Had a talk with my friend the other day.
I told him how it bothers me that so many people are soy-jacking over traditional financial advice. Yes, we have index funds, 401ks, & compound interest. Yes, they are cool tools that can help us.
But some people (my friend included)...
Some people are acting as if this is the ONLY path to wealth, literally.
There are literally people who are saying that every single person should just save 10% of their income and wait 40 years to be rich.
So... if we follow that line of logic:
You will be able to live paycheck to paycheck for decades and simply “push money into an index fund”… and voilá… you’re a millionaire when you’re 65.
That's the path to wealth for 90% of the world.
Just them, their job and compound interest.
Maybe they'll even clip some coupons. Drive their 1997 Honda Civic to and from work. Eat ramen noodles for dinner every night.
"Just work hard, put your money in the stock market… and let time take it from there", they told us.
The fine print they didn't show us: make sure you sacrifice the best years of your life so you can maybe afford a decent retirement (if you don't die early)
lol
Do you see how ridiculous this all is?
About 5 years ago, I read a book called “The Millionaire Fastlane” by MJ DeMarco.
This book completely destroyed everything I thought I knew about building wealth.
I’m not exaggerating when I say this book saved my life.
Before reading it, I was a broke telemarketing sales guy following all the “responsible” financial advice.
I was saving 10% of my $40k salary.
I was putting money into my 401k.
I was taking the metro to work and living in a tiny apartment.
I thought I was being smart and responsible.
But I was miserable.
And I was going to stay broke for the next 40 years if I kept going.
After reading MJ’s book, I realized I had been programmed with financial lies my entire life.
This is what MJ taught me:
There are three financial roadmaps, and 99% of people are stuck on the wrong ones. Have a look at this and let me know which one you're on.
THE SIDEWALK
This is financial disaster. Sidewalkers spend everything they make (and more). They live paycheck to paycheck, buy things they can’t afford, and are always one emergency away from bankruptcy.
Their wealth equation: Income - Lifestyle = $0 (or negative)
THE SLOWLANE
This is what everyone calls “responsible.” Slowlaners save 10% of their income, invest in index funds, clip coupons, and sacrifice today for tomorrow.
Their wealth equation: Job + Time + Compound Interest = Wealth (maybe, when you’re old)
The problem? It takes 40+ years and requires you to live like a monk during your best years.
THE FASTLANE
This is where real wealth is built. Fastlaners create businesses and systems that generate wealth quickly through value creation.
Their wealth equation: Asset Value + Passive Income = Wealth (in 5-10 years)
Stop and ask yourself this question right now.
What financial road are you currently on?
If you're on the sidewalk, you better get off... and fast.
If you're in the slowlane... you do realize what a bad trade you're making, right? 40 years of work for MAYBE 10 years of freedom.
The lane you need to be in (and the one I'm happy I switched to)...
The Fastlane:
This lane operates on five commandments (CENTS):
Control - You must control your income source (not depend on a boss or the stock market)
Entry - High barriers to entry protect your business from competition
Need - You must solve a real problem for real people
Time - Your business must be detached from your time
Scale - Your business must be able to reach millions of people
I'm lucky to be in a position where my email-based solo business hits all five of these commandments:
✓ I control it completely (solo-business)
✓ Most people can’t write emails or build offers (high entry barrier)
✓ People desperately needs their problems solved (massive need)
✓ My products sell while I sleep (time detachment)
✓ I can reach unlimited people online (infinite scale)
This is what most people get wrong about wealth.
They think cutting expenses is the path to riches.
But you can’t save your way to wealth.
One more time for the people in the back:
YOU CAN'T SAVE YOUR WAY TO WEALTH
Cutting expenses has a ceiling. You can only cut so much.
But creating value? That’s unlimited.
While people are clipping coupons to save $5, I’m writing emails that pull in $2,000 in a single day.
While people are driving used cars to “save money,” I’m building assets that appreciate in value as time goes on.
While people are waiting 40 years for compound interest, I’m compounding my skills and systems every single day.
The Slowlane is a scam.
You work for 40 years, living like a monk, so that MAYBE you’ll have enough money to enjoy life when you’re 65.
But when you’re 65, your health is declining and you have less time left.
You traded the best years of your life for a mediocre retirement.
That’s not smart. That’s tragic.
Switching lanes to the Fastlane changed everything for me.
Instead of saving 10% of my salary, I started building assets that generate income. Instead of waiting 40 years, I built wealth in 4 years.
Instead of sacrificing my youth, I’m enjoying financial freedom while I’m young enough to appreciate it.
You need to learn how to create wealth, not just save it.
Sure, learn about investing.
Learn about compound interest.
But at the end of the day, a guy like me is going to eat your lunch with a simple online business... because I know how to create value that people will pay for.
And in the end…
That’s all wealth building really is: creating value.
So ask yourself...
What are you going to build next?
— Pascal (aka. Pascio)
P.S.
Don't be like my friend.
Stop waiting 40 years to be rich.
Be like me.
Start creating value today.