The Millionaire Fastlane: Crack the Code to Wealth and Live Rich for a Lifetime

MJ's book is probably one of the best business books I have read in my entire life, and to be frank I rarely ever say that about most books I read. After reading MJ's book, I have probably already recommended it to 30+ of my closest entrepreneurial friends who also have felt the same about the book. As an avid reader of many business books, it is hard to come by a book that truly cuts through all of the BS, and delivers time-tested and proven information from a been there done that no-nonsense entrepreneur who truly cares about your success. Compared to other authors who write books that just want to up-sell you into multi-thousand dollar training programs on the backend, this book stands in the face of all of that noise and "flips them the bird." Not only does this book give you the mindset you must adopt if you want to be a successful entrepreneur, but even more so gives you the tools to use and implement to achieve massive success. I recommend that when implementing a new business idea, or enhancing your current business, please, please, please use this book as your guide. You won't be sorry! By using this book to help you, you are definitely guaranteed to reach all of the goals you have set for yourself and your business...and I stand behind that statement 100% because it has already helped me tremendously with my mindset and business. Here is the truth... While most business books I read are "good," very few of them are great. MJ's book falls into my "great" category for many reasons as described below! In his book, not only do you get a glimpse into the mind of a been there done that multi-millionaire entrepreneur, who made his money OUTSIDE of the publishing business (unlike some of the most well-known business/financial guru's), but even more so, you get a to buy a book that you will want to keep on your night stand forever and be something you reference for many years to come. The parts in the book that truly stuck out to me, and helped me gain a lot of insights and clarity for my business, life and financial plan were the specific parts highlighted below. 1. Why Understanding The Process To Creating A Successful Business, is More Important Than Focusing on the One Time "Wealth Event" at The End...(The truth is that if you complete and stick to the process correctly, the wealth event at the end will be a result of all your hard work and discipline to not get ahead of yourself). (After reading this section I realized too many individuals are focusing on the wrong thing when they go into business. This mindset is definitely going to flip you for a loop and challenge every previous thought you ever had about accomplishing anything, and building a company for that matter) 2. The Essential Elements To A Fastlane Business (And no they are not what you would expect...this part of the book is worth MILLIONS of dollars to you, and will help you eliminate TIME-WASTING wheel spinning activities in during your current and future entrepreneurial career) 3. How to Make a Decision When Faced With Two Semi-Desirable Options (The logic in this is so sound, and the process can be duplicated over and over again, no matter what you are choosing between in the future) 4. How To Truly Value Your Business and Set it Up To Be Sold For Millions (And no...it has nothing to do with how many "users" you have without any profit...get ready for this part of the book to blow you away) 5. How To Create An Effective Exit Strategy For Your Business That Will Leave You Wealthy...Never Have To Worry About Money or What You Do With Your Time Ever Again (This mindset is so critical to grasp, as most of these web 2.0 companies exit strategy is "sell to Google," when in reality that exit strategy is like praying to win the lottery without a sound base to stand on) 6. How To Effectively Think About Investing The Money You Make After Selling Your Company For Millions to Ensure You Continually Grow Your Wealth and Income (If you thought you should be counting on the stock market to make you wealthy, this part of the book is going to shock you, but makes so much sense) So without making the book sound any better than I already have, just listen to me and buy the book...you won't be sorry...just trust me. Truth be told... The book was so good that I even bought it a second time on my new E-Reading device (nook), because I wanted to make sure I had it with me forever to reference if I ever lost my physical copy, or if one of my entrepreneurial friends secretly stole it from me without letting me know they were going to borrow it. And finally... If I had to give a rating out of 5 stars for this book, I would give it a 10. You can't go wrong buying this book because the author truly cares about helping you create all of the entrepreneurial success your heart desires... Hell, he even gives you his e-mail address to contact him after finishing the book! I don't know about you but that says a lot. Enjoy the book! You won't be sorry! -Scott P.S. I even interviewed him for my site here is the link to the interview enjoy! [...]

