Dominos falling to show the path of taking action

Foundational Principles of Wealth: Taking Action

January 03, 20255 min read

Taking Action: Transforming Knowledge into Generational Wealth

When it comes to building wealth, knowledge is undoubtedly a powerful tool. However, knowledge alone is not enough to create the substantial, generational wealth you’re aiming for. The real transformation happens when you take deliberate, consistent action. This is the pivotal moment where your plans transition from ideas to reality.

As part of The Vertex of Wealth program, you’ve gained insights into the principles, strategies, and frameworks that the ultra-wealthy use to amass and sustain their wealth. Now it’s time to take the next step: putting those lessons into action. Let’s explore how you can break down barriers, build momentum, and set yourself on the path to financial freedom.


Overcoming Barriers to Action

Many people struggle to take the first step toward their financial goals. Common barriers include:

  • Fear of Failure: The idea of making mistakes can be paralyzing.

  • Analysis Paralysis: Overanalyzing options without making decisions.

  • Lack of Time: Balancing responsibilities can make wealth-building feel like an impossible task.

To overcome these obstacles, consider the following strategies:

  • Reframe Failure: Instead of fearing mistakes, view them as opportunities to learn and grow. Even the wealthiest individuals have faced setbacks along the way.  Some form of failure is inevitable, but viewing failures as lessons might allow you to look forward to those failures instead of fearing them.

  • Use the WEALTH Goal-Setting Framework: This framework, introduced in Section 2 of the program, ensures your goals are actionable and achievable. For example, a goal to "save $10,000 this year" becomes "automate monthly savings of $833 through my budgeting app."

  • Delegate and Automate: Free up your time by automating savings and investments or delegating tasks to professionals like financial advisors or accountants.

  • Focus on Progress, Not Perfection: Small, consistent steps will yield massive results over time. Don’t let the desire for perfection delay your progress.


Creating a Personalized Wealth-Building Action Plan

The WEALTH framework—Wide vision, Expand goals, Action plan, Link Milestones, Track progress, and Harvest results—is your guide to crafting an actionable plan. This is discussed in great detail in Section 2 Setting Clear Financial Goals.  The framework is designed to not only help you identify your destination, but also to help push you beyond your comfort zone, something that is necessary to help you achieve incredible things.


Leveraging Tools and Resources

Taking action becomes easier when you use the right tools and resources. Here are a few recommendations to keep you on track:

  • Budgeting Apps: Tools like YNAB (You Need a Budget) or Mint can help you track expenses and identify areas to save.

  • Investment Platforms: Use platforms like Vanguard, Fidelity, or Robinhood to automate and manage your investments.

  • Financial Professionals: A CPA or financial advisor can provide tailored guidance and ensure you’re maximizing tax advantages.  Make sure you are only delegating and not abdicating your actions here, it’s easy to trust financial professionals to help you achieve your goals, but learning and understanding the strategies is imperative to actually achieving your goals, and avoid the pitfalls associated with high fees that are well disguised by financial professionals.

  • Vertex of Wealth Checklists: Use the templates provided in this program to stay organized and focused.


The Power of Accountability

Accountability is a game-changer in wealth-building. Surrounding yourself with supportive individuals who share similar goals can amplify your success. Here’s how:

  • Join or Form Accountability Groups: Share goals, track progress, and encourage each other to stay consistent.  A group doesn’t have to be more than 2 people, but can be more effective in larger groups with more varied experience and viewpoints.

  • Work with a Mentor or Coach: Gain insights and strategies from someone who’s already achieved the level of wealth you’re striving for.  This may be someone you pay (which can get expensive) or someone you contribute value to in some other way (working for free?  Get creative)

  • Track and Measure Success: Use metrics like net worth, savings rate, or passive income to evaluate your progress and make informed decisions.  Align your metric with your end goals to make them most effective


Building Habits for Sustained Action

Consistent action requires strong habits. Small daily routines can create a powerful compounding effect over time. Consider implementing these habits:

  • Daily Financial Reviews: Spend 5-10 minutes reviewing your transactions and budget.

  • Automated Investing: Set up automatic transfers to your investment accounts each payday.

  • Continuous Learning: Dedicate time each week to reading books, attending webinars, or watching videos on wealth-building strategies.

As highlighted in earlier sections of The Vertex of Wealth program, discipline and time are your greatest allies in achieving generational wealth. By committing to daily, intentional actions, you build a foundation that supports long-term growth.


Case Studies: Success in Action

Consider the story of John, a mid-level executive who decided to build a $1M investment portfolio within 10 years. John faced significant challenges—student loan debt, a young family, and a demanding job. However, by leveraging the strategies and tools outlined in this program, he achieved his goal two years ahead of schedule. John’s key strategies included:

  • Creating a budget and sticking to it religiously

  • Automating his 401(k) contributions to maximize employer matching.

  • Diversifying his investments with a mix of stocks, bonds, and real estate.

  • Joining an accountability group that kept him motivated and on track.

John’s journey shows how deliberate action and consistent effort can yield remarkable results.


Conclusion: Empowering Yourself to Take Action

Every action you take and decision you make either brings you closer to or moves you further from your financial goals. The key is to start now. Whether it’s automating a small monthly investment or setting your first WEALTH goal, taking even one step forward can spark the momentum you need.

Ask yourself: What’s one action I can take today to move toward my wealth-building goals? Write it down, commit to it, and begin. Remember, the most successful journeys are built one small step at a time—and every step compounds into massive results.


By embracing action, you’re not just building wealth; you’re engineering a legacy. Let’s take the first step together.


Kevin D. May

Kevin May has been dedicated to learning about and building wealth throughout his entire adult life. He has a bachelors in finance with a concentration in investments, and an MBA from the University of Notre Dame with a concentration in corporate finance. He has extensive experience in investing in real estate, equities, and small businesses. With a passion for helping others understand the tools and strategies used by the ultra-wealthy to accumulate and preserve wealth, he offers this blog and its accompanying YouTube videos free of charge to anyone interested in learning. For those ready to take their financial education to the next level, The Vertex of Wealth with Kevin D. May is a members-only online educational platform. It provides a vast, in-depth knowledge base of educational videos and personalized coaching options, available in group or 1-on-1 settings. Learn more at kevindmay.com.

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