When I was young, very young, my family had money. Well, not my parents, but my grandparents. Both my grandfathers were entrepreneurs. They owned several businesses throughout their lifetimes. When I was around 8 years old, one of them lost the banks they owned to the Feds and the other one has lost his business too.

My mom had to get a leave the small town we lived in, and get a job. As a kid, you really don’t know any better, but when you start getting older you realize what you’d been though. Only after I had launched a few businesses and failed myself, did I realize what had taken place in the older generations of my family. 

At age 24 I made up my mind to become a millionaire by the time I was 40. In 2005 I make a lot of money selling mortgages and real estate. I was on my way to becoming a millionaire by 30. Then, much like my grandpa’s banks, the Feds raided my house and ultimately sent me to prison for 15 months. 

During those 15 months my ex wife cleaned me out of everything I had worked for. I was arrested in 2005, tried in 2007 and sent to prison from spring 2007 to summer of 2008. I got out and was 28 years old. Two years away from the goal of being a millionaire by age 30. Yet I was starting over with nothing. I had to move in with my parents. It was the most humbling experience of my life. 

I didn’t let it stop me though. I just knew I had to start all over. I had got really close before prison, so I knew it was possible to do it again. I didn’t lose my hustle, I just lost my time and assets. I had to make up for the loss. i didn’t waste any time either. I had 15 months I needed to make up in about a 6 month period.

I got a job doing mortgages again in 2008. In 2009 I closed over 180 loans. I was once again on my way to becoming a millionaire by 40. I had missed the mark at 30, but I was still on track to make it by 40. In 2010, my MLO license was denied and I lost my job doing loans. Forcing me to start from the bottom. Again. 

This time I wasn’t going to fall for the banana in the tailpipe again. I had to create my own hustle and control my own destiny. It was as if life was slapping me in the face, trying to get my attention, and point me in the direction IT wanted me to go. Not the direction I wanted to go. 

So towards the end of 2010, I started on the path you see me on today. It’s been hell. I’ve had to sacrifice it all to get here. I had to move in with in-laws, then got divorced, sold cars, sold MLM, sold a bunch of shit I hated. It was all part of the journey though. 

Becoming a millionaire was not easy for me this time. It took me 5 years to get to 7 figures a year by myself. That first million is a bitch. People who start out with money from their parents have a HUGE advantage over the rest of us. Making a million doing what you like is not always easy either. It’s fun, but not always easy. 

Now, before we get too into this, let’s talk about what it is to be a millionaire. According to the dictionary, a millionaire is someone who has a net worth of a million dollars in assets. It’s not just cash. Cold be cars, stocks, bonds, houses, websites and many other things that count as assets not liabilities. 

I don’t have a million dollars in cash laying around. That makes no sense because I’m not that wealthy yet. When you think of a millionaire with a million in cash laying around, that’s someone with a net worth of 5 million or more, in 99% of the cases. Unless you are a multi-millionaire, it makes no sense to keep cash. Stale cash does not appreciate. Therefore you must buy appreciating assets with it. Hence net worth.

In all reality, there are a lot of millionaires who you’d never guess were millionaires. I did loans for guys who worked for the US Post Office for 30 years who had 2 million in their 401k. The neighbor next door who owns his home outright and both his cars. He’s probably a millionaire. It’s not always mansions and Lambos. 

Don’t get me wrong though. Having a million in assets and not losing it, is not easy. If it was easy, everyone would do it. My assets are 6 figures in cash, multiple digital training products, a company wit employees, CRM systems and software. Each of these assets produce money for me monthly like a rent home. Oh and I just sold my last two homes at the end of 2015, but I usually have a home or two as well.

The thing about becoming a millionaire, is that you want to stay there. People often ask me “When’s it enough?” and my answer is simple. I’m doing what I can not to lose what I have. The only way to do that is to grow what I got. The bi product of me growing this thing is making more. So I guess my answer is “It’s never enough when you love doing what you do.”

I live in a penthouse where the elevator is my front door. I lease an Infiniti SUV and I own a motorcycle. I lease the penthouse. It’s not included in my assets. In my situation it makes better financial sense to lease places to live than to own them. I buy income properties and live in rentals. 

I don’t rent private jets or stay at the penthouse of the Ritz every time I travel. I could do those things, but they are not the best use of my money at this time. Once I break the multi-millionaire mark around 5 million, I’ll consider those things. Until then, I fly coach, stay at the Hilton and keep hustling all I can.

The best part about being a millionaire is being able to help others in the ways you weren’t helped. I’m able to provide stuff for my employees and partners that no one was there to supply for me. I’m able to give back in the ways I want, which mostly benefit the bottom line too. Win-Win.

The reality of being a millionaire, is that you still have to go to work too. Very few millionaires don’t work. Those millionaires are usually trust funders or inheritance types. Those of us who’ve worked for it, want to work for more of it. It’s the reason Warren Buffet goes to work every day. 

Also, over these last 6 years, I’ve helped others become millionaires too. Now that’s where it’s really at. When you can get your clients, friends and business partners to 7 figures too. Life is a lot better when everyone is winning. I’ve helped even more people get to multiple 6 figures. I have no doubt that if they follow the plan, they will see 7 soon enough. 

I became a millionaire at age 36. That’s 4 years ahead of my goal. My new goal is to have $5 million by the age of 40. I’m well on track to crush that goal. Maybe then, I’ll write again about what it’s like to have a multi million dollar liquid bank account. Until then I’m going to do what most millionaires do. Go to work.