INTRODUCING IN THE CHAMPION’S CORNER – WEALTH-BUILDING POWERS PODCAST
WELCOME TO WEALTH BUILDING POWERS PODCAST!
In 2019, I started a financial literacy blog to share my life lessons on building wealth. I’m now transitioning to add a podcast for those who enjoy listening versus reading. The goal here is to help you improve your financial and investment knowledge, make better decisions than I did in my younger days, and, most importantly, acquire financial freedom.
So, what does financial freedom mean? Financial freedom to me means you have enough money to be independent of others for the REST OF YOUR LIFE. Suppose you happen to have a boss like my last one, a very interesting man (The British version of interesting). In that case, you can have the power to wipe that” full of yourself” look off his/her face by walking out the door while singing my favorite song —- TAKE THIS JOB AND SHOVE IT – I AIN’T WORKING FOR A FOOL NO MORE! Ok, I changed a few words!
When I graduated college, I read in the local newspaper the average grad would work for approximately ten companies. I thought that number was ridiculous. I was wrong! I worked for ten companies, including my consulting firm. I sometimes departed for promotion opportunities and others because of closures or layoffs. Fortunately, I was financially prepared for each brief storm and retired by my target age, and the goal here is to help listeners retire even before their target age.
Many of you have faced a financial crisis, and you will experience several more for various circumstances in one’s life. This podcast will help you achieve the wealth necessary to achieve lifetime financial freedom regardless of the unpredictable and surprising conditions life throws our way, like a pandemic!
I write my podcast as if I am advising my daughter, who is now working and thriving.
This podcast will give you financial literacy and Wealth-Building-Powers!
Season One; Episode One – Wealth Building Powers Podcast.
I am your host, Styron Powers, and thank you for tuning in.
As this is my first podcast, let me tell you a little about myself and share a few of my hard-earned lessons about achieving financial freedom.
I was raised in a small southern town about the size of a Walmart Super Store. Ok, maybe it was smaller than a Walmart! My parents, who were both teachers, informed me that I was going to college when I was about two years old. There was no pressure as at the age of two; I had no idea what that meant!
When I graduated high school in 1976, the only black college graduates I knew were all teachers. I knew I never wanted to be a teacher but was clueless about what I wanted to do. So how did I pick a major? I illogically decided what my older brother selected, Biology. Unfortunately – by the way, when a sentence starts with the word, UNFORTUNATELY, the good news is not coming! A bachelor’s degree in biology is useless to build wealth without an M.D. or Ph.D. As you can probably tell by my podcast title, Wealth Building Powers, that was not good news. I decided to go back to college and pick up a degree in Chemical Engineering. Why, because my friends who graduated in that field got three or more good job offers, double what I could get with a degree in Biology. So finally, after my second degree, I am ready to go to work as a newly minted chemical engineer. One problem, oil prices had cratered, and there was a glut of new inexperienced chemical engineers. I end up with a low-paying consulting job paying about what I was offered as a newly graduated Biologist! About one year later, my company loses a significant contract, and I was laid off. If not for bad luck, I would not have had any. Fortunately, I was a saver, thanks to Mom, and always spent less than I earned. You will hear more about this in the coming podcast.
I did not get off to a great start in building my wealth. But I persevered! Now let’s focus on how I achieved my financial freedom. Because I was a chemical engineer, I was recruited to work and live in Italy for a few months to become a manufacturing supervisor. See, this is when things begin looking up. I meet the absolute best boss and best mentor, Wendell Williams. You will hear more on this podcast on the importance of finding great mentors. Wendell introduces me to real estate investments, teaches me how to supervise people, invest in stocks, and a lot more. Equally important, he was a great Dad, which helped prepare me for fatherhood, given my Dad died before I started working. Some of the other topics I will discuss on this podcast: real estate and stock investments.
For my next role, I move to N.J. and worked for Mobil Chemical, now Exxon. I meet some brilliant engineers and scientists and learn about the life-changing value of the 401K plan. Another podcast topic.
Later while working and being a new Dad, I might add, I attended night school and studied business, graduating with an MBA. To continue my education, I later attended and graduated from Harvard with a degree in Advanced Management.
I have predominately worked for Fortune 100 companies, including Exxon and B.P. My education prepared me to become a problem solver, and my career was spent solving problems that impacted the lives and well-being of people. I worked in over 30 countries, loved meeting new people and photographing the world.
I love math, strategy development, finance, and investing. Those strengths facilitated my achieving a successful career and achieving my financial freedom. Financial freedom means having money and assets, so when life knocks you down, you get up. Muhammad Ali said it best. “Champions get knocked down, but they get up.”
Despite what you read and hear, people of every race and sex become wealthy and successful in America. They do so because they work harder than the rest, and they keep getting up!
I am a wealthy black man who grew up in the segregated Jim Crow south. Yes, I have experienced discrimination. Many people have. My lessons learned from a strong family – walk around your obstacles or knock them out of your way but keep moving forward! Discrimination is just another obstacle to solve and defeat.
I am passionate about helping people by sharing my knowledge in financial literacy and empowering people to achieve their financial freedom.
