Business

CEO of 8-Figure Company Says You Don’t Need to Be an Expert for Your Business to Thrive — You Just Need This Mindset

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

In 2025, the business world is defined by complexity. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping industries, automating tasks and outpacing human specialists across multiple fields. Recently, Workday laid off 8.5% of its workforce, totalling over 1,700 staff, due to AI. If you are a professional or an entrepreneur, the future can appear uncertain, if not scary. Yet, some entrepreneurs are thriving — not by doubling down on specialization but by embracing versatility. A McKinsey & Company study found that AI-driven automation could reshape up to 30% of hours worked across the U.S. economy by 2030, increasing the demand for adaptable, cross-disciplinary skills. This shift requires a new way of thinking: the mindset of what I call the “all-in-one entrepreneur”.

As the CEO of Builderall, a comprehensive marketing platform that has supported over two million businesses worldwide, I have my finger on the pulse of what the best-performing companies are doing to stay cutting edge. For too long, entrepreneurs have been told that success lies in mastering a single skill or discipline. The phrase “jack of all trades, master of none” has been used as a warning against being too broad in focus. But the full quote tells a different story:

“A jack of all trades is a master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one.” The message is clear: Versatility is an advantage. In today’s fast-changing world, the ability to connect the dots across disciplines is far more valuable than narrow expertise.

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Why specialization is losing its edge

For centuries, specialization was the gold standard of success. Adam Smith’s book, The Wealth of Nations (1776), highlighted how dividing labor into specialized tasks spurred economic progress, and this approach fueled the Industrial Revolution. However, the same forces that once made specialization so effective — efficiency and productivity — are now driving its decline.

A 2023 Goldman Sachs report estimates that AI could replace up to 300 million full-time jobs globally in the coming years. Many of these are highly specialized roles in fields like accounting, legal work and data analysis. Similarly, a McKinsey study found that 50% of workplace tasks could potentially be automated using existing technology.

Software engineering, once considered a rock-solid career choice, is already being disrupted. Tools like GitHub Copilot can now write code autonomously, reducing the demand for traditional programmers. The specialists who thrive in this new environment won’t be those who only know how to code — they’ll be the ones who understand how coding integrates with business strategy, user experience and product management.

Specialists aren’t disappearing, but specialization alone is no longer enough to stay competitive. The future belongs to those who can integrate knowledge across multiple domains.

The power of the “all-in-one entrepreneur”

Throughout history, the most game-changing thinkers weren’t specialists — they were polymaths. Consider Leonardo da Vinci, who combined art, science, engineering and anatomy, producing ideas centuries ahead of his time. Michelangelo was not just a sculptor, but also an architect, poet and military engineer. Benjamin Franklin was a writer, inventor, diplomat and scientist — his breadth of knowledge made him an influential force in history.

They thrived because they didn’t confine themselves to a single specialty — they saw connections others couldn’t. In business today, the same principle applies. The most successful entrepreneurs aren’t just great at one thing — they’re able to connect marketing with data, technology with business strategy, creativity with finance.

I saw this firsthand in my own career. I started as a designer, thinking that visuals alone could drive business success. But I quickly realized that I needed to understand development to bring my ideas to life. From there, I learned analytics to measure whether my designs were actually effective. That led me to marketing, because great design is useless if no one sees it.

With those tools in place, I could build revenue-generating businesses, so I needed to develop leadership and management skills to hire and scale. Then, after selling a few companies, I realized the power of finance and fundraising to take ventures even further.

I never set out to learn all of these things. Each new skill was a response to a challenge I faced. And over time, it became clear: The more I learned, the more control I had over my own success. This is what it means to be an “all-in-one entrepreneur.”

The costs of outsourcing your potential

Too many entrepreneurs fall into the trap of outsourcing what they don’t understand. It can be tempting to hire an “expert” marketing agency without knowing the basics of branding, delegate financial management without understanding cash flow or hand off tech decisions without knowing how they affect business operations.

This creates blind spots that can lead to costly mistakes. For example, an entrepreneur who’s great at product development but doesn’t understand marketing may struggle to reach an audience. A marketing-savvy entrepreneur who doesn’t grasp financial metrics like customer acquisition cost (CAC) or lifetime value (LTV) might overspend on campaigns that don’t generate profit.

