When it comes to creating wealth, most financial advice follows a predictable pattern: save a little each month, invest in a diversified portfolio, and wait 40 years. But I’ve discovered something far more powerful through my journey to becoming a multimillionaire by age 26 – the greatest investment is always yourself.
Recently, while spending time at our cabin with my son, we had one of those meaningful conversations that often happen during quiet moments together. These talks about money, career, and life are invaluable, and I want to share some insights from them that might help you give your own children permission to prosper.
The Real Path to Building Wealth
My son asked me what the best investment is for someone his age. My answer was clear: invest in yourself first, then learn to make more money, keep more of what you earn, and finally grow your wealth. Too many people get this backward.
I made this mistake early in my career. I did well in real estate initially and thought it was because of my skill. In reality, it was mostly timing and luck. I hadn’t invested in learning about real estate through courses or books – I was doing it “halfass” as I told my son.
People often get distracted, diversified, and spread thin with their investments. Instead, focus on mastering one important skill for making money on your money. Get really good at one thing, grow it, and then protect it through diversification.
Finding Your Path
When I was 19, I got licensed in something called LEAP (Lifetime Economic Acceleration Program). I became obsessed with it – watching training videos daily, attending quarterly events, and immersing myself completely. My girlfriend (now wife) joked that if she heard the word “velocity” one more time, we’d break up!
But that obsession paid off. While others wondered how I was doing so much business at such a young age, the answer was simple: I had found something that called to me and went all in.
For my son, it might be the energy work he’s exploring. For you, it could be something entirely different. The key is finding what excites you so much that no one needs to push you to learn more about it.
The Power of Immersion and Repetition
My son shared an insight about information retention – you can’t just read something once and expect to remember it. You need repetition and immersion. This is absolutely right.
Two weeks ago, my mentor recommended a talk to me. I’ve already listened to it 15 times. There are certain books I re-read every year. If someone wants to learn a language, living in that country creates immersion that accelerates learning.
How can you immerse yourself in your chosen field? When you’re young, you have a unique advantage – people love to pay it forward and help the next generation. As I told my son:
When you’re young, people love to pay it forward. You can meet with people that someone my age can’t meet with because they love to help young people.
Creating What You Want Through Clarity
One of the most powerful lessons I’ve learned about wealth creation has nothing to do with investment vehicles. It’s about clarity. Let me share a story about our cabin.
After a chaotic, exhausting stay at our old small cabin, my wife pulled out a pencil and paper during our drive home and asked, “What do we want? What’s our dream cabin?” We listed everything:
- Real logs (not just a facade)
- A loft with open, high ceilings
- Waterfront property (river or lake)
- Mature trees
- Ample land
We were specific about what we wanted. I called this “materializing” our dream. A few weeks later, I received an email about a property that matched everything on our list. We visited that night and knew it was perfect. We had turned our vision into reality through clarity.
Your Next Steps
If you want to create wealth, start by asking yourself what you truly want. What skills align with your natural abilities? What field could you immerse yourself in? Who in your network can help guide you?
Create a rhythm for your learning. Set aside specific times to study. Budget money for courses, books, or mentorship. Ask questions of those who have succeeded in your area of interest.
Remember, if you don’t have a plan, someone else will sell you theirs. Get clear, write down what you want, and invite more conversations. Ask more questions, do more writing, and the world is yours.
The greatest investment you’ll ever make isn’t in stocks, real estate, or even Bitcoin – it’s in yourself. Master that, and everything else follows.
