Book Reviews | Apr 01 2025
Research suggests over 40% of our daily actions are driven by unconscious habits running on autopilot without intentional design.
The same applies to wealth-building. A powerful (and sometimes confronting) question to ask yourself is: Where is your financial autopilot taking you? If it’s not where you want to go, it’s time for a habit reset. Here are 11 habits of millionaire investors to help fast-track your success
Habit #1 They Challenge Their Comfort Zones
It feels safe in your comfort zone. The problem? Not much changes. Growth happens at the edges. But that doesn’t mean it has to be scary. Remember, success is a marathon, not a sprint, so focus on consistent, strategic baby steps toward your goals.
Habit #2 They Break the Rules
We have all been conditioned to live by a certain set of rules, rules that tell you what is and is not possible for you and how you should behave. Many of these rules won’t serve you in this next phase of your life and it is time to start breaking free from these constraints. Millionaire investors don’t follow the norm, they redefine it.
Habit #3 They Take Total Responsibility
Take full responsibility for where you are and where you’re going. Success comes with challenges, your response to them is what matters. Millionaire investors own their choices, learn from setbacks, and stay focused on the next move.
Habit #4 They Focus on Their Strengths
Millionaire investors play to their strengths and build teams to cover weaknesses. Aligning your wealth strategy with your strengths creates flow, not struggle. This mindset extends beyond investing, positively impacting every area of life while making it a heck of a lot more fun!
Habit #5 They Have Daily Rituals for Success
Every successful person I know follows a daily routine designed for success. These rituals, whether exercise, meditation, time with loved ones, reading, goal-setting, aren’t random. They’re refined over time or modelled after others. Keep them simple, and watch the ripple effect on your life.
Habit #6 They Model Success
There are two main ways to learn in life: trial and error or modelling success. The first can be costly in time, money, and stress, especially in investing. The smarter way? Study those who’ve succeeded and copy their methods. Learning what works (and what doesn’t) through proven systems saves you headaches and fast-tracks your success.
Habit #7 They are Decision Making Monsters
Successful investing is all about successful decision making. Begin by getting clear on where you are and where you want to go. Now align your actions towards these outcomes and finally continue to level up your knowledge so you become more informed. And when you’re unsure, tap into the experience of those who’ve already achieved success.
Habit #8 Be the CEO of Your Financial Life
Your financial life is a business. Treat it that way. Take the role of the CEO of your financial life and steer your wealth-building business towards your very own financial freedom and a better life.
Try asking yourself, If I was a business, would I invest in myself?
Habit #9 Leverage Like Crazy
Leverage is a master art of wealth building, freeing you from being your own bottleneck. Use these six levers to multiply your impact – Each one accelerates success:
-Strengths Focus on high-value skills.
-Knowledge Learn from experts.
-People Build a team.
-Financial Use strategic leverage.
-Network Unlock deals and opportunities.
-Systems Save time with proven processes.
Habit #10 They Practice Delayed Gratification Daily
Wealth isn’t built overnight, yet many chase quick fixes and get-rich-quick schemes. This short-term thinking costs long-term success. Successful investors play the long game, stay focused, and let patience build wealth.
Habit #11 They Are Master Implementers
Learning is useless without action. The wealthy don’t just plan, they execute. My rule: ‘Learn one, do one.’ Gain a skill, apply it immediately. Avoid the trap of endless learning, real progress comes from doing, not just knowing.
Success in any endeavor in life comes down to habits. It is not the one big move which makes the difference, but the small strategic steps executed consistently over a period of time is where the game is one. Let them stack up and up until they avalanche over into this thing called wealth and success.
Want to know what the most beautiful thing about knowing that wealth is a habit is? It means you can create it too. There is nothing standing in your way. Only you and your willingness to commit to live by a new set of standards.
Todd Polke is an investor, entrepreneur, and international educator in investing and wealth creation. He is the author of Escape the Middle (Wiley $32.95), a personal escape plan to financial freedom.
For over two decades, he has guided thousands of individuals in growing and scaling their wealth to achieve financial independence.
Find out more at https://www.portfoliowealth.com/
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