The People Who Cancelled Netflix: How Quietly Wealthy People Use Time and Think Long-Term

At a networking event in LA, I ended up chatting with a guy wearing jeans and a plain t-shirt. He looked like just an average Joe—completely down to earth. I made a casual Breaking Bad reference, thinking everyone had seen it, but he just smiled and said, "I don't really watch TV anymore."

🎬 The Businessman Who Quit TV

As we talked more, I learned he owned a small company that made biodegradable coffee cups. His business had taken off and he was doing extremely well financially, but you never would have guessed it just by looking at him.

He told me he had cancelled his Netflix and social media accounts because they weren't adding anything meaningful to his life anymore.

Instead, he spent his downtime:

• Attending networking events like the one we were at
• Joining a cycling club where he met other business owners
• Reading books like "Atomic Habits" and "Secrets of the Millionaire Mind"

💡 Not Catching Pop Culture References Was the Giveaway

When I thought back to my first impression of him, nothing about him screamed wealthy. But the moment he didn't catch a pop culture reference, that was the giveaway.

He wasn't focused on what everyone else was watching. He was focused on building something of his own.

Quietly wealthy people often use their free time to grow—learning, networking, or simply doing things that add value to their lives. They rarely spend hours zoning out in front of a screen.

📅 Thinking in Decades, Not Days

Another sign someone might be wealthy is that their time horizon is different. It sounds abstract, but take a minute and think about the conversations you've heard lately.

Examples of Short-Term Thinking:

• "I just need to make it to payday."
• "I'll start saving once this month is over."
• "I'll see how things go before deciding on next week's expenses."

Examples of Long-Term Thinking:

• "I'm setting this year up to buy my first rental property by 2030."
• "I'm building and stacking my skills so I can double my income in the next 5 years."
• "I'm investing now because I want my 40s to feel financially free."

Long-term thinking is a mindset wealthy people almost always share. They're constantly thinking about what's coming next year, next decade, or even during their retirement years.

💰 A Different Perspective on Paychecks

When they get their paycheck, most people see it as a month's worth of spending. But wealthy people see it as a chance to shape their future.

I learned early on that there's no better way to improve your financial position than by thinking long term. The decisions you make today—saving, investing, learning new skills—are the ones that will determine how financially free you'll be 10 years from now.

🎯 How to Start Thinking Long-Term

1. Set Goals for 5 and 10 Years Out

Don't just say "I want to make more money." Set specific numbers and targets.

2. Allocate Part of Every Paycheck to the Future

When you get paid, invest in your future first, then live on the rest.

3. Audit Your Free Time

How many hours a day do you spend in front of screens? Could some of that time go toward learning or networking?

4. Invest in Skill Building

Think about how the new skills you learn today could impact your income five years from now.

🌟 Final Thoughts

Do you think you're not wealthy enough to invest? I want to challenge that belief. There's a good chance you'll realize you're more ready to start investing today than you think.

The common thread among quietly wealthy people is that they choose tomorrow's freedom over today's entertainment. They cancel their streaming subscriptions and read books instead. They think about their 10-year goals instead of this month's expenses.

Start small. What if tonight, instead of Netflix, you read one chapter of a personal finance book? Those small choices add up to make a big difference.