, couldn\u2019t possibly do great work.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Learning how to create and grow wealth changed all of that and helped me become a more vibrant, generous, less uptight person\u2014my <em>real<\/em> self. I like myself much more as a prosperous person.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Who would you become without the guillotine of poverty hanging over your head?<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":4} -->\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. Who could I help with money?<\/h4>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>A sole focus on yourself is a good recipe for ending up alone and miserable. The secret to a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.success.com\/you-can-choose-happiness\/\">happy life<\/a> is to constantly be contributing. We all want to be useful and that happens because of what we give, not what we get.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>If you had all the money you want now, who could you help? Could you pay off your parents\u2019 mortgage? Send your daughter to the best school in the world? Be less stressed and a better partner at home? Give to charity?<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Find a reason outside of yourself for creating wealth, and the dollars will flow.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":4} -->\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5. What has money already given you?<\/h4>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>There\u2019s a psychological effect called \u201cdisqualifying the positive,\u201d and it happens when we ignore good experiences and focus only on the bad. People do this often with money: We forget how much that money already does and has done for us and see only what\u2019s lacking.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>We can combat this by literally counting our blessings. On a piece of paper, write down the amazing things you have or had in your life because of money\u2014your home, car, education, lifesaving surgery or medication, vacations, toys, food, or gym membership. Thanks, money!<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>When we remind ourselves of what money is capable of giving us, we appreciate it. And when money feels appreciated? Well it comes to visit more often.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3} -->\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">There Is Plenty to Go Around<\/h3>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"align\":\"center\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><em>\u201cThe truth is that there\u2019s more than enough good to go around.\u201d \u2014Michael Beckwith<\/em><\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>There\u2019s one specific money belief that\u2019s probably more important than all the others, and it\u2019s the complete opposite of what most people believe:<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>There is plenty of wealth to go around.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>No, we\u2019re not talking about printing money, we\u2019re still on the subject of beliefs. If you think that wealth creation is a zero-sum game, i.e. that someone has to lose for you to gain, then you will always struggle with money. That\u2019s the scarcity mindset.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The truth is, wealth can be created out of nothing\u2014just put an industrious pioneer in the middle of a forest and you\u2019ll see. The economy grows not because of clever tricks by central banks, but because real people are creating real value for other people through a product or service.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The pie is constantly growing, and when one person gets a slice, they don\u2019t deprive someone else of theirs. Adopt this belief with full faith, and you\u2019ll stop competing for wealth and start creating it.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"debt\">Part II: Defeating Debt<\/h2>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"align\":\"center\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><em>\u201cThe fact is, none of us really has a choice: We are all playing the money game whether we want to or not. The only question is: Are we winning?\u201d \u2014<a href=\"https:\/\/www.success.com\/16-timeless-truths-of-financial-freedom\/\">David Bach<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\u201cYou owe me one.\u201d<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>There\u2019s an uncomfortable feeling, right? That\u2019s because humans evolved in social tribes, where our best chance of survival was to help our kin through you-scratch-my-back-I\u2019ll-scratch-yours reciprocity.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>When someone does us a favor, we feel the nagging need not just to repay them, but to give back <em>more<\/em> than we received. And in the case of financial debt, a repayment with interest is not just the custom\u2014it\u2019s legally binding.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Being in debt is stressful. It leads us into the Money Panic, where we can\u2019t do great work. It robs us of a huge chunk of our hard-earned wealth\u2014dollars that could be invested to create more dollars.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>If you have debt, make clearing it your first priority.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3} -->\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Good Debt\/Bad Debt<\/h3>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"align\":\"center\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><em>\u201cHe who is quick to borrow is slow to pay.\u201d \u2014German Proverb<\/em><\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Not all debt is created equal. <em>Consumer debt<\/em> is that shiny toy you put on your credit card, the payments on your new Lexus and <em>any<\/em> balance on a credit card that\u2019s not paid off in full each month, before it costs you interest. This is BAD DEBT.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>But there\u2019s also the debt we incur that will create more wealth. Let\u2019s just call this <em>good debt<\/em>. A mortgage is a huge loan, but one that we gladly take on because we expect that our home will grow in value and let us live there without paying rent that lines someone else\u2019s pockets.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>A business loan is another form of good debt: It allows us to invest in a venture that will (in theory) let us repay the debt and create loads more wealth.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Investing in yourself is another good debt strategy. