Have you ever wondered why wealth seems so elusive? Why, despite working hard, saving, and making “smart” choices, wealth seems always just out of reach?
This journey started for me a few years ago, back when I thought I understood money, just like most people. But one day, I asked myself a simple question: “What is money, really?” And that was the start of an exploration that led me down a path full of surprises, realizations, and lessons.
The Big Mistake: Thinking Money is Just Money
Most people think of money as just a means of exchange, a reward for hard work. But if you ask anyone wealthy, they’ll tell you that money isn’t just money — it’s an instrument, a tool, part of a much larger system. Understanding that difference was my first lesson.
Let’s look at credit and capital, concepts that sound boring to most but hold the keys to understanding wealth. The wealthy know these terms inside out — they live them. But for many of us, they’re mysteries. And that mystery, I realized, is the very reason wealth remains out of reach.
The Game That We’re All Part Of
Did you know that governments and central banks play with our understanding of money? It’s like a game, and we’re the pawns unless we learn the rules.
When the pandemic hit, central banks introduced quantitative easing — essentially flooding the economy with money. It sounds good, right? More money equals more prosperity, or so we think. But here’s what I learned the hard way: that surge in money wasn’t meant to make us richer. It was designed to encourage spending — not saving, not investing.
“It’s not what you make, it’s what you do with it.”
So, What’s the Secret the Wealthy Know?
Imagine this: when the markets are high, they’re selling, but when the markets dip, they’re buying up assets left and right — stocks, real estate, gold, Bitcoin. Why? Because they know something most people overlook: wealth grows during downturns. It’s almost as if they’re planting seeds in the soil of economic hardship, waiting for them to blossom in the next cycle.
The Cycles that Shape Our World
Have you ever noticed how history seems to repeat itself?
After reading thinkers like Morgan Housel and Ray Dalio, I learned that economies go through cycles — some short (4–8 years) and others long (up to 100 years). And each cycle has predictable stages. In the early stages, productivity grows, and wealth is created. But as each cycle nears its end, something strange happens: debt piles up, and productivity slows.
And that’s exactly where we are today. We’re at the tail end of a century-long cycle. What does that mean? It means that everything around us — the high debt, the government bonds, and rising interest rates — is a sign that we’re nearing the end of this cycle.
Learning to See Beyond the Illusion
One day, it hit me: we’re in a bubble. Everything we think we own — our money, our assets — is deeply affected by debt. Debt is a powerful force; it can create prosperity, but it can also trap you. The truly wealthy know how to navigate these tides, shifting their money into assets that keep rising in value when the bubble bursts.
And here’s a trick: while most people rush to buy bonds at high-interest rates, the wealthy know better. They know that these bonds might give 3–5% interest, but that’s barely enough to cover inflation. By holding back, gathering their resources, and investing in high-risk assets when the time is right, they’re setting themselves up for massive returns.
The Herd vs. the Independent Thinker
There’s a reason why we often hear, “The crowd is usually wrong.” I used to follow the herd too. But here’s what I learned:
When everyone else is panicking, selling, and running away from the market, that’s the very moment I choose to go in. Imagine standing in the middle of a marketplace, and everyone’s running away. But instead of following, you stay, and that’s where the treasure lies.
“Opportunities multiply as they are seized.“
What’s the Future Look Like?
With the rise of AI and automation, jobs are changing. Experts say up to 70% of today’s jobs might disappear in the coming decades. So, what should you do? Embrace this as a chance to rethink your relationship with money and invest in assets that grow over time.
Final Thoughts: The Path Forward
So, here’s the truth: If you want to be wealthy, you have to learn to think differently. Don’t follow the herd; study economic cycles, understand when to hold back, and know when to dive in. Wealth isn’t just built in the highs — it’s planted in the lows.
“Those who favour long-term well-being over short-term pleasure tend to achieve better results.”
Today, I invite you to think about your money differently. Take that first step, learn about economic cycles, read, and invest in yourself. It might just be the start of a journey you never expected, one that leads you not only to wealth but to freedom.
So, what’s stopping you? Start today.
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