Good Money Revolution

1. Money is good, and you should have more of it

Money is good because you can use it for good; you can use it to change the world.

Reframe your perspective. Money itself is neutral; it's how you use it that matters. Instead of viewing money as evil or the root of all problems, see it as a tool for positive change. When good people have more money, they can do more good in the world.

Pursue financial success ethically. Focus on creating value for others and solving problems. Successful entrepreneurs like Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk built their wealth by providing services that millions of people find useful. Instead of criticizing their success, learn from their strategies and apply them to your own pursuits.

Embrace the river mentality. Think of money as a flowing river, not a stagnant pond. There's not a limited supply – money flows where value is created. By adopting this mindset, you open yourself up to endless possibilities for earning and making a positive impact.

2. Generosity is the key to lasting happiness and wealth

Happiness comes from what you do with your money, not how much you have.

Give to be truly rich. Research shows that spending money on others or donating to causes you care about activates the pleasure centers in your brain, creating a "warm glow" effect. This leads to greater happiness and life satisfaction than simply accumulating wealth for yourself.

Start small, but start now. You don't need to be wealthy to be generous. Even small acts of giving, like buying coffee for the person behind you in line or donating a few dollars to a local charity, can make a significant impact on both the recipient and your own well-being.

Create a ripple effect. Generosity is contagious. When you give, you inspire others to do the same, creating a positive cycle of kindness and support in your community. This not only improves the lives of those around you but also enhances your own reputation and networks, potentially leading to more opportunities for success.

3. Overcome negative money mindsets to achieve financial success

Money is simply a tool. It doesn't have emotions. It doesn't have feelings. It does what you tell it.

Identify your money scripts. Recognize the beliefs about money that you've inherited from your upbringing or past experiences. Common negative mindsets include:

• Money represents scarcity and strain
• Money works against you
• You're destined to struggle financially like your family
• There's not enough money to fulfill your dreams
• The money math doesn't add up for giving

Challenge and rewrite your narrative. Once you've identified these limiting beliefs, actively work to replace them with more empowering thoughts. For example, instead of thinking "I'll never have enough," reframe it as "I have the ability to create value and earn more."

Embrace imperfection and learn from mistakes. Share your financial missteps with others, especially your children. This "power of the screw-up" not only makes you more relatable but also provides valuable learning opportunities for those around you.

4. Implement the Good Money Framework to earn, save, and give more

The key to your success and having a daily passion that fuels you is to connect your cash to a cause, your money to a movement, your profits to a purpose.

Follow the 7-step framework:

1. Discover your Generosity Purpose
2. Determine your top three financial goals
3. Determine your desired income
4. Review your options for earning more money
5. Create a simple saving and investing plan
6. Implement your generosity strategy
7. Track your wealth-building and generosity progress

Use the three Good Money Levers:

1. Save more: Cut unnecessary expenses and automate your savings
2. Crush your debt: Prioritize high-interest debt and create a payoff plan
3. Earn more: Add value at your current job, start a side hustle, or launch your own business

Invest wisely using the four lanes strategy:

1. Checking/savings (slow lane): Easily accessible, low-risk funds
2. 2-5 year goals (middle lane): Moderate-risk investments for short-term goals
3. Retirement (fast lane): Long-term, higher-risk investments for growth
4. Play account (fastest lane): Small portion for high-risk, speculative investments

5. Plan for retirement strategically using the Sweet Spot Solution

Planning for retirement is essential, so don't be afraid of it.

Take advantage of your sweet spot. This is the period when your children are financially independent, you're close to paying off your house, and you have discretionary savings available. Use this time to catch up on retirement savings and planning.

Follow the six-step Sweet Spot Solution:

1. Take a financial X-ray
2. Review your money in motion
3. Assess your asset protection plan
4. Envision your retirement
5. Determine your spendable monthly income goal
6. Make a Sweet Spot commitment

Avoid common retirement mistakes:

• Not calculating your magic number (required savings)
• Failing to set financial goals
• Not creating a plan to reach your goals
• Not investing to create income
• Neglecting to set up an automatic savings plan
• Not being on the same page as your spouse about money
• Overlooking long-term care insurance

6. Teach your children valuable money lessons for lifelong success

Teach your kids and grandkids that money is not the enemy—that it's not money's fault you can't do something. Money is a tool. You can make it, grow it, give it—and make the world a better place.

Instill three key money lessons:

1. Be an investor, not a spender: Teach them to evaluate purchases and understand that every dollar spent is an investment in something.
2. Be a confident wealth builder: Encourage automatic saving, generous giving, and budgeting from an early age.
3. Be the creator of money, not just the receiver: Foster an entrepreneurial mindset and help them explore ways to generate their own income.

Lead by example. Include your children in financial discussions and decision-making processes. Let them see you budgeting, investing, and giving generously. Share both your successes and failures to provide valuable learning experiences.

Make it fun and engaging. Use creative challenges like the $5 Challenge to teach entrepreneurship and problem-solving skills. Encourage them to find ways to turn a small amount of money into more through their own ingenuity and hard work.

7. Giving makes you happier, healthier, and more successful in business

Giving is contagious. A study by Harvard researchers James Fowler and Nicholas Christakis shows that when one person behaves generously, it inspires observers to behave generously too.

Experience the "helper's high." Giving activates the pleasure centers in your brain, releasing endorphins and creating a sense of joy and well-being. This positive feeling can lead to improved mental and physical health.

Boost your business through generosity. Companies that incorporate giving into their business model often see increased customer loyalty, employee engagement, and overall success. Examples include:

• Bombas: Donates a pair of socks for every pair sold
• TOMS: Gives away a pair of shoes for each pair purchased
• Your business: Connect your products or services to a cause you care about

Create a positive cycle. When you give, you inspire others to do the same, creating a ripple effect of generosity in your community and beyond. This not only helps those in need but also enhances your reputation and networks, potentially leading to more opportunities for success.

8. Create a People Portfolio to diversify your giving strategy

You'll get your best dividends by investing in people. It makes you a better person and a better investor.

Expand your giving horizons. Look beyond traditional charities to identify individuals in your life who could benefit from your support. This might include friends, family members, or even strangers with potential who just need a small boost.

Implement diverse giving strategies:

• Anonymous giving: Leave surprise gifts or financial support without revealing your identity
• Non-monetary gifts: Offer encouragement, mentorship, or skills training
• Dream funding: Help someone pursue their passion project or business idea
• Weekly encouragement: Maintain a list of people to text or call regularly with words of support

Balance your giving approach. Consider using one of these models to structure your giving:

• 80-10-10: Live on 80%, save 10%, give 10%
• 70-10-10-10: Live on 70%, save 10%, pay down debt 10%, give 10%
• Variable option: Start with giving 1% and increase gradually as you pay down debt and increase savings

By creating a diverse People Portfolio and implementing a structured giving strategy, you can maximize the impact of your generosity while also reaping the personal benefits of giving.

Last updated: November 23, 2024