The “all-in-one entrepreneur” avoids these pitfalls by learning just enough to make informed decisions and lead effectively. But with so much on your plate already, how is it possible to learn so many things?

How to embrace the all-in-one mindset

Adopting the “all-in-one entrepreneur” mindset is about progress, not perfection. You don’t need to master every skill overnight. Instead, focus on immersing yourself in each area enough to build a foundational understanding. My secret to this process is what I call “learn-sourcing”: hiring experts not just to do the work for you, but to do it with you.

With “learn-sourcing,” you gain practical experience while getting expert support. By collaborating with professionals, you learn the “why” behind the work, pick up their strategies and develop the confidence to make informed decisions.

Here’s how you can use “learn-sourcing” in the most critical areas:

1. Learn finance by working with a pro. If you don’t understand your numbers, you don’t understand your business. Hire a bookkeeper or financial consultant and review your financials with them regularly. Instead of mindlessly outsourcing, ask them to walk you through profit margins, cash flow and break-even points in real time.

2. Learn marketing by running your own ads. Even the best product fails without the right marketing. Instead of handing off marketing to an agency, bring in an expert to set up campaigns with you. Learn how to craft messaging, define targeting, and analyze performance, so you can make informed marketing decisions instead of guessing.

3. Learn leadership by hiring a coach. Scaling your business means scaling your ability to manage people. Work with a leadership coach or mentor, but don’t just take advice — shadow them in real leadership scenarios. Observe how they handle team communication, conflict resolution, and company vision and apply those lessons to your own business.

Note that some vendors will be uncomfortable with this arrangement. That’s okay; it means they are not the right fit for you. Initially, it might be harder to find people who can work this way, but I’ve found that the ones who embrace it are more confident in their ability. As an added bonus, talking through the different steps actually helps them to do a better job.

The future of business demands more

Being an “all-in-one entrepreneur” isn’t about knowing everything — it’s about knowing enough to connect ideas, solve problems and adapt to whatever comes next.

Don’t just outsource — “learn-source.”
Don’t just hire experts — work with them.
Don’t just stay in your lane — expand your skill set.

The future doesn’t belong to specialists. The future belongs to those who learn faster, think bigger and do more.

Intellectual Insider

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Business

The Best Psychological Trick To Boost Your Wealth Beyond Belief

Believing you deserve to be rich is one of the most powerful psychological tricks to boost your wealth. With trillions of dollars circulating in the world, you have to ask yourself: Why not me too?

Think about the knuckleheads you grew up with—people no smarter or harder working than you—who somehow ended up making vast fortunes. The difference? They took calculated risks and gave themselves permission to try. Remember who they are and say it again: Why not me too?

The words you say to yourself carry real power. All the self-doubt—I’m not good enough, not smart enough, not likable enough, not connected enough—sabotages your potential. Your body can’t distinguish between real and imagined limitations. Fill your mind with negativity, and you’ll defeat yourself before you even begin.

Anyone who plays competitive sports, launches a business, or takes on any high-stakes challenge understands the importance of mindset. Your beliefs will either act as a tailwind or a headwind to your success.

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The Best Psychological Trick I Use To Keep Going

Here’s the psychological trick that has motivated me to keep trying new things—even after retiring in 2012 with $3 million. I could have twiddled my thumbs and done nothing. Especially as my wealth grew with the bull market, I had every reason to kick back. But instead, I chose to:

Many readers thought I was crazy, especially during my Uber driving phase. Newer readers simply thought I was lying. What kind of bozo drives strangers around at 6 a.m. for $18/hour when he could be sleeping in, letting passive income work for him?

But I enjoyed it—getting out of the house early, chatting with strangers. It felt like playing the lottery with each new passenger. Was I going to get a lovely person who would share with me their hopes and dreams? Or would I get a hungover grump who vomits in my car? So fun!

Working For Near Minimum Wage Keeps You Grounded

Driving for Uber was humbling. It forced me to relive the embarrassment I felt as a teenager working at McDonald’s when classmates walked in and saw me behind the register. Instead of saying hi, I’d slip to the back to make apple pies so they wouldn’t see me.

