About Mr. Hobo Millionaire
My goal with MrHoboMillionaire.Com is to encourage you think differently about life and money.
I am a serial entrepreneur. Lots of failures, but enough successes to be a small-time multi-millionaire. I am the text-book definition of The Millionaire Next Door (and many of my neighbors are the text-book opposite — but that’s a story for a later time).
Origins
I did not come from money. I grew up poor to lower middle class. My father died of cancer a few years ago just shy of 70. He was still working full time, and he had a net worth of only $150,000 at death. I did not get tons of financial advice from my Dad, but he taught me how to work hard. He could outwork anyone. And he taught me to spend less than I made… although I’m not sure he always did that. Strong work ethic can help you attain most anything though, if you put the work into the right plan.
It took me many years of entrepreneurial ups-and-downs to become financially successful. I do not necessarily recommend my path to success. It’s definitely not for everyone. It’s only in the last few years or so that I have started to acquire wealth. For many years I barely made enough to keep going. This blog/site was birthed from what I’ve learned about money in recent years and what I learned about entrepreneurship the last 30 years.
Origin of The Name “Mr. Hobo Millionaire”
Speaking of lots of work over the years, that leads to where I got the name, “Mr. Hobo Millionaire”. Do you know the difference between a hobo and a bum? Both are struggling through life, but a hobo is willing to (and wants) to work, to earn his keep and make his way in life. That really describes me in a lot of ways, and I feel strongly about work. And even though I’ve now “made it”, I rarely dress like it. If you ran into me at Home Depot, you would probably wonder how I could afford to buy anything there. I’m usually dressed in old ragged blue jeans and old faded t-shirts. I drive a truck, too — no sports cars for me in the immediate future. So, the running gag between my wife and I, was that I looked like a hobo — and we used to jokingly use the phrase “a hobo millionaire”.
Writing About Life and Money
My first post “Wealth, Not FIRE” is something I came up that (hopefully) is a different way to look at FIRE, and money… especially saving money. It hit me that maybe more people, especially younger people, would save and manage money differently if they looked at it as “building wealth”… not the boring concept of “saving for retirement”. When you’re 25, 65 is a looooong ways away. But “wealth” can be a goal for any age. And FIRE (“Financial Independence Retire Early) — “retiring early” is a strange goal. But the ability to work on (your) own terms — WOOT!… that’s a worthy goal.
This blog will attempt to show you some different ways to look at life, and in connection with life… money (and building wealth). It is not a “get rich quick” scheme. It’s a “get rich slowly” scheme. It’s not about stock picking. There will be no stock tips. It’s much more common sense advice that will help YOU make YOUR OWN investment choices and build YOUR OWN wealth plan.
The Hobo Code of Ethics
According to Wikipedia, in 1889, a convention of hobos created a code of ethics. Here it is:
- Decide your own life, don’t let another person run or rule you.
- When in town, always respect the local law and officials, and try to be a gentleman at all times.
- Don’t take advantage of someone who is in a vulnerable situation, locals or other hobos.
- Always try to find work, even if temporary, and always seek out jobs nobody wants. By doing so you not only help a business along, but ensure employment should you return to that town again.
- When no employment is available, make your own work by using your added talents at crafts.
- Do not allow yourself to become a stupid drunk and set a bad example for locals’ treatment of other hobos.
- When jungling in town, respect handouts, do not wear them out, another hobo will be coming along who will need them as badly, if not worse than you.
- Always respect nature, do not leave garbage where you are jungling.
- If in a community jungle, always pitch in and help.
- Try to stay clean, and boil up wherever possible.
- When traveling, ride your train respectfully, take no personal chances, cause no problems with the operating crew or host railroad, act like an extra crew member.
- Do not cause problems in a train yard, another hobo will be coming along who will need passage through that yard.
- Do not allow other hobos to molest children, expose all molesters to authorities, they are the worst garbage to infest any society.
- Help all runaway children, and try to induce them to return home.
- Help your fellow hobos whenever and wherever needed, you may need their help someday.
- If present at a hobo court and you have testimony, give it. Whether for or against the accused, your voice counts!
I love these 16 rules. There is a small lesson in each one. I will be blogging on each of these in the future.
In Closing
When you read these articles, I trust you will see me as a kind, helpful, soul, trying to give you advice that I have lived, in an entertaining manner. “Life is hard. It’s even harder when your stupid.” is a phrase attributed to John Wayne. Snopes says the quote was not from John Wayne. Either way, it’s a great quote. Let’s make it our goal, every day, to be less stupid than the day before. Knowledge is power. Let’s go!
I love your description of yourself, especially the Home Depot part! My brother is a real estate investor and does much of the work himself on his properties. He stopped into a local sandwich shop to pick up some lunch dressed in his work clothes and was nearly denied service because they didn’t trust the way he looked — apparently, he looked like such a bum they were afraid he couldn’t afford a $8 sandwich! Little did they know he’s one of the biggest real estate guys in town! I’m similar in that I’m usually dressed in scrubs or yoga pants, rarely carry expensive handbags or wear jewelry and am sometimes treated like a poor person when shopping. Of course, sales reps fawn over the ones who look the part but can’t afford the items in the store. It doesn’t bother me, though. Less sales pressure! I can browse peacefully. But it’s funny how we judge people and just goes to show you never can tell!
Haha! Love it. It sounds like your brother and I have a lot in common. I’ll make that a bucket list item… to be denied service at a sandwich shop because of the way I look. So great!