How People Become Wealthy — Part 3/3

Becoming wealthy—or truly healthy—isn’t about being the toughest person in the room. It’s about knowledge, consistency, and the willingness to learn from people who’ve already walked the path.

What’s interesting is that once you do reach a level of wealth, it actually gets easier to create more of it. Not because money magically attracts money, but because education, experience, and the right mentorship compound just as powerfully as interest.

When I was a stockbroker, my wealthiest clients called me far less than the ones still trying to build wealth. Not because they didn’t care, but because we had built a plan together—one they understood deeply and fully believed in. And they stuck to it. Meanwhile, the average stock market participant holds a stock for less than six months and walks away with a 3% return. That’s a brutal statistic. A recipe for disappointment. Everyone knows that returns come from disciplined risk management and long-term holding periods… but without guidance, most people fall into the same cycle of fear, impatience, and reacting instead of planning.

The same pattern shows up in fitness—and even in self-storage development.I get so much more out of going to the gym with trainers and my family. A family that invests together—whether in health or business—tends to win together. Working with a trainer didn’t just save me time; it saved me years of trial-and-error. The community, the accountability, and the expertise pushed me to the next level in ways I couldn’t have done alone.

And I’d be willing to bet (without even checking with ChatGPT yet), that stock investors who work with a broker outperform those who try to trade solo. Look it up and let me know what you find—my money’s on human guidance beating “winging it” every time.

Now, let’s talk self-storage.

Trying to build a facility on your own as a beginner is… let’s just say “ambitious.” There are land issues, zoning issues, construction surprises, financing hurdles, management choices, and about 200 other landmines waiting for a first-timer. That’s why I always recommend assembling a strong development team and management team before falling in love with a piece of land.

If you want the higher upside that comes with leading the team—without having to reinvent the wheel—you should take a look at StorageAuthorityFranchise.com. Leadership requires investing your time, yes, but you don’t have to carve the path alone. A franchise gives you a proven blueprint so you can focus on execution and growth.

At the end of the day, whether we’re talking wealth, wellness, or business, extremes create fragility. Over-concentration—financially or physically—can work for a season, but it rarely endures. Balance does. The diversified investor and the cross-training athlete share the same long-term advantage: sustainable strength.

The goal isn’t simply to get rich or get fit. It’s to keep building on what you’ve earned, and to reach a point where your success allows you to lift up people who weren’t given the same starting line.

That—in my book—is real wealth.

Lee Goodin

P.S. Just my thoughts. Please do not base your financial decisions on an article or 2 or even a hundred.  Always consult your financial team.

P.P.S. If you want to learn more about self-storage, send me an email, lee@storageauthority.com. Let me know how long you have been considering/studying self-storage and where you live so I can be better prepared to guide you.  Are you looking for reading material, or would you like to get off to a faster start with a 10-minute call?