Looking back, I’ve always felt ashamed of that moment. At 15, I should’ve been proud I was earning money to buy what I wanted, not just asking my parents for an allowance. So years later, when I picked up an old finance client of mine as an Uber driver, I faced those lingering feelings head-on. I took him where he needed to go, and in doing so, found a sense of closure I didn’t know I needed. Never feel ashamed at the work you’re doing to provide.

Deep down, I knew $3 million wasn’t enough to stay unemployed forever—especially if I wanted to raise a family and remain in expensive places like San Francisco or Honolulu. So I told myself an additional phrase that fueled my drive:

“Everybody I know is richer than me. Why can’t I be rich too?”

The Additional Phrase Made All the Pyschological Difference

Mathematically, I know not everyone is richer than me or you. But I’ve found that combining these two phrases—“Everybody I know is richer than me” and “Why can’t I be rich too?”—creates the ultimate combo for belief and motivation.

Think of these phrases as counterforces that work together to propel you forward on your wealth-building journey.

“Everybody I know is richer than me” can trigger a sense of inferiority. That sting? It lights a fire. It motivates you to take action, to catch up, to close the gap. At the same time, the phrase keeps you grounded. It reminds you that there’s always someone doing better—so stay humble.

And humility is crucial.

Humility prevents you from confusing luck with skill. Without it, you might start believing you’re an investing genius—when in fact, you were just riding a bull market. You might even get cocky, buy stocks on margin, and lose everything.

Without humility, you might think you’re an exceptional employee or a brilliant entrepreneur—when really, you were born into wealth with connections that cleared your path long before you started walking.

So yes, the phrase can be powerful, but be careful. Don’t let it crush your hope or make you think you’re something you’re not.

That’s where the second phrase comes in: “Why can’t I be rich too?”

This is the one that lifts you up. It affirms your self-worth. It reinforces the belief that if you work hard, take smart risks, and live with intention, you too can achieve financial success.

As a thoughtful, kind, and driven person, you deserve good things. So let this phrase remind you that building wealth is inevitable for someone like you.

Most People Actually Believe They Are Poorer Than They Really Are

The beauty of the phrase “Everybody I know is richer than me” is that you probably already believe this unconsciously.

In fact, there’s academic research to support this feeling. An economics article published by MIT titled “Richer (and Holier) Than Thou?” shows that most people misperceive their position in the income distribution—they tend to believe they are poorer than they actually are.

If survey participants were unbiased, their perceived and actual income rank would align closely along a straight line. But as the chart in the article shows, most people place themselves lower than where they truly are. We are all middle class, whether we truly are or not.

Hooray for widespread underestimation!

Actual versus perceived relative income compared to other people

Given that most people believe they’re poorer than they actually are, all they have to do is consciously repeat this narrative—either out loud or in their heads—to help make it feel real. When paired with the phrase “Why can’t I be rich too?”, this mindset can activate their motivation muscle and spark action.

Try it every day for a month and watch yourself transform!

It’s Easy To Convince Yourself Of Anything

Since graduating from The College of William & Mary, I’ve only lived in two cities: New York City and San Francisco. As a result, I have no problem feeling poorer than others. These two cities have the highest concentration of millionaires, centi-millionaires, and billionaires in America.

For inspiration, I often drive or jog through the wealthiest parts of San Francisco to marvel at the $50+ million mansions. Every owner either founded a company, was a CEO, or had parents who did. Their wealth is almost unfathomable.

I ended up reading about how they built their fortunes and tried to incorporate some of their best practices into my own habits and entrepreneurial efforts. One thing became clear: the only thing we can fully control is our work ethic.

Many of these founders and CEOs worked 16-hour days for years, sacrificing everything to realize their vision. They would laugh at the idea of people who work 40 hours a week and complain why they can’t get ahead. It was incredibly motivating.

And yet, if they stepped outside their homes for a walk, they were just like the rest of us. They breathed the same air, got soaked by the same rain, and had to look both ways before crossing the street. They still had to use the bathroom (hopefuly with a Toto Washlet). Their kids still threw tantrums and tested their patience.

That’s when I saw the “Why not me too?” in action.

Examples of Self-Belief in Different Forms

The “Everybody is richer than me. Why can’t I be rich too?” psychological trick applies across many areas of life. Here are some personal examples of how this mindset has helped me push forward, even when doors were closed.

