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Why Rich 20Something Is A Must-Read
First of all, I devoured this book during one of the busiest weeks of my year so far (read about it here). I have not read a book from cover to cover in less than 48 hours since…reading the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series when I was in high school?
I think?
As you can imagine, it’s been a while. And it’s not like this is a short book. It’s detailed and dense (but easy to understand), and full of SO much great content.
Rich 20Something: About The Book
Rich 20Something is Daniel DiPiazza’s chronicle of going from overworked and underpaid to freelancing (and realizing he was kind of getting screwed) to starting not one, but three successful businesses of his own. He left the paycheck to paycheck cycle and lives his life on his own terms, no longer beholden to his 9-5 schedule. It is the goal that all side hustlers aspire to reach. I know I do.
DiPiazza, like other successful entrepreneurs, busts the many myths we’re taught about business, moneymaking, and wealth. He writes about goal-setting and focus and how to really get down and get things done. Work smarter, not harder.
And this isn’t just DiPiazza’s story. Along with his lessons, DiPiazza showcases the stories of other mindset driven entrepreneurs. It’s a pointed reminder that he’s not just talking out of his backside, all wrapped up to make him feel good. He’s not a fluke. His success and the success of the entrepreneurs featured in sections called “Notes From The Field” prove that if they can do it, so can we.
Rich 20Something: It’s SO Relatable
The thing I related to the most in DiPiazza’s book was that breaking point he had. It was the moment where he decided that he was meant for more than an under-the-minimum wage restaurant job he hated. Right there in the introduction, I had that, “Holy crap, this is me.” moment. That’s what really urged me to turn the page.
Now, I am fortunate to not work in the restaurant industry (I don’t have the fortitude or the customer service background—I give so, so many kudos to those who do), but I do relate on the matter of not wanting to be a slave to someone else’s schedule.
And the other thing I relate to is that I don’t want to have to be somewhere that I have to manufacture “busywork” in the name of looking “productive”. More on that in a minute.
With the advent of the Internet, it’s possible to move beyond job opportunities coined as traditional. Or safe. Or anything we’re told in high school. You know, “Get good grades, go to a good college, get a degree and get a nice, safe job to work in for the rest of your life.”
When it comes to earning a living, you can do literally anything you want. Come up with an idea? Then you can and should work to bring that idea to life.
Rich 20Something: Don’t Talk To Me About Paying Your Dues
People my age have always been told they have to pay their dues. We’re told, “Take the shitty job with the low pay, everyone starts at the bottom.” We’re told, “Your boss is an ass? Well, that’s just part of how business works.” We’re told, “Climb the ladder, it’ll be better when you’re at the top.”
Not only that, but Millennials are constantly derided for taking shortcuts. For doing things that aren’t the norm. For buying avocado toast rather than buying a house.
Here’s the thing: you MUST ignore those people.
If there’s one thing that you do, it’s tune them out.
Maybe that worked for them back when you could making a living doing unskilled labor with a high school education, way back when you could support a family of four on the average median salary for people in their 20s (that was the 1970s, and it should come to no surprise that the median salary for a Millennial has stayed the same since then).
So when you’re told that you have to pay your dues, ignore those people and keep hustling. Find an alternative and go off the beaten path. You want to pay your dues? Then pay them by being the badass entrepreneur you are, rather than a slave to someone else’s time clock.
Rich 20Something: Time For Some Hard Truths
If you’re working a 9-5 job right now, you are making what someone else estimates your value is.
And spoiler alert: you are being DRASTICALLY underpaid.
No matter what. No business can afford to pay you what you’re worth, or they’ll never be profitable. And businesses are truly about making the business owners rich, not its employees.
Sounds harsh, but someone’s got to be that truth slinger.
After all, how else do you think the average salary of someone aged 16-34 in 2015 was only $35,592. Yeah, I’m really kind of stuck on that.
And you should be too.
Rich 20Something: More About Busywork
These days, so many people feel like the only way to be productive is to be busy all the time.
That is a lie.
I know that there are days where I sit through mindless nonsense at work and come out of it knowing I have not accomplished a thing. And I have those days with my side hustle too. There are days where it’s difficult to focus and really get to the core of what to do that is best.
