How do you become rich?

[Boss]

The other day, I was having a conversation with one of my many liberal friends... a Bernie supporter... He was going on and on about the wealthy and how they take advantage of the worker... you know the drill. SO... I asked him, why don't the workers become bosses instead? He just looked at me funny, like he couldn't comprehend it.

Well, they just can't decide to be bosses! He fired back, and again, I asked... Why not? He says... well it just can't be done and you're dreaming if you think that would ever work. So, you see... right off the bat, the notion that you can be your own boss is so outrageous, they can't even comprehend it. If the conditions are so bad as workers... why not be your own boss, you've got nothing to lose.... your job sucks, right?

So what's the first step of your program, Boss?

Well, the first step is to decide that you CAN do this. You can certainly talk about doing it and think about it... but it has been my experience the best next step is to make the decision to do it. 99.999% of dreams fail because they are never tried.

Once you've "bought in" and understand that you can be your own boss and don't have to be a slave worker, you can make any amount of wealth you want and it's not that hard to do. It's challenging. It's tough at times and you have to suffer a little to start with... kind of like an exercise program... but the results pay off in wealth.

Okay, okay... get to the part where we get rich, Boss!

Patience, Grasshopper. There is no "Get Rich Quick" unless you're Hillary Clinton.

This is the complicated part... deciding what fits you individually. I can't answer that because we're all different. Focus on what you have a passion for. Something you like to do or have a talent for doing that is better than most. It needs to be something that you know other people who share this interest as well.

Next, you need to think of a way you can serve somebody. It does no good to have a passion for something that can't do anything for anyone. Think in terms of something you, who has the passion for this thing, would like to have done for you as a consumer. This will help you to form the nucleus of your idea.

Start writing all this stuff down. Keep a file folder for all your things, and start to do some market research. Don't be afraid to change your original idea or expand it. It's funny the way this process works but it's my favorite part. You will talk to people who have been there, they know what to expect and their advice is invaluable. It can make you completely change your mind on your original idea. The point of this is to refine your ideas and come up with a business plan to implement them.

Once all of this has been done, you will need start-up capital. This is where almost every failed business messes up. Keep all your start-up costs at a bare minimum. Live on pork-n-beans and vienna sausages for a while. Barter with people instead of paying cash. Do everything to avoid putting cash in to start-up. Get by with as little as you can to start. Too many people go big and go home. Start it slow and steady, and build it up.

I have started businesses on less than $1,000. One of them, I sold 10 years later for almost a million. You don't need a lot of money to start. If you happen to have some rich friends or family, it never hurts to see if they would like to make an attractive investment... that's a way to get some bankroll to start. Some people might even mortgage their homes, but I would not recommend doing that. Avoid putting yourself in debt to start a business. It's crazy and it's the easiest way to kill your dream before it gets started good.

The next part is the hardest part. You've got to stay with this 24/7/365. No vacations, no off days, no 9-5. It's from wake to sleep, you have to devote all your energy into making your business happen. You're going to be calling people, going to see people, talking to them about ways to do business. The more people you can talk to each day the better. Keep up with contacts. Keep business cards, pen and paper with you at all times. (although, I now use my smart phone) This is where a LOT of people slack off and then they wonder what happened, what went wrong? Well... you didn't tend your garden. You have to cultivate your business.

Last but not least, this is all about attitude. You have to believe your dream and know that you can make this happen. There are going to be times when you doubt yourself and it's a little scary to think about failure. So don't think about it! Think that you are going to make this shit happen man... it's done, you got this! If you have an idea and it goes sour, don't worry... just think up the next idea and keep booking. You have to roll with the punches sometimes. You have to blow off the skeptics. You have to distance yourself from negativity.

If you follow this plan and you are determined, you will become wealthy. It's really that simple.

 

[The Great Goose]

If you can't afford to pay your fulltime employees a livable wage, then be a SOLE TRADER.

 

[S.J.]

Working for other people puts you at the mercy of that person. You could be fired at any time for any reason. Self-employment is the only way to go and it's sometimes cheaper to get started than it is to jump through all the hoops when you go to work for someone else. Use your head, not your back.

 

[Gracie]

I wish I were much younger. I'd be rich now maybe. But, been on my own since 17, female, with a baby and a rotten husband. I ran off just to get out of that hell hole house, so I've always been a laborer, but a stupid one. I didn't save for the future. I lived pay check to pay check. Rent, food, bills. Just never saved enough and was too busy taking care of other peoples property to think of my own I needed to be saving up for.

