Friday Fuel: Want to Be Rich? Start Here.
The one number that quietly changes everything.
💰 BOLD Wealth Friday Fuel
A quick spark of money, mindset, and meaning to fuel your weekend.
Today’s Fuel: What Gets Measured, Grows
In 16 Money Moves That Changed My Life, the first strategy was simple: Track your net worth. This Friday Fuel is a quick, deeper dive into that idea.
If you want to build wealth, start by measuring it. Your net worth is the scoreboard of your financial life. It’s not about ego or status. It’s about clarity.
What is net worth exactly? Assets minus liabilities. That’s it. One number that shows whether your money is working for you or against you.
I started tracking mine when I was young. Every dollar I saved, every loan I paid down, every investment I made, I could see the progress.
It doesn’t matter where your starting point is or how big or small that number looks right now. What matters is knowing it because clarity creates confidence.
That visibility builds momentum. And momentum builds wealth.
How to Track It
You don’t need fancy software. A simple spreadsheet or notepad works perfectly.
First, list your assets:
Bank accounts (checking, savings)
Investment accounts (brokerage, stocks)
Retirement accounts (401k, IRA)
Vehicles (market value)
Primary residence
Other real estate or assets
Any other true assets you own
Next, liabilities (Debts):
Credit cards or personal loans
Vehicle loans
Mortgage on primary residence
Other real estate loans
Any other financial obligations
Total Assets – Total Liabilities = Your Net Worth
How Often to Update It
You don’t need to check it every day or even every month. Twice a year is plenty.
Set two annual calendar reminders to update your net worth. Automate it, repeat it, and stack it with something you enjoy. If the numbers sting a little, grab your favorite coffee and remind yourself—you’re tracking progress, not perfection.
Bold Wealth Lens
You can’t improve what you don’t measure. Track your wealth like a business tracks profit. Your life is the most important business you’ll ever run.
Why does this matter? Because your net worth shows when your money is starting to work for you. Financial freedom begins when your assets grow faster than your obligations, when your money starts making money.
Over time, that momentum climbs the compound curve, the same principle I wrote about in Compounding in Money and Life.
💡 Your Turn:
Have you ever tracked your net worth? If not, what’s stopping you from starting today?
Write down your net worth and set bi-annual calendar reminders. Momentum starts with small steps.
This weekend, I’m looking forward to trick-or-treating with my kids.
For those of you who still have kids young enough to let you walk with them, take advantage of it; it won’t last forever.
Moments like these are the reason we build Bold Wealth in the first place.
I love this post, and that photo of you and Jana! You make a great team.
I was historically turned off by the idea of “net worth“ since as you mentioned, it felt like ego or something that I didn’t really value or want to value. But in the context of financial health for purpose, it makes a lot of sense. I started tracking mine in order to have a scoreboard of paying off debt several years ago. I then continued tracking whilst building into the positive and seeing and “feeling” the wins that you mentioned. At some point, I stopped tracking it. I wonder if that’s partially the reason for financial backsliding that has happened. I know it has to play into it somewhat because I remember the direct impact of “what gets measured, improves…” and the positive energy I got from seeing progress at times, or facing reality at other times.