GETTING TO THE HEART OF THE PODCAST – INTRODUCING YOU TO WEALTH BUILDING POWERS INVESTING RULES
Rule #1: SPEND LESS THAN YOU EARN! I was taught this rule from my mom early in life. I watched her always save some money from her paychecks. If you earned Mike Tyson’s career earnings of about $300 Million but spent about $400 million – Houston, YOU have a big problem, especially since that unfriendly Uncle Sam and most States want at least 50% of those millions!
Rule #2: PAY YOURSELF FIRST! The ultimate goal is to set aside at least 20% of what you earn and set in savings. I already know what you are whining – I cannot afford 20 percent! Maybe not on your first job, but you can eventually if you cut unnecessary expenses. We ALL waste some money. If you live in a high-rent area, consider MOVING! If you subscribe to Hulu, Netflix, Apple, HBO Plus, Amazon, etc., do you need enough content to watch new shows more than 24 hours a day? It’s also easier to start with what you can do, and every few months, increase that 9% saving to 11% and grow from there.
Rule #3: ALWAYS; LET ME REPEAT – ALWAYS SIGN UP FOR YOUR 401-K PLAN! On my first day on every job, I signed up for the company 401K plan. Why? Because It is STUPID not to sign up ESPECIALLY if your company is giving you matching dollars. My wife tells me to stop saying stupid, but if it fits, I will not acquit! For you young folks, that is from the OJ Simpson trial.
Rule #4: Time IS YOUR FRIEND – START EARLY! The magical power of compounding. Compounding is like walking down the street and seeing the most attractive person you have ever seen; she or he stops walks to you, and says, I want you, and I’m rich. You should NOT expect good jokes from a nerd. The reason Warren Buffett and other Billionaires are so rich is COMPOUNDING RETURNS! Listen up; we will be talking more about this topic.
Rule #5: REAL ESTATE INVESTING! My favorite Uncle, Nathaniel Boney, owned over 30 rental homes and about 350 areas of land; he taught me it’s a lot of fun to make money while you sleep. Today I own over 11 rental properties that thankfully generate over five digits per month. I will talk more about real estate and how you can get started with this in upcoming blogs.
Rule #6: YOU MUST KEEP LEARNING! My father taught me always to look at your work with a critical eye and learn how to improve. Each year I take hundreds of hours of workshops and read several books to increase my investment and financial literacy. I cannot teach you how to be a Chemical Engineer (which took me four HARD years!) in a few hours of listening to a podcast or SUCCESSFULLY invest in stocks, real estate, bonds, crypto-currencies, ETF’s, etc. in a few podcasts. YOU MUST KEEP LEARNING. Thanks to the internet and apps, it is easier and cheaper today than ever.
Rule #7: YOU NEED ROLE MODELS AND MENTORS! Warren Buffett, Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, and Elon Musk are worth a combined half a TRILLION dollars! Yep, you heard that right. Those four have better credit ratings than the U.S. government! And they all have MENTORS and SMART friends. Be on the lookout for those you believe would be a great mentor, and don’t be afraid to reach out.
Rule #8. Give Back – Then Give More! When my mom (my best friend and best mentor) died, I had to do her taxes. I was surprised this retired schoolteacher gave 23 percent of her income to her church and more to other charities. My mom always told me by giving, you receive more. If you are blessed, help others.
RULE # 9: IT TAKES WORK – FINANCIAL FREEDOM WILL NOT HAPPEN OVERNIGHT! That is unless you win that multi-million-dollar lottery! You must observe, listen, and learn. When you see something is not working – STOP. PUT IN THE WORK, BUILD YOUR COMPETENCY, AND ACHIEVE YOUR FINANCIAL FREEDOM! And practice that song!
Major topics You Will Hear In Coming Weeks and Months
- Financial Literacy
- Investments
- Savings
- Mentors
- Retirement
- Real Estate Investments
- Cryptocurrencies
Wealth-Building-Powers podcast is a financial literacy podcast that cannot provide specific investment recommendations. Investors must know their risk/loss tolerance, portfolio diversification, and long and short-term strategies and targets. Investment in any asset involves risk, including complete loss. Before undertaking any transaction, consult your financial advisors. Your success depends on YOU.
LET’S GET READY TO RUMBLE!
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ABOUT ME
I am a proud nerd (as my beautiful wife and daughter have told me) investment and finance blogger with an N.C. State, Chemical Engineering, University Rutgers, MBA and Harvard University, Advanced Management education.
I left a corporate career because I desired to make a difference as a speaker and writer. I was blessed to be coached and mentored by strong women and men in my family and professional life. It is my time to serve and give back.
DISCLAIMER
I started my first business at ~13 years of age (a small but brilliantly created plant nursery). I am a successful investor in stocks, options, real estate, and happy to share my finance and investment lessons. I am NOT a licensed financial advisor. Please do not construe my suggestions on this blog as recommendations for your situation.As an investor, you must establish your risk/loss tolerance. Investment in any asset involves risk, including complete loss.
Please seek your licensed CPA or fiduciary financial advisors for individual financial advice.
I write this weekly blog to make an impact by reaching an audience and demonstrating the need for financial literacy. I will help you get there.
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