And don’t be afraid to think big: “Expect to get rich in your 20s or 30s. … It’s not going to happen overnight, but it doesn’t have to take a lifetime. Your expectation will quicken the process and keep you on track.”
Surround yourself with successful people
Who you hang out with matters.
“You need rich friends,” says Siebold. “The sheer exposure to their heightened level of awareness around everything related to wealth will dramatically expand your thinking.”
Find ways to cultivate relationships with wealthy, successful people: “Read their books, attend their events, donate to their charities … and whatever else you can do to gain introductions and build relationships.”
Fall in love with work
Your career affects every aspect of your life, so you want to choose your path carefully.
“It’s difficult to invest the necessary time and energy into a profession that bores you or that has little meaning beyond money,” says Siebold. “Waking up everyday with excitement for going to work is a formula for financial abundance, emotional fulfillment, and life satisfaction.”
Money solves most problems
The rich aren’t afraid to admit that money can solve most problems.
“Being rich won’t make you happy, but it will solve 90 percent of your problems,” writes Siebold. “If you have a problem, and you can make it disappear by writing a check, you don’t have a problem. … Make your money by solving problems, and you’ll get rich enough to purchase your own problems away.”
Invest
“The rich are investors, not spenders,” says Siebold. “They invest their money today, so they’ll have more tomorrow.”
To be a successful investor, stick to what you know or what you’re interested in: “If you like to play guitars, you might study the vintage guitar market. If you’re a baseball fan, look into investing in rare baseball cards. If you like dissecting stocks, you could study the stock market.”
Spend smart
No matter how big your paycheck is, you won’t be rich unless you’re disciplined enough to keep what you make. “Excessive spending can ruin you,” warns Siebold. “It happens every day to people with millions of dollars at their disposal.”
That’s not to say you should never spend: “Just make sure you don’t overextend yourself in the process because that will put you on a treadmill of having and not having money.”
You deserve to make it
The top earners tell themselves they deserve to be rich, while the masses think getting rich is reserved for a lucky few.
The truth is, “in a free market economy like America, if you serve enough people and solve enough problems, you deserve to be rich,” says Siebold.
