Much like a soldier trains and prepares for battle, I have been training and preparing for my journey and accumulation of wealth. I can state, unequivocally, that had I come into great wealth a few years prior I would not be prepared to manage the psychological aspects of wealth. For I am just beginning to scratch the surface of the mental impacts of wealth accumulation.

Surprisingly, there are many things about accumulating wealth that are counterintuitive. Initially, I thought that I needed to watch ever dollar to accumulate more. Now, I spend less time watching money and there is more of it. I respect it and appreciate it but I do not chase money, I have tried to create scenarios where money actually chases me.

One thought that I did not expect relates to the feeling of being worthy of such amazing blessings. As my business interests have grown I feel that I am physically doing less but creating more. Most people would say this is great but I believe myself to be a man of action and I have to wrap my mind around mental action versus physical action. I invest a great deal of time thinking, planning, and strategizing. It is impossible to calculate the amount of time invested in mental analysis of my business interest. I estimate it to be at least 80% of waking hours. It is impossible to quantify this in terms of dollars generated but I do estimate the results from this mental analysis to be significant.

When my business interests were smaller I could quantify and say that I generated a certain amount of money. Now, the revenues generated are a combined effort of multiple people. Having invested
time and money and assumed all risks I am faced with the greatest reward. I have to remind myself that I made an investment and the dividends and results are a natural thing. Yet I do not wish to
become someone who does not appreciate the value of a dollar (nor do I think I could). I refuse to lose touch with reality like many hollywood types do. I intend to remain frugal yet enjoy the fruit of
my labors, within reason. I do have concerns about teaching these lessons to my children.

I had always dreamed of wealth and success as a boy but I fear that had I come into it too soon I would not have kept it.

Now, as my 32nd birthday looms ahead, I think about what changes as my family accumulates more money. The reality is that what changes is we have more money. It does not define who we are or our values. I must remain vigilant and remember that I have the ability to shape my world and the wealth I accumulate, not the other way around.