Hello, my friend!
I confronted Graham Stephan about his opinions on the real estate business and debt.. And trust me, you want to see how it went.
Graham went from starting as a real estate agent at 18 to building a multimillion-dollar portfolio. Today, he’s an entrepreneur, investor, and host of The Iced Coffee Hour.
I sat down with him to break down his 10-step blueprint to unfuck your finances and lay the foundation for your goals.
And I’m giving it to you, for free.
The entire conversation was packed with gold, but here are the 3 biggest takeaways you can implement today:
1. The 3 minute rule
Most of the stress we deal with comes from not taking action. That’s why the very first step in Graham’s blueprint is about moving fast.
He calls it the 3-Minute Rule. If you don’t do something in the next three minutes, you probably won’t do it at all. This applies to everything.
It could be as simple as seeing a dirty glass on the table and deciding to clean it now instead of leaving it for later. Or it could be something bigger, like solving a problem instead of putting it off.
Taking the first step matters.
Sending a message, downloading an app, signing up for something, booking a meeting or an appointment. The sooner you move, the sooner things start changing.
Building the habit of acting immediately changes everything.
2. Good Debt vs Bad Debt
I often see people saying that debt is a tool.
And yeah, it can be. But only if you know what you’re doing.
There’s good debt and bad debt.
Good debt makes you more money than you spend on interest. It is a tool that helps you grow, whether it is by investing in a business or an asset that generates income over time. This is how the wealthy use debt to their advantage.
Bad debt does the opposite. It drains your wealth and keeps you stuck. Instead of making you money, it takes money away from you month after month.
This is the smart way to play the game: Borrow to invest in things that grow your income. Use debt as leverage, not as a way to finance a lifestyle you cannot afford. The difference between financial freedom and financial struggle often comes down to how you use debt.
3. How to diversify
Graham told me he never invests in individual stocks. Only in index funds.
And only in very broad markets.
Honestly, I wish I had heard this 25 years ago.
When I was in my twenties, I put a huge chunk of my money into a big UK company, and the stock tanked. If I had followed this strategy instead, I would have saved myself a lot of stress and a lot of money.
If you want the full blueprint with Graham’s 10 steps to set up the foundation for financial freedom, click the image below:
Quote
The quote of the week sums up everything I believe about human relationships and what truly makes us happy.
“You never lose when you give.”
Everything today feels transactional. It is all about give and take.
But real happiness, real fulfillment, real relationships come from giving without taking.
Giving without expecting anything in return.
Helping your fellow human, simply because that is who we are.
I was told kindness does not pay the bills.
But I have seen it open doors that money never could.
Alright. That’s it for today.
I’m gonna go and get some chicken now!
See you next week.
Dream BIG,
Simon
P.S. I was filming in the streets and honestly thought I was going to get her fired for this.