I wrote Money’s Dirty Little Secrets because I believe in making things simple—money, success, life. Too many so-called experts, authors, and teachers make everything more complicated than it needs to be. They dress up basic principles in jargon, pile on complexity, and act like financial success is only for people with MBAs, insider connections, or sheer luck.

That’s nonsense.

I don’t buy into the idea that understanding money and success should be difficult. If something is too complicated to explain in plain English, it’s probably useless—or worse, designed to keep you dependent on someone else’s expertise.

Here’s what I’ve learned the hard way: success with money comes from breaking free of the rules that keep most people poor. That single truth runs through this book like steel wire.

My entire life, I’ve worked to break things down into simple, practical, no-BS lessons—not just for myself, but for my family, my friends, and now, for my readers. I believe it’s my obligation to do this. 

Simplifying success isn’t easy—it takes experience, years of trial and error, and a relentless focus on what actually works. But once you strip away the fluff, what’s left is something anyone can use to build real wealth and freedom.

That’s why I wrote this book.

You are already successful, and I couldn’t be prouder. But here’s what you may not know: I spent years figuring this out alone. I didn’t grow up with financial wisdom passed down to me. I had no roadmap, no mentors explaining the rules. I had to learn through mistakes, failures, and hard-won victories.

Now, I want you to know exactly why I made certain decisions, how I built what I built, and how you can take these lessons even further. More than anything, I want this book to be something you can pass down—so your children don’t waste years following the wrong rules.

Right now, money might not mean much to you. But someday, the decisions you make about money—how you earn it, how you spend it, how you invest it—will shape your freedom, your opportunities, and your ability to live on your own terms.

When that day comes, I want my voice to be there with you. This book is my way of reaching you—not just today, but years from now, when you need it most.

I know some will criticize this book for being too blunt, too direct, or too simple. That’s fine. I didn’t write it to sound impressive—I wrote it to be useful.

I don’t believe in get-rich-quick schemes, and I don’t sugarcoat reality. Money is a tool, and if you don’t learn how to use it, you’ll always be at the mercy of those who do.

My goal is not to impress you—it’s to wake you up. To make you question everything you’ve been told about money. To show you how to stop following the rules that keep you broke, and start playing by your own.

I thought success came from working hard, being responsible, and doing what you’re “supposed” to do. That’s what everyone tells you, right? Work harder, save more, and eventually you’ll be financially secure.

Except that’s not how the world really works.

I remember sitting at my desk one night, exhausted, staring at my bank account, and realizing I was still stuck. I had done everything “right”—long hours, discipline, careful spending—and yet I still wasn’t free.

That’s when it hit me: I was playing the wrong game. I was following rules that were never designed to make me rich. They were designed to keep me working, spending, and hoping for security that never comes.

That moment changed everything. From that day forward, I stopped following their rules and started creating my own. Everything I learned from that point on is in this book.

• Money isn’t complicated. People just make it seem that way.
• Success isn’t luck. It’s learning, adapting, and refusing to play by rules that keep you stuck.
• Your financial future is your responsibility. No employer, government, or financial advisor is coming to save you.
• If you don’t control your money, someone else will—and they’ll use it for themselves, not you.
• Wealth isn’t just money. It’s freedom, options, and the ability to live life on your terms.
   

I could have written a book full of complicated theories and academic jargon, but what good would that do? If knowledge isn’t practical, it’s worthless.

I’ve spent decades breaking money and success down into clear, simple, actionable steps. I consider it my responsibility to share what I’ve learned in a way that actually helps.

If this book helps even one person—my child, my grandchild, or a reader like you—break free of the rules that keep most people poor and build a better life, then it was worth writing.

Money is not the goal—freedom is.

I don’t want you trapped in a system designed to keep you running in place. I wrote this book to give you a shortcut. To give you a way out.

This is my gift to you—a way to ensure my experiences don’t fade with time, but instead become a foundation for those I care about most.

Take what you can from it, apply it, and pass it on. Because knowledge—especially about money—is the greatest inheritance I can leave behind.

With the best intentions and a healthy dose of attitude,
—JCK