Blog

Everything I’ve written

Essays and articles on money, habits, work and building a life you own. Every claim comes with its source.

What Does the Bible Say About Hard Work? Long before anyone wrote about productivity, scripture had a plain view of work. It's worth doing well, and it's worth doing for more than the paycheck. How to Be Present With Your Family When Life Is Busy Being home isn't the same as being present. A few protected times each day, with the phone put away, make a bigger difference than long hours in the same house. Why Friendship Matters More Than You Think Friends feel like a nice extra in a busy life. The research says they're closer to a foundation, for your health, your mood and how long you live. How Much Exercise Do You Actually Need? The official answer is less than most people fear. A few hours of moving each week, plus some strength work, covers the basics. How to Ask for a Raise A raise is easier to get when you ask with evidence, at the right time, and with a clear number in mind. Here's how to prepare. Why Honesty Pays Off Over Time Honesty can cost something in the moment. Over years, it builds the trust that relationships, careers and businesses depend on. How to Find Out Where Your Time Actually Goes Most people guess wrong about how they spend their hours. A one-week time log shows you the truth, and the truth is where change starts. What Does It Really Take to Build Wealth? What does it really take to build wealth? After all the studies, myths, and advice, the honest answer is both simpler and What Is the One-in-Three Finding? The One-in-Three Finding is this. In the largest survey of U.S. millionaires ever run, one in three never earned Why Big Salaries Don't Decide Who Builds Wealth In Thomas Stanley and William Danko's research for The Millionaire Next Door (1996), physicians were among the highest-paid people Do Most Millionaires Come From Modest Homes? In Ramsey Solutions' 2017–2018 survey of more than 10,000 U.S. millionaires, 8 in 10 grew up in households Most Millionaires Started With Ordinary Pay In Ramsey Solutions' 2017–2018 survey of more than 10,000 U.S. millionaires, the five most common careers were engineer, Did Most Millionaires Inherit Their Money? In Ramsey Solutions' 2017–2018 survey of more than 10,000 U.S. millionaires, 79% received no inheritance at all. Only Do You Need a High Income to Become a Millionaire? In Ramsey Solutions' 2017–2018 survey of more than 10,000 U.S. millionaires, only 31% had averaged $100,000 a Are Most Millionaires Self-Made? Across nearly every survey of American millionaires since the 1990s, most of them built their wealth themselves. In the largest one, Ramsey What Is Purpose, and Why Does It Matter? Purpose is the answer to what all your effort is for. Without it, even a successful life can feel strangely empty. How Much Should You Save for Retirement? How much should you save for retirement? It's one of the most important financial questions, and while there's What Does the Bible Say About Money and Wealth? Scripture talks about money far more often than most people expect. It isn't against wealth. It's against letting wealth become the point. Why Family Dinners Matter A shared meal is one of the simplest ways to stay connected as a family. It doesn't need to be fancy, nightly or perfect to matter. Should You Pay Off Debt or Invest First? "Should I pay off debt or invest first?" is one of the most common financial questions, and the answer isn& How Many Close Friends Do You Need? You don't need a crowd. Most of the good that friendship does comes from a small circle of people you can actually count on. Is a Side Venture Worth It? Is a side venture worth it? Side hustles are heavily promoted as a path to extra income and even wealth, but the Does Walking Every Day Really Make a Difference? Walking is the simplest exercise there is, and the research behind it is stronger than most people expect. You also don't need 10,000 steps. How to Get Very Good at Your Job Being very good at your work is built, not born. It comes from practice that stretches you, honest feedback and years of steady effort. Renting vs. Buying: What the Math Really Says "Should I rent or buy?" is one of the biggest financial questions most people face, and the honest answer is How to Make Better Decisions Good decisions rarely come from thinking harder in the moment. They come from deciding in advance, slowing down for the big ones and learning from the results. How to Think in Decades, Not Days One of the most powerful mental shifts you can make with money is to start thinking in decades rather than days. Most Why Remembering Death Can Help You Live Better Thinking about death sounds grim. For thousands of years, people have used it to see clearly what matters and to stop wasting the days they have. Do People With a Sense of Purpose Live Longer? A large study of older Americans found a striking link between purpose and lifespan. Here's what it found, and what it can't tell us. How to Talk to Your Partner About Money Money is one of the leading sources of conflict in relationships, but it doesn't have to be. Learning to talk What Does the Bible Say About Saving for the Future? Scripture has a clear picture of the wise person's house. There's something stored up in it, set aside in good years for the lean ones. How to Track Your Net Worth Tracking your net worth is the single best way to measure your true financial progress. Unlike income or account balances viewed in How to Build Family Traditions That Last The traditions children remember most are often simple and repeated. You don't need a big budget, just consistency and meaning. Do You Really Become Like the People Around You? The old saying has real evidence behind it. Habits, moods and