From Effort to Ownership

I grew up in a family that didn’t own a lot of things.

We lived a decent life and I have wonderful memories of my childhood—but it was never about getting toys whenever I wanted or buying things just because.

My parents, hardworking middle-class employees, always emphasized the value of effort. “Put in the work, and life will take care of you.” That belief became the foundation of how I approached everything in my early years.

For a long time, I thought effort was the whole game. And to be fair, effort matters—it puts food on the table, pays the bills, and gives you stability. But what I failed to realize, at least until the age of 35, was that effort alone doesn’t take you all the way.

The missing piece was ownership.

Assets.

Leverage.

Because while hard work ensures today’s meal, ownership ensures tomorrow’s without you having to clock in for it. Ownership is what allows growth to compound instead of staying flat.

Looking back, I see why my progress felt linear. I was over-indexed on effort, blind to the idea that building or owning something is what creates freedom.

Now, I understand: hard work is the foundation, but ownership is the multiplier.