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.success.com\/25-self-help-books-you-havent-read\/\">Books<\/a>, courses, a degree or diploma. You should be happy to go into debt for these reasons as long as you expect a positive return on investment.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3} -->\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why We Get Into Bad Debt<\/h3>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"align\":\"center\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><em>\u201cWhatever your income, always live below your means.\u201d \u2014Thomas J. Stanley<\/em><\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The formula for being overweight is uncomplicated: Eat more calories than you burn.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The path to debt is also dead simple: Spend more than you earn.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Our voracious economy and advertisers encourage spending money we don\u2019t have. We finance our cars, TV, cell phone and cosmetic procedures so that we can enjoy a lifestyle we haven\u2019t earned yet.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>But this \u201cbe rich now\u201d approach is a faulty mindset that slows down our progress toward our fortune.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Sure, we\u2019re often careful to spend only what we earn, which is called living paycheck to paycheck, but let\u2019s be honest\u2014unexpected expenses come up regularly. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.success.com\/this-pandemic-is-our-teacher\/\">Learn<\/a> to expect the unexpected, budget a safety buffer for these \u201crainy day items,\u201d and you\u2019ll avoid slipping into the red.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3} -->\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Don\u2019t Invest Until You\u2019re Debt Free<\/h3>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"align\":\"center\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><em>\u201cWhatever interest rate you have \u2014 it might be a student loan with a 7 percent interest rate \u2014 if you pay off that loan, you're making 7 percent. That's your immediate return, which is a lot safer than trying to pick a stock or trying to pick real estate, or whatever it may be.\u201d \u2014Mark Cuban<\/em><\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Everyone tells you to invest your money. Mutual funds, pensions, ETFs, GICs, real estate; there are exceptional opportunities out there to grow your wealth at 5, 8, even 12% returns\u2014wow!<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>But what if you\u2019re paying 18% interest on your credit card? If you have $1,000 to allocate, what should you do with it? If you invest it at 8%, you can earn $80. Sweet! But in the meantime, that same $1,000 could have saved you $180 in credit card interest. You\u2019re $100 poorer because you neglected to see the tyranny of consumer debt.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Does that mean you should pay off your mortgage in full before you invest? Well, since mortgage interest rates are around 3-4% in North America right now, it probably makes sense for you to make only your minimum payments and put the dollars left over into any investment that can earn <em>more<\/em> than 3-4% interest (any index fund, basically).<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The rule of thumb is this: Follow the highest interest rate. If the rate on your consumer debt is higher than what you can earn in the market (and it usually is), then don\u2019t invest until you pay off your debt.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3} -->\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The 70-20-10 Rule<\/h3>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"align\":\"center\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><em>\u201cA part of all I earn is mine to keep.\u201d \u2014George S. Clason<\/em><\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Having said all that, we know that humans are not purely rational creatures. The best policy might be to crush your debt first, but when you\u2019re $10,000 or $50,000 in the hole, the idea of spending a year or five years ONLY paying debt while stashing away nothing for yourself is depressing.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>If you feel this way, then try the 70-20-10 rule:<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:list -->\n<ul><!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li>Live on 70% of your income.<\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item -->\n\n<!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li>Allocate 20% of your income to paying your debts.<\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item -->\n\n<!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li>Save 10% for yourself\u2014preferably in stable growth investments.<\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item --><\/ul>\n<!-- \/wp:list -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>This system will allow you to clear your debt while creating a modest nest egg that can eventually create more wealth.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"creatingmoney\">Part III: Practices for Creating Money<\/h2>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"align\":\"center\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><em>\u201cWealth beyond your wildest dreams is possible if you follow the golden rule: Invest ten percent of all you make for long-term growth.\u201d \u2014David Chilton, <\/em>The Wealthy Barber<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Wealth starts with the Abundance Mindset and continues with practical actions you can repeat, aka <a href=\"https:\/\/www.success.com\/the-ultimate-guide-to-habits\/\">habits<\/a>. Think of mindset as the fertile ground for wealth and these practices described here as the seeds we plant, which in time grow and bear fruit.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3} -->\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The #1 Secret to Wealth<\/h3>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>There is one cardinal rule for creating wealth, and it\u2019s this: <strong>Pay Yourself First.<\/strong><\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Each month you receive your X dollars of income. Part of that goes to pay your landlord or the mortgage lender. This much goes to the grocery store owner. This much to the cell phone corporation shareholders, and this much to the restaurant owner down the street.