Student / Entrepreneur / Investor – Three Ways to Build Wealth
Tommy Chen and I are both from China, but we come from different cultural backgrounds. Understanding and adapting to different cultures is essential. As global citizens, we are aware of and understand the wider world and our place in it. We actively participate in community building and work with others to make the world more equal, just, and sustainable (Oxfam, n.d.). Becoming a good global citizen is crucial, and it is also one of the reasons we decided to start our own company.
Many people think about immigrating to a better country or how to improve their own lives, but they should focus more on how to make their own country better and share those results with the rest of the world. For example, becoming an actor or celebrity often earns more than becoming a scientist. Many people hope to become famous overnight, but this is not the right path to becoming wealthy or financially independent. Making money in real estate usually takes longer, while gaining fame on social media might be faster. We often discuss how young people can get rich, and here are three approaches.
First – Become an Excellent Student
Many people will tell you that passing all your university courses with A grades is the definition of an excellent student. But how many companies actually require a GPA when hiring? How many people have master’s degrees yet still have to send résumés online? How many straight-A students have real work experience? These are questions we need to think about deeply.
I’m not saying all straight-A students are incapable—many of them are indeed better at work than others because they know how to learn and solve problems.
However, the way the real world works is different. My “Rich Dad” once told me that his company had hired many student interns, but whenever they encountered problems, they would run to him for answers instead of thinking through solutions themselves. Knowledge is indeed important, but in the real world, we need many other skills to truly be an excellent “student.”
That’s why Tommy and I started our own company during college—because we could learn more than those who focused solely on academics. We are not afraid of failure, because failure helps us learn and improve.
Second – Imagination is More Important Than Knowledge
Einstein once said that imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited—it only covers what we currently know and understand—while imagination embraces the entire world and everything yet to be understood or discovered.
As entrepreneurs, we started our business while in university. To become entrepreneurs and investors, you must have vision for the future and use knowledge as the foundation to drive your imagination.
Entrepreneurs first need to be excellent students, then use their knowledge to develop imagination. But becoming a knowledgeable, “excellent” student is not easy. Investors and entrepreneurs earn money through capital, which is why Tommy and I decided to enter the real estate industry and continuously study and explore the real business world.
Third – Learn from Experience and Failure
People often talk about luck, and I do believe some people are luckier than others. But there’s also a saying: “The harder you work, the luckier you get.” Before starting this company, we tried many different ventures and failed many times. Yet, I still love business and keep working hard.
Failures often complain about bad luck, but successful businesspeople create their own luck through effort. Entrepreneurs and investors should fight for their dreams, not just for money.
We chose to invest in real estate because we love it. We are passionate about building houses and buildings. For us, it’s not just work—it’s fun, and we aim to do it better than anyone else. If a person doesn’t enjoy their work, they won’t be willing to put in extra time. Most successful entrepreneurs and investors work 80 to 100 hours a week—that’s the only reason they achieve success in business.
The life of an entrepreneur is far harder than most people imagine! Being an entrepreneur means bearing enormous pressure. Can you handle all the challenges? You may face financial problems, health issues, and many other difficulties. Before founding T&J Brothers Group, we made a lot of plans to cope with stress, but even so, many unforeseen problems still arose.
There are many smart people in the world, but not all of them can bear the pressure of entrepreneurship. If you can’t handle it, it’s better to work for someone else and live a stable life. Companies should invest in people who can handle pressure and create wealth for the company. That’s why so many people attempt entrepreneurship but ultimately fail.
People should be clear about what they want and learn how to face challenges. Tommy and I will keep working hard to create a better life for those who trust and support us.