Defying Financial Gravity: Achieving Your First $100,000

Charlie Munger once said that accumulating the first $100,000 from a standing start, with no seed money, is the most difficult part of building wealth.

He also said it’s the most defining and important part as well, in his own words:

“The first $100k is a b*tch, but you got to do it!”

— Charlie Munger

Reaching a lofty financial goal such as achieving your first $100k or $1 million is much like defying financial gravity and rocketing into orbit.

Just as it takes an immense amount of energy to break free from the gravitational pull of Earth and launch into space, so too does it take a lot of hard work, discipline, grit, and dedication to reach the milestone of your first $100k.

As a rocket must account for all aspects of its trajectory to ensure it reaches its destination safely, so too must you plan carefully, consider contingencies, and adjust your strategy along the way if needed.

Similar as the air resistance experienced by rockets decreases as they reach higher altitudes, so too do your daily obligations become more manageable once you have reached a new level of wealth.