The Lesson on Wealth I’m Teaching My Son Before He Turns 13
Teaching My Son the Real Path to Wealth: Profitability Over Riches
My son is about to turn 11, and he’s finally at that age where we can have meaningful conversations—ones where he actually listens and digests what I say. I’m not sure how long this window will stay open; maybe I’ve got two or three years before my advice starts being met with the rolling of his eyes.
Living in LA offers a unique lens on wealth. A single 20-minute drive reveals two extremes: poverty and luxury, side by side. My kids notice this contrast, too, and they’ve already made it clear where they want to end up when they’re older—they want to be rich. And who could blame them? But here’s the thing: my role as a father isn’t about teaching them how to “get rich” like some bad infomercial from the ’80s. My job is to show them how to be profitable.
You see, “getting rich” is a result, not a process. You can’t teach a result—just imagine trying to teach someone to “achieve a gold medal” or “earn straight A’s.” What I can teach, though, is the importance of becoming the type of person who naturally attracts wealth. Wealth is simply a byproduct of who you become, not the other way around.
Breaking Free from the “Do-Have-Be” Trap
In my years as a thought leader in the corporate world, I’ve seen countless people frustrated with their “below-average” jobs and “below-average” pay. I listen with empathy, but here’s the big truth they’re missing—or maybe just not ready to see: they’re approaching life as a below-average person while expecting above-average results. It’s why so many feel stuck. To get above-average results, you have to become an above-average person.
Growing up, I was taught a framework that set me up to focus on the wrong things—a system that doesn’t work. It’s what I call the Do-Have-Be Framework:
Do something to make a lot of money.
Then you can Have all the nice things money can buy.
Finally, you’ll Be rich.
Sound familiar? Many of us grow up thinking success is all about doing and having. But focusing solely on these doesn’t create lasting wealth—and if you’re lucky enough to strike it rich, you may be too miserable to even enjoy it. I’ve come to understand that we need to shift our focus to being first and foremost—such as being above average.
The “Be-Do-Have” Framework
This is the framework I’m teaching my kids:
Be rich first—in mindset and habits.
From this place, you’ll naturally Do the things that wealthy people do.
Then, you’ll naturally Have the rewards that wealth brings.
Take any self-made millionaire, strip them of their wealth, and in a few years, they’d likely be wealthy again. Why? Because they’ve become the kind of person who naturally creates wealth. Money is simply a byproduct of who they’ve learned to be.
Have you noticed how often you’ve read the word naturally in the last few seconds? The Be-Do-Have framework also brings an ease to life—unlike the Do-Have-Be approach, which feels like a constant struggle, pushing and muscling to get what we want.
So, How Do You Be Rich?
This isn’t about “faking it till you make it” or pretending to be wealthy. It’s about becoming a profitable person. We often think of profit as strictly financial: buy shares at $10, sell them at $20—profit! But profit is more than money; it’s about leaving things better than you found them.
At its core, profitable people improve their surroundings, whether it’s people, places, or things. Without profitability in all of one’s affairs, there is no wealth—period.
As a father and teacher, I’m guiding my kids and clients to be profitable starting today. Here’s what that looks like:
Relationships: Leave people better than you found them.
Daily Habits: Make your bed, tidy your workspace—small, consistent acts of profit.
Spaces: Leave an Airbnb or hotel room cleaner than when you arrived.
Mindset: There’s wisdom in the advice “never go to bed angry”—it’s an act of daily profit for your marriage.
If you want to be rich, practice profitability in all areas of life—even if there’s maid service in your hotel room, imagine the impact of making someone’s day a little more profitable by your actions.
Profit isn’t something you achieve—it’s something you become. Make it a habit, a way you approach each day. Be so focused on ending each day better than it started that it becomes second nature—it becomes who you are.
Here’s the Magic of Profitability
When you focus on being profitable in all your affairs, the results—like your bank account—take care of themselves. Forget about the money. Here’s the joke most people miss: being rich has nothing to do with the money. It’s when you fixate on money that the poor house comes knocking.
So, stop obsessing over the dollars and start obsessing over flossing your teeth at the end of each day.
How to Make Profitability a Habit
Step #1: Read this article I wrote on habit formation for a solid foundation.
Extra credit → Watch the 3-minute video below for an intro to the Tiny Habits method.
Step #2: Pick three “profiteering” recipes from the list of 10 below and begin doing them today!
Step #3: Add another three recipes to your daily life 30 days from now.
Step #4: Continue adding three new recipes every 30 days. In one year, you’ll be living as an above-average person, creating an above-average life with above-average results.
Now, imagine who you’ll be in five years if you keep building this habit of profitability every 30 days—I bet you can’t even imagine how high you can fly if you work harder on yourself than you do on your job.
10 Popular “Profiteering” Recipes for Tiny Habits
Feel free to revise any recipe below so it fits you better:
After my feet first touch the floor in the morning, I will say, “It’s going to be a great day!”
After I flush the toilet, I will do two pushups.
After I brush my teeth, I will floss one tooth.
After I turn on the shower and wait for the water to get warm, I will stretch one part of my body.
After I push the start button on my coffee maker, I will put a healthy snack (such as almonds or an apple) in my backpack.
After I sit down on the subway, I will push play on my audiobook.
After I turn on my computer, I will close my eyes and take 3 relaxing breaths.
After I sit down to eat, I will take a drink of water.
After I get into my pajamas, I will lay out my workout clothes for the next day.
After my head hits the pillow at night, I will think of one thing for which I’m grateful.
Join The Mob—Your Path to Becoming Exceptional
If this article resonates with you, consider joining my community, The Magicians Of Beauty (or ‘The Mob’). The Mob is dedicated to helping people become not just above-average but exceptional.
Tonight, we’re having our first book study session at 6 PM on Zoom—come try it free for seven days to see if it’s a fit for you.
Join The Mob here for a free 7-day trial
That’s it for today. Go out there and profit!
See you next Thursday or Friday.
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