Okay here we go. I'm going to try and keep this short because this could be a book. There will be more articles that follow that break down the individual points.

Let's get the background out of the way.

I'm 32. I live in Sydney. I'm married, have a puppy and have no investments. It's a good life. And I make about $17.5k per month before taxes - which is around $210k per year.

Next year if I stick to this job (which I'm not going to), I'll be making about $29k per month before taxes - about $340,000 per year.

How?

1. Choose your industry

Pretend that you're starting a business, and you need to pick what you're going to sell. More importantly - WHERE you're going to sell. You want to be where your customers are.

- You wouldn't sell life insurance at schools.

- You wouldn't sell Lamborghinis in slums.

- You wouldn't sell online courses to universities.

Think the same way about your job. It doesn't matter if you have a degree or not. What matters more is - is the industry growing or shrinking?

For the last few years I was working in banking, in a specific area that had massive growth. Before interest rates started going up the mortgages business was booming. Everyone in the industry benefitted.

But last year (2022) when the interest rates started going up - the customers started disappearing. Money was more expensive, so we had less customers. We were fishing in a smaller sea. I decided this was not going to go well and looked for an opportunity that was in a growing industry.

I arrived at a research company. In times of pressure and stress, people want to know what's going on. They need data. Companies need to know what's happening with the economy. The government needs to know too. So data becomes easier to sell.

I found an opportunity and after 4 interviews, got the job. My pay jumped 35%.

Apply basic economics to the industry you choose. The demand in that industry needs to be growing.

It won't matter what level of job you get. If the industry is growing fast - you'll be along for the ride. The opposite is also true.

Want to know which industry is growing? Go to a job search website and look at the total number of jobs available in different industries. For example, SEEK is great. You can see exactly how many jobs there are in each industry and sub-industry. The growing areas will have more jobs on offer.

Simple.

2. Remember: loyalty doesn't pay

After I left banking, I started hearing about cut-backs. They pulled back on spending and recently started letting people go. People I worked with. People who had been there for 10+ years. Some people had never had another job, and now they were out.

My old boss, her boss, and her boss' boss got let go. There weren't enough customers. It's nothing personal, even if it feels like it.

Remember, when you're working for a business - you're an expense as well as an asset. Don't trust them to keep you when you cost them more than you make for them. So apply point 3.

3. There's a formula

If you want to have a job and have a chance at progressing - you need to deliver at least 3x what you get paid. If you get paid $50,000 per year, you need to make the company at least $150k. If you make $100k, you need to make the company at least $300k.

I make over $200k, and I delivered about $800k.

If you're in a growing industry already and you're stuck - think about this a little. Are you delivering enough value?

If you are, ask for a raise and back it up with numbers. If not, go to a competitor and show them the numbers.

Your performance matters. Everyone wants to make more money. Few people are willing to work for it.

4. You NEED to build strong relationships

This is non-negotiable. You can be the best analyst or IT guy in the world but if no one likes you - it's going to be an uphill battle. You'll be facing the wind.

If you have people in your corner, you'll have the wind at your back. It's much more pleasant.

I learned this the hard way. I was sorta fired. Long story short - my team was doing great, but my colleagues and manager hated me. Performance didn't matter on it's own.

If you're not good at this, learn now. Focus on the following:

a. Communication skills - do this course

b. Writing skills - do this course

c. Start saying yes to more things, even if you're introverted. Start showing up. People remember you if you're in front of them. Make an effort and go to the office.

5. Start learning - this is how you go from working full time to having free time

What you're doing now is great. A lot of people don't take advantage of the free information out there. It's great that you are.

Now take it to the next level.

Does your job need sales skills? Pay someone to teach you how to do it better. Read books. Listen to books. Find a way to be great.

If you don't have the money, try this - every time you get paid, put 10% of it in a new account. Label that account 'Learn'. Pretty soon you'll have enough to do a course.

Don't do a degree. Instead learn from people who have actually done what you want to do.

I'll give you an example. My job includes building relationships with big companies. I've never done that before and my boss isn't great at it. So I asked around and one of my friends recommended a coach based in France.

I reached out to the guy and I paid him $500 for an hour of his time. I've spent $3k so far, and he's helped me get over $300k in business. You NEED to pay to learn the shortcuts from people who have done it before.

All my colleagues and clients are double my age. They have more years, but we have the same experience. Because I've learned from people who have done it before, and done it well.

Second - read. If you don't like reading - listen. If you only rely on learning from your own experiences you're falling behind. Don't hold yourself back.

I'll make another detailed post about this - but this year I've spent close to $13k on my learning. Books, courses, and tools. It paid off. And it was fun.

6. You aren't going to like this one - get off social media

I deleted Instagram and Facebook in February 2023 because I realised I couldn't focus. Without meaning to I was pulling out my phone and wasting time scrolling. I felt like a slave.

It took me three weeks to recover after deleting everything - but now I'm superhuman. I'm the guy in the 4pm meeting that's still asking questions and coming up with ideas. I'm the guy who still has the energy to check and double check the email to make sure it sounds right. I'm the guy who broke the push-up record at my local gym (72).

You don't have to add more to your life. You'll find it's more efficient, but harder, to take things away.

I still check Instagram every few weeks on my laptop to reply to messages and see what my 'friends' have been up to. But it's not an addiction anymore.

7. Share your ideas

If you're only 'doing your job', you won't progress. You need to solve problems. The bigger the problem you solve - the more you're valued.

Need more customers? Find a way.

Need to reduce costs? Find a way.

Need to build relationships? Find a way.

Even if you're not successful (and you won't be all the time) - you're showing drive and initiative by suggesting things. I've hired over 50 people and trained another 100+ over the years. I value this trait above all else. You need to be able to solve problems.

Quick ways to boost creativity:

- Keep your desk clean.

- Work in a big space if you can. Book a meeting room just for you. More space somehow improves creativity. I'm sitting at a 15-seat boardroom table in the middle of the city writing this article. I don't have the same creative juices flowing in my bedroom.

- Go for walks WITHOUT your phone.

- Exercise. Walking counts.

8. Finally - forget the 'get rich quick' ideas.

You will never make more than you're worth. And you're worth more when you have the right skills.

You're on a hero's journey that doesn't have a deadline. And it's a lot of fun.

Focus on learning. You can still watch Netflix and spend time with your family. But make sure you learn something everyday. It doesn't take long to compound.

Be in a hurry to learn. Not to make money.

As for me, I'm about to resign next week. Why?

Because I want to write a book. I want to take a year to share what I've learned and what I'm going to be learning. I want to have a book to share with the world.

After that if I need the money, I'll know I'll be able to find a job.

Here’s my sales pitch if you're still reading.

I'll share what I'm learning as I go. If you want to make more money, have a happier life and be in good shape - tag along. It's going to be fun.

I call the newsletter ‘The 2nd Step’ - because that’s where the momentum starts. Join here.

I'll include distilled book notes, recommendations, courses, and as much direction as I can give you. You can give me some direction too.

Anyway, take care. I hope this helped.

Till tomorrow,

Harry

P.S. Christmas is coming - this was my present to you. If you want to give me one, subscribe here.