Well, I am on my 3rd reading of this book--and that surprises even me! WHY?--because there are so many fascinating and USEFUL distinctions which make the book a veritable goldmine of actionable PRINCIPLES for creating wealth. This book will expand your mental horizons about creating wealth and tremendously broaden your wealth perspective. As the author himself states early on--this is not a "HOW to get rich" book with "paint by the numbers" or "lead-me-by-the-hand-and show-me-exactly-what-to-do" book. Instead, it is about an overall Mindset for creating wealth and freedom while one still has the vitality and enthusiasm to ENJOY it, rather than the "Wealth in a Wheelchair" plan endorsed by most financial "authorities" and society at large---work 40-50 years, save 10% of your income, invest in the stock market, and by golly HOPE you will be a millionaire by the time you're 65 or 70. It is written in a "brash young man" style, wherein the author references his Lamborghinis, his palatial home, his money and his freedom on several occasions. This has offended many 1-Star reviewers. [Note: I find that one of the best places to discover a "loser's" mentality is some of the 1-Star reviews concerning wealth-creation books. So many of them want detailed how-to's instead of the wealth Mindset without which all the how-to's in the world won't work anyway. And they seem to resent rich authors. In my experience it is extremely difficult to create wealth for those who resent the wealthy. OK, OK--I'll get off my mini-soapbox now...] My own view would be--why not CELEBRATE the author's efforts, subsequent wealth, and his willingness to share his hard-won wisdom about creating affluence? A few tidbits from the book which are simple enough, but extremely valuable in application: 1) Process vs. Event Society seems to laud the Event--the sports figure who gets a multi-million dollar contract; The entrepreneur who hits a home run and makes billions; The movie star who gets $15 million for a picture, etc. What society seldom focuses on is the multi-year Process of practice, failure, perseverance, experimentation, which eventually results in the Event. Wealth is created by consistently applied Process, which culminates in the Event. 2) The Three Paths: The Sidewalk: Living paycheck to paycheck with instant gratification as the main goal. Probably characterizes 50% of our society right now. The Slowlane: the "40-50" year plan of working hard, saving, and living frugally hoping for pie-in-the-sky in the future (when you are old). The author gives some neat, mathematical formlas to demonstrate why the Slowlane plan can NOT succeed--except for a few rare exceptions. The Fastlane: Using precise formulas and leverage (see below) to create wealth and freedom while young. 3) ULL vs CUL The distinction between Uncontrollable Limited Leverage--trying to control the financial limitations of a job by working harder/longer or getting more education/training to raise your salary, and trying to use the uncontrollable stock market as your ticket to future wealth. Compared with Controllable Unlimited Leverage from having your own business which you can control and which creates assets you can leverage. CUL requires that you use the NECST formula... 4) NECST formula: I wish I had known this one 30 plus years ago! I have been successful in several businesses, but by using NECST (Need, barriers to Entry, Control, Scalability, Time) my businesses would have generated so much more income and leverage potential. You can bet I am applying NECST now! Never start a business without first evaluating it according to the criteria of NECST. At some point, the Fastlane is culminated when your rapid-growth business can be converted into Equity. There are numerous "mathematical Formulas or Factors for wealth" which are simple but EXCELLENT. Their simplicity makes them easy to remember and actionable. Once you have gotten the Slowlane vs. Fastlane distinction, so much becomes crystal clear about businesses and their true potential for wealth creation. An example is the author's irreverent, amusing, and spot-on critique of Fastlane financial gurus and authors selling Slowlane books and products to their adoring fans. My summary of the critique: Fastlane author/guru --"I make my fortune and become rich NOW by selling you millions of books and pedaling advice about how you can work 40-50 years on the Slowlane and HOPE to retire rich `someday.' And by the way--cut out those $6 Lattes!" The author's explanation of converting your Fastlane business and cashflow into Equity is an excellent summary. This info is available from many other sources, but here it is clarified and simplified into APPLICABLE principles. I could go on, but I would simply recommend you read this book. I really do think you will enjoy it and profit from the information.

