The Power of Perspective and its Impact on your Wealth
Let’s talk about learning and understanding perspective.
Every time I’m interviewed about how my wife and I became first-generation millionaires, I’m at a loss for words and why. We aren’t super talented, or “exceptionally smart.” Neither of us has a unique skill set, if you don’t count my wife’s streak of hyper-competitiveness with games. Though we lack, what we do have is Perspective, in abundance.
Britannica defines “Perspective” as a way of thinking about and understanding. It could be a particular issue, but for me, it’s more about the angle at which you see life. You can take identical twins, place them in a room filled with 10 people, and you would find radical departures in descriptions.
There is truth in the saying, “No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it’s not the same river and he’s not the same man.” (Heraclitus). The river changes and you ultimately change. If my wife and I have any superpowers, it’s the one of perspective and the ability to change in real time.
For example, when I realized that even someone making $40,000 per year can earn over $1 million in their lifetime; I figured why not. Then I thought, why not me? When confronted with the same conclusion, others told themselves it was impossible. Or worst yet, “They got lucky.” In the end, they aren’t anywhere near being millionaires. Instead, they are mired in consumer debt and interest charges, all because they lack Perspective.
Most of us struggle with the same issue day to day, here’s how you reteach yourself how to think, react, and absorb life’s lessons quickly so you revert to being happy.
Table of Contents
STEP 1: INVESTIGATE 🔍
To truly understand someone’s point of view, we need to turn into detectives. Tap into your inquisitive nature and consider what’s possible again. Most dreams die at the thought that it has never been done. Worst yet, other dreams die because it’s beyond what people have grown accustomed to.
Grab your magnifying glass and engage. Investigate the problem and the solutions. Try to plan it out from hypothesis, background, experiences, and even your beliefs. Become a detective. Instead of solving crimes, solve the bigger mysteries of life itself. 🕵️♀️💡
STEP 2: EMPATHIZE WITH OTHERS 🎭
Most of life’s problems can be solved by listening to others. I love podcasts like “The Millionaire Unveiled” or “Marriage, Kids, and Money” because they engage with real people. Turns out, real people are flawed and that’s OK. You are flawed too. Allowing yourself to be immersed in someone’s lived experience can add decades to your life.
Avoid getting caught up with doom scrolling on social media, and jump toward the chance to listen to others. 🏆🎉
STEP 3: A MIND THAT DOESN’T LEARN TO BEND, BREAKS 💥
I’ve met a lot of rigid people. They have their own way of doing things or even how their day or life would play out. I remember one young lady in college. She seemingly had it all. After pursuing Law, she ended up in Miami and soon Baker Acted herself. She was young, beautiful, smart but deeply troubled. Unfortunately, she wasn’t able to bend toward her path. She saw herself as affluent, married, and with kids by 30. It didn’t work out. I haven’t seen her since.
Understanding diverse viewpoints can feel like doing yoga for the brain. Stretch your mind’s flexibility by embracing thoughts that challenge you. Allow the moment to mold you. When times are tough, know that it won’t last forever. And If they do last longer than we think, know that you are growing stronger through it. Become “Anti-fragile.”
Developed by professor Nassim Nicholas Taleb, Anti-fragility means that you don’t merely withstand a shock (challenge) but you improve because of it. 🌞
STEP 4: DIVERSIFY YOUR ENVIRONMENT, YOUR FRIENDS AND EVEN YOUR ENGAGEMENT WITH FAMILY 🍩
My life started to improve once I grasped the concept of “the Other.” My mom couldn’t afford me. At 11 months, she sent me to Haiti. Though I was surrounded by people who looked like me, there was always a lingering thought that I didn’t belong here. My name sounded foreign and somehow my very destiny betrayed me. I didn’t belong there. And that’s ok. I would later move back to the US which continued that sensation. My tenure in the Marines didn’t help, however, it solidified that I was different. This allowed me to meet others, observe, and learn along the way.
My initial group of family and friends was limited. I expanded this through books, podcasts, YouTube, and more. Each viewpoint added new layers to my personality. Through them, I was forced to evolve my personality. I grew less fearful of the future. Because we diversified our environment, my wife and I are learning how to live freely, travel more, and explore new paths. As we do so, we like to think that it motivates others to do the same.
Embrace the diversity of opinions broadens your life and expands your borders.
STEP 5: BECOME KNOWLEDGEABLE. DON’T STOP LEARNING 📚
Every time I have a question, I stop and research. Too often we are confronted with questions, thoughts, or ideas that we don’t follow through. We are currently dog-sitting for a friend. They have a white Maltese and he gets pretty dirty. To clean him, I ventured back to Google and Youtuber University for pointers and tips. I do this for everything. Stop letting your questions go unanswered.
The moment that knowledge became portable (ie cell phones), not knowing became obsolete. If you don’t know, Find out. Grow your perspective through knowledge. 📚
Dive into books, articles, reports, and TED Talks. Explore different perspectives to either refine your weaknesses or improve on your strengths. Become a knowledge seeker again. The same as a kid who is three years old and asks too many questions. It’s both self-fulfilling and financially enriching to know. 🤓💡
BONUS: LEARN TO SMILE AGAIN 💡 WEALTH = GRATITUDE, AND GRATITUDE = WEALTH
What good does it serve to be wealthy and chronically unhappy?
When all else fails, unleash the secret weapon: the power of a genuine smile! A smile can disarm even the most stubborn opinions, your most aggressive foe, and even the darkness itself. Be bold enough to stand in front of your destiny and smile at the opportunity to live again.
So there you have it. And entire conversation about perspectives and understanding others’ points of view. The world is big enough and curious enough for all of us. Besides, the world benefits from you being the very best version of yourself. 🌎💬
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