February 5, 2012

Making Money

How to Solve the Trade Deficit – Part V

Money Doesn't Actually Exist

There were a few questions that went beyond the scope of the trade deficit in the question Adam sent me, so I decided to wrap them up here, in a final article. If you want, you can read How to Solve the Trade Deficit Part I, Part II, Part III, and Part IV. You asked, "What starts the initial flow of money in an economy?" As I wrote a few days ago, money doesn't actually exist.  It is an idea - a concept we use as humans to describe an exchange mechanism to trade one thing we have for … [Read more...]

Here Is One of My Secrets to Making Money (Or, How I Once Bribed Women to Code for Me with Diamonds, Rubies, and Chanel)

Diamond and Ruby Bracelet with Bottle of Coco Chanel Mademoiselle Perfume

The Secret: Strike Deals Where Everyone Has Limited Downside and Harness the Super Power of Incentive Some of you have been writing to me privately and asking about the early days when we started out and were trying to build our companies.  I thought it would be useful to share some of the things we did during that time that worked out well ... and maybe I'll even talk about those things that didn't work out so favorably.  I hope you find it useful in your own endeavors. When Aaron and I … [Read more...]

The 5 Levels of Building Wealth

Scrooge McDuck Carl Barks Money Bin

Early in life, I developed a theory that there were five levels of building wealth that most self-made men (and women) go through to reach financial independence.  It was started by my love for Carl Barks Scrooge McDuck comics.  When I started reading the Federal Reserve reports of consumer wealth, empirical studies, and other sources of data, and discovered that 90% of those in the United States who are millionaires made the money on their own - that is, they did not inherit it - I … [Read more...]

Business Should Be Fun … If It’s Not, You’re Doing Something Wrong

Monopoly collectibles in my office

When I talk about the idea of tap dancing to work, in the words of Warren Buffett, I'm not kidding or making a joke.  You should wake up every morning and jump out of bed because you can't wait to spend your time focusing on something that makes every part of you - physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually - satisfied.  This is going to be different for everyone. Building a financial net worth that allows you to live any way you wish and enjoying your life are not mutually … [Read more...]

How to Make Money in Fable 2 – Or, How I Made My Fable 2 Character a Millionaire in a Few Days Without Cheating

Fable 2 Limited Edition Box Set for XBOX 360

It's remarkable that the same concepts that allowed me to be effectively retired by my mid-twenties allows me to frequently become rich in video games. That's the nature of compounding.  It is a law, exactly like gravity. This weekend, Ashly and Ian drove in from Columbus to visit - they are thinking about relocating to this area next March so that she can work with us on the businesses and he can work as a nuclear engineer at a nearby facility.  Right now, she's a risk mitigation analyst … [Read more...]