Page 98 - Grasp English C1+ (Student Book)

7 Finance

If your answer is, “Me!” then read on, as this text is all about how to make your first million.

What skills can you market?
You need to build your assets. Identify what your strengths are and exactly where your revenue is going
to come from. Are you good at creative writing? Perhaps becoming a novelist is your sure-fire way to
make it big. Or, in the modern age, becoming a genre-specific blogger with thousands of subscribers
is bound to get you noticed by people with money. Whatever it is, work at developing a skill so you can
start to earn money from it. And the more finely-honed skills you have, the better; a 2015 study found
that 65% of self-made millionaires had income from three different avenues.

Be prepared to work hard
If you can up your earnings by taking on a second job, you’ll be in a much better financial position.
That said, you need to be careful to avoid burnout, and you need to ensure you’re doing both jobs
well. In fact, working hard is a good way to get yourself noticed by your employer, which can lead to
promotions and pay raises, so make sure you’re always giving 110%.

Be frugal
Although some people do get rich with the motto, “You have to speculate to accumulate”, a guaranteed
way to make money is to make monthly deposits to a high-interest account. And don’t make any
withdrawals – set yourself a budget at the start of the month and survive on what you’ve got. And never
squander your money on extravagant trinkets to show off your hard-earned cash. Though speeding
around in a flashy sports car would show you’re on the up, remember short-term sacrifices pay off in
the long run.

The best things come to those who wait
You’re not going to wake up tomorrow with six zeroes after your name – unfortunately, it’s a waiting
game. And, whilst you’re waiting, see if you can make some new friends who are rich! Business insiders
say that exposure to successful, wealthy people encourages you to expand your own financial horizons.

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