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>What percentage of your hard-earned dollars go to <em>you<\/em>? No, I don\u2019t mean how much are you splurging on nice toys and self-care at the spa. I mean, how much money are you <em>keeping <\/em>for you?<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Paying yourself first means taking the <em>first<\/em> 10% (minimum) of your paycheck and tucking it safely away into an investment account, preferably one that\u2019s earning a high rate of return.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Do this with discipline for enough years, and eventually your nest egg will start to throw off more interest than your salary pays. It\u2019s the get-rich-slow strategy.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Start paying yourself first now, today, even if you think you can\u2019t afford it. No matter how poor you think you are, you probably won\u2019t even notice a 10% reduction in your income. But after a few years, you will certainly notice the significant source of new income.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3} -->\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Get Clear on Your Why<\/h3>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"align\":\"center\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><em>\u201cRICH: Able to afford all the things and experiences required to fully experience your most authentic life.\u201d \u2014Jen Sincero<\/em><\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Ninety-nine out of 100 people want more wealth than they have. Maybe half of those know exactly <em>how much<\/em> more they want. But perhaps only five of those know, at an emotional level, <em>why<\/em> they want this money.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>What would you do with a 10% raise\u2014blow it on more junk you probably don\u2019t need? Be honest with yourself.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Or can you think of a truly compelling reason? Would you take that trip to Paris you\u2019ve been dreaming about; get a dog; finally pay off your student loan; help your parents out?<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Until you have a reason for making more money that gets you <em>emotionally<\/em> charged up, how can you possibly have the drive to go out and do what it takes to create your fortune?<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Here\u2019s a great way to light the fire that will cook up your why: Go get a taste of what you want. Lusting after a new car? Great, go take that Tesla for a test drive. Want to finally move your family into that dream house? Go to viewings for houses you can\u2019t afford (yet). Try on the clothes that would make you feel like a million bucks. Create a Pinterest board to inspire that trip to Rome, or the tattoo you want, or the lifestyle of your best self.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Get a taste of what you want before you can afford it, and your subconscious will chase it like a ravenous wolf.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3} -->\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Tally Up the Cost<\/h3>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"align\":\"center\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><em>\u201cMoney often costs too much.\u201d \u2014Ralph Waldo Emerson<\/em><\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\u201cI want to make a billion dollars!\u201d<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Cool dream, but <a href=\"https:\/\/www.success.com\/why-self-awareness-is-important-and-how-to-develop-it\/\">are you aware<\/a> of how much hassle comes with vast wealth? You can\u2019t just stick those nine zeroes into your checking account, you need to carefully manage it if you don\u2019t want to lose it.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Chances are you don\u2019t need even a small fraction of a billion to live your wildest dreams. One percent of that is still $10 million, and at a modest 5% return, that gives you $500,000 to live on <em>each year for the rest of your life<\/em>.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>So do the math\u2014what does your dream life cost? Think about:<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:list -->\n<ul><!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li>The down payment and mortgage on your mansion.<\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item -->\n\n<!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li>A few thousand for your new wardrobe.<\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item -->\n\n<!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li>Three epic vacations a year. (Hint: don\u2019t buy a private jet or a mansion\u2014rent them.)<\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item -->\n\n<!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li>The best restaurants three times a week.<\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item -->\n\n<!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li>An exciting car.<\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item -->\n\n<!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li>The top education for your kids.<\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item --><\/ul>\n<!-- \/wp:list -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>I guarantee that the total figure will not nearly approach a billion.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>When you see that this level of income is a realistic five, 10 or 15-year goal, your motivation to earn will be a lot higher than if you\u2019re chasing some arbitrary, astronomical and unnecessary amount.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3} -->\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Elevator List<\/h3>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"align\":\"center\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><em>\u201cIf you want to change your life you have to raise your standards.\u201d \u2014Tony Robbins<\/em><\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>James Clear tells a great story about elevating your lifestyle. I\u2019ll paraphrase\u2026<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>As a philosopher, art critic and writer, Denis Diderot was the master of his domain. But a wealthy man, he was not. In fact, he was so poor into his 50s that he couldn\u2019t afford to pay for his daughter\u2019s wedding.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>So he did what any of us would do and got in touch with the Empress of Russia and asked for some cash. Well, she loved the encyclopedia he wrote so much that she was happy to crack open her coin purse. Diderot\u2019s daughter got her fantasy wedding, and Denis bought himself a nice red robe for the heck of it.