Back in my day, you measured a man by his handshake, the mud on his boots, and how many times he’d been swindled before he got smart. These days, you measure a man by his credit score, how many apps he uses to check the stock market, and how fast he can swipe left on a mortgage ad. Progress, they call it. But I’ve lived long enough to know that some truths don’t age, even if the faces do. So pull up a chair, silence your notifications, and listen close—because what I’m about to tell you is the kind of thing most people only figure out after they’ve traded their future for a sports car and a Bluetooth espresso machine.
Now don’t get me wrong—I’m not here to kill your dreams. If you want the car, the house, the big life, go get it. But take a little wisdom with you: the road to ruin is paved with brand-new leather seats and impulse decisions. Build something that lasts. Pay yourself. Own your future instead of renting someone else’s idea of success. Because when you’re old and gray, it won’t be the things you bought that matter—it’ll be the things you built, the freedom you earned, and the peace that comes from knowing you didn’t just survive the game… you rigged it in your favor.
Building the Machine: Notes for the Swipe-Left Generation
1. Never Be in a Hurry—But Don’t Be a Laggard
There’s a delicate balance between moving too fast and moving too slow. The world will tempt you to rush—chase trends, get rich quick, skip the line. But anything worth building takes time. Don’t let urgency lead you into mistakes.
At the same time, don’t drag your feet. Don’t wait for the “perfect” time—it doesn’t exist. Life moves fast. One day you’re full of ideas and energy, the next you’re staring down 60, wondering where it all went.
Move. Thoughtfully. Consistently. That’s how you build something that lasts.
When I was 18, I wanted three things: a waterfront house, a nice car, and a good wife. By the time I was 27, I had all three—plus a dog, a business, and no time to enjoy any of them. I cut corners to get there, and those shortcuts led me straight into debt.
Next point to ponder…
2. Avoid Debt
Avoid debt—especially for junk. If you’re going to go into debt, make it for something like a house, or if you really have no choice, a car that you plan to keep for a long time. But understand this: debt is stupid. There’s a reason the wealthy are happy to lend you money—they’re making money off your back. You’re the fool paying 18%, 20%, 30% interest.
Don’t finance furniture, electronics, or cars unless absolutely necessary. Pay with cash or don’t buy it. And here’s a rule: if you don’t have at least double or triple the price of an item in savings, you probably shouldn’t be buying it. Don’t go negative $30,000 to own a car that’s not even worth that when you drive it off the lot.
One exception? If you’re leasing a car for your business and it’s a tax write-off—maybe. But even then, be smart.
So I had it all, and all it took was credit. I had enough credit to choke a horse and a mortgage, a car payment, and many more to prove it. I was making double my expenses, so life was good. However, I did not realize that problems and expenses multiply faster than water. Boats and houses need repairs, cars get crashed, dogs get sick. And wives — well they are always looking for new furniture or something. And business cycles happen. Yes, every business will have its ups and downs. whether you’re ready or not I forgot two things, the cost of maintenance and saving for bad times.
3. Everything You Buy Has Ongoing Costs
Every purchase costs you more than the sticker price. A car or boat will need maintenance, storage, insurance, and more. Even clothing or furniture drives future expenses: the more you have, the more space you’ll need to keep it. And once you’re used to a lifestyle, you end up replacing things just to keep up.
You don’t need to live like a monk, but be aware of what you’re signing up for. Even something as basic as a AC/sprinkler system can bleed you dry in small repairs. Maintenance is real.
Let’s go back to the boat idea—but really, it could just as easily be the house. The core problem is the same. A house usually goes up in value. Boats, cars, and just about everything else? Not so much. You’re not just paying the purchase price—you’re also on the hook for fuel, maintenance, tags, taxes, insurance, storage, and more. Even your time gets drained.
I’ve spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on boats over the years—and thousands of hours. They both made me poorer. And while I could rant and rave about it all day, I’ll spare you (for now). The point is this: it’s like jumping out of a perfectly good airplane. Maybe it seems exciting, it’s probably just a dumb idea. I keep doing it anyway.
4. Always Invest in Yourself
The best investment you can make is in yourself. No, that doesn’t necessarily mean dropping thousands on Tony Robbins. But take a course, get certified, watch tutorials, learn something. You could go from earning $40,000 to $80,000 a year by spending $3,000 and six months improving your skills.
