I’ve often wondered whether highly successful people are wired differently to the average Joe/Josephine. Or do they just have really effective habits?

To find out, I’ve gone straight to a few financially healthy folk for some life advice. They’ve shared 10 habits that anyone can take up right now to start getting a little richer.

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1. Be patient

Chris Strode, founder of invoicing app Invoice2go, valued at $US100 million, swears that patience is the key.

“It gives you time to be consistent. Consistency’s everything I think,” says Mr Strode.

“So many people try and work in bursts. They go hard for a month … two months, three months and they just burn themselves out.”

Slow and steady wins the race. Photo: Shutterstock

2. Pay yourself first

Unlike many businesspeople who pour every cent they can back into the business in the early years, Mr Strode decided to pay off his house first. “I can now be way more aggressive in business.” 

3. Don’t overthink things

“Often in their personal and business lives, people think too much,” says Mr Strode, who reckons that dollars will often come from unexpected sources. 

4. Go deep on one problem

Mr Strode is quite happy focusing on one thing – in his case, striving towards the perfect invoicing app.

“I think you put all your eggs in one basket, and then you really look after that basket.”

5. Focus on the big wins, not the little stuff

Blogger Andrew Walton has a life many would envy, travelling the world since 2013 and writing about it at Escape Velocity.

He opts to focus on big savings, rather than a few dollars here and there.

“For a long-term traveller such as myself, a big win could be finding an apartment to rent instead of staying in a hotel for a month.”

6. Do good things and the money will follow

Chris Strode, founder of Invoice2go.

Already a successful entrepreneur at 21 – and a one-time Beauty and the Geek contestant to boot – Brandon Cowan has taken an unconventional path to success.

His business, Crazy Dog Apps, which he began as a teen, put Mr Cowan in a position to buy his first apartment this year.

“I have unintentionally made quite a bit of money and I have achieved my career goals by simply doing things for free and helping causes that I like,” he says.

The animal lover and a business partner created the PetRescue app for free, attempting to save the lives of homeless pets. The media attention he gained while marketing it led to hundreds of new client inquiries.

“My advice is to simply do good things in this world and money is secondary to that.”

7. Stay inspired

‘Job queen’ Sarina Russo is one of the 30 richest self-made women in Australia, according to this year’s BRW Rich Women list.

Ms Russo, who owns Sarina Russo Job Access, and is a successful property investor, believes “the key to your better future is you”.

“Read books, listen to uplifting music, visit stimulating places and attend motivational seminars,” says Ms Russo. “Be inspired to become above average.”

8. Talk to yourself

Ms Russo says that 80 per cent of our days are generally filled with self-talk. “We can choose to talk negatively or praise ourselves. If most self-talk is positive, we will act in a positive ‘it can be done’ way.”

Always be open to learning new things. Photo: Shutterstock

9. Commit yourself to lifelong learning

Constant learning is key if you want to keep growing, says Ms Russo.

“Challenge yourself to do more. If you don’t, you may be re-engineered out of your career. Surviving change requires mental preparation, disciplined learning and being curious.”

10. Be yourself

In the end, you’re not going to make it if you fake it.

“Be open to help and advice from others about the person you want to be, not the person someone else wants you to be,” says Ms Russo.

Mr Strode, who was many years ago reportedly fired from investment bank Macquarie for getting too drunk at a cocktail event, agrees it’s important to be truthful.

“You’re better off just not trying to spin a web. You’ve just got to be 100 per cent yourself, and 100 per cent truthful.”

A longer version of this article originally appeared on Hey, Little Spender!