Fastlane is education on how to scale and make money, but what about keeping the money that you do make?
I've made a few million dollars in total income in my ~15 odd years in business for myself, the large chunk of it from the internet. And yet today I have a sub $50k net worth to show for it. I have had many excuses for living so wastefully, being young, being a brown person with a worthless passport/limiting my ability to travel and access opportunities, being an alcoholic etc. But I have slowly but surely been defeating each of those excuses/supposed weakness and now intend to keep/save most of the money that I make.
My sources of inspiration and education in this regard are primarily the Money Mustache blog and the Dave Ramsey show, although the latter is targeted more at the American middle class (not necessarily Fastlaners), the essence of what he says is solid globally.
Personal finance or how much money you have at the end of the day for yourself is even simpler than calories based weight control. Only 2 things influence it in the given moment (income and outgo) and 2 more in the bigger picture/long term (time and compound interest).
To succeed in any goal, it helps to visualize the result or outcome that you want. I know that Fastlane says not to chase money, and that's good advice insofar as to making it, but when it comes to keeping it- because this requires a great effort in delayed gratification, it helps to visualize the light at the end of the tunnel or the final reward. I calculated my final number using the 4% rule. This will put me at a position of F*ck you.
Basically it means that if you can save 300x your ideal/comfortable (yet realistic) monthly outgo, you are a free man.
The fastest way to accomplish that nest egg is to decrease outgo first, and increase income 2nd.
If you already have some knowledge or experience in making a buck for yourself, your problem is likely not a lack of income, but the lack of awareness of the true cost of things that you spend money on.
Try putting the amount of money you spend on anything non-essential into a compound interest calculator to know the true cost, and it gets uglier if it's a recurring expense.
If you think about "quality of life" and trading off comfort for savings/reaching your goal it indicates that you are not serious about the goal. Slaves and delusional beggars don't qualify for comfortable living. Only Free men do. Become a free man first (achieve the 4 percent rule.)
Some or a lot of this may be obvious to you, but it isn't for many. And I write it down as a way to reaffirm it for myself and to help others who need it.
I've made a few million dollars in total income in my ~15 odd years in business for myself, the large chunk of it from the internet. And yet today I have a sub $50k net worth to show for it. I have had many excuses for living so wastefully, being young, being a brown person with a worthless passport/limiting my ability to travel and access opportunities, being an alcoholic etc. But I have slowly but surely been defeating each of those excuses/supposed weakness and now intend to keep/save most of the money that I make.
My sources of inspiration and education in this regard are primarily the Money Mustache blog and the Dave Ramsey show, although the latter is targeted more at the American middle class (not necessarily Fastlaners), the essence of what he says is solid globally.
Personal finance or how much money you have at the end of the day for yourself is even simpler than calories based weight control. Only 2 things influence it in the given moment (income and outgo) and 2 more in the bigger picture/long term (time and compound interest).
To succeed in any goal, it helps to visualize the result or outcome that you want. I know that Fastlane says not to chase money, and that's good advice insofar as to making it, but when it comes to keeping it- because this requires a great effort in delayed gratification, it helps to visualize the light at the end of the tunnel or the final reward. I calculated my final number using the 4% rule. This will put me at a position of F*ck you.
Basically it means that if you can save 300x your ideal/comfortable (yet realistic) monthly outgo, you are a free man.
The fastest way to accomplish that nest egg is to decrease outgo first, and increase income 2nd.
If you already have some knowledge or experience in making a buck for yourself, your problem is likely not a lack of income, but the lack of awareness of the true cost of things that you spend money on.
Try putting the amount of money you spend on anything non-essential into a compound interest calculator to know the true cost, and it gets uglier if it's a recurring expense.
If you think about "quality of life" and trading off comfort for savings/reaching your goal it indicates that you are not serious about the goal. Slaves and delusional beggars don't qualify for comfortable living. Only Free men do. Become a free man first (achieve the 4 percent rule.)
Some or a lot of this may be obvious to you, but it isn't for many. And I write it down as a way to reaffirm it for myself and to help others who need it.
Dislike ads? Become a Fastlane member:
Subscribe today and surround yourself with winners and millionaire mentors, not those broke friends who only want to drink beer and play video games. :-)
Last edited:
Membership Required: Upgrade to Expose Nearly 1,000,000 Posts
Ready to Unleash the Millionaire Entrepreneur in You?
Become a member of the Fastlane Forum, the private community founded by best-selling author and multi-millionaire entrepreneur MJ DeMarco. Since 2007, MJ DeMarco has poured his heart and soul into the Fastlane Forum, helping entrepreneurs reclaim their time, win their financial freedom, and live their best life.
With more than 39,000 posts packed with insights, strategies, and advice, you’re not just a member—you’re stepping into MJ’s inner-circle, a place where you’ll never be left alone.
Become a member and gain immediate access to...
- Active Community: Ever join a community only to find it DEAD? Not at Fastlane! As you can see from our home page, life-changing content is posted dozens of times daily.
- Exclusive Insights: Direct access to MJ DeMarco’s daily contributions and wisdom.
- Powerful Networking Opportunities: Connect with a diverse group of successful entrepreneurs who can offer mentorship, collaboration, and opportunities.
- Proven Strategies: Learn from the best in the business, with actionable advice and strategies that can accelerate your success.
"You are the average of the five people you surround yourself with the most..."
Who are you surrounding yourself with? Surround yourself with millionaire success. Join Fastlane today!
Join Today