Every year you sit still, others are moving ahead. The world is changing fast. Learn a skill. Get technically savvy. Otherwise, you’ll be stuck in jobs that barely exist a decade from now. Are you skilled at something that is going to stop you from landing a job as a Walmart Cashier when you get older.
5. Pay Yourself First
I had successful businesses, but always had cash flow problems. A $350,000/year contract with the Post Office, an internet company—money was coming in, but I wasn’t paying myself. I reinvested everything, borrowed to pay employees, and never built my own wealth.
Lesson: Separate your personal finances from your business. Pay yourself. Save it. Reinvest using other people’s money if you must, but protect your own. That’s how you build net worth, not just income. Businesses have a lifespan, they become obsolete. You have to be ready to pick-up your stuff and evole. That takes money. And I haven’t even talked about the business recycling machine that happens every 10-20 years.
6. Build a Financial Cushion Before Buying a House
You’re young, you’re earning. First instinct: buy a house, right? Wrong. First, build a cushion—$40,000. Not for a down payment, but as a safety net. So if something goes wrong, you’re not out on the street.
Then, yes, buy the house—but smartly. Choose a low-cost property. Rich people don’t sink their wealth into real estate. Their home might be 1–3% of their net worth and often mortgage-free. Real estate is not a high-yield investment. Don’t fall for the hype.
And if you’re the type who can’t hold onto cash, real estate might be a necessary evil. But only as a hedge against your own poor habits—not because it’s a perfect investment.
I have several articles on this I link later – so come back here for links.
7. Choose the Right Kind of Employer
If you’re working for someone else, find a medium to large company—30 to 100 employees. Avoid tiny companies with 4–6 employees. They’re often poorly managed and limit your growth. Larger companies usually have 401(k)s, health benefits, and some structure.
Big corporations—Fortune 100 level—can be crazy. I’ve worked in them. It’s like walking into a building full of people on psychedelics. Stick with stable, midsize firms unless you’re building your own thing.
8. Retirement and Investment Strategy
You’re 30 and think retirement’s a long way off. Still, you can—and should—start now. Retirement accounts like 401(k)s and HSAs reduce your taxable income, increasing your net worth and giving you leverage with lenders.
Taxes are real. The difference between paying $10,000 and $20,000 in taxes is ten thousand real dollars. Take steps to reduce your tax liability—legally.
Use tools like S corps, IRAs, 401(k)s. Even if you’re a W-2 employee, you should start a side gig. One client is enough. Deduct expenses. Use the system smartly.Example: $10,000 in your 401(k) + $5,000 in other accounts = $15,000 you’re not paying taxes on. That drops your taxable income and helps you stay in lower tax brackets. And all along you are building your net worth. Your net worth is more important than income.
This isn’t about spending more. It’s about saving more so your future self isn’t broke. Because if you make and spend everything now, you’ll be just as broke 10 years from now as you are today.
9. Open Four Bank Accounts (With Trusted Institutions)
When I say “bank accounts,” I mean real ones—not some app where you swipe left to buy stocks. I don’t trust many of these fintech startups. They can disappear. Bitcoin exchanges? Even worse.
Stick to places like Fidelity or Schwab. I like Fidelity for HSA s. Schwab’s great for brokerage, banking, and IRAs. Their systems are tied together. If your checking account goes low, they’ll auto-pull from your investment account. You can move money with a click. It’s seamless, safe, and audited.
Your four accounts:
- 401(k) (preferably through employer,
- HSA like Fidelity Self Directed
- IRA (Schwab, long-term growth)
- Brokerage with margin (Schwab, for flexibility)
- Linked checking account (with overflow and overdraft protection)
10. Set Smart Financial Goals
Each tax-deferred account you open—401(k), HSA, IRA—reduces your taxable income. Example: $100,000 salary minus $15,000 in contributions brings your taxable income to $85,000. That’s real savings. And $85,000 keeps you in a lower tax bracket if you’re single.
This is the goal: reduce taxes, increase your savings. Not so you can spend more, but so you can build a financial foundation. Ask yourself: Do you want to be wealthy later, or just feel wealthy now?
Because people who only make and spend… end up broke.
Tomorrow part 2 – the next 10 steps
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