Generate Life-Changing Wealth Without the Risks of Entrepreneurship
The boring path no one talks about that might quietly make you rich.
“I’m tired of answering to a boss... but I’m not an entrepreneur.”
My client, David, a successful global technology business leader, dreamed of a different life, one where he called the shots and didn’t have to globetrot every few weeks across 5-10 time zones and leave his family behind.
David’s company isn’t in distress, his job isn’t threatened. But his soul?
Yeah... that was quietly cracking.
So he called me before it got bad.
He could see it coming.
That awful feeling of “trapped” that sneaks up on high performers when the ladder gets shorter the higher you climb.
His wife wants him to stay on the safe path, the corporate one, where status, salaries and benefits felt predictable, secure.
But David...
He started hearing that whisper:
“What if you controlled your schedule? What if you were the boss?”
Problem was, he didn’t want to build something from scratch.
No crazy idea. No cofounder. No pitch deck.
He wasn’t an entrepreneur.
But I told him...
There’s a path most execs never consider — even though it’s quietly minted thousands of millionaires.
The hidden shortcut? Buying a boring business.
Let me introduce you to the most unsexy secret to building wealth that Wall Street doesn't want to talk about...
Main Street Business Ownership — aka, the secret playbook Codie Sanchez wrote about in Main Street Millionaire.
I found Codie in 2024, just as I was questioning my own next chapter.
And yeah, it totally short-circuited my brain.
Why?
Because it made boring businesses sexy again.
Here’s the simple formula:
Positive CashFlow + Seller Financing + Operational Rigor
= Wealth
It’s not magic. It’s just... practical.
Unlike startups, Main Street businesses don’t need to lose money for 5 years.
They have to make money or they die.
So the businesses that survive?
They cash flow. Day one.
And that’s your cheat code.
Wait... you can buy a business with their money?
Yup.
Instead of emptying your savings or begging a bank, you use seller financing.
It’s like buying a house where the owner gives you the mortgage.
They stay involved (to help). You pay them back from profits (not your pocket).
Lower risk. Higher alignment.
Think about it: Why build a shaky startup when you can buy a proven, profitable one?
Millionaire math made simple
Stats time:
You’re 10x more likely to become a millionaire if you own a business (Thomas Stanley, Georgia State University)
Most millionaires are small biz owners — not execs, investors, or heirs (WSJ)
You earn a living from the cash flow… but you build wealth when you sell the business
That last point is key. The real payday comes when you grow and exit.
Just like flipping a house. But instead, you're flipping an income stream.
Let’s get real: This ain’t passive income.
Codie doesn’t sugarcoat it.
This path isn’t “set it and forget it.”
You need to:
Know your genius zone
Do the homework (aka vet a LOT of businesses)
Hire and manage people
Deal with fires
It’s work. But unlike corporate work... it’s yours.
You sweat now so you can rest later. Especially once you hire an operator and stop being the day-to-day hero.
The real magic of the model is shifting your wealth creation mindset.
Instead of trading your hours for income, you are building value that grows based on the outcomes of strategic decisions and actions, not how much time you spent on those decisions or actions.
Codie’s argument is that ownership is the only way to build true wealth.
So... is this right for you?
Maybe.
David?
He’s a highly operational exec. He lives for systems. For him, this path is a no-brainer.
Me?
I’m focused on coaching and creativity. I like my life lean. I don’t want another org chart right now.
But just knowing this option exists changed how I look at wealth building forever.
Bottom line?
It’s not about which is better... it’s about who you are.
Do you want to be active in creating your wealth...
Or more passive, letting the market do the work?
Both paths have risk.
Just different flavors.
Closing thought: Get curious to avoid getting desperate.
If this post got you excited about business ownership, now is a wonderful time to start to explore. The most successful people get educated early.
Two ways to get smarter on business ownership fast: (1) speak with people who’ve already traversed the path, (2) pick up Codie’s Main Street Millionaire book.
If you’re like me, you’re thoughts on which path you want to pursue will ebb and flow. That’s OK. All the more reason to give yourself time to figure out what will be right for your life.
Don’t wait until you feel pressured. Do it when you have the most optionality.
Your Turn
Have you ever considered business ownership? Are there resources you’d recommend? I’d love to learn from you. Share them in the Comments to help others in the Lead without Limits Community.
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May you lead without limits,
P.S.
I’m testing a new coaching model — unlimited asynchronous coaching (yup, really). I’ve got 5 slots open for fall.
DM me or book a 15-min strategy session if you’re ready to level up.