Self-made millionaire Steve Siebold has been studying over 1,200 rich people around the world in an effort to decode how one becomes rich. And this is what Steve has to say:
“In a free-market economy, anyone can make as much money as they want.”
Sounds so reassuring, right? Steve adds, “And it’s never too early to start.”
To help you reach the seven-figure mark by 30, we rounded up nine pieces of advice from people who became millionaires at a young age, as well as those who have studied hundreds of self-made millionaires.
We can’t guarantee millionaire status, but doing these things won’t hurt your odds.
Kathleen Elkins wrote an earlier version of this story.
1. Focus on earning and earning and earning.
“In today’s economic environment you cannot save your way to millionaire status,” writes Grant Cardone, who went from broke and in debt at 21 to self-made millionaire by 30. “The first step is to focus on increasing your income in increments and repeating that.
“My income was $3,000 a month and nine years later it was $20,000 a month. Start following the money, and it will force you to control revenue and see opportunities.”
Earning more money is often easier said than done, but most people have options. Yes, it takes time and it takes a lot of effort. Yes, getting rich is not a walk in the park, you know that (unless you win the lottery).
2. Have multiple sources of income.
It’s logical. If you want to earn more, you have to have more than one sources of income. In author Thomas C. Corley’s five-year study of self-made millionaires he found that many of them develop multiple streams of income: 65% had three streams, 45% had four streams, and 29% had five or more streams.
Usually, these additional streams include real-estate rentals, stock market investments, and part-ownership in a side business.
“Three streams of income seems to be the magic number for the self-made millionaires in my Rich Habits study, but the more income streams you can create in life, the more secure will your financial house be,” he writes.
3. Save to invest, don’t save to save
Grant Cardone writes:
“The only reason to save money is to invest it. Put your saved money into secured, sacred (untouchable) accounts. Never use these accounts for anything, not even an emergency. This will force you to continue to follow step one (increase income). To this day, at least twice a year, I am broke because I always invest my surpluses into ventures I cannot access.”
You can try mutual funds. There are insurance plans with investment options available today. You can try them out. For as low as 2,000 pesos a month, you can invest on a life insurance plus a mutual funds that is managed by the financial firm of your choice. You can try Sun Life and Pru Life UK among others.
The point is: You will never run out of options. You just have to find ways to put your money to good use. You should make your money work even while you are sleeping.
Remember what Warren Buffet once said, “If you do not figure out a way to earn while you sleep, you will work until you die.”
4. Don’t show off — show up.
“I didn’t buy my first luxury watch or car until my businesses and investments were producing multiple secure flows of income,” writes Cardone. “I was still driving a Toyota Camry when I had become a millionaire. Be known for your work ethic, not the trinkets that you buy.”
The idea is simple: You need to be rich, not to look rich. Keeping up appearance may be a little important for success (apparently it contributes), but keeping too much appearances is detrimental to your financial health.
Again, just buy what you need. Or if you really want to buy something which looks fancy, go for the cheapest price tag.
5. Change your mindset about money
“Getting rich begins with the way you think and what you believe about making money,” self-made millionaire Steve Siebold explains.
At the end of the day, “The secret has always been the same: thinking,” he emphasises. While the masses believe becoming wealthy is out of their control, rich people know that making money is really an inside job.”
6. Invest in yourself.
“The safest investment I’ve ever made is in my future,” writes Tucker Hughes, who became a millionaire at 22.
“Read at least 30 minutes a day, listen to relevant podcasts while driving and seek out mentors vigorously. You don’t just need to be a master in your field, you need to be a well-rounded genius capable of talking about any subject whether it is financial, political or sports related. Consume knowledge like air and put your pursuit of learning above all else.”
Many modern-day successful and wealthy people are voracious readers. Take Warren Buffett, for example, who estimates that 80% of his working day is dedicated to reading. Elon Musk, an expert-generalist, is also a wide-reader.
Invest in yourself through continued learning, formal or informal. It will help you face the challenges of life and add more wisdom in every of your personal decisions in life.
7. Set goals and visualise achieving them
If you want to make more money, you have to have a clear goal and then a specific plan for how to achieve that goal. Money won’t just appear — you have to work for it. And work hard.
“Rich people choose to commit to attaining wealth. It takes focus, courage, knowledge, and a lot of effort,” self-made millionaire T. Harv Eker emphasises, and it’s possible if you have precise goals and a clear vision: “The number one reason most people don’t get what they want is that they don’t know what they want. Rich people are totally clear that they want wealth.”
8. Start hanging out with people you admire
Andrew Carnegie, who started with nothing before becoming the richest man in the US, credits all of his riches to one principle: the Master Mind.
The idea is to surround yourself with talented people who share your vision, because the alignment of several smart and creative minds is exponentially more powerful than just one.
Plus, we become like the people we associate with, which is why the rich tend to associate with others who are rich.
“In most cases, your net worth mirrors the level of your closest friends,”explains Siebold. “Exposure to people who are more successful than you are has the potential to expand your thinking and catapult your income. The reality is, millionaires think differently from the middle class about money, and there’s much to be gained by being in their presence.”
9. Shoot for $10 million, not $1 million
“The single biggest financial mistake I’ve made was not thinking big enough,” writes Cardone. “I encourage you to go for more than a million. There is no shortage of money on this planet, only a shortage of people thinking big enough.”
Final Thoughts
Getting rich is not a walk in the park. Getting rich requires a lot of hard work and sacrifices. It involves taking a lot of risks. Even if you win the lottery today, staying rich is still requires hard work and diligence.
Good luck on getting rich!
Sources
Roach, D and Elkins, K. (2017). 9 things you can do in your 20s to be a millionaire by 30. [online] Business Insider. Available at: http://www.businessinsider.com/things-you-can-do-in-your-20s-to-be-a-millionaire-by-30-2016-2 [Accessed 14 Jun. 2017].
Yu Han, B. (2016). 9 things to do in your 20s to become a millionaire by 30. [online] The Independent. Available at: http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/9-things-to-do-in-your-20s-to-become-a-millionaire-by-30-a7377801.html [Accessed 14 Jun. 2017].
Elkins, K. (2017). 9 things to do in your 20s to become a millionaire by 30. [online] Business Insider. Available at: http://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-become-a-millionaire-by-30-2016-2 [Accessed 14 Jun. 2017].
Cardone, G. (2014). How to Become a Millionaire by Age 30. [online] Entrepreneur. Available at: https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/234454 [Accessed 14 Jun. 2017].
Samurai, F. (2014). The First Million Might Be The Easiest: How To Become A Millionaire By 30 | Financial Samurai. [online] Financialsamurai.com. Available at: http://www.financialsamurai.com/the-first-million-might-be-the-easiest-how-to-become-a-millionaire-by-30/ [Accessed 14 Jun. 2017].