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>All of a sudden Diderot\u2019s digs looked like a trash heap by comparison. He absolutely HAD to buy a new rug. And a table. And a few sculptures to ease his loneliness.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>And just like that he birthed the term \u201cThe Diderot Effect\u201d\u2014the need to buy new things to accompany your other new things.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Sure, this could lead to rampant materialism if we\u2019re not careful. But it\u2019s also an excellent tool we can leverage to spike our motivation to become prosperous.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The specific tool I use is the <strong>Elevator List<\/strong>: a written list of items, posted on the fridge, that would really improve my lifestyle: a new couch and bed sheets; burning all my old clothes and going on a shopping spree; a new laptop.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>This isn\u2019t a bucket list or goals list, but a list of tangible perks that would truly fancy-up your life. Why do this? Because when you get a taste of the good life, you want more. And when you upgrade your environment, you\u2019re happier and do better work.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3} -->\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Upgrade Your Friends Circle<\/h3>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"align\":\"center\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><em>\u201cNever contract friendship with a man that is not better than thyself.\u201d \u2014Confucius<\/em><\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>I hammer this Jim Rohn quote often because it\u2019s so ridiculously powerful: \u201cYou are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.\u201d<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Now maybe you don\u2019t sit around with your friends comparing bank balances or salaries, but you can probably guesstimate how each of them are doing financially.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Ross, Monica and Chandler didn\u2019t even break a sweat in the face of a $62 dinner bill, but for Rachel, Phoebe and Joey that would practically break the bank. (Hey, remember when we all watched that show <em>Friends<\/em> for an entire decade?)<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>I\u2019m not knocking Rachel or Joey, but if you hung out with them all the time, you\u2019d start to match their financial results. This is because our peers help us set our standards for ourselves.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>When your friend insists on going to the $3.99 burrito place on 2-for-1 night every time you meet, you\u2019re going to live a burrito lifestyle (not to mention one of gastrointestinal distress).<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>But if your friend picks you up in his convertible to drive you to his boat at the marina for a night drinking Veuve with successful entrepreneurs, you\u2019ll start to feel a bit uneasy about your own results, but also inspired after seeing what your life <em>could<\/em> look like.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>A friend circle of achievers will help you aim higher, hold you accountable, and show you what\u2019s possible, not to mention have you rubbing shoulders with contacts and opportunities that can accelerate your success. Choose your new friends and let them give you a hand up to the next level.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"makingmoney\">Part IV: Making Money While You Sleep<\/h2>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"align\":\"center\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><em>\u201cIf I have to work there, it\u2019s not a business. It becomes my job.\u201d \u2014Robert Kiyosaki, <\/em>Rich Dad Poor Dad<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Most people work for money, but the wealthy let money work for them. That\u2019s a cute soundbite, but what does it mean?<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>It means that by harnessing the magical forces that you\u2019re about to learn, like compound interest, you can let the money that you have start to multiply.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Here we go.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3} -->\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Assets vs. Liabilities<\/h3>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Most people call their home an asset. Is it? It\u2019s certainly worth a sizeable chunk of change. But is it earning or costing you money? When you replace the furnace, or slap on a new roof, or buy a beautiful new robe, does that investment multiply and bring you more money?<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Yes, if you live in most cities, the value of your house is probably increasing. You\u2019re almost guaranteed to sell those four walls for much more than you invested (setting aside any 2008-style calamities).<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>But all of that value is imaginary until you sell the home. You can\u2019t pay for groceries with a home appraisal. All the while, you\u2019re paying interest on your mortgage, property taxes, utilities, and for repairs and upgrades. Unless you\u2019re renting a part of your home, or flipping houses for a profit, your home is probably NOT an asset, at least not a good one.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Owning a vending machine is an asset, because you prosper when someone buys a Mars Bar. A condo that you Airbnb or a convenience store you own is an asset that brings you rent. Having a song on the radio, a patent or a published book brings you royalties. Investments bring dividends. A university education increases your earning potential. These are assets because they generate more money.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Your beautiful clothes, car or fancy dining room table are liabilities because these lazy slobs don\u2019t earn their keep.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>On this subject, <em>Rich Dad Poor Dad<\/em> author Robert Kiyosaki says it best: \u201cRich people acquire assets. The poor and middle class acquire liabilities they think are assets.\u201d<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>And the most powerful asset we have is our mind, so apply the old clich\u00e9 \u201cit takes money to make money\u201d and start acquiring more assets, like stocks and bonds\u2014anything that grows in value or generates income.