A friend once looked at me like I had won the lottery.

I had just bought a three-family investment property and put $120,000 down.

She asked me:

"How does anyone save enough money to put 20% down?"

The answer was pretty simple.

I didn't win the lottery.

At some point, I realized that if I wanted something different in the future, I was going to have to sacrifice some things in the present.

For about 10 years, we really didn't take traditional vacations.

We did road trips. We found inexpensive things to do as a family. We watched where our money went.

It wasn't that we didn't want nicer things or bigger vacations.

We were just making choices.

And little by little, those choices created other choices.

Yesterday was Labor Day, and it got me thinking about that story.

Why are we working so hard?

I'm a big believer in hard work. I believe in the hustle. There are seasons where you have to put in the hours, make the calls, take on more business and do what other people aren't willing to do.

But the hustle has to have a purpose.

I see people who have been making good money for years, yet somehow they're still on the hamster wheel.

Another closing. Another commission check. Another good month.

And then they have to do it all over again.

Sometimes the person making $300,000 a year is just as dependent on their next check as the person making $75,000.

They just have a more expensive hamster wheel.

Making money and building wealth are two different skills.

Making money requires hustle.

Keeping it requires discipline.

Growing it requires patience.

And we're fortunate because we can make a lot of money in this business.

Yes, that money can buy you a Mercedes.

There's nothing wrong with that. Enjoy the rewards of your hard work.

But that same money can also fund your retirement.

It can buy an investment property.

It can build reserves.

It can create additional sources of income.

And ultimately...

It can buy you time.

Time to be with your family.

Time to work with the clients you actually want to work with.

Time to say no because you don't desperately need the next commission.

Time to pursue an opportunity that may not pay you immediately.

That's what freedom looks like to me.

And that's why we've worked to bring resources into our office that go beyond helping you get your next closing.

We have resources that can help you start putting money away for retirement, and we continue to bring opportunities to our agents who are interested in investing and building wealth beyond their commission income.

Take advantage of them.

And if you're thinking, I should have started doing this 10 years ago...

It's never too late.

Don't worry about what you should have done with yesterday's money.

Start thinking differently about the next dollar you earn.

Enjoy some of it.

Save some of it.

Invest some of it.

But remember why you're working so hard in the first place.

We can make a lot of money in this business.

Make sure some of it buys you time.

Have a great week,

G.K.