^[2]In Rich Like Them: My Door to Door Search for the Secrets of Wealth in America’s Richest Neighborhoods ^[2], author Ryan D’Agostino decided the best way to learn how the richest people got that way was to simply ask. So, he did. Traveling through almost 2 dozen of the richest zip codes, he knocked on 500 doors and interviewed about 50 wealthy people, simply asking, “How did you get to live in a home like this?”

The diversity of responses was staggering, as were the variety of occupations and careers that these wealthy individuals had chosen. Roughly half of them rose through the corporate ranks, got tired of the corporate rigamarole ^[3], and struck out on their own to start their own business. Here’s a few of the things he learned and the people he learned them from:

From a real estate investor who focused on waterfront properties, always keep your eyes open for potential opportunities.

From a health care administrator, delay gratification.