15 Things RICH People Do That The POOR Don't (2025)

Key Concepts

Reading, delayed gratification, leveraging strengths, personal responsibility, financial goals, leverage (time vs. money), asset acquisition, income vs. spending, abundance mindset, long-term vision, curiosity, mentorship, adapting to change, action-oriented, comfort with problems, results-based compensation.

1. Reading Habits of the Rich

• Main Point: Rich people read significantly more than poor people, focusing on self-improvement rather than entertainment.
• Details: CEOs read 50+ books per year, while the average person barely reads one. A 2025 Harvard Business Review study found that 88% of successful CEOs attribute their success to continuous learning through reading.
• Argument: Reading provides access to lifetimes of knowledge and structures success.
• Quote: "Every book you read makes you 1% richer."
• Actionable Insight: Prioritize reading self-help and success stories to gain knowledge and structure.
• Resource: alux.com/100books for a free PDF of impactful books.

2. Sacrificing the Present for Future Gain

• Main Point: Rich people delay gratification, sacrificing short-term comfort for long-term wealth.
• Details: They invest time and effort even without immediate returns, understanding that it takes approximately 7 years to get rich.
• Argument: Delayed gratification and consistent effort lead to future rewards.
• Quote: "Do what others won't, so you can live like others can't."
• Actionable Insight: Invest time and effort into long-term goals, even if the rewards are not immediate.

3. Leveraging Strengths

• Main Point: Rich people focus on their strengths and leverage them for maximum gain, rather than trying to fix weaknesses.
• Details: They identify their natural talents and go "all-in" on them, moving to where those strengths can be monetized.
• Argument: Focusing on strengths provides an unfair advantage and makes work feel like play.
• Actionable Insight: Identify your strengths and focus your efforts on activities that utilize them.
• Example: Instead of tutoring a child in a weak subject, focus on developing their passion for computers.

4. Taking Responsibility for One's Fate

• Main Point: Rich people believe they are responsible for their own success and don't wait for someone else to save them.
• Details: They believe reality is negotiable and that they are meant to be great, achieving success through effort. As of 2025, 79% of millionaires and billionaires are self-made.
• Argument: Self-belief and hard work are essential for achieving wealth.
• Actionable Insight: Take ownership of your life and actively work towards your goals.
• Statistics: The world is minting 4,600 new millionaires every day, with 1,700 in the US. The number of millionaires in the US has doubled since 2020.

5. Setting Financial Goals

• Main Point: Rich people set specific, measurable financial goals and create plans to achieve them.
• Details: They break down large goals into smaller, manageable daily or monthly targets.
• Argument: Clarity and specific goals are essential for achieving wealth.
• Actionable Insight: Write down your financial goals and create a detailed plan to achieve them.
• Study: A Harvard Business School study found that individuals with written goals are 10 times more likely to succeed.
• Resource: alux.com/goals for a goal-setting framework (Goal Mastery), with promo code 2025 for $150 off.

6. Leveraging Time and Money

• Main Point: Rich people use leverage to get more out than they put in, escaping the linear relationship between time and money.
• Details: They focus on building systems and assets that generate income passively.
• Examples: Writing a book, creating media content, or developing software.
• Argument: Leverage allows for exponential growth and wealth accumulation.
• Actionable Insight: Focus on creating assets that generate income passively, rather than trading time for money.

7. Making Money Work for Them

• Main Point: Rich people prioritize acquiring income-generating assets and only spend the money those assets generate.
• Details: They reinvest their earned income into assets and live below their means until their assets provide sufficient income.
• Argument: Reinvesting income into assets is crucial for building wealth.
• Actionable Insight: Reinvest your earnings into assets and live below your means until your assets generate sufficient income.

8. Focusing on Increasing Income

• Main Point: Rich people focus on increasing their income rather than cutting spending.
• Details: They understand that there is no limit to how much income can be increased, while spending can only be cut by 100%.
• Argument: Increasing income is more effective than frugality for building wealth.
• Actionable Insight: Focus on increasing your income by decoupling your earning ability from the unit of time.

