Dream Bigger. Execute Better. Scale Faster.
Join 91K+ entrepreneurs getting Billion Dollar Principles. Get the exact systems that built a $1B brand. See why founders call this "the best thing I did for my personal development."
Entrepreneur
Aug 15, 2024
The American Dream Is Dead. Here's Your New Playbook.

The classic American Dream is dead.

The economic landscape has changed so dramatically in the last 50 years, that if you're running the old “American Dream” playbook, you’ll end up worse off than you started.

It no longer makes sense to:

  • Go to college on debt
  • Get a regular job and save
  • Focus on buying a house as your nest egg

Everything moves in cycles. And the scene was set perfectly after WWII for the classic American Dream to work out perfectly. America was the largest creditor in the world. We were flush with cash, and our fiscal policies fed the middle class.

Not anymore.

Now America is the world’s largest debtor. We have spent WAY more than we take in from tax revenue, and we’ve used money printing to pay for a litany of mistakes (the 2008 financial crisis & forever wars, most egregiously).

This monetary policy has created inflation, and inflation pushes people to save money, and effectively forces everyone to gamble just to keep up. Your money is literally worth less year after year.

Because of that, if you want to get ahead, here’s the new playbook:

  1. Avoid debt. Even if that means using YouTube and books to educate yourself.

  2. Be far more critical of real estate. It’s not guaranteed to be bad, but large corporations like BlackRock are driving prices up because they are using real estate as a place to put their money to work, to beat inflation.

  3. Minimize risk, but make sure your money is earning a high enough return to keep up with inflation.
     
  4. Invest on a long time horizon.

  5. Follow Ray Dalio’s advice and find 12-15 uncorrelated streams of investment income.
     
  6. Do NOT despair and do not YOLO everything you own into any one thing. Not crypto. Not meme stocks. Not anything. Despite what people may tell you, wise diversification will help you avoid calamity.

  7. Spend less than you make.

  8. Use geography to find tax-advantaged locations with a reasonable cost of living.

  9. Outperform your peers at work. If you can make people money, you’ll always be paid well.

If all of this sounds like a headache, it is. And the fact that you have to do this to not have your savings eroded by inflation is exactly why you should be mad. And why you should learn about how money really works.

While the game is most certainly rigged, the good news is it’s still winnable.

You have two choices…

Option 1: Acquire valuable skills, so you’ll always be hirable. 

Option 2: Start a business and make your own rules.

I can help you with both of those.

Level Up Your Life

If you’re looking to learn new skills, build better habits, and achieve your goals, check out Billion Dollar Habits. This community will help you gain clarity, stay focused, and most importantly – take action. Learn More:

Explore Billion Dollar Habits

 

Launch Your Business

If you’re an entrepreneur (or aspiring entrepreneur) and want to get your business off the ground, then Zero to Founder is for you. This community offers Live Hot Seat Coaching with me, a network of like-minded entrepreneurs, and a 4-week bootcamp to jumpstart your business. Get Started:

Check Out Zero To Founder

 

No matter which path you choose, remember that the future is in your hands. By taking control and making informed decisions, you can thrive in this new economic reality.