choices travel through friendships, in both directions. How to Set a Money Goal You'll Actually Hit Most money goals fail, not because people don't want to achieve them, but because the goals are set in ways How to Build an Exercise Habit That Lasts Most exercise plans fail in the second month, not the first. A few simple design choices make it far more likely you'll still be going a year from now. What to Do With a Windfall A windfall, an inheritance, a bonus, a legal settlement, a lottery win, or any sudden lump of money, is both an opportunity How to Change Careers Without Starting Over A career change rarely means starting from zero. The skills, relationships and lessons from your current work can carry you further than you think. How Much Free Time Makes People Happiest? More free time feels like the answer to everything. Research suggests there's a sweet spot, and that how you spend it matters as much as how much you have. What to Do With a Raise Getting a raise is a genuine opportunity, but how you handle it largely determines whether it builds your wealth or simply disappears How to Find Your Purpose When You Feel Stuck Purpose rarely arrives as a sudden revelation. It's usually found by paying attention, trying things and serving the people in front of you. How to Start Investing With Almost No Money You don't need a lot of money to start investing. You can begin with almost nothing. One of the most What Does the Bible Say About Debt? Scripture doesn't treat debt as a sin, but it's honest about what debt does to a person. It turns tomorrow's work into today's obligation. How to Keep a Marriage Strong Through the Busy Years Marriages rarely fall apart from one big event. They drift through busy years. A few small, regular habits keep you close while life is full. How to Invest Your First $1,000 Investing your first $1,000 is a milestone, the moment saving turns into wealth-building. The good news is that getting started Is Loneliness Really as Bad as Smoking? You've probably heard that loneliness is as deadly as 15 cigarettes a day. The real finding is serious, but the headline version leaves out important words. The Age Most People Actually Become Millionaires At what age do people actually become millionaires? The popular image, the young tech founder, the twenty-something who struck it rich, Why Strength Training Matters More With Age Muscle is easy to ignore at 30 and hard to rebuild at 70. Strength work is one of the best investments in staying independent later in life. Should You Specialize or Be a Generalist? The debate between depth and breadth has a practical answer for most careers. Build a broad base, then go deep in one area people will pay for. How Much Does Luck Matter in Getting Rich? How much does luck matter in becoming wealthy? It's one of the most important and contentious questions about money, and How to Say No Without Feeling Guilty Every yes spends time you can't get back. Learning to say no kindly protects the things you've already said yes to. Are Self-Made Millionaires Happier Than Heirs? Are self-made millionaires happier than those who inherited their wealth? It's an intriguing question, and while the research isn& Does Helping Others Make You Happier? A well-known experiment gave people money and told some to spend it on others. The givers ended the day happier. What Is Tithing, and Does Giving First Change How You Spend? A tithe means giving the first tenth. The order matters as much as the amount, because what you give first shapes everything you do with the rest. Does Money Buy Happiness? What the Research Says "Money can't buy happiness" is one of the most repeated sayings about wealth, and one of the most What Do Kids Need Most From Their Parents? Kids don't need perfect parents or a perfect childhood. They need love they can count on, steady boundaries and time with you. Does IQ Predict Wealth? Does being smarter make you wealthier? It's a natural assumption. That intelligence, the thing we associate with success, should translate How to Make Friends as an Adult Making friends after school isn't about personality. It's about time, repetition and being the one who invites. How Much Sleep Do Adults Really Need? Sleep is the first thing busy people cut and one of the last they should. Here's what the experts recommend and how to protect it. What the Fidelity 401(k) Millionaire Data Shows Fidelity, one of the largest retirement-account providers in the United States, periodically reports how many of the accounts it manages have How to Build a Reputation at Work A good reputation at work isn't built in a big moment. It's built in hundreds of small ones, mostly by doing what you said you'd do. What the Ramsey Millionaire Study Actually Found The largest study of American millionaires, a survey of more than 10,000 people conducted by Ramsey Solutions, produced some of the How to Plan a Week You'll Actually Follow Most weekly plans fail because they're too full. A good plan starts with what matters most, leaves room for the unexpected and takes 20 minutes. How to Volunteer When You Don't Have Much Time You don't need free weekends to serve. Small, regular commitments fit into busy lives and still make a real difference. Why Most Money Advice Can't Be Checked Most money advice is delivered with total confidence, do this, and you'll get that. But a surprising amount of popular What Does the Bible Say About Choosing Friends? Scripture is direct about friendship. The people you walk with shape who you become, so choosing them is one of the most important choices you make. Does Financial Education Actually Work? Does financial education actually work? It seems obvious that teaching people about money should improve how they handle it. But the research How to Choose Your Friends