9. Thinking in Terms of Abundance

• Main Point: Rich people have an abundance mindset, believing that there is plenty of opportunity for everyone.
• Details: They are not limited by a scarcity mindset and believe that success is not a zero-sum game.
• Argument: An abundance mindset is associated with increased life satisfaction and financial success.
• Actionable Insight: Cultivate an abundance mindset and believe that there is plenty of opportunity for you to succeed.

10. Playing the Long Game

• Main Point: Rich people have a long-term vision and are patient, understanding that success takes time and consistent effort.
• Details: They invest in education and skills early, knowing that the rewards will come later.
• Argument: Patience and a long-term vision are essential for achieving lasting wealth.
• Actionable Insight: Adjust your time frame for success and invest in long-term growth.
• Analogy: Building wealth is like going to the gym; it requires consistent effort over time.
• Resource: Alux app (alux.com/app) for daily coaching and training, with a QR code for a 35% discount.

11. Being Curious About How Things Work

• Main Point: Rich people are curious about how the world works and seek to understand the systems and processes around them.
• Details: They reverse engineer products and services to understand how they are made and sold for profit.
• Argument: Understanding how the world works allows you to become a creator rather than just a consumer.
• Actionable Insight: Develop your curiosity and seek to understand the systems and processes around you.

12. Seeking Mentorship

• Main Point: Rich people seek mentorship from successful individuals to learn from their experiences and avoid mistakes.
• Details: They surround themselves with high performers and adopt a learner's mindset.
• Argument: Mentorship can save time, money, and effort by providing valuable insights and guidance.
• Actionable Insight: Seek out mentors who have achieved the success you desire and learn from their experiences.
• Resources: Books, YouTube podcasts, and the Alux app.

13. Adapting to Change

• Main Point: Rich people understand that the world is constantly changing and embrace new opportunities that arise.
• Details: They are not afraid of change and see it as an opportunity to build wealth.
• Argument: Adapting to change is essential for staying ahead of the curve and capitalizing on new opportunities.
• Actionable Insight: Stay informed about new technologies and trends and be willing to adapt your strategies accordingly.

14. Taking Action

• Main Point: Rich people focus on taking action rather than just thinking or planning.
• Details: They create the things they want to see in the world and are not afraid to change things they don't like.
• Argument: Action is essential for achieving results.
• Quote: "What you are not changing, you are choosing."
• Actionable Insight: Take action on your ideas and be willing to make changes as needed.

15. Being Comfortable with Problems

• Main Point: Rich people are comfortable with big problems and see them as a sign of progress.
• Details: They have developed the ability to deal with stress and complexity over longer periods of time.
• Argument: Overcoming challenges is essential for growth and success.
• Actionable Insight: Embrace challenges and see them as opportunities for growth.

Bonus: Getting Paid on Results

• Main Point: Rich people get paid on results, not on effort or time.
• Details: They tie their compensation to their performance and the value they provide to others.
• Argument: Results-based compensation aligns incentives and rewards high performance.
• Actionable Insight: Structure your compensation so that it is tied to the results you achieve.
• Examples: Hedge fund managers charging a percentage of profits, consultants charging based on the value of the problem they solve.

Synthesis/Conclusion

The video outlines 15 key behaviors and mindsets that differentiate rich people from poor people. These include a focus on continuous learning, delayed gratification, leveraging strengths, taking personal responsibility, setting financial goals, leveraging time and money, acquiring assets, increasing income, cultivating an abundance mindset, playing the long game, being curious, seeking mentorship, adapting to change, taking action, and being comfortable with problems. The video emphasizes the importance of shifting from a consumer to a creator, focusing on results rather than effort, and embracing challenges as opportunities for growth. By adopting these principles, individuals can break the cycle of poverty and build lasting wealth.