Dumb. Just DUMB on my part.

 

[S.J.]

I wish I were much younger. I'd be rich now maybe. But, been on my own since 17, female, with a baby and a rotten husband. I ran off just to get out of that hell hole house, so I've always been a laborer, but a stupid one. I didn't save for the future. I lived pay check to pay check. Rent, food, bills. Just never saved enough and was too busy taking care of other peoples property to think of my own I needed to be saving up for.

Dumb. Just DUMB on my part.

You're not alone, that's most people's story. It's a matter of being taught to succeed instead of exist.

 

[BULLDOG]

The other day, I was having a conversation with one of my many liberal friends... a Bernie supporter... He was going on and on about the wealthy and how they take advantage of the worker... you know the drill. SO... I asked him, why don't the workers become bosses instead? He just looked at me funny, like he couldn't comprehend it.

Well, they just can't decide to be bosses! He fired back, and again, I asked... Why not? He says... well it just can't be done and you're dreaming if you think that would ever work. So, you see... right off the bat, the notion that you can be your own boss is so outrageous, they can't even comprehend it. If the conditions are so bad as workers... why not be your own boss, you've got nothing to lose.... your job sucks, right?

So what's the first step of your program, Boss?

Well, the first step is to decide that you CAN do this. You can certainly talk about doing it and think about it... but it has been my experience the best next step is to make the decision to do it. 99.999% of dreams fail because they are never tried.

Once you've "bought in" and understand that you can be your own boss and don't have to be a slave worker, you can make any amount of wealth you want and it's not that hard to do. It's challenging. It's tough at times and you have to suffer a little to start with... kind of like an exercise program... but the results pay off in wealth.

Okay, okay... get to the part where we get rich, Boss!

Patience, Grasshopper. There is no "Get Rich Quick" unless you're Hillary Clinton.

This is the complicated part... deciding what fits you individually. I can't answer that because we're all different. Focus on what you have a passion for. Something you like to do or have a talent for doing that is better than most. It needs to be something that you know other people who share this interest as well.

Next, you need to think of a way you can serve somebody. It does no good to have a passion for something that can't do anything for anyone. Think in terms of something you, who has the passion for this thing, would like to have done for you as a consumer. This will help you to form the nucleus of your idea.

Start writing all this stuff down. Keep a file folder for all your things, and start to do some market research. Don't be afraid to change your original idea or expand it. It's funny the way this process works but it's my favorite part. You will talk to people who have been there, they know what to expect and their advice is invaluable. It can make you completely change your mind on your original idea. The point of this is to refine your ideas and come up with a business plan to implement them.

Once all of this has been done, you will need start-up capital. This is where almost every failed business messes up. Keep all your start-up costs at a bare minimum. Live on pork-n-beans and vienna sausages for a while. Barter with people instead of paying cash. Do everything to avoid putting cash in to start-up. Get by with as little as you can to start. Too many people go big and go home. Start it slow and steady, and build it up.

I have started businesses on less than $1,000. One of them, I sold 10 years later for almost a million. You don't need a lot of money to start. If you happen to have some rich friends or family, it never hurts to see if they would like to make an attractive investment... that's a way to get some bankroll to start. Some people might even mortgage their homes, but I would not recommend doing that. Avoid putting yourself in debt to start a business. It's crazy and it's the easiest way to kill your dream before it gets started good.

The next part is the hardest part. You've got to stay with this 24/7/365. No vacations, no off days, no 9-5. It's from wake to sleep, you have to devote all your energy into making your business happen. You're going to be calling people, going to see people, talking to them about ways to do business. The more people you can talk to each day the better. Keep up with contacts. Keep business cards, pen and paper with you at all times. (although, I now use my smart phone) This is where a LOT of people slack off and then they wonder what happened, what went wrong? Well... you didn't tend your garden. You have to cultivate your business.

Last but not least, this is all about attitude. You have to believe your dream and know that you can make this happen. There are going to be times when you doubt yourself and it's a little scary to think about failure. So don't think about it! Think that you are going to make this shit happen man... it's done, you got this! If you have an idea and it goes sour, don't worry... just think up the next idea and keep booking. You have to roll with the punches sometimes. You have to blow off the skeptics. You have to distance yourself from negativity.