Carefully Most friendships happen by accident. A few questions can help you choose the ones that shape you most, on purpose. How to Eat Better Without Going on a Diet Strict diets rarely last. Small, steady changes to what's in your kitchen and on your plate tend to stick far longer. What Is Survivorship Bias in Millionaire Research? Survivorship bias is one of the most important, and most overlooked, problems with almost every study of how millionaires became wealthy. It& How to Avoid Burnout Burnout builds slowly, then all at once. Protecting rest, setting limits and catching the early signs keeps hard work from wearing you down. How to Spot a Fake Money Statistic The internet is full of confident money statistics, "X% of millionaires do this," "Y% of wealthy people never do Do You Need a Morning Routine? Morning routines get a lot of hype. You don't need a perfect one. You need a simple start that sets up the day well and fits your real life. What Is Ikigai, and Does the Popular Version Hold Up? The four-circle diagram you've seen online isn't Japanese. The real idea is simpler, gentler and more useful. The Real Story Behind 'Think and Grow Rich' Think and Grow Rich, published in 1937 by Napoleon Hill, is one of the best-selling self-help books of all time. Why a Weekly Day of Rest Is Worth Protecting The Sabbath was given as a gift, not a burden. One day a week to stop working reminds you that your life is more than your output. Is the '70% Lose Wealth by the Second Generation' Stat True? You've probably heard it: "70% of wealthy families lose their wealth by the second generation, and 90% by the How to Keep Friendships Alive When Life Gets Busy Most friendships don't end. They fade. A few small, regular habits keep them alive through the busiest seasons of life. How to Cut Back on Sugar Most added sugar hides in drinks and packaged foods. A few simple swaps cut it down without counting every gram. What the Marshmallow Test Really Proved The marshmallow test is one of the most famous experiments in psychology. In it, young children were offered a choice: one marshmallow How to Spend Less Time on Your Phone Phones are designed to keep you scrolling. Willpower rarely wins against that. Changing your setup does. What to Teach Teenagers About Money Teenagers are at a crucial age for money education, old enough to grasp real financial concepts, and close enough to independence that How to Write a Personal Mission Statement A personal mission statement is a few sentences that tell you what you're about. It helps you say yes to the right things and no to the rest. What Does the Bible Say About Planning Ahead? Scripture praises the planner who counts the cost, and humbles the one who forgets who's really in charge. Good plans hold both. Why Family Wealth Often Disappears It's a well-known and sobering pattern: a large share of family wealth doesn't survive to later generations. How to Step Back From a Friendship That Holds You Back Some friendships pull you away from the life you're trying to build. You can step back with kindness, without drama and without burning bridges. How to Raise Financially Independent Children Raising financially independent children, kids who grow into adults capable of building and managing their own wealth, is one of the greatest Is Sitting All Day Bad for You? Long hours in a chair are linked to worse health. The good news is that regular movement appears to offset much of the risk. Why Retirement Without Purpose Is So Hard Many people plan their retirement money carefully and their retirement days not at all. The second plan matters just as much. The Best Age to Start Teaching Kids About Money The best age to start teaching kids about money is earlier than most people think, as soon as children can count and What Does the Bible Say About Self-Control? Scripture compares a person without self-control to a city with its walls broken down. Self-control isn't about willpower alone. It's about building walls ahead of time. How to Teach Kids About Money Teaching kids about money is one of the most valuable things a parent can do, but most of it doesn't Do Your Friends Affect Your Income? A large study of friendships across America found a striking link between who people know and where they end up. Here's what it means and what it doesn't. How Stress Affects Your Body, and What Helps Short bursts of stress help you meet a challenge. Stress that never switches off wears the body down. Simple daily habits help it recover. What 'The Millionaire Next Door' Got Right The Millionaire Next Door is one of the most influential books ever written about wealth. Published in 1996 by Thomas Stanley and Does Meaningful Work Matter More Than Pay? Pay matters. So does meaning. The best answer isn't choosing one over the other, but finding the meaning in the work you have while building toward better. Why Status Spending Keeps People Poor Status spending, buying things primarily to signal success or impress others, is one of the most reliable ways to stay poor, even What Does the Parable of the Talents Teach About Building a Life? Three servants were given different amounts and the same instruction. The story is about what you do with what you were handed, however small it seems. How to Find a Mentor Most good mentors aren't found by asking a stranger to be your mentor. They grow out of small, specific questions and showing you follow through. How to Recover From a Financial Setback Recovering from a financial setback, a job loss, a failed venture, a major unexpected expense, a bad investment, is one of the

The Selfmade Newsletter

Get the introduction to Selfmade Habits, free.

One idea every Friday on what self-made people do differently.

Free, on Substack. Leave in one click. Privacy & Terms.