Pay Yourself First

Most people budget like this: Income minus Expenses equals Savings. It's completely backwards. The CEO method flips the equation: Income minus Savings equals Expenses. Savings stop being the leftovers and become the plan.

You decide what future-you gets paid first — then live on the rest. This single inversion is the difference between people who build wealth and people who always intend to. Automating the transfer on payday removes willpower entirely.