This piece is part of my 2016–2026 archive migration. Some original formatting, content, and external links may be missing, changed, or not be optimized.
Your Success Is Dependent On Your Exposure
Exposure
The first step to accumulating wealth is exposing yourself to new places, people, and things. Ignorance is not bliss. Ignorance only leads to a life of fewer opportunities, less enriching experiences, less enriching relationships, less joy, and fewer resources (wealth, health, and money).
Make it a point to expose yourself to a better life through education, reading, continuous learning, changing your surroundings, and changing the people you consistently hang around.
My Father’s Side Gig Set Me Up For Success
Growing up, my father had a side business that serviced many wealthy and educated individuals. I remember every job I went on with my father offered me more exposure to magnificent homes, luxurious decor, unique and grand artwork, and showerheads I had never seen in my life (I even saw the fanciest urinal to date). Yes, the stuff was attractive, but what was even more attractive was how quickly we earned $100+/hour (over a decade ago); working full-time at this rate would equate to close to quarter-million dollars. Earning this kind of money so quickly and fast at such a young age exposed me to higher levels of thinking. On top of this, I always observed how easy it was for our customers to write the check. Looking back, I always ponder how penny-like the amount of money we received was compared to these people’s great wealth. These jobs that my father let me work with him on inspired me to think differently about money. I would never be able to work for meager wages unconsciously and be satisfied. I knew from this point that you attract the amount of money that aligns with your level of thinking.
You don’t have to become obsessed with nice stuff. Still, it’s critical to distinguish between a wealthy lifestyle, a middle-class lifestyle, and a poverty-driven lifestyle.
Entreprenuerial Mindset
Before I even consistently made real money, I somehow always had it. I was looking for jobs I could do around the house, giving out loans to family members — with interest — or running my own business. The two things I always did were save money and live below my means (something genuine wealthy individuals always do).
My mentality didn’t just happen, though; it cultivated itself over time through constant exposure. I was always reading self-help and personal finance books, finding ways to earn money, and thankfully had parents that pushed me to start my own music teaching business and publish my first book. We also read personal finance books at the dinner table like “Rich Dad, Poor Dad.”
Though my father’s regular job did not pay much at the time, his side job did, and this side job was the ultimate catalyst for me to cultivate a wealthy mentality.
Watch Your Words
I have never been one to say, “I can’t afford that.” Even if I couldn’t realistically afford something, I would simply keep my mouth closed and brainstorm how I could afford it or think how I will eventually afford it. I also never allowed myself to feel a purchase because of how extensive the price was, and I believe all of this has helped me get to where I am today.
You must expose yourself to notice the difference between where you are and where you could be. You must expose yourself to notice how you think now and how you should think. You must expose yourself to elevate the way you live to live your most prosperous, enlightened, and joyous life. Exposure is an enlightening experience. The more exposed you are, the greater your goals will be. You can only dream as big as what you are exposed to and know.
When you expose yourself, you create a new self, and you create a new life experience.
This content is for informational purposes only — not professional advice. Consult a qualified professional before making any major decisions.