Larry Winget was the in-your-face host of A&E Television’s Big Spender and the New York Times best-selling author of People Are Idiots and I Can Prove It and You’re Broke Because You Want to Be. Winget says he grew up “dirt poor’’ in Muskogee, Okla., and determined that he would one day be rich. Despite a bankruptcy, Winget says he today is a millionaire. In this exclusive interview with WEALTH magazine, the brash TV personality and motivational speaker lives up to his nickname: the “Pitbull of Personal Development.’’
WEALTH magazine: What motivates you?
Winget: When I was in eighth grade, a kid walked in and made fun of me for having one pair of jeans. At that point, I said: “I am going to get rich. I’ll be a rich guy. I don’t know how, but I will be rich.” I was never going to experience that humiliation again.
WEALTH: How do you define success?
Winget: That you become all you can in life. You maximize your fullest potential. If you have the capability of acquiring millions and you settle for $40,000 a year, you’re an idiot. You’re a success as long as you are doing your best in every area of your life.
WEALTH: Can everyone acquire wealth?
Winget: Sure. I’m not saying everybody will be a millionaire. There’s no quick and easy way to get rich. It’s hard and slow and it’s a lot of work. That should not be the goal. The goal should be, “Do the best you can with the talents you have.’’
WEALTH: What are your talents?
Winget: I have the gift of clarity. My marketable talent is I can sell anybody anything. I’ve always had the ability to sell. I happen to be able to communicate very, very clearly. I’m funny. I have a unique approach. That’s key.
You’re a success as long as you are doing your best in every area of your life. –Larry Winget
WEALTH: How do people figure out their talents?
Winget: It’s usually not what you’re doing right now. Ask people what they think you’re good at. Ask people around you. If you would listen to folks around you, what you have shows up. People just don’t learn to exploit that gift.
WEALTH: Lots of Americans are struggling right now. Many have lost their jobs. What do you say to them? Is there hope at the end of the tunnel?
Winget: Hope is a dumb idea. Hope is not a strategy for success. It’s certainly not a wealth strategy. What do you do? It’s up to you. “What am I going to do about it?” That’s what people need to ask themselves. Are they willing to get a second job? … It’s not about what you do. It’s about, what are your core values? What are your priorities? Your money always goes to what’s important to you. It doesn’t matter what you do. It matters what your priorities are.
WEALTH: What do you say about the country’s current economic woes?
Winget: We caused them. We have to experience the pain of the consequences. We need to go through this. We had a false economy based on a lot of stupid things. Bailouts are not going to fix this. People are losing their jobs. Chances are, they should be fired. They should be foreclosed on. They bought a house they couldn’t afford. Our current situation with the economy was created by people who are irresponsible with their personal money. There’s a lot of good that can come out of all this bad. Used to be, there were so many jobs you didn’t have to work hard because there was a lot of work. When you go to work now, you have to work for what you are actually paid to do.
WEALTH: What advice would you like to offer people?
Winget: If you went home and took responsibility for your life, your bills and your family, we could fix all this stuff. Are you willing to do what you can to get what you want? Most people are not willing to do what it takes.
Tags: Larry Winget, millionaire, motivation, success, wealth generation