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Everyone wants to know the secret to making more money. According to "I Will Teach You To Be Rich" author Ramit Sethi, it's not a secret at all. It's a set of specific, learnable skills that most people overlook because they're too busy chasing hacks and side hustles.
In a recent video on his YouTube channel, Sethi laid out the eight habits that have grown his own income, sharpened his negotiating and opened doors most people leave shut. Some are about how you communicate. Others are about how you show up. All of them are things you can start working on today.
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1. Perfect Communication
If you can't communicate your worth clearly and quickly, people tune out. Sethi pointed out that when people stop listening to you, they're also less likely to give you what you want, whether that's a raise, a promotion or a client saying yes.
"People who lack communication skills often speak too quickly or they use tons of filler words that actually camouflage the thing they are trying to say," he said.
To improve your communication, Sethi suggested recording yourself answering the questions, “What are you working on right now?” and “What do you like to do for fun?” Answer both of these questions in one minute. When you play it back, notice where you’re rambling or using filler words and try it again. Do it until you can answer the questions succinctly.
2. Take Care of Your Body
It might seem unrelated, but Sethi argued that fitness habits bleed into your financial ones and that working out and eating right can contribute to your bottom line.
Sethi said, "When you become someone who shows up, who follows a system and who makes consistent progress in their physical life, that shift transfers over to lots of other areas, including money."
Proving to yourself that you'll follow through is proof you can apply anywhere — including your finances.
3. Make a Paycheck System
High earners don't manage money manually. They automate it. "To get to the highest income levels, successful people have a system in place, so their money is handled without ever having to open up a banking app," Sethi explained.
To create your own system, set things up so your paycheck automatically splits into investments, savings and bills the moment it lands. Whatever's left over is yours to spend as you please.
4. Upgrade Your Appearance
For better or for worse, our appearance is others’ first impression of us. That’s why Sethi said it’s important to project the image that you want people to see.
“Your physical appearance is the way you carry yourself. It's what you're wearing. It gives clues to people about the kind of person you are,” said Sethi.
He suggested people start upgrading their appearance by finding clothes that actually fit (and fit well). If the budget allows, bring in a stylist for backup.
5. Fix Your Posture
Your posture works hand in hand with your appearance. It communicates confidence long before you open your mouth. Sethi took this seriously enough to hire a posture coach.
In order to start fixing your own posture, Sethi recommended building a more ergonomic workspace, paying closer attention to how your body feels throughout the day and snapping the occasional photo of yourself to see how you appear to others.
6. Ask Amazing Questions
Generic questions get generic answers. In his video, Sethi suggested asking the questions that people want to answer, versus the ones they’ve answered over and over again.
“Asking that vague question does not make people want to answer you because it shows that you've not done some of the basic work of foundational research,” he said.
Sharp, specific questions signal preparation, and they tend to unlock insights you never would've stumbled onto otherwise.
7. Set Ruthless Priorities
It might seem counterintuitive, but Sethi said high earners don’t necessarily have a rigid routine. In fact, they often do less. “They give up on having a perfect system, and they do something totally differently," said Sethi. "They pick the right thing to prioritize, and they prioritize ruthlessly."
You can do this, too. Pick something each week that will move your income forward and prioritize it. Don’t worry about every little thing; instead, worry about one big thing.
8. Always Negotiate
Nobody hands out raises out of the goodness of their heart. “People do not voluntarily pay you more,” Sethi said. “They will pay you what you ask for and what the market allows.”
No matter how awkward you feel doing it, you need to ask for a higher salary. In most cases, that’s the only way you’re going to make more money.
Of course, if you’re asking for a raise, Sethi said it's best to come equipped for the conversation. Present your quantifiable wins for the company, your return-on-investment (ROI) milestones and your plan to become a top performer at your company. Show management exactly how valuable you are to the company.
Bottom Line
None of Sethi's eight skills are about finding a magic formula or a lucky break. They're about becoming the kind of person money naturally gravitates toward — someone who communicates clearly, shows up consistently and knows their worth well enough to ask for it.
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
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