How do you avoid being “busy”?
Make a list of all the things you think you have to do for your side hustle. Prioritize it from most to least important. Then cut it in half (at least). Really focus on those things that will make your side hustle the most money. Everything else will work itself out.
And the other key? Focus on ONE thing at a time. It’s something I struggle with too, but trying to do everything at once will not lead you to success. I’ve always said I’ve been a champion multitasker, but for side hustling, you really need to schedule it out and take things one at a time.
Take one of those tasks from your to-do list and focus on that task until it’s done. Then move on to the next. You’ll notice that you’re getting more done, in less time.
Rich 20Something: The Importance of Networking
As I mentioned earlier, there are sections in this book called “Notes From The Field”. These sections are introduced by DiPiazza and written contributions from other entrepreneurs, in their own words. Their stories relate to the overall topic of each chapter, and are the stories of other entrepreneurs and how they make their first steps to success.
How did DiPiazza get these stories? Well, he knows all of these entrepreneurs. He even worked with some of them. The rest?
He networked.
Networking and side hustling go hand in hand. It’s SO important to network, with people in your niche, and even outside of it.
Side hustling, like having a blog, is something you can’t do alone. You HAVE to network. Get to know people in your niche. They’ll become your friends, your mastermind, your webinar partners, your bonuses for your online courses, and so much more. Make friends. Get to know people. LEARN from other people.
Having a successful side hustle is more than just turning your readers into fans and potential customers, it’s about getting to know other people at your level and beyond (especially beyond). You have no idea what kind of audience you can leverage until you’re working with someone who has an audience larger than yours.
Rich 20Something: Required Chapters
Chapter 2: The Game Has Changed—and You Can Make Your Own Rules is one of my favorite chapters in this entire book. As you can tell from the other books I’ve included in Required Reading, not only are they business-based, but they’re also about changing your mindset around money and income earning.
It’s SO important to reframe your mindset, and realize that it’s not impossible to take something in your zone of genius and make a living of it. Your mindset is and always will be key. The second you decide you are going to be successful, then successful you’ll be. When it happens doesn’t matter. Just decide you’re going into everything you do with your side hustle as if it’s successful. The universe will work out the rest.
Another required chapter is Chapter 3: Money Is Easy. Something we are told over and over and over is that making money is difficult. That you have to work and scrape and battle for every single cent. That it’s all about hard work. That is a lie. Money is easy, as long as you have your systems in place. And easy money means establishing an income stream where you can earn money in your sleep (that’s in Chapter 8, consider that required too).
Also, pay close attention to the “Notes From The Field”. The biggest bonus to this book is that we’re not learning from DiPiazza, we’re learning from all these other successful entrepreneurs too. Take advantage!
Rich 20Something: The Next Steps
Have you read Rich 20Something? If you have, leave a comment with your favorite part. If you haven’t, comment and let me convince you it’s worth it!
More From The Required Reading Series
Required Reading: F.U. Money by Dan Lok
Required Reading: The Science Of Getting Rich by Wallace D Wattles
Required Reading: Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki
Required Reading: Winning Her Business by Bridget Brennan
Required Reading: The 5 Second Rule by Mel Robbins
What other books have you read that have expanded your mindset about business? Let me know your favorites in the comments!
How To Start On Your Path To Wealth
The best way to start on the path to wealth is to have a website of your own. A website gives you credibility, and allows you to a much further reach than any Facebook page or Twitter account will ever be able to afford. A website that you own will take you higher than any other platform that changes its algorithms on a whim.
I write about hosting my websites in 6 Reasons I Host My Side Hustle On Siteground, and I also write about starting your side hustle in Start Your Side Hustle In 5 Easy Steps. You can get started with a WordPress website, hosted through Siteground for as low as $3.95/month. Not only that, but you can be up and running in less than 15 minutes. It’s that easy.
Ready to write an awesome blog post that your audience will devour?
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This sounds like a great read. I love reading about success stories.
It’s so motivating! I love it!
Sounds like an excellent book – I added it to my TBR list!
Enjoy it!
