how to get rich? Many people dream of getting rich quickly. They hear stories about young entrepreneurs who seemingly struck gold overnight, but the reality is far from that fantasy. If you’ve been scrolling through “Top 10 Side Hustles” videos and expecting instant wealth, I hate to break it to you, it doesn’t work that way.
If you truly want financial freedom, you need to approach it strategically. That means developing the right skills, gaining experience, and making smart decisions over time.
Mark Tilbury built his own wealth through businesses, but he didn’t just jump in blindly. If he were starting from scratch today, he would follow these six essential steps to set himself up for long-term success.
Step 1: Identify Your Natural Talents
You’ve probably heard the advice, “Follow your passion.” While that sounds great, passion alone doesn’t pay the bills. What if your passion doesn’t align with a profitable skill? Worse yet, what if you don’t have a defined passion at all?
A better approach is to find your natural talents—the things you’re already good at. Billionaire investor Ray Dalio calls this “finding your game,” and it’s a powerful concept.
Mark Tilbury personally tested different jobs, from door-to-door sales to flipping cars and even teaching people to fly model helicopters. Through these experiences, he realized he had a natural talent for sales and communication.
So, take a step back and assess your own abilities. Ask yourself:
- What are you naturally good at?
- What skills come easily to you?
- Have people complimented you on a specific ability?
The goal is to lean into what you’re already good at instead of forcing yourself into a new skill from scratch.
Step 2: Dedicate Yourself to a Job (Even If You Hate It)
In today’s world, a lot of people talk about “escaping the matrix” or quietly quitting their jobs. They want to put in the bare minimum while focusing on their side hustles. But here’s the harsh truth: that mindset is a recipe for failure.
Why? Because the way you do the small things is the way you’ll do the big things.
Even if your job isn’t your dream career, it can teach you valuable skills:
- Customer service
- Time management
- Problem-solving
- Negotiation
Mark Tilbury worked in a model shop, where he learned about sales and customer relations. Skills that later helped him run his own business. Every job, no matter how small, is an opportunity to learn something that will benefit you later.
Step 3: Build Your Network and Your Reputation
Your network can open doors that skills alone cannot. But here’s the catch, people will only connect with you if they see value in doing so.
Perception matters. Whether it’s in-person or online, how you present yourself will impact the opportunities that come your way.
Take time to:
- Improve your personal brand (social media, LinkedIn, etc.)
- Connect with people in your industry
- Show genuine interest in others
A great example of this is how Mark Tilbury made an impact at the Helicopter World Championships. Even though he didn’t qualify as a competitor, he found a way to attend as a coach. Then, he put on a fireworks display using a model helicopter, which made him the most talked-about person at the event.
Result? People remembered his name before he even became a champion.
Standing out in the right way will help people recognize your skills and open doors for future success.
Step 4: Identify Problems and Write Them Down
Most businesses exist to solve problems. But ironically, businesses also have a ton of problems themselves.
If you’re working a job right now, start paying attention. What problems does the company face? What could be improved?
For example, when Mark Tilbury worked at a model shop, he noticed:
- They didn’t stock certain high-demand products.
- The store location wasn’t ideal.
- Staff lacked proper training.
Years later, he used these insights to start his own chain of model shops that outperformed the competition.
Instead of quitting your job to “become your own boss,” treat it like a paid learning experience. The knowledge you gain now will be the foundation for your future business.
Step 5: Test Your Ideas with a Side Hustle
Starting a business is risky. That’s why the smartest approach is to test your ideas first.
One of Mark Tilbury’s friends wanted to start an e-commerce business but didn’t want to invest money upfront. Instead, he listed products he didn’t even own just to see if people would buy them. When orders came in, he refunded them and knew he had a winning product.
This is the essence of a minimal viable product (MVP)—testing ideas on a small scale before committing big resources.
To test your idea:
- Start small and low-risk.
- Gather customer feedback.
- Measure results (because what gets measured gets managed).
80% of your results often come from 20% of your efforts—so identify what works and double down on that.
Step 6: Scale Your Business for True Wealth
Many people dabble in side hustles, but real wealth comes from scaling. The richest people in the world didn’t just make money on the side; they built businesses that served millions of people.
Once your side hustle is working, ask yourself:
- Can I reach more customers?
- Can I automate processes?
- Can I increase my prices?
Scaling is what separates hobbyists from millionaires. If your product or service is truly valuable, go all in and expand.
Final Thoughts: Are You Willing to Put in the Work?
Getting rich isn’t magic, it’s a process. If you follow these six steps, you’ll build the skills, experience, and strategy needed to succeed.
So, are you willing to commit to the long game? Or will you keep chasing get-rich-quick schemes that never work? Let me know in the comments!
Here a list of ideas to get wealth:
