December 23rd, 2016, was my last day of work, and I haven’t set foot in an office since then.
Today, I’m 42.
I was never the brightest person in the room. Or even the hardest worker. I never got an inheritance and didn’t start a business. I became a millionaire the old-fashioned way by making smart decisions with my money and breaking society’s unwritten rules.
Here are 11 of society’s rules you need to break.
Selfishness is bad.
Break it: Airlines already know this. Your oxygen mask first, then your neighbor’s. Taking care of *yourself* first (health, money, and self-care) puts you in a better position to help others. I call this healthy selfishness.
Follow your passion.
Break it: Passions don’t pay the bills. Passions are more creative. Strengths are more analytical and useful. Follow your strengths. Leave your passions for the weekend after earning a much bigger paycheck.
Never rock the boat.
Break it: I spent a career rocking the boat. It got me opportunities I would never have gotten. Be professional. Rocking the boat isn’t about being a jerk. It’s about being a trendsetter. Finding a better path. If something sucks, SAY SO.
Control your time by saying “No.”
Break it: Say yes to everything, then double down on what works. Then, ditch everything else.
Yes = growth.
No = missed opportunities.
Try 10 things. Say yes to the one or two that work best.
Never abandon the plan.
Break it: Plans are meant to be broken. If blindly followed, plans are a net negative. Life doesn’t care about your plans. It doesn’t care what you want. When you need to pivot, don’t hesitate. Do it.
You gotta hustle 24/7.
Break it: Hustle during the day, and relax in the evening. Burnout won’t help us achieve goals. Television is okay. Sports are okay. Sitcoms are fine. Use them to unwind. But don’t let them overtake your life.
Strike when the time is right.
Break it: Strike. We’re not fighting a war here. Waiting for the right time means we’ll be waiting forever. Want to
- start a business?
- take a trip to Europe?
- begin a fitness program?
Guess what? The right time is NOW.
Wait your turn.
Break it: Unless you’re a 10-year-old kid, this doesn’t work in real life. Getting rich isn’t a single-file line. Instead, it’s a crowd of people finding that “secret passage.” Heck with the line. Don’t wait your turn. Step up. Because it’s *always* your turn.
Only accept what you can handle.
Break it: One Friday, I got promoted to two layers of management in a single day. I had no idea what I was doing. Said yes anyway. Figured it out as I went. I began a *lucrative* career trajectory because I got in over my head.
Nice guys finish last, so be a jerk.
Break it: Nice guys get more opportunities than jerks, period. People wanted to work with me because I was a nice guy. I got promotions. Raises. Opportunities… …that jerks in the office never got.
Watch the news to stay informed.
Break it: Watching the news has the opposite effect. It makes you more fearful, pessimistic, and blind to the realities of life. Limit exposure to the news. I never watch the news and have never felt happier.
Want To Be A Millionaire?
To become a millionaire, you don’t need a high salary (though it helps).
Adopt millionaire habits like investing, controlling expenses, and focusing on your health. Never forget that investments in yourself always pay the best dividends.
