What I Would Do If I Started Over With $1,000
How I Went from Broke at 25 to a 6-Figure Net Worth in 6 Years
“What would I do if I had to start over?” isn’t a hypothetical question—I’ve actually done it. Twice.
Let’s talk about what happened the first time.
Quick Story
At 19, I saved $10,000 and was convinced I’d be a millionaire by 25. Easy, right?
Fast forward four years: all my money was gone, and I lived paycheck to paycheck. I was 23 years old and going nowhere.
I’d just gotten let go from my part-time, minimum wage, retail gig with no savings, no emergency funds, and just a few hundred dollars in investments.
What happened? I did what most young people do—got distracted, ignored the future, and lived for the moment. YOLO, right?
When my 25th birthday finally came, I couldn’t outrun the truth. I was utterly broke and needed to chart a new path.
Basically, I was starting over with nothing.
“Rock bottom became the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life.”
- J.K. Rowling
The Solution: How I Rebuild to a 6-Figure Net Worth in Six Years
Here’s exactly what I did—and what I’d still do if I were starting over today with just $1,000:
✅ 1. Invest in Myself First
It sounds cliche, but it’s true. The first thing I did was invest in myself. I went back to school, finished my Bachelor’s degree, and earned a Master’s in business.
Today, I’d take a similar approach with a slight change—I wouldn’t get another degree. Instead, I’d learn a highly valued skill using online resources, get certified for it, and then leverage it as a source of active income.
This approach is much less costly and leads to much faster results.
✅ 2. Leverage My Skills for Income
Leverage My Skills: After enrolling in school, I landed a contract engineering job that allowed me to learn while getting paid. I learned useful hard and soft skills, then leveraged them to land a full-time position.
Today, I’d do the exact same thing. Why? When you’re rebuilding your finances, you need consistent income. It’s your lifeline to the next steps.
✅ 3. Save & Invest Strategically
Once I had consistent income, I saved and invested in three areas:
First, I saved an emergency fund worth 3-months of my expenses.
Second, I invested in dividend-paying stocks to collect additional passive income from the stock market (click here to learn more about dividends)
Third, I put every remaining dollar into a separate savings account.
Today, I’d make one change—hit a specific savings goal, then invest every extra dollar into investments. Investing is the way to wealth, not saving.
✅ 4. Network, Network, Network!
From 2016 to 2021, every leadership position I landed came through my network. Every. Single. One.
If I started over today, I’d surely build more connections with passionate people.
A Word of Encouragement
If you ever have to start over, or you’re starting over now, it doesn’t mean you’re a failure—it’s a chance for you to rebuild more wisely.
I’ve been there—broke, frustrated, and unsure where to begin. But when I stopped beating myself up and took action—even small ones—everything changed.
You can do the same. It may not happen overnight—but it will happen.
Cheers to a better future,
-Isaiah from Earn Out Loud