If you follow this plan and you are determined, you will become wealthy. It's really that simple.

Just work hard and everything will come to you? Nice fairy tale, and it might have been easier to do that somewhere in the past, but that's not the way it works. I don't care what business you go into. It takes money to make money. Hard work counts almost as much as luck.

 

[flacaltenn]

Great OP. One other thing you should add to these "notes" is how the balance of power has shifted in "the means of production". USED to be --- socialist got all indignant that so few held the means of production. Which was true.. (except of course, the BOSS never held this, the stock holders and investors did)

You needed LOTS of equipment, furniture, space, energy, people to do even the simplest creation of goods and services. With the advent of computers, internet, fast delivery --- you can have the equivalent of 1970's Fortune 500 engineering dept in your home study. No corporate library, or cafeteria either.

So you want to create and publish music? Recording studios in a box..
So you want to make custom versions of products that dont exist? A $4K or less 3D printer.
Want to change the way folks acquire goods ---- Write an App.

It's all been leveled. IN FACT -- the future of a JOB, pretty much requires you to be multi-skilled and innovative. There are and will be fewer low and semi-skilled jobs. China or no China.

Bernie is stuck in 19th Century socialist concepts. I LOVE the guy for a lot a reasons, but he doesn't have a CLUE what a 21st job or career looks like. And he doesn't recognize know you can now buy "the means of production" on Amazon and have it delivered to your door..

 

[Gracie]

That's true too. Takes money to make money. I never had any to spare. It all went on food, baby stuff, bus or gas for the car when I finally found a clunker to get to work and back, rent, utilities, etc. Then I got married again and that didn't work out. He stayed stoned at home while I slaved washing dishes at the local cafe. Dumped his ass, moved on, wound up in property management. I did have two stores but that was in my late 40's. Rents went up on the building and either I could live in my store or sell on ebay and live in my rental unit which was free since I was managing apartments too. I worked my ass off. But I didn't tuck away a couple of bucks from each check cuz I couldn't.

But, the OP is good advice. However, as bulldog says...it takes more than just that to actually become rich.

 

[Likkmee]

I have no idea how to become"rich" I can tell you how to not worry about dropping several handfuls of 10,000 ea,US pesos when needed and how not to "work" after about age 40-45, unless you want to, which I do. I hope to die in my shop mid-project or perhaps out in the grove or in the greenhouse "working".
It begins by never working for someone else. It also begins by ignoring "normal".

 

[flacaltenn]

That's true too. Takes money to make money. I never had any to spare. It all went on food, baby stuff, bus or gas for the car when I finally found a clunker to get to work and back, rent, utilities, etc. Then I got married again and that didn't work out. He stayed stoned at home while I slaved washing dishes at the local cafe. Dumped his ass, moved on, wound up in property management. I did have two stores but that was in my late 40's. Rents went up on the building and either I could live in my store or sell on ebay and live in my rental unit which was free since I was managing apartments too. I worked my ass off. But I didn't tuck away a couple of bucks from each check cuz I couldn't.

But, the OP is good advice. However, as bulldog says...it takes more than just that to actually become rich.

It takes a lot LESS investment nowadays to turn a talent or good idea into a biz. Realities of day to day ARE brutal. Making money is just servng others. You have to figure out how to serve more people , or be more valuable to a few.

 

[S.J.]

Anybody can start a lawn business. Do that for a year, build up a customer base, sell the business to somebody else, use that money to start another business you like better. Repeat that process. You can make a lot of money by building up businesses and selling them. It's not that hard. It doesn't have to be a lawn business, it can be anything you know how to do or can figure out how to do. It's easy. What do you know how to do well? Start a business doing that, then sell it to somebody else. If you don't know how to do it, get a job working for somebody else, learn as much as you can about it, then start your own business doing what you now know how to do.

 

[Dale Smith]

I would never be "rich" because I could not hold wealth in my hands knowing that people are struggling just to put food on the table. There is nothing on this earth that interests me enough to "hoard" a fiat currency that is backed by nothing of intrinsic value...and even if I could exchange my paper currency for gold? I wouldn't hold it for long if it could do good for someone else and I have a roof over my head and enough to eat. Riches on earth means nothing to me. God has always supplied my needs and He has used me as a vessel to help others....leaving this earth as a pauper is just fine by me.

