| Millionaires also practice intentionality. Nobody accidentally ends up retiring with millions in their bank or brokerage account. When they're starting out - and even after they've achieved financial independence - these folks live well within their means. They save regularly. They take prudent risks to earn high returns. And they leave their investments alone, so they keep compounding, rather than springing for that fancy trip or big remodeling job. (If you really want those, you should save for them separately. Don't raid the retirement fund.) Millionaires are goal oriented. Ninety-two percent of them develop a long-term plan for their money, compared to just 60% of the general population. They make financial goals and stick with them. Seventy percent of millionaires save more than 10% of their income throughout their working years. They also tend to pay off their homes. Sixty-seven percent of millionaires live in homes with paid-off mortgages. (That isn't possible if you keep trading up to a bigger house every few years.) Millionaires are also hard workers. This doesn't mean that you need to work 60-hour weeks. It means working smarter, better and more efficiently in the hours you're already on the job. It may also mean upgrading your skill set. The world changes constantly and the most valuable employees adapt to it. Eighty-six percent of millionaires believe that challenging themselves makes them smarter. Ninety-six percent of them are always learning new things, many of them job-related. The more valuable you are to your employer, the greater your earnings potential. That's hardly rocket science. Millionaires are also consistent. They don't make smart financial moves occasionally. They make them a habit. They save regularly. Their contributions to their employer-sponsored retirement plan are deducted automatically. They minimize their financial costs and investment taxes. And when they need financial help, they seek it out. Their sites are firmly set on the long-term goal - financial freedom that will enable them to live the life of their dreams - not the latest bauble. This mindset and these habits allow ordinary people to become extraordinarily wealthy. Perhaps Hogan's most important lesson? If you want to become a millionaire, you need to start acting like one. And - given the amazing power of money compounding - sooner is better than later. Good investing, Alex | 
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