The Ways to Become a Millionaire

The advice I can’t forget

So, you want to be a millionaire?

Me too, my friend, me too.

In a 2011 Forbes article, Craig Rowin was interviewed claiming that if you’d like a million dollars “you should just ask for it.” I thought about that for a little while. And that’s when I started out on my four-year journey of asking a million people for a million dollars.

Just kidding. There has been no journey, just a lot of wheels turning in my busy mind and a constant reminder of an irreplaceable mentor.

Early in my adult years, I had a wonderful job and an even better boss. David advised me on everything in the five years that we worked together. From him, I learned about the corporate world, relationships, accounting, and life in general. He taught me so many lessons, but unfortunately at that time, I didn’t receive them. I listened politely, but often silently disagreed.

One thing I remember David sharing was his views on making significant money.

There are only three ways to make a million dollars. You can steal it, win it, or attach yourself to it. — David R.

“What a jaded old fool?” I thought. At that moment, I believed that those were the only ways he could make a million dollars. I, however, had other plans. I was going to make millions with good some good old-fashioned secrets: hard work and good deeds.

And so, I set out to change my world.

I worked hard. I was good at my job, I kept my head down, and did everything I was asked to do. I planned on my career keeping me on the fast track to success. I had obtained the proper undergraduate and graduate degrees and knew I could succeed.

I did good deeds. I lived life like Professor Karma was following me around with a notepad. I donated to the needy, helped my neighbors, and I was a good friend. I would go out of my way to do the right thing.

I did not make a million dollars.

Cumulatively, I did. I made a decent salary for many years. I probably could have made much more, had I made a few decisions differently. I have zero regrets for any of my hard work. I have even less regret for the good deeds. I would not even change my mistakes.

I still want to believe people can make an unbelievable amount of money on their hard work and talents. The older I get, though, the more I think about what David said.

Steal it. I know more than one person in my small world that “stole it.” I am not talking about the traditional bank-heisting thievery. I know people that have made millions walking along a very fine ethical line. I mean the people that are willing to sell a faulty bridge to their grandmother if it means they’d make a buck. They wheel and deal without any guilt. Somehow, they’ve made millions.

Win it. I do not personally know anyone that has won millions of dollars on a scratch-off ticket. I know a couple of people that have hit pretty big jackpots on slot machines, but that money went quickly. When I think about “winning it,” I also consider family money. There is a whole pool of people that inherit millions or at least have a nice cushion to start life out. It is much easier to make it big when you can start life with a valuable safety net or at least a debt-free college education. Their millions are not entirely, their own, yet, they’ve made it.

Attach yourself to it. I know a handful of people that could credit their millions to this. They may attach themselves to it through a job. This was David’s path. I didn’t get it then, but I get it now. You can make it big in life by finding someone who already has and becoming indispensable to them. People also attach themselves to it through marriage. Exchanging wedding vows and promising forever to someone often means a combined pool of cash. Whether they marry it or worked with it, I think they’ve earned it just the same.

My thoughts. I will continue to dream of a million dollars. I will even work towards it. The difference between then and now is that I do not expect to be a millionaire. I do believe though that hard work and good deeds have brought me things that are far better than money.

“Become a millionaire not for the million dollars, but for what it will make of you to achieve it.” ― Jim Rohn

What do you think? Are there more ways to become a millionaire?

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