Two Ways to Wealth for Everyday Investors

A couple of weeks ago, I found myself in Las Vegas, not for the slots or the shows, but to hear Michael Saylor—the guy who turned MicroStrategy from a respectable $1.6 billion company in 2020 into a $75 billion Bitcoin juggernaut—talk to over 30,000 fans about wealth. His presentation, “21 Ways to Wealth,” was a real eye-opener.
I’m zeroing in on two main ideas that hit home for me from his presentation: Acquiring assets with confidence and protecting your wealth. If you’re an everyday person—maybe you’ve got the basics of personal finance down and you’re trying to squeeze out better returns with what you’ve got—this one’s for you. It’s not a step-by-step “get rich” manual; it’s just me sharing what I took away from someone who’s been there, done that. You do you.

1. Acquire Assets with Confidence

So, what’s an asset? It’s anything you own that holds value—think property, shares, or, yeah, Bitcoin. Saylor’s all about Bitcoin, pushing the idea to “take your fiat and trade it for Bitcoin” by buying it regularly, even in small amounts. But the real trick isn’t just buying stuff—it’s doing it with confidence. This is concentration, and it’s the difference between average, and above average in terms of [potential] returns. 
At the conference, Saylor laid out a bunch of qualities that help you pull this off. Here’s the rundown:
  • Clarity: Know what you’re investing in and why it’s worth it.
  • Conviction: Stick to your strategy like it’s your lifeline.
  • Courage: Take calculated risks, even when the market’s bouncing around.
  • Cooperation: Team up with others to spot opportunities.
  • Capability: Build the know-how to pick winners.
  • Creativity: Find fresh ways to grow what you’ve got.
  • Civility: Play nice—relationships can unlock deals.
  • Corporation: Use business setups to raise or manage money smartly.
  • Focus: Keep your eyes on the prize.
  • Equity: Grab things like stocks or property that can grow in value.
  • Credit: Borrow wisely to snag more assets.
  • Capitalization: Raise cash or use it like a pro.
  • Communication: Talk others into joining your plan.
  • Commitment: Stay the course, no flip-flopping.
  • Competence: Get good at this wealth-building thing.
  • Advocacy: Push ideas that open doors.
  • Generosity: Help others, and it might just come back around.
Phew, that’s a lot, but it all ties back to acquiring assets with confidence. For me, this clicked when I reflected on my own journey. When I started investing in shares, I chose to invest in managed funds – spread my money thin across shares, thinking diversification was the safe bet. But here’s the rub: diversifying too soon is like jogging when others are sprinting. While compounding returns is amazing, it rules out the possibility of building significant levels of wealth. Doing this podcast opened my eyes to how financial advice can push “safe” options that don’t always deliver. Saylor’s take? Concentrate on something solid—like Bitcoin—and back it with real confidence, not just blind optimism.
Picture this: walking through The Venetian’s casino to get to Saylor’s talk, past blackjack tables and slot machines. Some love to gamble, and investing can feel like gambling. Uncertain, and risky. Here’s the difference: gambling’s about playing more games to win, kinda like diversification. No time to build confidence in a few strong picks? Just toss your money into a fund and call it a day. It’s great for preserving what you’ve got, but to grow it, you need to concentrate. 
I started growing mine at that conference. Not just with Bitcoin, but all concentrated portions of my portfolio. I’m way more sure of my moves. You’ll need that too, because there’ll be tests—price drops so steep you’ll wonder if you backed the wrong horse. Most everyday investors can’t hang on; they get shaken out by nerves or inflation. But acquire assets with confidence – this is the way.
Quick Tips: Start learning—YouTube, AI chats, or my free course with Easy Crypto. Then, dollar-cost average: set up recurring buys, whether it’s $10 or $1,000. It’s not about what you can lose; it’s what you can live without.

2. Protect Your Wealth

Once you’ve got some wealth cooking, you’ve got to keep it safe. Saylor highlighted a few biggies here:
  • Composition: Structure your assets smartly—maybe diversify, maybe not.
  • Compliance: Play by the rules to dodge losses.
  • Adaptation: Shift gears when the market does.
  • Evolution: Keep tweaking your approach as risks pop up.
I used to obsess over ‘the best investment’, but now, I’m more worried about what can rob me, and it’s not just fees. Taxes and custody are where it’s at.
Take taxes, for example. Australia’s slapping a 15% tax on retirement balances over $3 million starting July 1st. Sounds like a “rich people problem,” right? Wrong. It’s not inflation-adjusted, so it’ll creep up on everyone eventually.
15% each year could half your portfolio value in just 5 years.
Saylor’s fix? Get creative with citizenship and residency. It’s not about dodging taxes—it’s about playing smart with where you park yourself and your money. I’m not anti-tax—I’ve paid plenty—but I’d like to see it spent with a bit more accountability.
Then there’s custody—who’s holding your stuff? The gold standard is to hold it as directly as you can, but that’s not always doable. If you’ve got a mortgage, a retirement account, or an online brokerage, you’re trusting someone else. That’s fine—until it’s not. Custodial risks are real: fraud, system crashes, or just plain mistakes can lock you out. Saylor’s Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy) is a wild example—he’s piled Bitcoin into his company, turning it into a vehicle for investors who want exposure without holding it themselves. You buy shares, you ride his wave—maybe even beat Bitcoin’s growth. But there’s custodial risk baked in. 
Let me be clear: The gold standard is self-custodied Bitcoin. Be your own bank—no middlemen, just you and your private keys. Mess up the tech, though, and there’s no help desk.
So, protect your wealth by watching taxes and custody. No asset’s bulletproof – the bank, the state, and even council rates can snatch a mortgage-free house. 
There you go—two ways to wealth from Saylor’s playbook: acquire assets with confidence and protect your wealth. It’s not about copying his Bitcoin obsession; it’s about finding your path and owning it. Build your confidence, guard what you grow, and make the best of what you’ve got.