I Still Believe in the American Dream: You Can Go From Poor to Rich in One Lifetime

I have noticed a significant amount of negativity toward the American Dream recently. Mostly stemming from the cost of homeownership.

However, I believe in the American dream now more than ever. In fact, I am a product of the American dream and currently living my version of “my best” lifestyle. 

Why did the view of the American dream become so sour over the last twenty years? And how can you live your version of the American dream starting from today? I’ll answer these two questions today. Let’s begin.

Series “I” Bonds for You and I

Why is there so much negativity toward the American dream? Imagine a King and queen who wanted a castle; however, they didn’t want anyone else inside the castle but themselves.

The American dream has become one of fierce independence. Most people want to live alone, yet have all of the “things.” That’s the true reason people fail at the American dream.

Let’s look at my family. My parents weren’t homeowners. My sister owns a home in Kansas, my brother rents in New York, and I own five properties in Florida.

Imagine if we all came together and moved to Montana. We built a sprawling complex on one massive property. We would only pay one property bill, one home insurance policy, and one copy of the bills.

How long would it take to become quite wealthy? Six smart people working together, along with five hardworking offspring. If my parents moved in, it would be eight smart people. 

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Of course, this is not what America wants. They want you to be separated and living alone. They get you to pay multiple bills and taxes, along with travel costs to see one another.

The first step to changing your perception of the American dream is to adjust your opinion on being independent. Independence is a curse word in my book.

Instead, we should all aim to be self-sufficient. That means we can take care of our basic needs; however, we still work as a team to accomplish a bigger mission.

As soon as you start working together, it’ll surprise you how fast your fortunes change. If you insist on living alone and being independent—good luck with that.

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Getting your American dream on track. Housing costs are the biggest determinant of becoming wealthy. The lower your mortgage or rent, the faster you accumulate wealth. 

Focus tightly on your cost of living and budget. However, America won’t go down without a fight. They want you to spend money on everything under the sun.

Somehow, they convinced young (and old) people that marriage is about expensive wedding rings, destination weddings, and fancy honeymoons. You don’t need any of that.

The better option is to put everything you have and receive toward a house down payment in an affordable city. Your marriage has a better chance of surviving if you are not encumbered with debt.

Therefore, you’ll need to adjust your version of the American dream early on. I never had to change my view on the American dream because I knew what I wanted since I was nine.

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I just wanted stability. I wanted to live in a home and not move; I wanted to have peace and quiet in my household.

How to go from poor to rich in one lifetime. You need multiple lifetimes to become rich; this is true. However, I have a secret for you—your lifetimes can overlap.

Therefore, you can have multiple lifetimes under the umbrella of your time on Earth. Sounds crazy, right?

A lifetime is just a set of experiences. Most people learn from their mistakes over time. By the time they have wisdom and leverage, they age out and die. So, how do you get multiple chances to live?

The key is reading lots of books. That’s right; a book is a set of SOMEONE else’s experiences. This means you can combine someone else’s lifetime of experiences with your own. You can learn from their mistakes and successes.

Avoiding FOMO at All Costs

Reading is the key to the American dream. If you read enough, you’ll start to see a foundation of things to build upon.

Most people have no clue what to do next. They may hold a high-paying managerial position, but they still struggle to make ends meet.

These people say that the American dream is out of reach. However, what if they started reading in their free time?

What if they read that buying and running a car wash in their free time was their true path to wealth? What if they learned that their next step was to become a consultant in Japan?

Without reading, you are simply going through the motions. You are working hard for money with no end in sight. Of course, in this scenario, the American dream sounds out of reach.

How I went from poor to rich. My story isn’t a fairytale; I worked hard for money. However, my key to financial and relationship success was persistence.

Mother’s Happy Cash Flow Retirement

I joined the United States Marine Corps in 1999 with $10 in my pocket. I didn’t have a bank account or an email address.

I also didn’t have a place to return to if I failed. I laid it all on the line to become a Marine. It was my only viable option.

After 20 years in the Corps, I had a family (wife and two kids) and two homes. However, we were deeply in debt because I was financially illiterate. 

I asked myself how I couldn’t afford to take my family to Applebee’s on my $100,000/year salary. I had to change my perception of the American dream.

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After some soul searching in 2019, we decided to get roommates. The rest is history. That sparked our interest in passive income and our journey toward financial freedom.

In 2023, I retired from the Marine Corps with $8,500 per month in passive income. My wife and I ensured that this amount would be more than enough to live our dream lives.

After two years of retirement, we are even better off than when we retired. We now own five homes and save lots of money each month. We are living the American dream.

Start reading. Between 2019 and 2023, I read over 150 financial books. I have lived 150 lifetimes, so I now possess the wisdom to make bold decisions.

Building an Audience 101

I learned that the American dream is alive and well; however, you won’t get many chances to obtain it. Time is of the essence. The faster you start compounding your wealth and knowledge, the quicker you’ll reach your dreams.

However, America will throw many undesirable things your way while making them sound appealing and fun. These things include drugs, alcohol, debt, and promiscuity. 

Conclusion. Hey, I like to drink occasionally, but I don’t do drugs. I am not here to judge anyone, but take these things for what they are—distractions.

Fundrise vs. USDC

The people who can laser focus on their dreams, remain humble, and take risks will achieve the American dream very quickly (within 15 years).

The number of hard-working, critical-thinking Americans is decreasing every year. That means you can stand out very quickly with above-average qualities.

There has never been a better time to become wealthy; however, you must understand your advantages and leverage them. Everyone has some advantage; they just need to find and exploit it.

I was born in 1981, and I live the American dream. Your age doesn’t play a role in your dream; only your ability to maneuver in a crowded, over-stimulated space. 

Remove the noise, focus on your goals, lower your expectations, and overachieve—and you will reach the American Dream. Good Luck!

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