From one perspective, for some people it is only important to feel rich relative to others within their circle. When we feel wealthy in comparison to this cohort, we perceive that we are rich. Additionally, we set ourselves goals and, when we meet these goals, we feel a sense of satisfaction. Unfortunately, this feeling is short-lived, and the endless cycle means that new goals are needed to make us happy. Another perspective is that money in itself does not bring happiness, but it enables people to purchase the products and services that they derive satisfaction from. Not from typical material goods but from other more basic and important needs. The richest countries unsurprisingly are also the happiest countries. Whilst money on its own might not bring happiness, it does let people access health and education that provide much satisfaction. It's not the money on its own that makes you happy but the things it's linked to like health and education. “The truth is, having a job is no safer than owning a business,” Siebold argues. “As counterintuitive as this may seem, people who work for themselves have the power to proactively seek out business and increase revenues at will.”

While rich people launch businesses and profit from them, average people settle for the steady pay cheque and therefore miss out on the chance to generate a fortune, he says. “The masses almost guarantee themselves a life of financial mediocrity by staying in a job with a modest salary and yearly pay raises.”