That’s what your college career counselor wants you to think.

And if you use this “asset” the way they expect – if you ride out a desk job for 40 or 50 years and apply the advice of mainstream financial gurus – you’ll be rich enjoy a comfortable retirement hopefully have enough cash left over to support yourself in the end.

Adhering to conventional wisdom means tucking away 10% of your income into a retirement account, building a balanced stock portfolio, and resisting that Corvette while in the throes of your midlife crisis.

Most people make these sacrifices with hardly a second thought.  Sounds like a reasonable trade, they think.  Not a lot to ask for a comfortable retirement.

Or is it?

Day after day… for the next 40 or 50 years!

Just like the guy who tried to sell you that Hawaiian timeshare, the “experts” want you to ignore the fine print of the bargain and just sign up.

They don’t mention that following their gospel means you must show up rain or shine.  Whether you’re healthy or sick, you must be producing.  Always.  There’s no time for prolonged illness, exploration, or an extended holiday.

You are not a machine, but the moment you stop pretending like you are is the moment you lose.

If you slow down for a minute, even if it’s to question whether what you’re doing is best for you in the first place, your boss will shower you in pink slips.

There are too many others waiting in the wings to take your place.

You can’t afford to break down or stop for an oil change.

When you operate in the “Skin and Bones Paradigm” – the one that relies on you showing up every day and punching a clock for 40 years – the power of your mind comes secondary to your immune system and willingness to forgo family vacations.

What if you could design a system that earned money whether you were “working” or sleeping?

Something that would support you during your inevitable lapses in productivity and life dramas?

Something with unlimited earning potential, that operated within your exclusive control?

It is possible.

Architects of these systems come from all walks of life, but they all recognize that their minds are their greatest wealth-building assets.

While everyone else is keeping up with the Kardashians, these people are studying marketing, copywriting, and sales.

They’re relentless in their quest to learn and to avoid mental atrophy.

Then they take that knowledge and tumble it around in their minds until out pops an idea sharp enough to solve a problem or satisfy an unmet need.

I’m not knocking hard work.  On the contrary.  But you need to make sure you’re doing the right kind of  hard work.

Mental work brought us Mozart, Anna Karenina, and Apple Computers.

It’s unique, world-changing stuff that can’t be replaced with a quick email over to HR.

Mental work allows you to impact millions of lives.

And when you impact millions, you make millions.

P.S. How do you work “smarter” and not harder?  What works well for you?  Leave me a comment below and let me know!