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3} -->\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Passive and Recurring Income<\/h3>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"align\":\"center\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><em>\u201cIf you want to become really wealthy, you must have your money work for you.\u201d&nbsp;\u2014 John D. Rockefeller<\/em><\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Active income is what you get when you trade time for money, which is a terrible deal for you. It\u2019s a fixed amount, like your salary, where the upper limit is your hourly wage.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Passive income is earned even while you sleep, even if you\u2019re on vacation or in another country. Passive income comes from assets like that viral YouTube video you posted, or the dividends on your stocks.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Your passive income stream is, in theory, unlimited because it\u2019s not tied to the number of hours you can work before you keel over and die from exhaustion.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Recurring income is usually also passive income, but it refers to income that comes to you on a regular basis, like rent from that condo you own downtown.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Time is a finite asset; we all get only 86,400 seconds each day. But money is a renewable resource: We can create unlimited abundance. Handcuffing your infinite earning potential to a fixed quantity like time, then, is a horrible strategy. Start <a href=\"https:\/\/www.success.com\/12-efficiency-secrets-of-the-worlds-busiest-people\/\">prioritizing<\/a> passive and recurring income, and you will take the limits off your life.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>If this all sounds foreign to you, start by asking, \u201cWhat product or service could I create and sell within the next three months that would earn me a passive, recurring income?\u201d Then go out and build it.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3} -->\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Investing for Financial Freedom<\/h3>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"align\":\"center\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><em>\u201cIt's not how much money you make, but how much money you keep, how hard it works for you, and how many generations you keep it for.\u201d \u2014Robert Kiyosaki<\/em><\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Disclaimer time: I\u2019m not a financial expert, only your average guy who\u2019s read much financial wisdom from way smarter people. Do your own research.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Investing is a broad and emotionally charged topic, with as many opinions about it as there are investors. At best, most of it is noise. At worst, it\u2019s disastrous advice.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Switch on the business news or go to most investing websites, and they will tell you exactly which stocks to buy and sell. Heck, even your bank\u2019s investing platform might save you a lot of time by \u201crating\u201d stocks for you. Great, right? Except that they are always wrong in the long term. Stock picking is a recipe for disaster.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Tony Robbins, in <em>MONEY Master the Game<\/em> (probably the only money book you\u2019ll ever need to read to learn how to invest), points out that most stock pickers\u2014even the ones that are employed full time as traders\u2014<em>do not beat the average returns of the market<\/em>!<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\u201cAn incredible 96% of actively managed mutual funds <em>fail to beat the market<\/em> over any sustained period of time!\u201d Robbins says.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Why are most people gambling their hard-earned dollars in the slot machine of stock picking then? In a word, marketing. Mutual fund managers don\u2019t get rich by making you rich but by charging you fees, so they make their products sound sweeter than Nutella.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>And the financial media? Jim Cramer and his fellow personalities are in the <em>financial entertainment <\/em>business, not the <em>financial education<\/em> business.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3} -->\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Index Funds for the Win<\/h3>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"align\":\"center\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><em>\u201cWhen you look at the results\u2026 there\u2019s almost no chance that you end up beating the index fund.\u201d \u2014David Swensen<\/em><\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Are we smallfolk doomed to collect the scraps from the mutual fund manager\u2019s table then? Not at all. Warren Buffett has the solution: \u201cThe goal of the nonprofessional should not be to pick winners\u2026 but to own a cross section of [the market].\u201d<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>You can own a cross section of the market with a simple, miraculous little vehicle: the <strong>index fund<\/strong>. Those resemble mutual funds in that they are buckets that contain a number of stocks. But they differ because they are not managed funds; nobody is placing casino bets on which stocks will win and lose.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>And because these funds are unmanaged (instead, they contain stocks from a cross section of the market, say the S&amp;P 500), the fees you pay are much smaller. And even a 1% savings in fees can put tens or hundreds of thousands of additional dollars into your Scrooge McDuck vault.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3} -->\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Then, Diversify<\/h3>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"align\":\"center\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><em>\u201cRule No. 1: Never lose money. Rule No. 2: Never forget rule No. 1.\u201d \u2014Warren Buffett<\/em><\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>There are index funds for high risk and low risk stocks. Funds for commodities and gold. Long and medium-term and municipal bonds. International and domestic funds. Earnings and dividends-focused, and socially responsible index funds.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Don\u2019t let that overwhelm you. Ray Dalio, founder of the world\u2019s most successful hedge fund with a modest $138 billion under his management, puts forward a simple diversification strategy for the average investor, which I use:<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:list -->\n<ul><!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li>30% to stocks<\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item -->\n\n<!