When I was working in Silicon Valley, I met a senior PM who’d been at Microsoft for a decade.

Top 1% earner.

Smart, respected, killer resume.

But here’s the wild part—

He was still living paycheck to paycheck.

Why?

Because he played the wrong game.

But FIRST

If you are new, welcome to OCE’s weekly newsletter curated for the ambitious youth…here are some articles you missed from previous weeks:

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Forget Goal-Setting, Here’s What Actually Works

Best tools for building your passion project

Ready for some real talk?

Most teens grow up hearing the same thing:

“Study hard. Get a stable job. Live below your means and save for retirement.”

It’s advice wrapped in love... but born from fear.

Here’s the problem no one tells you:

If you work a high-paying job in California (like I did), a huge chunk goes to taxes.

You might be making $250K on paper, but your take-home could be less than $130K.

Then factor in rent, inflation, and student loans?

You're basically running on a hamster wheel in a Patagonia vest. Savings? There is no room for savings.

That’s not wealth. That’s survival with a fancier lunch.

So what’s the better game?

I call it the Wealth Loop.

It’s what I’m focusing on right now—and how I plan to exit, then do it all over again.

Let me walk you through it.

Step 1: Start a cash-flowing business

I started a property management company from the ground up.

We help home owners turn their properties into income-generating machine—then handle everything for them.

The business pays me—not a boss.

And the more systems I build, the less it relies on me.

Cash flow is the foundation of the wealth loop.

It’s what gives you options.

It’s the engine that powers every next move.

Step 2: Stack strategic partnerships

Most people try to do everything alone.

I’d rather build win-wins.

So I:

Partner with real estate agents and mortgage brokers → they send me clients
Partner with interior designers → I help them close deals faster, they refer me clients
Work with lenders → I provide niche insights for their borrowers, they send me clients

These partnerships create a flywheel of opportunities.

And every deal I touch builds leverage.

Step 3: Reinvest + Optimize for Taxes:

Once the business started making consistent money (the step I'm on), I didn’t let it sit around.

I reinvested it—strategically.

Improvements that increase income (ex: hiring, tools, marketing etc)
Invest further into tax free saving accounts
Growth in my other business—OCE, where I help teens like you build something real

But here’s the part no one teaches you in school:

The wealthy isn’t just about earning more—it is also about keeping more.

As a business owner, I get access to tax strategies employees don’t.

I write off business expenses:

flights, laptops, meals, even parts of my rent if I work from home.

I believe in paying taxes—but not a dime more than I have to.

Step 4: Build to Exit

I always build with an end game in mind and reverse engineer.

Here’s what that looks like:

I create systems so operations don’t depend on me
I grow recurring revenue (management fees, rev share, advisory roles)
I increase brand value, partnerships, and trust

Once I’ve built a machine with predictable income and minimal founder dependence...

I sell it.

Then I take the capital, rest for a minute, and spin up the next loop—faster and smarter.

The first loop takes the longest.

But after that?

It’s rinse and repeat.

The second business? Built in half the time.

The third? Even faster.

It compounds.

Not just your money, but your skill, confidence, and connections.

Teens, if you’re still reading this… you’re already ahead.

You don’t need to become a business genius tomorrow.

But you do need to start thinking like someone who builds wealth, not just earns it.

Start with a project.

Solve a real problem.

Build something small that pays you.

Then build your first loop.

You can win the game—if you stop following the crowd.

Like what you read? Share with friends!

PS. This summer, we are going to tackle pressing global issues and drive innovation in regions (such as your own community) where it is needed the most. Want in?

We run a summer cohort for ambitious youth (high school and undergrads) to work directly with world-class founders while learning from Silicon Valley leaders.

OCE Summer Cohort

You can also explore purposeful opportunities through our Impact Internship Opportunities Database.

Get Curious.

Lena

https://www.openclassroomexperience.com/