Started out working part time in my brothers pizza restaurant at 15. Watched him blow out several times, no respect for money when he had it and not focused on the current business he was in....learnt what not to do!
At 21 I 'd worked two years and had nothing to show for it. Spent on booze, petrol for the V8, partying, petrol,more partying and....petrol...Ahh the good ol days. Realized I had to change to ever get ahead.
Saved 100K over the next 4 years, got married, bought a house paid off in 2 years. Asked my dad (European background) for advice as to what to do next........son buy another house...ok and then what....I don't know buy another house.....
Spent about $10k over the next few years on investment books, seminars etc
Bought, stripped and fully renovated 3 IP's
Kids came along, worked partime and started to learn how to trade
Took 4 years to develop a trading system that I finally jelled with my view on the markets and jelled with my psych........once you develop your own system, trading it becomes easy...
Currently doing two small property developments......moving towards a strategy of purchasing and subdividing existing homes and land into three, selling off the existing house and one of the new properties and keeping one as long term rental.....repeat.
Great strategy to build instant equity, longterm wealth and passive income.
All trading profits are currently re-invested to build account.
Not a very exciting but is working for me.
However, most importantly I've been able to spend most of my time with my wife and two kids.