things i stopped doing that made me rich (TIER LIST)

Summary

Mark argues that wealth and business growth came less from mindset rituals and more from sustained execution, focused investment, repeatable systems, and a strong environment. His tier rankings reflect how much each behavior had held him back:

• S tier: Overcoming scarcity around investing in himself; taking active risks; surrounding himself with ambitious peers; running more ads.
• A tier: Limiting spiritual-success reading; focusing on systems rather than goals; thinking long term.
• B tier: Avoiding shiny-object distractions; doing more reps and volume; replacing “balance” with counterbalance.
• C tier: Becoming resourceful when starting with little money; learning to choose mentors carefully.
• Emotional decision-making: He discusses managing emotions but does not assign it a tier.

Business Principles and Playbooks

• Build hard skills through deliberate practice. Early-stage entrepreneurs should prioritize practical skills such as copywriting, creating high-converting ads, and managing Facebook campaigns. Reading and mindset work can help, but should not displace practice or interrupt what is already working.
• Invest in yourself thoughtfully. Mark says he initially saved most of his money instead of investing in coaching or mentorship. He recommends considering investments that feel meaningfully uncomfortable, while emphasizing that they pay off only if you do the work.
• Protect focus from shiny objects. Mark uses his interest in crypto as an example. Although periods of distraction sometimes brought gains, he says he later lost about half and believes his business would have benefited more from his attention. His recommendation is to stay in your lane and commit to one primary business focus.
• Do more reps, not just more learning. Mark rejects the idea that entrepreneurs must choose between working smart and working hard. His approach combines smart work, high effort, and persistence over time.
• Create systems to prevent recurring mistakes. Rather than relying on memory or personal accountability, turn a mistake into a process that makes it less likely to happen again. Focus on controllable inputs and routines, not just desired outcomes.
• Think in terms of active and passive risk. Active risk means taking action that could fail; passive risk means remaining unchanged and missing the learning and opportunities that action might bring. Mark favors calculated action, especially when someone is young and has fewer responsibilities, while acknowledging that active attempts can lose money.
• Use “counterbalance,” not rigid work-life balance. Mark describes alternating intense work periods with time off rather than expecting every area of life to receive equal attention every day. He presents this as his personal preference, not a universal rule.
• Be resourceful when cash is limited. Find practical ways to generate initial revenue rather than abandoning an idea or assuming an online business model is the only option.
• Vet mentors instead of generalizing from a bad experience. Mark suggests assessing whether a mentor seems genuinely interested in helping and whether their public presence demonstrates expertise or relies mainly on material status. He cautions that mentorship quality varies.
• Build a high-ambition peer group. Mark says spending time with people who are more skilled, successful, or driven can raise expectations and accelerate development. He recommends building relationships online and, where possible, meeting in person.
• Test more advertising. Mark’s marketing thesis is that an unusually effective ad can materially change a business’s trajectory. His advice to “run more ads” centers on testing and finding winning ads, not on a particular account structure or algorithm tactic.
• Set long horizons and manage emotions. He recommends thinking in years rather than only in monthly or annual targets. When emotions are strong, his process is to acknowledge and feel them, then ask whether they are useful. Channel productive energy into action and let unhelpful emotion pass.

Examples and Metrics Cited

• Mark describes a period when he earned roughly $10,000 per month and saved about 80% of the money left after direct expenses, illustrating how a scarcity mindset can persist even after income rises.
• He says his income increased fivefold in about 11 months after he moved into an environment with more ambitious, higher-earning peers. This is his personal account, not a general forecast.
• As a low-capital example, he says he distributed flyers offering dog-sitting services and earned about $50 per day for roughly 30–60 minutes of work, estimating an hourly equivalent of $50–$100.
• He recounts Airbnb’s early fundraising effort: the founders reportedly sold political-themed cereal boxes for about $5–$10 each, generating tens of thousands of dollars. He presents this as an example of resourcefulness, not a tactic to copy.
• Mark says he typically works 10–12 hours a day and sometimes works 14-hour days for several days, followed by a full day off. These figures describe his own routine.
• He says he has been an entrepreneur for seven years. On planning horizons, he contrasts aggressive six-month expectations with what someone may achieve over five years.

Presenter and Sources Mentioned

• Presenter: Mark, from Mark Builds Brands.
• Sources and references: Atomic Habits; Think and Grow Rich; Alex Hormozi (a quote about people needing to do more, not just learn more); Airbnb’s cereal-box fundraising story; and David Hawkins (referenced in connection with letting emotions go).
• Mark also refers to a study about visualizing processes versus outcomes but does not identify it.