7 Strategies for Wealth & Happiness

“What are you willing to do today to create financial freedom and happiness tomorrow?”

1. Set Clear Goals To Shape Your Path

Goal setting is like charting a destination on a map – it provides direction and purpose. Without clear goals, you risk wandering aimlessly through life. The author stresses that achieving success begins with defining what you want to accomplish, whether it’s financial security, career advancement, or personal happiness.

Rohn suggests a journaling exercise to identify goals for the next one to ten years. Write down up to 50 aspirations, categorize them by timeframe (one, three, five, or ten years), and pick the top four from each category. This exercise not only organizes your ambitions but also transforms them into tangible targets.

Clarity in your goals brings discipline and drive. For example, the Apollo astronauts fell into depression post-mission because they had no next goal. Applying this principle in your own life ensures you always have a new horizon to strive for.

Examples

• Astronauts create goals post-mission to maintain purpose.
• Writing detailed descriptions of goals helps visualize success.
• Categories like one-year or ten-years prevent short-term or long-term overload.

2. Embrace Self-Led Learning

No one becomes successful by osmosis. Learning – especially self-driven learning – is key. Rohn emphasizes the importance of studying success principles through books, seminars, and life’s daily lessons. With dedication, you can turn yourself into a wealth-building expert, no college degree required.

Reflect on each day to extract valuable lessons. This helps you refine strategies and avoid errors in the future. Additionally, reading autobiographies of successful people or classic books like Think and Grow Rich provides inspiration and practical tools for success.

Surrounding yourself with mentors or successful individuals can amplify your learning. Buying dinner for a wealthy person to gain their wisdom might seem extravagant but offers priceless insights.

Examples

• Reading Think and Grow Rich provides strategies for setting up wealth.
• Reflecting on mistakes at day’s end reveals actionable lessons.
• Inviting successful people for dinner allows insights through conversation.

3. Overcome Self-Imposed Barriers to Grow

Many of us create barriers by excusing bad habits or blaming external factors. Rohn warns that these behaviors limit self-improvement. If you say, “I’m just naturally messy,” you’re accepting what can be changed.

Instead of lobbying for a raise, improve your skills or productivity to make yourself irreplaceable. Though self-development takes effort, it guarantees better returns. Time-wasting habits like procrastination or finger-pointing only delay the process.

Focus on small, actionable improvements. Want to be an early riser? Set your alarm five minutes earlier daily. These gradual adjustments deliver sustainable growth over time.

Examples

• Avoid procrastination by tackling small tasks first.
• Accepting responsibility opens doors to improvement.
• Incremental steps like waking earlier build long-term habits.

4. Shift Your Mindset About Money and Taxes

Many dread taxes, viewing them as a financial burden. Rohn suggests a mindset shift. Taxes support the safety, freedom, and infrastructure we take for granted. Embracing your role as a taxpayer fosters gratitude.

Apply the 70/30 rule to manage income wisely. Spend 70% on needs and wants, reserve 10% for charity, 10% for savings, and 10% for investments. This allocation keeps spending balanced while securing your financial future.

Focus on the positives of spending money, such as reducing debt and stimulating the economy. This optimistic mindset reduces stress and builds financial discipline.

Examples

• Donate 10% to charities to enhance your community's welfare.
• The author shifted his tax frustrations to gratitude with mentor’s advice.
• Viewing purchases as economic contributions makes spending fulfilling.

5. Balance Your Time To Avoid Burnout

Many struggle to juggle life’s demands. Rohn notes that extremes like overworking or idleness lead to imbalance. Balance requires deliberate resource use, proper scheduling, and time for relaxation.

He recommends using tools like project binders for organization. Planning your day in advance ensures time for productivity, family, and recharging. The author observes that CEOs who overcommit often lose motivation due to exhaustion.

By managing your hours intentionally, you can stay organized and efficient without compromise.

Examples

• CEOs often burn out by working excessive office hours.
• A project binder organizes goals for quick reference.
• Scheduling daily "do nothing" time builds long-term stamina.

6. Build Relationships With The Right People

The company you keep matters greatly. Positive influences help align your focus and ambitions, while negative ones can derail you. Rohn advises evaluating your main relationships and deciding which to nurture or distance yourself from.

Disassociating from harmful influences like careless spenders or dishonest friends safeguards your mindset. Limited association works when cutting ties entirely isn’t an option. Conversely, investing in quality associations with disciplined, goal-oriented people will inspire you.

Joining committees or engaging in community activities taps into a network of successful individuals.

Examples

• Limiting interactions with gossipers prevents unnecessary negativity.
• Committees foster relationships with influential circle members.
• Associating with goal-driven peers elevates your standards.

7. Appreciate What You Have Right Now

Happiness isn’t determined by money. Rohn believes that if you lack satisfaction with what you already have, wealth won’t fix that. Build a rich life by developing habits that bring fulfillment now.

Embrace a “two-quarter mentality,” which means leaning toward generosity. For instance, tipping extra shows a prosperous mindset. Fulfillment stems from acts like surprising loved ones with thoughtful gifts, which bring joy to both giver and receiver.

Generous actions cultivate a sense of abundance that remains stable regardless of financial ups and downs.

Examples

• A father’s generosity in surprising daughters with concert tickets brought shared delight.
• Tipping two quarters versus one leaves a lasting feeling of abundance.
• Practicing generosity daily strengthens a rich outlook.

8. Allocate Wealth To Build Lasting Assets

Rohn emphasizes the need for spending discipline and strategic investments. By saving 10% of earnings and channeling another 10% into wealth-building opportunities, you compound financial benefits over time.

Investing doesn’t need to conform to traditional molds. Finding creative ways, such as monetizing hobbies or creating passive income streams, can also create long-term financial stability.

When you have a clear approach for handling your income, the money you spend or save works toward your vision.

Examples

• Building passive income from hobbies can replace traditional savings plans.
• Saving 10% of income ensures consistent long-term financial growth.
• Property investments add tangible value over decades.

9. Plan Ahead For Effective Results

The author underscores preparation as the foundation for achieving life’s goals. Without a plan, you risk inefficiency and lost opportunities. Structuring your week in advance frees mental space and ensures focus on priority areas.

Use a graph-paper game plan to organize tasks and deadlines. Break goals into smaller pieces, mapping each over specific days. A clear timeline motivates and steers you to success.

Following through on your plan simplifies achieving both short-term and long-term goals.

Examples

• Dividing tasks into achievable time blocks avoids overwhelm.
• Plotting deadlines visually encourages accountability.
• Game plans keep larger ambitions attainable step-by-step.

Takeaways

1. Start a journaling habit to clarify your personal, career, and financial goals.
2. Practice a generous mindset daily by giving more value than expected.
3. Use Rohn’s 70/30 rule to approach savings, charity, and investment with precision.