PT Barnum’s Simple Advice on Building Wealth 🎪

After the Selling Online event, and with Funnel Hacking Live 10 coming up, I’ve decided to jump back into the Secrets of Success community, and the next book for our Book Club is The Art of Money Getting by P.T. Barnum.

I just read the Introduction, and it’s packed with practical advice that still applies today!

I wanted to share a few key insights with you, and I think you’ll find them helpful as we all work toward building a successful business and life.

Let’s dive in!

What I Learned:

Barnum’s message is clear: it’s not hard to make money if you’re willing to work, but the real challenge is keeping it.

He emphasized that many people fail because they don’t know how to manage what they earn...

True wealth comes from understanding how to spend wisely, not just from cutting every little cost.

Some of Barnum’s key points:

Economy is about smart spending: It’s not about being cheap or cutting everything. It’s about knowing where your money goes and avoiding waste.

2. Make sure your income is higher than your expenses: If you need to, wear your old clothes a bit longer or skip a fancy meal. Always aim to save something.

3. Track your spending: Write down every dollar you spend and figure out if it’s a necessity or a luxury. You might be surprised at how much goes to things you don’t really need.

4. Don’t waste money trying to impress others: It’s easy to get caught up in trying to look rich or successful. Barnum reminds us that true success doesn’t come from keeping up appearances.

How You Can Apply This:

The road to financial independence is simple, but not always easy...

Start by being intentional with your spending.

Analyze where your money goes and look for areas where you can cut back without sacrificing comfort or opportunity. This could be as simple as delaying the purchase of a new gadget or skipping an unnecessary upgrade to your wardrobe.

Here’s a practical exercise: Keep a log of all your expenses for a month. Separate them into two columns: "necessities" and "luxuries." At the end of the month, take a hard look at how much you're spending on things you don’t need and start making small changes.

How I’m Putting This Into Practice:

Barnum’s advice has really resonated with me as I look at how I’m building my business...

As I build my business, I’m focusing on investing in things that truly matter...both in my business and in my personal life.

I’m being mindful not to fall into the trap of “shiny object syndrome” or unnecessary spending, but instead, making sure that every dollar spent is a dollar that brings value.

I’d love to hear from you!

What’s one area in your spending you think could use a little more attention?

Drop a comment below and let’s talk about how we can all start managing our money better.

I’ll be diving more into this book and the Secrets of Success, and I plan to continue sharing what I learn in these value posts.

Thanks for reading, and stay tuned for more!

Here are a few more of my post ⏬

How to Design Pages That Actually Convert

The Business Lesson I Learned Training Firefighters

Turning Every Failure into Success

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🔥 [Firefighter to Funnel Builder] The Hero's Journey Framework

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