10 Mental Models to Go from Zero to Millionaire
“The single biggest difference between financial success and financial failure is how you think about money.” - Morgan Housel
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Most people don't stay broke because they're lazy. They stay broke because they've been taught to think about money the wrong way.
I know, because I used to think that way too.
I started pouring concrete in my early 20s with calloused hands and an empty bank account.
No college degree. No family money. No connections. Just a work ethic and a growing frustration with living paycheck to paycheck.
What changed everything wasn't some get-rich-quick scheme. It was completely rewiring how I think about money.
Here are the 10 mental models that helped me shift the way I think about money, build a $25M construction company, and grow a $60M real estate portfolio — without a college degree, rich parents, or Wall Street connections.
1. Money Isn't Evil. It's a Tool.
Old belief: Money is bad and corrupts people.
New model: Money amplifies who you already are.
I grew up with the subtle message that pursuing wealth was somehow selfish or wrong. That belief kept me playing small for years.
But as I surrounded myself with successful people and mentors…I found out that doesn't corrupt good people — it gives them more options to do good things. It doesn't make jerks into jerks — they were already jerks, just with less reach.
"Money is a great servant but a bad master." — Francis Bacon
2. Constraints Create Innovation
Old belief: "I can't afford it" means stop.
New model: Constraints force creative solutions.
When I wanted to buy my first property, I didn't have the 20% down payment banks required. Instead of giving up, I asked a better question: How are other people buying real estate without cash?
That led me to seller financing, joint ventures, and creative deal structures that actually built my portfolio faster than saving for traditional down payments ever could.
"Spending money to show people how much money you have is the fastest way to have less money." — Morgan Housel
3. Not All Debt Is Bad
Old belief: Avoid debt at all costs.
New model: Use strategic debt to acquire appreciating assets.
I used to fear debt like it was a disease. Now I use it as a wealth-building tool.
My first seven-figure real estate deal used minimal personal capital and strategic leverage. That property has risen significantly in value while the loan balance decreased — creating equity that would have taken decades to save.
"If you're going to use leverage, you have to have a deep understanding of how it works." — Ray Dalio
4. Capital Allocation Beats Hoarding Cash
Old belief: Saving money = security.
New model: Idle cash = lost opportunity.
I used to focus on how much I could save. Now I focus on where money should be deployed.
Cash sitting in a savings account is like inventory gathering dust. I constantly look for places to allocate capital: into properties, my businesses, skill development, and opportunities that compound over time.
"Cash combined with courage in a crisis is priceless." — Warren Buffett
5. Equity > Salary
Old belief: Earn more per hour.
New model: Own the thing that pays others per hour.
I used to chase more dollars per hour. Then I realized I'd never get truly wealthy trading time for money. Now I own businesses and real estate that earn while I sleep.
My money works harder than I do.
"If you don't find a way to make money while you sleep, you will work until you die." — Warren Buffett
6. Start Before You're Ready
Old belief: Wait until you know everything.
New model: You learn fastest by doing, not studying.
Your first real estate deal won’t be perfect. You might overpay slightly. You might underestimate repairs. You might have tenant issues.
The point is not perfection; it’s learning to play the game.
Most people wait for perfect information or the perfect moment. Wealthy people move, then adjust course as they go.
"Those who keep learning will keep rising in life." — Charlie Munger
7. Upgrade Your Identity
Old belief: Wealth is for "other people."
New model: The stories you tell yourself shape your financial future.
In my 20s, I saw myself as a blue-collar concrete guy from North Dakota with no degree and limited prospects. It took me years to believe I deserved to be a CEO and investor.
But every small step I took rewrote my identity. Every deal reinforced a new story. You have to believe it's possible for you before you take the actions to become it.
"The first rule is that you must not fool yourself—and you are the easiest person to fool." — Richard Feynman
8. Systems Scale. Hustle Doesn't.
Old belief: Work harder than everyone else.
New model: Build systems that work harder than you ever could.
I nearly burned out trying to do everything myself in my construction business. But everything changed when I built systems and hired a team that could function without me.
My business grew while I focused on high-leverage activities like finding deals and raising capital.
"You don't get rich by doing more. You get rich by owning things that do more."
— Alex Hormozi
9. Playing It Safe Is Risky
Old belief: Stay safe and avoid risk.
New model: In a changing world, comfort zones are danger zones.
Starting a business and investing in real estate felt risky at first. But working for someone else for 40 years with no assets? That felt infinitely riskier.
True security comes from controlling your income sources, not from depending on a single employer.
"The biggest risk is not taking any risk... In a world that's changing really quickly, the only strategy that is guaranteed to fail is not taking risks." — Mark Zuckerberg
10. Compounding Takes Time — Start Now
Old belief: It's too late for me.
New model: The best time to start was yesterday. The second-best time is today.
I see people in their 30s, 40s, and 50s who think they've missed their chance. But most wealth is built through consistent action over time.
Your first deal, your first investment, your first step—do it now, however imperfectly. Then let time do the heavy lifting through compounding.
“The first rule of compounding: Never interrupt it unnecessarily.”
— Charlie Munger
The Takeaway
Your wealth isn't determined by your circumstances. It's determined by how you think about money.
Change your money mindset, and you change your financial reality.
That’s all for today. Drop your questions in the comments!
Marc Kuhn,
CEO at MAK Capital
P.S. If you want to learn how accredited investors build passive wealth with multifamily & luxury storage real estate — check out our projects and reach out here to learn more.
Great article. I could strongly relate to points where you mention that "Wealth is not bad". It's deeply rooted in middle-class upbringing that being wealthy is selfish and bad.