Sounds like a great book. Great motiviation!
It really is! I couldn’t put it down!
Excellent advice!! This is something that should be taught in school!! You have a great way of sharing!
I SO wish this was taught in school! Would have been SO helpful to know there is an alternative!
As a fellow millennial also sick of being put down, this seems like a great read!
Yeah…I have a lot of feelings about being derided for being a millennial. NOT cool! It is a great read, I think you’ll enjoy it!
Sounds like a great book. So many times the reason we don’t have what we want is that of the story we tell ourselves. It is so important to read true stories that can change our perspectives.
Exactly! Changing your perspective about your life is the first step!
Does sound like a interesting book
It is! It has a TON of valuable information!
100% adding this book to my reading list – love all these points. Can’t wait to find out more.
It’s such a great book! Enjoy it!
I’m 40, but I think I need to read this! My husband has always been self-employed, so we’ve never been tied to anyone else’s schedule, and that’s been great.
There’s no age limit to this! You should definitely read it. It can totally help your husband with his business and make it grow even more!
This sounds like a terrific read! Adding it to my to read list.
Enjoy! Let me know what you think of it!
It really sounds like this book has some great information in it. Will have to add it to the TBR list for my next trip.
You should! Enjoy and let me know what you think of it when you’ve finished!
Sounds like a book I should add to my reading list. Thanks for sharing!
Happy to! It was a great read. Enjoy!
Truths I have always lived by.
That’s so great!
Sounds like a book I need to read. Networking is very important in blogging and something I am trying to get myself to do more of!
It’s so important! I’m focusing on it too!
This sounds like an interesting book for sure.
Its great!
Hi, Added this book to my must read list. I love reading leadership books. Your blog drew me to this book. Can’t wait to start it. Thanks
That’s so awesome! I hope you enjoy it! Let me know what you think!
Thank you for sharing your expertise.
Of course! So happy to!
Well, I’m definitely not a 20something, but always looking for knowledge! I’ll check it out!
If you’re driven toward entrepreneurship (which you are, since you have a blog), then it’s totally for you too! Success has no age limit!
Sounds like a great read!
It was! I loved it!
I’m so glad a read your book review of Rich 20Something. You’ve convinced me to add it to my to-read list for next year! As entrepreneurs, it’s really motivating to continue to read these type of self-help books. I just finished “You Are a Badass” by Jen Sincero and gained so much from it about mindset, manifesting your dreams and money. Check out my review if your interested: https://caffeineandconquer.com/how-to-be-a-badass/
Yes! I bought both You Are A Badass and You Are A Badass At Making Money, and I am SO excited to feature them in Required Reading. These books are so mind-blowing and have taught me so much in such a short amount of time. I can’t get enough!
I’ve read this book and it is fantastic!
This sounds like a great inspiring book. I will have to put this on my list of to read books. My daughter is a sophomore in high school and she just finished taking a business course and her final was to build a business. Which she did. With start-up prices, everything she needs to start, her business plan. ads were also including and some other things. I thought this was a great class for her to understand a little about business.
The SAD part is that this class is not a requirement. I think it should be.
That’s so awesome! If that business is something you daughter is passionate about, she should totally go for it, even while she’s in school! And yeah, it really is sad that it’s not a requirement. It’s mind boggling the disconnect between what we are taught and what we actually need to know for success in life and business!
This sounds like a great read. I wonder if it’s on Audible. Definitely looks like information I need.
If it is, you should definitely download it!
Wow, I need to get this!
It’s a great read. You really should!
I’m definitely going to have to check this book out.
You should! Enjoy!
Your great insight really shows, thanks for sharing!
Thank you! Happy to share!
This book seriously sounds amazing! I’m definitely adding it to my must read list!
That’s awesome! Enjoy!
This book sounds great! Thanks for the review. I love his mindset…mine is getting there, and I think this may be just what I need.
For sure! It’s definitely worth it!
Sounds like a great book with useful motivation. I’ve put it on my list to read.
Enjoy it and let me know what you think!
Sounds like a great and informative read! The forward to getting it
Enjoy it and let me know what you think!
Sounds like a great read!
It was!