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li>15% to intermediate government bonds<\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item -->\n\n<!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li>40% to long-term government bonds<\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item -->\n\n<!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li>7.5% to gold<\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item -->\n\n<!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li>7.5% to commodities<\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item --><\/ul>\n<!-- \/wp:list -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Why this ratio? Because no matter what happens in the market, this is a strong defensive play against losing money.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Is this the right strategy for everyone? No. The younger you are, the most risk you can (and maybe <em>should<\/em>) take. Do your homework, but diversify.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3} -->\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Real Estate<\/h3>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"align\":\"center\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><em>\u201cThe best investment on earth is earth.\u201d \u2014Louis Glickman<\/em><\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>No, we\u2019re not talking about the liability of owning your house, although there are strong arguments in favor of that. The subject here is real estate investments, which can mean offering for rent a house, condo or commercial space.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>In 2014 I made a down payment on a ridiculously overpriced semi-detached home in the red-hot Toronto market. I immediately created a rental unit upstairs, which mostly covered the mortgage. When I moved out of the lower unit, I found another great tenant, and now this place throws off a modest but appreciated monthly income for our family. (Passive income, anyone?)<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>On top of that, in Toronto\u2019s insane market, the value of the home has almost doubled in six years. You can\u2019t eat imaginary money, but this isn\u2019t a bad retirement plan. And, because we own the home, we\u2019re building equity that we can leverage to invest in other assets.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>As you can tell, I like real estate. Just be careful not to put all of your eggs into this one basket. 2008\u2019s housing meltdown is still a painful memory for many would-be real estate moguls.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Yes, You Can Afford It<\/h2>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"align\":\"center\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><em>\u201cWhen riches begin to come, they come so quickly, in such great abundance, that one wonders where they have been hiding all those years.\u201d \u2014Napoleon Hill<\/em><\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>This week my business partner and I unveiled our new Sell Your Non-Fiction book <a href=\"https:\/\/soyouwanttowrite.org\/products\/sell-your-non-fiction-book\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">writing program<\/a>, that will run over the Labor Day weekend. We\u2019re confident we\u2019ll fill the program and we have a plan to do that.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>But a month ago, this course wasn\u2019t even the seed of an idea. We created it out of a desire to generate wealth from nothing by serving up excellent content to our clients. It required a healthy mindset about money\u2014faith that if we create value and promote it, people will show up.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Then it required the application of the science of making money\u2014tried and tested practices for creating wealth, like understanding exactly what our clients want, then creating an irresistible offer.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>And when this four-day program is finished, we\u2019ll have a recording of the sessions that we can turn into a digital product that we can sell over and over again, generating passive income.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>I grew up being told \u201cwe can\u2019t afford it.\u201d I entered adulthood financially illiterate. But I went looking for the wisdom I\u2019ve shared here and started applying it. Now I know I can afford it. You can, too.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:separator {\"opacity\":\"css\",\"className\":\"is-style-wide\"} -->\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n<!-- \/wp:separator -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"align\":\"center\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.successacademy.com\/successinsider\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Do you need weekly inspiration, success tips and self-help resources? Click here to sign up to join our weekly newsletter to help you achieve all your goals!<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:separator {\"opacity\":\"css\",\"className\":\"is-style-wide\"} -->\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n<!-- \/wp:separator -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"fontSize\":\"small\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\"><em>Photo by @lira_n4\/Twenty20.com<\/em><\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->","tag_names":[],"post_attachment_urls":[],"author_email":"michaelpietrzak@mailinator.com","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.success.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52060","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.success.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.success.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.success.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/31626"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.success.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=52060"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.success.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52060\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.success.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/52062"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.success.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=52060"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.success.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=52060"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.success.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=52060"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}