The Algebra of Wealth – How to Apply (and Share) Galloway’s Wisdom

Last Sunday, I wrote an essay about Success – what it means, why we chase it, and how we often get it completely wrong.

The response was exciting. My inbox and WhatsApp were charged with comments, DMs, and questions. The recurring theme? “How?”

“How do I redefine success without feeling like I’m starting over?”

“How do I escape the grind when the bills won’t stop coming?”

“How do I build wealth while still having a life?”

These are hard questions, but they’re the right ones. They’re the questions I asked myself at 50, sitting in my car, staring at that parking ticket, and wondering how I ended up feeling trapped by a life that, on paper, looked perfect.

The answers didn’t come overnight. But one resource that helped me immensely – both as a guide and as a mirror – was Scott Galloway’s essays, reflections, and most recently his book –  The Algebra of Wealth.

I’ve lived versions of his framework, stumbling into some insights through trial and error and consciously applying others after reading his work.

 Here’s the truth: building wealth isn’t just about money. It’s about freedom. And freedom starts with redefining what you’re working toward.

Why the Success Formula Is a Lie

If you’re like me, you were probably handed a formula for success early on:

• Study and work hard.

• Get a good job.

• Climb the corporate ladder.

• Retire comfortably.

It’s neat. It’s logical. And it’s wrong.

At 50, I realized I wasn’t free – I was tethered to someone else’s idea of success. The bigger my paycheck got, the more expensive my life became. I was trading time, energy, and peace of mind for a treadmill I couldn’t seem to step off.

The problem with the formula is that it treats money as the goal instead of the tool. Real success isn’t about earning more – it’s about needing less. It’s about owning your time, your choices, and your life.

Step 1: Focus on Talent, Not Passion

At 25, I fell for the “follow your passion” advice. Passion is seductive, but it’s also unreliable. It fizzles when things get tough. Talent, on the other hand, grows with effort.

Galloway’s framework asks two simple but powerful questions:

• What do I do better than most people?

• What am I willing to do that others aren’t?

For me, it wasn’t chasing creative whims. It was communication – simplifying complex ideas and guiding people through decisions. When I leaned into that, I stopped running in circles and started building something real.

If you’re 25, explore different roles and say yes to challenges that scare you. At 35, take stock of what’s working and focus on your strengths. At 55, ask: how can I use my talents to create freedom, not just income?

Step 2: Turn Anxiety into a Strength

Here’s something I wish I’d learned earlier: anxiety isn’t a weakness –  it’s a signal. It’s your brain telling you to prepare, to adapt, to grow.

In my 30s, I let anxiety paralyze me. I was constantly worried about failing, falling behind, or disappointing others. Galloway reframes anxiety as fuel. It’s the nudge that pushes you to take control instead of waiting for life to happen to you.

When I stopped fearing my anxiety and started listening to it, it became my greatest ally. It pushed me to save, to invest, and to think critically about where I wanted my life to go.

Step 3: Your Wealth Starts with Your Health

At 50, burnout wasn’t just knocking on my door – it was practically living rent-free in my head. I was exhausted, unproductive, and unhappy. That’s when Galloway’s advice hit me like a gym bag to the face: wealth starts with health.

I didn’t suddenly become a fitness guru, but I did start moving. A 30-minute walk in the morning, some light strength training – nothing fancy, just consistent. The clarity it brought was transformative. I started showing up better at work and in life.

I quit drinking alcohol.

Whether you’re 25 or 55, your health is your foundation. Without it, everything else crumbles.

Step 4: Know Your Worth and Demand It

By my late 40s, I’d been at the same job for years, assuming loyalty would eventually be rewarded. Spoiler: it wasn’t.

Galloway’s advice? Test your value. Interview elsewhere, even if you’re not planning to leave. Bring competing offers to the table. This is something I never did – if I had, I am more than certain that my CEO would have matched it. More importantly, I would have had renewed confidence in my worth.

If you’re 25, build skills that make you marketable – the two I recommend for all ages – get really good at selling and storytelling. At 35, network relentlessly. At 55, remember: it’s never too late to negotiate or pivot.

Step 5: Save Like a Stoic

Saving isn’t just a financial practice – it’s a mindset. Galloway ties saving to the Stoic virtues of courage, wisdom, justice, and temperance:

• Courage: Don’t buy things to impress others.

• Wisdom: Recognize that material possessions rarely bring lasting joy.

• Justice: Save for your future self and loved ones.

• Temperance: Resist the temptation to splurge.

At 30, I wasted money on things I thought would make me happy. By 50, I’d learned that contentment isn’t about having more – it’s about wanting less. While I practice temperance, I do spend on experiences and things that give my family and me joy.

Step 6: Start Compounding

The earlier you start investing, the easier it gets. Even small contributions grow exponentially over time.

At 50, I started late but steady. Watching those investments grow – even slowly – gave me a sense of control and optimism.

If you’re 25, start now. At 35, increase your contributions. At 60, focus on steady returns aligned with your goals.

Your Journey

You, the reader, are the hero of this story. I hope that my experience and Galloway’s framework help you cut through the noise.

Ask yourself:

• Am I living my life, or someone else’s?

• What’s one action I can take today to build freedom?

Whether it’s focusing on your talent, starting an exercise routine, saving $100, or renegotiating your worth, the first step is always the hardest—but it’s also the most important.

Let’s stop chasing someone else’s version of success and start building lives we actually love.

And remember: We are all just doing our best. Assume Positive Intent.

Let me know how I can help.

Adi