Wealth Secrets: What You Really Need to Know
Wealth Is More Than Just Numbers in Your Bank Account
When you hear the word "wealth," what’s the first thing that comes to mind?
Would I be wrong if I said mansions, yachts, expensive vacations, helicopters, luxury cars, and so on?
You see advertising has done one hell of a job of convincing us that wealth is defined by these things.
However, the truth is that wealth is more internal than external.
Wealth Is the Ability to Live Life on Your on Terms
Let’s define financial security.
Financial security means being able to afford your expenses, live comfortably within your income, and save for the future.
In other words, it’s living without constant worry about money.
To live a fulfilling life, keep your life simple, minimalistic, and Spartan.
Let’s compare two job roles:
A plumber and an investment banker.
Because on paper, the investment banker appears far wealthier. However, if you dig deeper, you’ll find that investment bankers often work 70, 80, or even 90 hours a week.
This grueling schedule can lead to significant stress and leaves little time for a social life outside of work.
So yeah, investment bankers (when competent) earn substantial money, but it comes at a MASSIVE cost.
Now, let’s consider the plumber because while the plumber’s income is likely lower, their self-employment offers the flexibility to set their own schedule.
The plumber can take a day off whenever he chooses, assuming of course that his finances are in order.
This autonomy provides a sense of time wealth that the banker lacks.
Do you see what I mean?
Wealth isn’t STRICTLY about money; it encompasses so much more.
Health Is Wealth: Without It You Have Nothing
Here's a quote attributed to the Dalai Lama:
"Man sacrifices his health to accumulate money, then spends his money trying to regain his health."
Just let that quote sink in for a moment.
Look at it this way:
You can be extremely successful economically, but if you're in pain, struggling to move, or constantly visiting the hospital, you won't enjoy life or the things money can buy.
When it comes to health, focus on these 4 key areas:
Sleep: You need a consistent sleep routine. I'm not saying you must get 8 hours every night, but you should wake up feeling refreshed.
Physical Exercise: Aim to strength train 3 times a week and get your steps in daily. The recommended target is 10,000 steps per day.
Nutrition: Provide your body with the foods it needs—high-nutrient, dense foods. These are the foods that fuel your body effectively.
Stress Reduction: Incorporate stress reduction techniques, such as spending time in nature, meditating, or using a sauna.
The bottom line is this:
Don't be the richest person in the graveyard. By that, I mean don't kill yourself chasing more and more money.
Because personally, I believe it's far better to earn less but have a balanced life. To me, the person who has balance is wealthier than a billionaire working 80- or 90-hour work weeks constantly.
Wealth Is Contentment
If you want to see happiness and contentment, just look at a young child. A young child could be singing and dancing in the rain, and they’ll be as happy as can be.
Another example is a child at a park, swinging on a swing—again, they’re happy as can be.
There are 2 big reasons for this:
First, they aren’t chasing more, and second, they are fully present in the moment.
Children don’t need the latest iPhone to be happy.
They don’t need to earn six figures to feel content.
As long as their basic needs are met—food, water, shelter, clothing, plus love and attention—they are generally happy.
As adults, we can learn from children in this sense.
Because the truth is, materialism is an absolute trap.
Advertising has done one hell of a job in convincing us that we need to buy, buy, and buy some more to be happy.
This is simply not true.
I know from personal experience:
When I traveled to Australia and New Zealand in 2015, all I owned was a backpack full of clothes.
Yet, it was one of the greatest experiences of my life.
The truth is, the things you own end up owning you.
Wealth Is Personal Growth
If you study psychology and look at Maslow's hierarchy of needs, one thing you'll notice is that self-actualization sits at the top of the pyramid.
Self-actualization means becoming the best version of yourself.
And a big part of self-improvement and achieving this is facing your fears.
The truth is, you have to constantly challenge yourself—this is how you truly grow and develop.
I'll share a personal example to illustrate:
And that is public speaking.
As you can see at the top of this post, I make YouTube videos and I am not fully comfortable doing this. Every time I hit that upload button, I feel uneasy inside.
The reason for this is that I'm putting myself out there in a public space, which opens me up to being attacked or criticized.
But here’s the thing, I still make the videos and put them out there anyway.
So, the bottom line is this:
One of the best ways to improve yourself is to face your fears.
And this could be as simple as doing one thing that scares you every six months—think along the lines of
Skydiving
Bungee jumping
Cage diving with sharks
You get the idea… attack your fears on a regular basis.
Wealth Is Strong Relationships
Research has consistently shown that strong, positive relationships significantly contribute to overall happiness, health, and well-being.
This makes perfect sense because humans are inherently social creatures.
And the key to meaningful relationships is selectivity, which is a healthy approach. Surround yourself with people who not only uplift you but also complement your energy.
I want you to internalize this message:
Life is not a popularity contest.
It’s far better to have 5 close, reliable friends than 100 acquaintances who care little about you.
Choose to be around people who genuinely want the best for you.
Wealth Is Meaningful Experiences
I came across a quote on the internet that said something like,
"Spend your money on experiences, not things—have stories to tell, not stuff to show."
As soon as I read it, I thought to myself, "I like that."
You see, it's the experiences in life that shape who we are. It's about the things you've done.
Buying the latest iPhone won't change you as a person, but taking a sabbatical to travel to as many countries as you can in a year?
That will transform you.
The way see it, is nobody ever lies on their deathbed thinking to themselves,
"I wish I had spent more time in the office."
More often, it's, "I wish I had done more things," or "I wish I had spent more time with loved ones."
So while money can buy you a top-end sports car, it can't buy back the time you missed with your children because you were too busy at work, chasing more and more money.