A friend asked: “Hey, I have a question for you - if you wanted to make money just for the sake of making money in the fairly short term (5-10 years), what would you choose: investing in stocks, buying real estate, starting a business, investing in other people's businesses, doing work independently that pays well (consulting hourly), getting a job that pays really well or other?”
My answer is quite different from other people because I have never had an interest in making money. I’ve just consulted on the subject and observed closely.
I have said many times: most people with talent and competence have a choice between (a) doing something socially important and (b) making scads of money. These choices are mutually exclusive. Since the mutually exclusive part is not understood, most people mix up the two and muddle along at both.
Making scads of money, short or long term, is a matter of being with the right people. You all know about Bill Gates, but for every Bill Gates there are three Paul Allens. The loyal buddies who provided important balance, were intensely devoted and competent. These buddies are behind nearly every successful money mogul. You may not be the Bill Gates but you can be the Paul Allen if you align yourself with the right people and make a contribution.
The kind of people you are looking for as associates are ambitious, money oriented, have made money since they were 18 years old and who like you. Work together. That is the secret of making scads of money. It can happen in any field, I have countless examples, including old fields like the railroad industry.