Robert didn’t realize people thought he wasn’t smart until he started school. From kindergarten to college—seventeen years in total—he struggled with academics and was considered just an average student. While other kids learned quickly, school felt hard for him, except for hands-on subjects like woodshop, where he did really well.
He also didn’t know he was poor until he switched to a school where most students came from wealthy families. At nine years old, after moving across town, he found himself in a school where classmates had much more money. There were two schools right across the street from each other— one for working-class kids and one for the children of rich plantation owners. Because of his new address, he ended up in the wealthier school.
Seeing how different life was for his classmates, especially when visiting their neighborhoods, made him more aware of social class differences. School was not only an academic struggle—it also revealed the reality of financial inequality.
As he got older, Robert reflected on his childhood and the divide between rich and poor. His wealthy classmates lived in huge houses, owned multiple properties, and had exclusive privileges like country clubs. Meanwhile, his family lived a much simpler life. However, despite the financial gap, he noticed that the rich kids weren’t arrogant—it was just normal for them to be wealthy.
By high school, he had become more aware of his social and financial status. He struggled with self-confidence, popularity, and self-worth. Later, after serving in the Marine Corps, he felt a strong desire to be rich, own luxury cars, and live a successful life. But self-doubt held him back—he thought of himself as just an "average" person with no special talents. This mindset pushed him to find a way to rise above his circumstances and work toward financial success through entrepreneurship and real estate.
What Does "Don’t Live Below Your Means" Really Mean?
Robert questions the common financial advice to “live below your means.” While it isn’t necessarily bad advice, he believes it limits people and keeps them from building real wealth.
He compares this idea to students and professionals who work hard to be the best in academics, arts, or sports. Instead of just getting by, they push themselves to succeed. Robert believes people should take the same approach with money—not just save and cut expenses, but focus on earning more and growing financially.
This challenges the usual belief that playing it safe and budgeting carefully is the best way to manage money. Robert argues that focusing too much on living cheaply can hold people back. Instead of diversifying investments and spreading money across different areas, he suggests concentrating on specific financial goals to achieve greater success.
After serving in the Marine Corps, Robert knew he didn’t want to live an average life with a basic job and an ordinary car. He realized that to reach a higher level of wealth, he needed to focus his efforts instead of playing it safe. He also saw that many hardworking professionals still struggled financially because they followed traditional but ineffective money advice.
The main message? Don’t settle for an average mindset—make bold moves to create real wealth.
Stay tuned to learn why some financial experts recommend diversification?
