I just went back through and read these posts. As I ponder what I read, I think how that fits in my life today. As a multi-business owner and multi-property owner, I can try to sum up the above email as a patch to success:

Hard Work in everything thing you do (work/fun/relationships)
Perseverance - Work that hard on those things for a long time
Live within your means

Generally speaking, none of the group here that is successful (financially and happiness) did it easily or quickly!

Hey man, was in your shoes about 9 years ago so I'll dish out what has worked me so far.

Just get out there and grind. Sorry it's arbitrary but don't worry about getting rich or making money, work hard and make a name for yourself. Recently was fishing on a friend's 44' Luhrs...he sold that a few weeks ago and bought a Sea Hunter SC. This dude brokers produce to fast food restaurants...hardly the job you think of when you think of 'get rich' right?

I got out of school in the recession in 2009...had good grades and a college degree but not many job openings. So I started working for a large corporation in their management training program, which basically meant I worked 70 hours/wk driving trucks and working in the plant for $25k a year.

Most buddies bounced from job to job or went back to school because they had visions of a corner office and $60k+ as a starting salary. Not realistic.

That first job sucked. But it taught me a lot. It also introduced me to someone that was hiring at the next place I ended up going to work for. Met my wife because of that move. And the story goes on. There's no plan to some of this stuff, just work your ass off and be ready when opportunity presents itself. I don't make a killing now, around $200k but perks are also important. Pretty much unlimited vaca time (as long as I get my **** done), cell phone paid, insurance paid, good 401k match, company ownership, etc. It's the package, not just the pay.

Also start putting money away day one. I was lucky and since 2010, as the market's risen, so have things like my 401k...at a rate way beyond the average return for an investment like that. Same with houses, we started with something small and have ridden the market up...selling houses myself and putting profits towards downpayment on next place. All while the housing market has roared back. We've moved 4-5 times but have gone from a $180k house to one over triple that value, with really nothing out of pocket. Again, you don't have to be a genius, just be ready when opportunity arises.

Unless you're stupid rich, you also have to pick and choose what you spend on. Very few people have the boat, the sexy cars, the huge house, with all the cool stuff in it. You can't have it all. We have a nice place but own our car/SUV, rarely eat out, don't go on lavish vacations, and buy a ton of stuff off of Craigslist/eBay. No joke, I bought my wife's engagement ring used...mainly for the diamond lol. We maintain some investments, and have 6-8 months' gross pay in liquid savings as a just-in-case. But we also partly own our company, so if I lose my job something's gone really wrong, or we've been bought out. Accruing wealth is based on what you make, but as many here have said, it's what you save/invest that matters.