We need to teach that owning your time is the path to wealth

This was something a mentor told me, but then described with a lot more nuance around what that means.

That money is something you can save or borrow, but time is a much harder thing to borrow or save. That when you are young time feels endless and money cramps you up. Instead of chasing money as a goal from that perspective, to chase the ownership of your time which you are going to exchange for money right now.

Not to retire and then chase your passion, but to exercise your passions when you have "young time" instead.

Sure, this advice has only been relevant to me after I got past all my debt.

After that point, you can turn money into time in interesting ways - you can hire a cook, you can live closer to work for more rent, have a babysitter for sunday morning.

But that the purpose of work is not to make money, but to spend your other time well.

Try this. Next time someone asks you to do something you don’t want to do, respond with “How am I supposed to do that?” It flips it on them and makes them solve the problem they created.

Credit Chris Voss for this. He helped me realize no is fine, and a great way to fulfill a defensive time position. Time is money, but time is also life, so don’t let others steal it from you.

Another reason why "Rich Dad, Poor Dad" or similar titles are best sellers. Because people don't fundamentally grasp the concept of ownership of assets and the leverage that gives you.

But if you do X and win Y money, there's a difference between doing 365 * X in a year and win 365 * Y money and do X in a year and win Y money, so time IS money.