 

[BULLDOG]

That's true too. Takes money to make money. I never had any to spare. It all went on food, baby stuff, bus or gas for the car when I finally found a clunker to get to work and back, rent, utilities, etc. Then I got married again and that didn't work out. He stayed stoned at home while I slaved washing dishes at the local cafe. Dumped his ass, moved on, wound up in property management. I did have two stores but that was in my late 40's. Rents went up on the building and either I could live in my store or sell on ebay and live in my rental unit which was free since I was managing apartments too. I worked my ass off. But I didn't tuck away a couple of bucks from each check cuz I couldn't.

But, the OP is good advice. However, as bulldog says...it takes more than just that to actually become rich.

Sure. I had two companies. Made more money than I had ever seen with the first, and lost my butt and all the fixtures that went with it on the next. The right place, The right time, and a set of balls that are a little bigger than most has more to do with it than hard work. None of that counts if you don't have the $$$$$$$ to present and produce comparably with the big boys.

 

[Gracie]

That's true too. Takes money to make money. I never had any to spare. It all went on food, baby stuff, bus or gas for the car when I finally found a clunker to get to work and back, rent, utilities, etc. Then I got married again and that didn't work out. He stayed stoned at home while I slaved washing dishes at the local cafe. Dumped his ass, moved on, wound up in property management. I did have two stores but that was in my late 40's. Rents went up on the building and either I could live in my store or sell on ebay and live in my rental unit which was free since I was managing apartments too. I worked my ass off. But I didn't tuck away a couple of bucks from each check cuz I couldn't.

But, the OP is good advice. However, as bulldog says...it takes more than just that to actually become rich.

It takes a lot LESS investment nowadays to turn a talent or good idea into a biz. Realities of day to day ARE brutal. Making money is just servng others. You have to figure out how to serve more people , or be more valuable to a few.

Too old now. But I could help the local businesses in making MORE money because I am good at marketing. Problem is...they won't hire a senior and I can't take payment because I am on SS now.

Maybe my next lifetime, I will do better.

 

[Gracie]

Like the local new thrift store. Stupid woman has no clue what she is doing. I have made money off her stupidity, but now I don't even do ebay. However, I DO know what the hell is wrong with her shit hole, and I pull 200 buck outfits from the rack and tell her to put them in the UpScale section, which she does. I have asked her a couple of times to hire me just to get her aware of what is valuable and what is junk (under the table payment), but she keeps hiring bimbos. Fuck her.

 

[flacaltenn]

That's true too. Takes money to make money. I never had any to spare. It all went on food, baby stuff, bus or gas for the car when I finally found a clunker to get to work and back, rent, utilities, etc. Then I got married again and that didn't work out. He stayed stoned at home while I slaved washing dishes at the local cafe. Dumped his ass, moved on, wound up in property management. I did have two stores but that was in my late 40's. Rents went up on the building and either I could live in my store or sell on ebay and live in my rental unit which was free since I was managing apartments too. I worked my ass off. But I didn't tuck away a couple of bucks from each check cuz I couldn't.

But, the OP is good advice. However, as bulldog says...it takes more than just that to actually become rich.

It takes a lot LESS investment nowadays to turn a talent or good idea into a biz. Realities of day to day ARE brutal. Making money is just servng others. You have to figure out how to serve more people , or be more valuable to a few.

Too old now. But I could help the local businesses in making MORE money because I am good at marketing. Problem is...they won't hire a senior and I can't take payment because I am on SS now.

Maybe my next lifetime, I will do better.

You not too old. And you have people skills. People are gonna tired dealing with companies designed by MBAs who EXPLOIT customers. Old style marketing skills are gentler and create customer loyalty. You may be the only hope to really remembering how to make customers happy..

If you're much older than Hilliary and Bernie tho --- don't overdo it..

 

[Gracie]

That's true too. Takes money to make money. I never had any to spare. It all went on food, baby stuff, bus or gas for the car when I finally found a clunker to get to work and back, rent, utilities, etc. Then I got married again and that didn't work out. He stayed stoned at home while I slaved washing dishes at the local cafe. Dumped his ass, moved on, wound up in property management. I did have two stores but that was in my late 40's. Rents went up on the building and either I could live in my store or sell on ebay and live in my rental unit which was free since I was managing apartments too. I worked my ass off. But I didn't tuck away a couple of bucks from each check cuz I couldn't.

