'If You Want To Be A Millionaire, Stop Doing The 9-5': Grant Cardone Says Working 40 Hours A Week On An Average Salary Won't Make You Rich

In a blog post, Grant Cardone, the self-proclaimed "Benjamin Button of business," shared his take on getting wealthy.

He's bold and unapologetic when he says, "If you ever want to be a millionaire, you need to stop doing the nine to five and start doing 95." Cardone is clear about his message: to create real wealth, you need to live in the fast lane, putting in 95 hours a week, not 40.

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Cardone doesn't just question the traditional workweek – he believes it's holding people back from their dreams. "Those who work only nine to five have given up on their dreams and are mostly spectators," he says.

Now, more hours mean more work, more money – at least in theory. But what about the thousands of people who do work nine to 5, pay their bills and are left wondering if they'll ever escape that paycheck-to-paycheck grind? 

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"There's no shortage of money. Every dollar on this planet has been manufactured. There is a shortage of people doing 95 hours each week," he explains. His advice comes from years of building businesses and investments that have landed him in the millionaire circle. 

To him, there's only one way to build wealth – grind. And it doesn't stop, even for a guy like Cardone, who claims, "If you gave me $5 billion, I'd still be grinding tomorrow." 

A 9 to five job doesn't necessarily mean financial stagnation but can present limits. A 2022 survey from the Federal Reserve revealed that the average American household's net worth was just over $192,900. "You can't save your way to being a millionaire making $60k," Cardone says. 

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Cardone bluntly adds, "You can, but you will be 90 years old. Who wants that?" He argues that working 95 hours a week pushes you into a realm of earning potential that traditional jobs can't match. As he says, "You need to get your income up to $125K to get your head above water in today's world." 

The Real Challenge: How to Earn More

He stresses the need for expansion: "Most experts are about contraction. I'm about expansion." His critique of popular financial advice – like Suze Orman's mantra to save and Dave Ramsey's focus on avoiding debt – is a call to action for his followers to create income, not just manage it. "Learn to create the money," he says, urging people to focus on making more, not just cutting costs.

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His advice makes sense for entrepreneurs and business owners, but most full-time workers don't have the same flexibility to scale their income at will. Many experts recommend a balanced approach: building side hustles, investing wisely and growing passive income streams alongside regular employment.

Can You Really Get Rich Working nine to 5?

The grind-it-out philosophy might work for those with entrepreneurial ambitions or those willing to work extra hours, but it's not a universal solution. Studies suggest that financial independence is possible with strategic planning, smart investments and steady income growth – even on a 40-hour workweek.

The key is finding a balance that works for your goals and lifestyle. For some, that might mean extra hours, while for others, smarter financial moves do the trick. As Cardone says, "Be the Benjamin Button in your space and start making more Benjamins."

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