The Millionaire Fastlane is an excellent, no-nonsense book that clearly explains the advantages of entrepreneurship as a career. Perhaps the most insightful aspect of this book is DeMarco's detailed and mathematical explanation of how your career choices affect you financially in the long run - and why entrepreneurship is the best option for those looking to accumulate wealth. Furthermore, DeMarco debunks much of the typical advice given by financial "gurus" regarding compound interest, stock investment, and traditional methods of wealth accumulation. He shows quite clearly how easily you can work you butt off for your entire career - and do all the "right things" along the way - and still be screwed come retirement, if you even manage to get there. Therefore, DeMarco urges the reader to stop wasting his/her money buying books, systems, and programs about building wealth from so-called "gurus." He shows how so many people are tricked by these gurus into buying their "secret sauce" which simply does not exist. He shows us how they pull on our emotional cords and desires of getting rich, but ultimately do not provide us with anything of meaningful value. In other words, he's doing us a huge favor by warning us about potential scams, and he tells us how to avoid them. DeMarco's authenticity in this regard was much appreciated. Not enough people with DeMarco's level of money or success are so forthright. DeMarco's arguments for entrepreneurship are clear and logical. He also provides several clear "models" one might follow in their entrepreneurial journey. He doesn't give an entire blueprint, but that's really not the point. This is a top-level book designed to get your head in the right spot from the outset, so you can pursue your business goals with proper expectations. It's also designed to challenge your preconceived notions of traditional employment, which it does quite effectively. Anyone who reads this book and really "gets it" will come away with an unrelenting desire to start their own business, and have some of the basic knowledge needed to embark on a successful entrepreneurial journey. Make no mistake, DeMarco promises nothing and reinforces the concept that hard work and sacrifice is the only true "secret sauce" - this is not a get rich easy book. You will need to do the push-ups. But at least with your mindset calibrated properly, you are empowered to set off on your journey with clear goals and an objective view of the world around you. I'm an author myself who started my own business this past year, and I can say this is a book I wish I'd had earlier, perhaps as a college student - because it's very inspiring and motivating. Maybe I would have gotten started on my own journey as an entrepreneur sooner if I'd had it then. But even though I just found this book now, it was still an excellent read and it renewed some of my passion for what I'm doing. Would highly recommend to anyone looking for a no-BS explanation of entrepreneurship and an objective analysis of your career options.

This book is for beginners who dream to of an entrepreneurial lifestyle This book is for you if you are thinking of making money through your own business This book is for you if you are contemplating whether or not to leave your job/career because you see no significant future This book is for you if you want to know how to not get trapped in the paycheck to paycheck cycle I read this entire book during my freshman year of highschool. It is now the reason why i believe college is a scam, and if you really want to get rich you need to do so through business, not through a job. Most of it's concepts aren't new to people who already have business experience, but worth the read if you want to live with an entrepreneurial lifestyle

I remember when this book had only a few reviews--not so anymore. This book has taken off like a rocket because it's information is so powerful and REAL. It is the type of secrets that only true young millionaires know, that renegade knowledge that contradicts conventional financial instruction MJ Has done a wonderful job of describing his own trip into a life of wealth and what it takes to get there. I have read many books on the topic, and a lot of them ring hollow and didn't quite provide the answers I was looking for--until I found this book. Perhaps the blatant reality-check slaps in the face are my favorite aspect of this book. Namely: -Rich rap artists don't brag about getting rich by maxing out their 401k's -Compound interest will make you rich...when you're dead. When you get old enough to enjoy the benefits of compound interest, it is too late to have the kind of fun that you were imagining you'd have with a life of wealth. -Working toward wealth is not as glamorous as everyone thinks, and that is why they fail. They are not ready to make the sacrifices and spend hours learning new things and having to save money by eating cheap ramen noodles to work at home building their idea or business. Most people are not willing to give up their current standard of living in order to create a better one. -Your past does NOT create your future. You decide your future and you should stop making excuses and reminiscing on the past. Compound interest is the junk that every average financial coach teaches for average people to have a little bit of savings to live on when they reach retirement age. I have even heard that to be able to be able to live comfortably you must have ten times your yearly salary saved. This means that one million or half a million dollars in nothing in todays terms, because it will be used so quickly. MJ gives vivid anecdotes about his own transformation and how he started out as a cab driver who hated his life to someone who makes money with systems developed to provide cab service to more people because the system was scale-able. In order to change we have to get to a point where we are so sick of our current condition that we are truly willing to do anything and learn anything to start creating the results that we want. Those low points in our lives motivate us to push through the obstacles and just make great things happen. The author constantly and effectively makes references to life as a highway: there are people who are taking the slow lane and those that prefer to use the fast lane. I consider this to be highly motivating and another kick to the butt to get anyone with a pulse pumped to start doing things to get to the fast lane. Most people in life will be content with taking the slow lane and will not take the steps necessary to accelerate their situations. I am extremely grateful for this book and to MJ Demarco for writing a true modern masterpiece. This book is NOT for people who want to be boring millionaires or rich only when they turn elderly. It is for people who want to have the life that they want, now, and don't want to settle for less. -Ken Flemming Author, "How to Get a Job in Video Games"

