What Rich People Actually Do
This is what separates the rich from the rest
My mentor is worth over a billion dollars.
He drives a Prius and wears an Apple Watch.
Meanwhile, I know broke people who lease Range Rovers and flex Rolexes on Instagram. The gap between looking rich and being rich isn’t just about money. It’s actually about understanding five truths that most people never figure out.
Truth #1: Rich people understand tradeoffs
Every decision has roadkill.
Meaning:
If you spend money on new software, that money can’t go to hiring.
If you spend an hour on a sales call, that same hour can’t go to building your funnel.
One thing moves forward, another thing gets squished.
This never stops for entrepreneurs.
A tradeoff is when you get something you want,
but you give something up to get it.
In fact:
Growing your business usually means losing some free time
Hiring great people usually means losing some short-term profit
Taking a big opportunity usually means giving up some stability
There’s no choice with all upside and no cost.
I’ve worked with founders worth hundreds of millions. None of them look for the perfect choice. They look for the better trade.
Truth #2: Rich people don’t need to impress anyone
The most valuable financial skill is not needing to impress anyone.
Meaning, life gets a lot easier when you stop doing things just to look cool. Even that video of you in a private jet only makes you feel better.
Nobody else really cares.
Here’s the funny part.
The person you’re trying to impress usually has way more than you and isn’t even paying attention.
And the person who has less than you thinks you’re showing off.
You get stressed trying to keep up, not knowing you’re trying to keep up with an image you made up in your own head.
One of my mentors is worth over a billion dollars.
He drives a Prius and wears an Apple Watch. He’s not trying to look rich. He’s just being himself.
And look, if you enjoy fancy stuff, go for it. Bling all you want. But trying to look rich is the fastest way to stay broke.
So be yourself.
Wear what you want.
Drive what you want.
The real question is: what would you do if other people’s opinions didn’t matter?
I know, easier said than done.
Truth #3: Rich people change behavior, not words
We all mess up.
Everyone does.
And saying sorry is fine, but that only talks about the past. It doesn’t fix anything by itself.
The real apology is what you do next.
If you said something hurtful, the apology is not saying it again. If you made a mistake at work, the apology is making sure it doesn’t show up again.
Here’s the easiest way to do that.
After you say sorry, add one line: “Here’s what I’ll do differently next time.” That sentence shifts you from talking about the past to changing the future. And that’s what people actually care about.
Wealthy people I know don’t apologize with words. They apologize with personal accountability systems.
They fix the thing that broke.
They change the process.
They make sure the mistake doesn’t happen again.
Because in the end, the only apology that counts is changed behavior.
Truth #4: Rich people try one more time
Michael Jordan started with zero trophies.
MrBeast started with zero followers.
Warren Buffett started with zero skills.
Meaning, none of them started at the top.
Jordan wasn’t born the GOAT of basketball. MrBeast wasn’t born the number one YouTuber in the world. And Buffett wasn’t born the best investor of our generation. They all began at zero and had to learn everything the same way we do.
Here’s the part we forget:
Jordan missed more shots than most players ever take.
MrBeast made videos for years that almost nobody watched.
Buffett spent his early days reading nonstop because he didn’t understand investing yet.
They weren’t special at the beginning. They just kept going when most people quit.
I’ve lost count of how many business owners I’ve seen quit right before things work.
They stop because it’s hard. But you win when you keep going.
You beat everyone when you refuse to quit.
A winner is a loser who tried one more time.
Truth #5: Rich people give attention
The greatest gift you can give someone is making them feel important.
Meaning, people want to know you’re actually paying attention to them.
Most people don’t feel that.
They talk and the other person is looking at a screen. Or thinking about something else. Or rushing them.
While you may think I am crazy, here are exact behaviors and actions that could make someone feel important:
Say their name when you talk to them
Look at them while they’re speaking
Don’t check your phone until the conversation is done
Remember one thing they told you and bring it up later
Ask one follow-up question about what they just said
Repeat back what you heard so they know you understood
Thank them when they share something personal or helpful
Tell them one thing you appreciate about them
These are simple behaviors.
Anyone can do them.
And they instantly make someone feel like they matter.
I’ve watched billionaires give full attention to junior employees. I’ve watched broke people scroll Instagram while their kids talk to them.
Wealth doesn’t buy attention.
But attention builds everything else.
Attention is the one gift that people can feel instantly.
Remember The Free Truths
So here are the 5 boring truths that are absolutely free:
Accept tradeoffs instead of looking for perfect
Stop performing wealth and start building it
Change behavior, not just words
Keep going when everyone else quits
Give people your full attention
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As we run into the end of the year, feeling a touch burnt out, this has been a good reminder of some of the key behaviours that underpin successfully working with others and leading people and businesses. Many thanks Sharran, and have a wonderful Christmas.
Thank you, Sharran, for sharing your world. I will focus on changing my behavior, how to fix the problem, not just saying sorry. I will keep going in my real estate business and never quit! I also respect your mentor.