this is why great entrepreneurs ultimately lose the money game

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Hey Legend,

I lived in the back of a van for the better part of my twenties.

Not the cute #VanLife kind.

Dirtbag rock climber. Showering at the gym. Eating peanut butter out of the jar with my fingers because I lost my last spoon somewhere in Bishop.

And I was proud of it.

I wore my broke-ness like a badge of honor.

Money? That’s for shallow people. That’s for the sell-outs.

I didn’t need money. I had sunsets, rad cliffs to climb, and a 1987 Ford Econoline with a brutal oil leak.

Here’s the thing though…

I wasn’t some enlightened monk who’d transcended material desire.

I was actually just a guy who was terrified of playing the money game ‘cause I thought there was a good chance I simply wasn’t good enough to win.

So I convinced myself the game wasn’t worth playing.

That lie cost me about a decade (and a couple million dollars).

Now, I’ve been coaching a group of entrepreneurs inside Escape Velocity this past year. Guys and gals whose businesses have been growing like gangbusters and as a result, their personal finances have started to soar.

And here’s something I’ve noticed…

The money game isn’t a game you beat once and you’re done.

Everytime you level up, there’s a new boss-fight waiting.

New levels, new devils as they say.

Except these devils aren’t really new. They’re the same ones over and over again… They’re just wearing nicer clothes.

So here are the five bosses you have to KEEP beating if you want to win the money game.

1. The Wealth is a Ratio Boss

Most people think wealth is a number you hit and you’re done.

It’s not.

Wealth is actually the ratio between what you make and what you keep.

Make $5M, but spend $5M? You’re broke. A well-dressed hamster on a very expensive wheel.

Make $100k, but only spend $10k? Well, you just bought yourself 9 years of freedom.

Lifestyle creep is the silent killer of wealth…

If your expenses are growing as quickly as your income, you will NEVER get ahead.

2. The Wealth is a Thermostat Boss

You have a number your brain considers “normal” for spending.

Below that number, you don’t blink. Just take my money.

Above that number and alarm bells start sounding in the back of your head.

The problem?

You’ll never feel comfortable earning an amount you yourself haven’t spent.

Your thermostat caps your earning capacity.

I’ll give you a real example.

When I was dead broke, spending $50 on dinner felt reckless. It was a decision I’d agonize over.

Now? Spending $50 on a meal doesn’t even register in my brain.

So, what changed? Not the $50.

My thermostat moved.

And this happens at every level.

The best coaches in the world charge $50k+. And honestly… for the right person at the right stage, that’s a steal.

Because if that investment helps you 2x or 3x your income, it’s a killer deal.

But here’s what most people do:

They see that $50k number, their thermostat kicks on, and they talk themselves out of it.

Not because the ROI isn’t there, but because the number feels bigger than what they’re used to.

They’re thinking in absolutes, not ratios. And that’s the trap.

The key is to stop asking “can I afford this?” and start asking “what’s the cost of NOT doing this? What am I leaving on the table every month I stay stuck?”

When you run that math, the cost of missed opportunity almost always dwarfs the cost of investment.

(side note: this is actually why I launched the Escape Velocity group accelerator. I wanted to deliver the frameworks and coaching that my 1-1 clients pay $50k+/year to get, but for a fraction of the price ($15k/year). If you’re a founder doing at least $20k/year, this program is an absolute steal. Click here to learn more about joining the accelerator.)

3. The Wealth is a Scarce Resource Boss

If you think money is a pie with only so many slices to go around, then you’re gonna subconsciously sabotage yourself every time you try to get ahead.

Why?

Because in this paradigm you believe that for you to “win” somebody else has to lose.

And you’re a good person, so of course you don’t want that.

But it’s a faulty paradigm.

The Money Game is not zero-sum… it’s infinite.

Which means the pie is ALWAYS getting bigger and there is MORE than enough to go around.

4. The Wealth is Shallow Boss

This is the boss that kept me in the van for so long.

You convince yourself the game isn’t even worth playing because money is the root of all evil (or something).

And of course you can’t win a game you refuse to play (or take seriously).

But here’s the thing…

Money doesn’t solve all your problems… but it does solve all your money problems.

Which then frees you up to focus on solving the bigger problems in life that ACTUALLY matter.

5. The Wealth is a Number Boss

There is no magic number that makes you feel financially free.

I know people with $50M who are terrified of losing it. They keep telling themselves, “Just a little more and THEN I’ll have enough…”

But financial freedom is a mindset, not a number in the bank.

The most valuable thing you will acquire in your pursuit of money is: You.

Your skills, mindsets, beliefs, resources, community,

And that person can’t be taken from you regardless of economic conditions.

So here’s my hope for you today…

Upgrade your software.
Play to win.
Beat the bosses.
Maximize your Return on Life.

Stay Hyperfocused, My Friend
Anthony “Your Cheat Code” Vicino

P.S. Which boss are you stuck on right now? Hit reply and let me know. I read every single one and I might just send you the exact framework I used to beat it.