This is an honest to goodness "Get Rich Quick" book. But you must understand two things. First quick is 5 to 10 years. Second quick does not mean easy. Most "Get Rich Quick" books or programs really scam people into believing there is a method to "Get Rich Easy". MJ DeMarco, the author, does an extremely good job of telling the truth about what it takes to really achieve wealth. The book starts off by describing three different economic paths and most people follow one of these paths. The first path is the sidewalk where people are basically living from paycheck to paycheck. The second is what MJ calls the slow lane - work hard for forty to fifty years, dutifully save 10% or more in your 401K and retire with a modest sum. However there are many dangers with the slow lane method. It depends on everything going right for those 40 - 50 years - not a good bet. Then there is the fast lane. Here you are in control of your destiny, you work extremely hard for 5 to 10 years in a business which has the chance to make big money and once you build the business to size, you have a liquidation event, generally a sale. There is a lot of wisdom in what he says. Most people who start their own businesses violate the rules that MJ gives. Your business must fill a need. It cannot be what you love or what you are good at. The product/service must be of value in the market place. And you must be able to scale the business - either by providing massive value to a few people or providing good value to a large number of people. You cannot scale a local sandwich shop. Any business that cannot be scaled is simply a job. MJ takes good aim at MLM opportunities and any other "business" that you can enter by buying a $199 distributor kit. You will save yourself tons of money and energy by reading and absorbing the lessons in this book. In addition to the business and investing lessons, there are some extremely great life lessons in the book. MJ shares a lot of the lessons he learned the hard way - lessons such as your life is a composite of all the choices you have made. "Your choices are made in a moment, but their consequences will transcend a lifetime." He also gives some great lessons about time - how it is our most valuable/precious asset. The book is extremely easy to read. However it will probably challenge a lot of your long held beliefs. If you are seeking some magic formula for getting wealthy without a lot of effort, look elsewhere. If you want a serious how to manual, with some raw truth told by someone who might appear to be your "Dutch Uncle" then study this book and follow his advice. MJ does not soft pedal the facts of life about getting wealthy. He speaks from experience and gives you some great insights into what it really takes to get wealthy. Highly recommended but only for those willing to do what it takes.

The people who give this book 1 star are people who were totally expecting the wrong thing; shortcuts to wealth, get rich easy advice etc. I am a pretty critical person and I have to say the book deserves 5 Stars. When I first saw the book It totally repelled me because of the guru like/scam cover theme to it. I only bought it because of the reviews. The author is a GREAT writer, which is rare, he is very funny, unique, clever, and keeps you interested. It's a book I wish i had when I was 16 years old(seriously, i'm a pretty critical person). The book is a blue print consisting of a series of beliefs and mind sets that set you up for "The Fastlane" or having wealth young created through entrepreneurship. Most people today are told that going to school then working a job you hate for 40 years will make you rich, but that is something that comes with HOPE and TIME something that just makes it a very depressing path and very likely to fail(how many people saw their 401k decline in value in 2008 right before the were going to retire, see thats the hope.) He calls this path the "slowlane" or wealth in a wheel chair. Then he talks about the most common path taken or the majority of society: "the sidewalk" or the financial treadmill. Here the person lives beyond their means, they act rich, they finance cars they can't afford, they buy designer clothes on credit, they buy homes they can't afford and are always "one something from broke" one paycheck from broke, one contract from broke, one gig from broke etc. This book is meant to get you away from the slowlane and the sidewalk and onto the fastlane. When describing the fastlane he gives very valuable advice on how to go about and do it. Remember that this book is a blueprint to success. This book was not meant to hold your hand and tell you EXACTLY how to get rich. You will have to blaze your own path, but he gives you the skeleton. He never says its going to be easy, as a matter of fact its HARD. Buy the book if you ever wanna get rich, trust me it a GREAT book. Even if you do not go "fastlane" its loaded with valuable life lessons and advice.

One of the best books on entrepreneurship I have read