1) Overcoming Rejection From Tech Companies In 2012

After being rejected or ignored by every single tech company I applied to in 2012—part of the process to qualify for unemployment benefits—I asked myself, “Why don’t I deserve a job at one of these companies too? I’m just as smart and hardworking.” But instead of continuing to apply once my unemployment benefits ran out, I decided to enjoy retirement and buy their stock instead.

I turned rejection into opportunity by making the people who ignored me work for me instead. Thirteen years later, my investments in companies like Google, Apple, Meta, Tesla, and Netflix have performed extremely well. And the fact that I didn’t have to grind away at these tech firms to earn a solid return makes the outcome feel even more special.

In addition, those rejections motivated me to build the best personal site I possibly could one that has become an incredible source of joy and purpose in my post-work life.

2) Getting Involved in AI in 2024

After reaching out to several private AI companies in 2023 and 2024, I realized I had no real shot of getting hired. Anthropic even implied I was too old! Still, I told myself again, “Why don’t I deserve a seat on an AI rocketship too?”

To avoid getting left behind, I partnered with Fundrise and invested $153,000 into their venture product in July 2024, which holds stakes in private AI firms—including Anthropic, OpenAI, Databricks, and Anduril. Now, private AI employees work for me too. I wish I had invested more, but that was almost all the cash I could muster up at the time.

My hope is that in 10 years, I’ll feel the same way about my current private AI investments as I do about the public tech stocks I bought back in 2012. The reality is, at 47, I no longer want to trade my time for money so I’m happy being a AI reject.

Fundrise Venture Financial Samurai investment amount

3) Making A National Best Seller List

Once I learned that ~350,000 traditionally published books come out each year—and another ~1.7 million are self-published—I realized making Millionaire Milestones a national bestseller was a long shot. With only 150 spots on the USA Today Bestseller list across all genres, my odds were about 0.04%, or 1 in 2,500. Without working for a major publication or financial organization, I was at a huge disadvantage.

But again, I told myself, “Why not me too? I made the WSJ Bestseller list with Buy This Not That.” To try and beat the odds, I wrote dozens of articles and newsletters, went on podcasts, came up with a 1X1 consulting promotion, sent out hundreds of signed bookplates, and am hosting a fireside chat on May 21 for those who pick up a hard copy of MM beforehand.

Lo and behold, when the USA Today National Bestseller list came out on May 14, 2025, Millionaire Milestones: Simple Steps To Seven Figures didn’t just squeak in—it landed at lucky #21 and in the top 10 for non-fiction! That’s nuts for a stay-at-home dad who isn’t constantly out there in the public eye. Thank you all for your support!

Millionaire Milestones: Simple Steps To Seven Figures Is A USA TODAY National Best Seller, coming in at #21 on the list of 150 books on May 14, 2025. An example of how the best psychological trick can boost your wealth and success beyond belief

Don’t Get Dejected—Get Motivated Instead

I understand that coming to a personal finance site like Financial Samurai and reading articles like The Average Net Worth For The Above Average Person might feel discouraging if you’re not yet close to the benchmarks. I also get that reading about households with $20 million net worths might make you want to throw your hands up and give up.

But I challenge you to get inspired instead.

Countless people—just like you—are building far more wealth than they ever thought possible. Sure, luck often plays a role in achieving outsized wealth. But most of these individuals started just like you: students from middle-class families attending public schools, wondering what their future might hold.

We all come from different backgrounds. Some of us are minorities who’ve had to push through discrimination and unconscious biases just to get a chance. Others live with disabilities or health issues that make it harder to see, process, or interact with the world. And some come from broken homes with very little financial support, yet still work like hell to break through.

We adapt. We leverage technology. We push forward and keep going. Even if we don’t hit a stretch financial goal by a certain age, we’ll still end up building far more wealth than if we had never tried at all.

So say it out loud: “Everybody I know is richer than me. Why can’t I be rich too?”

Let that question fuel your drive. May fortune shine on your future.

What psychological strategies or phrases do you use to build more wealth for yourself and your family? How important do you think having a positive money mindset is in achieving financial independence? And why do we cling to limiting beliefs when there’s so much abundance in the world waiting to be claimed?

Listen and subscribe to The Financial Samurai podcast on Apple or Spotify. I interview experts in their respective fields and discuss some of the most interesting topics on this site. Your shares, ratings, and reviews are appreciated.

