Quick question:
The underlying theme from the last couple of newsletters is that real wealth is built slowly, on top of deep knowledge, over a span of years.
When I broke down who’s really rich in America, the millionaires were overwhelmingly middle-aged, people who likely had spent years becoming genuinely good at one thing before the money showed up. And on the podcast, private banker Franklin Asante put it plainly: don’t worry about being rich in your 20s. Those years are for learning. Your 30s are for putting that knowledge to practical use, and your 40s are for leverage.
So here’s the takeaway we’re holding from this month: your earning season follows your building of expertise, or in other words, money flows downstream of mastery.
Therefore if you don’t feel like you’re in your peak earning season yet, it might be signal to continue to go deeper. In most fields, becoming genuinely excellent at the right thing is what you leverage into high income or a real business. The skill is the leading indicator; money is the lagging one.
he hard part is the stretch in between, the years where it feels like nothing is moving and income hasn’t fully caught up to the work or expertise. That’s exactly when people abandon the thing that was about to pay them. Don’t. You either keep going deeper, getting better, and trust the timing gap, or you assess the vehicle. Money doesn’t always follow expertise if it’s being applied to the wrong one. Practically, that might look like being a contractor instead of permanent staff, taking your knowledge and building a business, or moving to an environment where your skills are valued more highly. Master the skill, position it well, and let the money catch up.
The podcast will be taking a 2 week break for the summer so today im reflecting on a previous conversation that will help anyone looking for ideas for a side hustle or business. It’s from my conversation with Elfred Samba, former Head of Social at Gymshark, the brand he helped build during its rise to a $1.4 billion valuation.
I asked him how he would get rich today and he said he would start a business in an unsexy industry: something like zippers or toilet paper. A product everyone uses every single day but nobody particularly cares which brand delivers it, because the companies in those spaces have never had to compete on anything except being there first. Everybody wants to sell clothes, but nobody wants to sell zippers. And yet every hoodie has one. The zipper company is never going out of business. It is an incumbent by default, and because nobody with real ambition wants to run it, there is almost no competition for anyone who shows up with genuine skill and genuine brand-thinking.
That, Elfred argues, is exactly the opportunity. Take a business like that and bring it real marketing, the kind of brand-building that makes people feel something, and you are not just competing in that space. You are changing the rules of it entirely.
It was a strategy I hadn't really heard before, so I think it's worth highlighting. He also shared how exactly to build the kind of brand that revolutionises an industry, like Gymshark did.
In this week’s episode we also tackled another wealth woe:
“I run a six-figure personal brand business. Brands pay me well, but everything depends on me showing up. I’ve been offered £800k to sell 70% of the business, but I’d still be required to stay on as the face. Is this a real exit or just golden handcuffs?”If the answer would help you in any way definitely check out the full episode linked below.
If you want to speak to a professional about your financial situation, you can book a free consultation with our team and we’ll match you with the right specialist. Whether it’s your investment portfolio, pension consolidation, or long term financial planning, it’s worth getting a proper review. Book Here.
Now might be the perfect time especially if you want higher leverage payment plans. Book Here.
This newsletter may contain affiliate links or sponsored content. If you choose to use them, I may receive a commission. Nothing shared should be taken as financial advice — always do your own research.
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