Wealth Mentality

Self-made millionaire Steve Siebold spent 26 years interviewing some of the wealthiest people in the world. He found that the secret to getting rich "is not in the mechanics of money, but in the level of thinking that generates it."

In addition to having larger bank account balances than most, rich people have different beliefs, philosophies and strategies.

1. Rich people believe being wealthy is a right …

while the average person believes being wealthy is a privilege.

World-class thinkers know in a capitalist country they have the right to be rich if they're willing to create massive value for others.

The masses think getting rich is reserved for a lucky few. "This distinction in thinking leads the middle class to the lottery and the world class to work," he says. "The wealthy believe if they make life better or easier for others, it's their right to be rich."

2. Rich people believe starting a business is the fastest way to make money …

while the average person believes starting a business is risky.

"The truth is, having a job is no safer than owning a business," Siebold argues. "As counterintuitive as this may seem, people who work for themselves have the power to proactively seek out business and increase revenues at will."

Of course, there are risks involved in starting a business, but wealthy people "know the greatest risk is not betting on themselves," Siebold says.

"While rich people launch businesses and profit from them, average people settle for the steady paycheck and therefore miss out on the chance to generate a fortune", he says.

The masses almost guarantee themselves a life of financial mediocrity by staying in a job with a modest salary and yearly pay raises.

3. Rich people believe the wealthy are more savvy …

while the average person believes the wealthy are smarter.

"If the key to building wealth was excellent grades in school, every summa cum laude college graduate would be rich," Siebold argues. "Amassing money has more to do with street smart savvy than your ability to memorize information and excel on exams."

The masses are convinced that master's degrees and doctorates are the way to wealth, mostly because they are trapped in the linear line of thought that holds them back from higher levels of consciousness...The wealthy aren't interested in the means, only the end

How do you become more savvy? Get inside the heads of people who are already rich, and find out what they think and believe about money.

4. Rich people believe building wealth takes a team …

while the average person believes building wealth is an individual effort.

"The world class knows it takes a team to build wealth, and they focus much of their effort on finding the right people to leverage their actions and ideas," writes Siebold. "The greatest fortunes are built through the collective mental and physical contributions of a world-class team."

Who you surround yourself with has more of an effect on your net worth than you may think.

5. Rich people believe money is earned through thinking …

while the average person believes money is earned through time and labor.

The middle class think about money in linear terms, Siebold explains, and "believe the only way to earn more money is to work more hours."

The wealthy know big money requires thinking about it in non-linear terms. The rich know that creative thinking is the highest paid skill in the world. … Training your mind to find solutions to difficult problems is the real secret to making money.

6. Rich people believe POVERTY is the root of all evil ...

while the average person thinks MONEY is the root of all evil.

The average person has been brainwashed to believe rich people are lucky or dishonest.

That's why there's a certain shame that comes along with "getting rich" in lower-income communities.

The world class knows that while having money doesn't guarantee happiness, it does make your life easier and more enjoyable.

7. Rich people dream of the future ...

while the Average person longs for the good old days.

Self-made millionaires get rich because they're willing to bet on themselves and project their dreams, goals and ideas into an unknown future.

People who believe their best days are behind them rarely get rich, and often struggle with unhappiness and depression.

8. Rich people believe you have to BE something to get rich ...

while the average person believes you have to DO something to get rich.

While the masses are fixated on the doing and the immediate results of their actions, the great ones are learning and growing from every experience, whether it's a success or a failure, knowing their true reward is becoming a human success machine that eventually produces outstanding results.

That's why we see some rich people go from millionaire to billions of dollars in debt and come back richer than ever.

9. Rich people teach their kids to get rich ...

while the average person teaches his children how to survive.

If children understand wealth early on, they'll be more likely to strive for it later in life.

10. Rich people find peace of mind in wealth ...

while the average person lets money stress him out.

The reason wealthy people earn more wealth is that they're not afraid to admit that money can solve most problems, Siebold says.

The middle class sees money as a never-ending necessary evil that must be endured as part of life. The world class sees money as the great liberator, and with enough of it, they are able to purchase financial peace of mind.

11. Rich people would rather be educated than entertained ...

while the average person would rather be entertained than educated.

The rich appreciate the power of learning long after college is over.

"Walk into a wealthy person's home and one of the first things you'll see is an extensive library of books they've used to educate themselves on how to become more successful," he writes.

"The middle class reads novels, tabloids and entertainment magazines."

12. Rich people focus on earning ...

while the average person focuses on saving.

The wealthy focus on what they'll gain by taking risks, rather than how to save what they have.

"The masses are so focused on clipping coupons and living frugally they miss major opportunities," he writes.

Even in the midst of a cash flow crisis, the rich reject the nickle and dime thinking of the masses. They are the masters of focusing their mental energy where it belongs: on the big money.

13. Rich people find comfort in uncertainty ...

while the average person loves to be comfortable.

For the most part, it takes guts to take the risks necessary to make it as a millionaire--a challenge most middle class thinkers aren't comfortable living with.

Physical, psychological, and emotional comfort is the primary goal of the middle class mindset.

"World class thinkers learn early on that becoming a millionaire isn't easy and the need for comfort can be devastating. They learn to be comfortable while operating in a state of ongoing uncertainty", Siebold writes.