Who doesn’t want to be rich . . . or at least more financially secure
than they are now? As Gertrude Stein once famously said, “I’ve been
rich and I’ve been poor. It’s better to be rich.”
And so have I. From dead broke to worse. And then from okay to
affluent to more-than-enough.
I’ve done many jobs inmy working life. My first job, drying rear windows
in a car wash, paid me $1.75 an hour. Nowadays I can’t be tempted
to work for less than 500 times that amount. In this book you’ll learn
what I learned along the way: that it’s not hard to become as wealthy as
you want to be . . . as long as you are willing to follow six simple steps.
I’ve been a busboy, bartender, housepainter, carpenter, bouncer,
aluminum siding salesman, soda fountain jockey, teacher, copywriter,
and tinsmith.
I’ve also owned and run many businesses, including a pool installation
service, a nutritional supplement company, a venture capital firm,
at least a dozen publishing houses, a discount jewelry outlet, a dozen
direct-marketing enterprises, two public relations practices, a career
counseling service, at least a half dozen real estate developmentventures, a fine art dealership, and a rare coin brokerage, just to name
a few.
I have been a partner in two businesses that grew beyond $130 million
and a dozen that surpassed the $10 million mark and have more
recently mentored friends and colleagues in the successful start-ups of
$6 or $8 million companies.
I’ve owned and run public and private companies, local and international,
retail and wholesale, profit and not-for-profit.
I’ve done all that and other jobs I’m sure I can’t remember (or don’t
want to think about).
What I haven’t done is run a large (i.e., Fortune 1000) corporation.
I don’t think I’ve even worked for one. My expertise is in starting and
developing small businesses, and I’ve had a good deal of success with
start-up real estate ventures and investing in small business and real
estate.
I’m not a stockbroker, insurance salesperson, or financial planner.
I’ve never had any formal training in finance. Everything I know has
come from the experience of my working life. That means you won’t
find much here that is conventional financial planning.
I’d like to think that what I lack in formal education I’ve made up
for in a depth and range of business experience that spells practical,
proven advice. So when you consider my credentials, take into
account the sheer scope of my experience. Be assured that the advice
I give you in this book comes from that experience. Also keep in
mind my Rolodex—the contacts I’ve made and the people I’ve
known. I am lucky to have worked with some true moneymaking
and business-building geniuses. I’ve listened to them and observed
their actions. I’ll pass on everything I’ve learned from them to you.
And, finally, I must admit to a love of teaching. Before I began my
business career, I taught a graduate course at Catholic University in
Washington, D.C., and then was an assistant professor of English language
and literature at the University of Chad. This teaching impulse
has never left me. It erupts in product presentations, coaching sessions
with protégés, and speeches, and I’m sure it’s evident in the pages that
follow. If I get a little preachy, please forgive me.
I’m also an avid student. Every experience I’ve had in my career has
taught me something. And everything I’ve learned about making a good
income and converting it into lasting wealth is detailed in this book.