To expedite your journey to financial freedom, join over 60,000 others and subscribe to the free Financial Samurai newsletter. Financial Samurai is among the largest independently-owned personal finance websites, established in 2009. Everything is written from firsthand experience and expertise—because money, and the freedom it provides, are simply too important.

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Business

Warren Buffett Reveals Why He’s Retiring as Berkshire CEO

1747330970 Warren Buffett GettyImages 849890542

Warren Buffett, 94, surprised investors earlier this month when he announced at Berkshire Hathaway’s shareholder meeting in Omaha, Nebraska, that his nearly 60-year career as CEO was ending. Buffett’s successor, Greg Abel, 62, will take the reins on Jan. 1, 2026, though Buffett will continue as chairman of Berkshire’s board.

Buffett revealed his decision to step down as CEO in the final five minutes of a five-hour question-and-answer session. Now, new details have come to light about why Buffett decided to pass the torch to Abel—and it has to do with his age.

“How do you know the day that you become old?” Buffett told The Wall Street Journal in an interview on Wednesday. “I didn’t really start getting old, for some strange reason, until I was about 90. But when you start getting old, it does become—it’s irreversible.”

Buffett told the WSJ that, in the last few years as he crossed his 90th birthday, he had started feeling the effects of his age. He had trouble remembering names and found it more difficult to read newspapers, which suddenly looked like they had unclear text.

Buffett was born in Omaha in 1930 and took control of Berkshire Hathaway, then a textile maker, in 1965 when he was just 34 years old. He became CEO and chairman of the company in 1970 and turns 95 in August.

^{Berkshire Hathaway chairman Warren Buffett. Photo by Daniel Zuchnik/WireImage}

Buffett told WSJ that he never intended to be Berkshire’s CEO for life and was “surprised” at how long his tenure had lasted. He also observed that his days had slowed down, while Abel brought more energy to the table and accomplished more during a workday.

“The difference in energy level and just how much he [Abel] could accomplish in a 10-hour day compared to what I could accomplish in a 10-hour day — the difference became more and more dramatic,” Buffett told WSJ.

Buffett said that Abel was “so much more effective” in handling day-to-day operations at Berkshire that “it was unfair, really,” not to have him serve as CEO.

Abel joined Berkshire in 1999 after the firm acquired MidAmerican Energy Holdings, an energy company where he served as an executive. Buffett made Abel Berkshire’s vice chairman of non-insurance operations in 2018. At a shareholder meeting in 2021, Buffett disclosed that Abel would succeed him as CEO.

Buffett told WSJ that he plans to keep working at Berkshire and says his health is in good shape.

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Business

Coinbase CEO Says Company Won’t Pay Hackers’ Ransom

Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong said in a social media post Thursday that a ransom note arrived via email asking for $20 million in Bitcoin in exchange for not releasing information hackers had obtained on Coinbase’s customers.

“I’m going to respond publicly,” Armstrong said. “We are not going to pay ransom.”

https://t.co/evpIBMFvRW pic.twitter.com/f6UPdkL5R0

— Brian Armstrong (@brian_armstrong) May 15, 2025

Armstrong said attackers had found a “weak link” customer service agent outside the U.S. who accepted a “bribe” and gave away personal data on customers.

In a company blog post, Coinbase said it will reimburse customers tricked into sending funds to the attacker. Hackers received access to names, addresses, phone numbers, and emails; masked Social Security numbers (last four digits only); masked bank‑account numbers; and government‑ID images (driver’s licenses, passports). No passwords or private keys were obtained, the company says. The email arrived on Sunday.

“(The stolen data) allows them to conduct social engineering attacks where they can call our customers impersonating Coinbase customer support and try to trick them into sending their funds to the attackers,” Armstrong said.

Per the AP, Coinbase estimated in a filing with the SEC that it could end up spending anywhere between $180 million and $400 million “relating to remediation costs and voluntary customer reimbursements relating to this incident.”

Meanwhile, the New York Times reports that the SEC is separately investigating Coinbase over whether or not it reported inaccurate numbers during its IPO in 2021. The company claimed to have more than 100 million “verified users” in marketing materials.

Coinbase’s stock dropped 7% on Thursday after the news, per Yahoo.

“I’m going to respond publicly,” Armstrong said. “We are not going to pay ransom.”