Skip to site content

I’m a straight talker, so please don’t hate me for a harsh, but true statement: when people are falling short of their financial goals, it’s almost always because of their own actions and decisions.

Examples:

  • Putting off investing in your Roth IRA or maximizing your 401k at work (“I need the extra money to fake success for my friends and family”)
  • Hating your boss and job, but doing nothing to change your situation (“I’m scared to try something new and the interviewing process for a new job is stressful”)
  • Putting off the dream of being self employed (“Where will I get clients from and how do I get started?”)
  • Renting your life and not having an ownership mentality (“I really like my low rent payments and driving a flashy car”)
  • Taking foolish risks (“They’ll figure out Social Security’s problems by the time I retire”)

THE SECRET TO SUCCESS IS THROUGH DEFERRED GRATIFICATION AND TAKING THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED

Who are the affluent? (from THE MILLIONAIRE NEXT DOOR; Stanley & Danko)

  • The majority of wealthy families are business owners including self-employed professionals
  • 20% of affluent households are retirees ** Of the remaining 80% more than 2/3 are headed by self-employed owners of businesses
  • In the US only about 18% of households are headed by a business owner, but the business owner is four times more likely to be a millionaire than the families that work for others.
Before you Quit your job know the Risk:
  • According to the US Small Business Administration, over 50% of small businesses fail in the first year and 95% fail within the first five years.
  • Small business owners work on average 52 hours a week vs. 34.2 of the average American production employee according to a 2000 study by New York marketing firm Willard & Shullman.
  • Before you make the jump make sure you check out the following resource from the United States Small Business Administration: Are you ready?

As a side note are you curious to know what the wealthy tell their children to become?

Willy and Waylon had it right with “Mammas, Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys” Let them be doctors, lawyers and such!

According to The Millionaire Next Door millionaires advise their children to become self-employed professionals.

  • Physicians, attorneys, engineers, architects, accountants, and dentists.
  • Wealthy families are five times more likely to send their children to medical school and four times more likely to send them to law school over other parents in the US.

Enjoy the Show?

Where You Can Watch and Listen:

Subscribe on these platforms or wherever you listen to podcasts! Turn on notifications to keep up with our new content, including:

  • Episodes of The Money Guy Show every Friday
  • Episodes of Making a Millionaire every other Monday
  • Mini-shows every Wednesday
  • Ask Money Guy Livestreams every Tuesday
  • Tons of other fun content!
Related Content

Free Resources

Financial Order of Operations®: Maximize Your Army of Dollar Bills! Thumbnail

Free Resources

Financial Order of Operations®: Maximize Your Army of Dollar Bills!

Here are the 9 steps you’ve been waiting for Building wealth is simple when you know what to do and the order in which to...

Wealth Multiplier By Age Thumbnail

Free Resources

Wealth Multiplier By Age

If you want to set yourself up for future success, find out how much you need to save every month to become a millionaire.

Car Buying Checklist Thumbnail

Free Resources

Car Buying Checklist

Here’s how you can buy a dependable car that won’t break the bank. Our free checklist walks you through the 20/3/8 rule and strategies to...

Articles

All About the New Trump Accounts for Kids Thumbnail

Articles

All About the New Trump Accounts for Kids

In the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) passed last year, a new type of account called a 530A account or Trump account was authorized....

5 Best Side Jobs To Earn Extra Income in 2025 Thumbnail

Articles

5 Best Side Jobs To Earn Extra Income in 2025

About 45% of people in the US have a side hustle or second job. Most Americans with a side hustle aren’t making a life-changing amount...

The 5 Best Tools To Cover Life’s Greatest Financial Risks Thumbnail

Articles

The 5 Best Tools To Cover Life’s Greatest Financial Risks

Money is a ubiquitous stressor. 71% of Americans say that money is a significant cause of stress in their lives. Financial stress is frequently caused...

Financial FAQs

Courses & Tools

How about more sense and more money?

Check for blindspots and shift into the financial fast-lane. Join a community of like minded Financial Mutants as we accelerate our wealth building process and have fun while doing it.

Financial Order of Operations®: Maximize Your Army of Dollar Bills! Thumbnail

Free Resources

Financial Order of Operations®: Maximize Your Army of Dollar Bills!

Here are the 9 steps you’ve been waiting for Building wealth is simple when you know what to do and the order in which to...

Wealth Multiplier By Age Thumbnail

Free Resources

Wealth Multiplier By Age

If you want to set yourself up for future success, find out how much you need to save every month to become a millionaire.

Car Buying Checklist Thumbnail

Free Resources

Car Buying Checklist

Here’s how you can buy a dependable car that won’t break the bank. Our free checklist walks you through the 20/3/8 rule and strategies to...

Recent Episodes

It's like finding some change in the couch cushions.

Watch or listen every week to learn and apply financial strategies to grow your wealth and live your best life.

Financial Advisors React to RIDICULOUS Money Clips Thumbnail

Episodes

Financial Advisors React to RIDICULOUS Money Clips

We react to the internet's wildest financial takes, from gas tank wealth hacks to meme stock luck and Rolex investments, separating ridiculous advice from a...

How to Become A Millionaire (By Age) Thumbnail

Episodes

How to Become A Millionaire (By Age)

The math to be a millionaire may be more achievable than you think, but it changes dramatically based on your age. Whether you are starting...

The Best Assets To Hold In Each Account Thumbnail

Episodes

The Best Assets To Hold In Each Account

Are your investments in the right accounts? We explain the three types of investment accounts, which assets should live where to maximize tax efficiency, and...