But, the OP is good advice. However, as bulldog says...it takes more than just that to actually become rich.

It takes a lot LESS investment nowadays to turn a talent or good idea into a biz. Realities of day to day ARE brutal. Making money is just servng others. You have to figure out how to serve more people , or be more valuable to a few.

Too old now. But I could help the local businesses in making MORE money because I am good at marketing. Problem is...they won't hire a senior and I can't take payment because I am on SS now.

Maybe my next lifetime, I will do better.

You not too old. And you have people skills. People are gonna tired dealing with companies designed by MBAs who EXPLOIT customers. Old style marketing skills are gentler and create customer loyalty. You may be the only hope to really remembering how to make customers happy..

If you're much older than Hilliary and Bernie tho --- don't overdo it..

I worked at this BIG department store. Kinda like a Macy's. KNow what they do? I was in the women's department...tropical attire mostly. I had this customer that was buying WeBeBop skirtsets, dresses, pantsuits...she had 600 bucks worth of stuff on the counter but was not done yet. She wanted me to help her find accessories...shoes for each outfit, purses, jewelry. So since 2 other women were in that department to cover any other customers needs, I said sure..I would love to help her out. 6 pairs of shoes, maybe 10 at 200 buck a pair, nice jewelry, purses to match the shoes..we were talking thousands in ONE SALE. Know what the fucking dumb department manager told me? No. I had to stay in MY department. No, we did not get commission, either. I just wanted to help this lady because she liked my taste and I liked hers. THOUSANDS she was going to spend. Drop of a hat to her, I guess. Just confidence and happiness on my part. But I was told if I left my department again (purse department was two rows over), I would be written up. Lady got pissed, told me to forget it, she would go to another store that still had customer service. She bought NOTHING.

 

[The Great Goose]

I've done very well out of life, financially. However, if I had too start again today, no way would I be able to do anywhere near so well. I see no hope for the unestablished, young or new to the country. It's at least 500% harder to get ahead today than it was 20 years ago. And I think that's an underestimate.

 

[Gracie]

Thrift store lady....dumb. DUMB. Front door looks like a cave. All the crappy stuff in front. People walking by, all they see is kids clothes willy nilly and JUNK. You want nice stuff in the window. You want to LURE people to want to come in. Dumb fuck. I'm glad I got that piano scarf for 15 bucks and sold it for 250 on ebay. And I haven't taken her stuff I find on the racks, showing her the labels so the idiot LEARNS them to know what quality is. She had an opening and I asked her AGAIN if she could use me for like 4 hours a day...maybe even on call when she is overwhelmed with donations or bought a household of stuff and no clue what to price it at.....and what does she do? She hires the bimbo that doesn't even know how to count back change or use the damn register.

Arrrrrg. Old people KNOW stuff. Been there, done that. But idiots think we are decrepit or something. Well, I am, but there isn't a damn thing wrong with my brain and I can still hold a hanger. And I know how to use a register AND count back change AND know if the total comes to 45.64 and someone gives me 2 twenties, a 10 and 14 cents how much to give them back without using a calculator.

Oy.

 

[BULLDOG]

Thrift store lady....dumb. DUMB. Front door looks like a cave. All the crappy stuff in front. People walking by, all they see is kids clothes willy nilly and JUNK. You want nice stuff in the window. You want to LURE people to want to come in. Dumb fuck. I'm glad I got that piano scarf for 15 bucks and sold it for 250 on ebay. And I haven't taken her stuff I find on the racks, showing her the labels so the idiot LEARNS them to know what quality is. She had an opening and I asked her AGAIN if she could use me for like 4 hours a day...maybe even on call when she is overwhelmed with donations or bought a household of stuff and no clue what to price it at.....and what does she do? She hires the bimbo that doesn't even know how to count back change or use the damn register.

Arrrrrg. Old people KNOW stuff. Been there, done that. But idiots think we are decrepit or something. Well, I am, but there isn't a damn thing wrong with my brain and I can still hold a hanger. And I know how to use a register AND count back change AND know if the total comes to 45.64 and someone gives me 2 twenties, a 10 and 14 cents how much to give them back without using a calculator.

Oy.

Piss on her. She doesn't deserve your help.