The Wealth Money Can’t Buy

This Book Is for You If…

✔ You believe wealth is about more than money—it’s about how you live, love, and grow.   

✔ You want more meaning and joy in your everyday moments. 

✔ You’re open to simple, practical habits that make life feel richer. 

Reading this feels like a gentle conversation with a wise friend,  
offering daily nudges toward a richer, more meaningful life. 

The Richest Life Is Closer Than You Think 

Book Review & Reflection by Lindsay Smith, LCSW

The Wealth Money Can’t Buy: The 8 Hidden Habits to Live Your Richest Life

By Robin Sharma 

Mood of the Book:

Warm, Encouraging, and Practical

5 Gems to Fuel Growth…

Savor the moment you’re in. 

The shift I needed: Presence isn’t just about being there—it’s about being all there. 

When I’m with someone I love, I want them to feel like nothing else in the world matters more in that moment. That means putting my phone away, looking them in the eyes, and soaking in the connection.  

I’ve been intentional about this lately—planning family scavenger hunts with my nephews, taking them snorkeling for the first time in Costa Rica, laughing together until our cheeks hurt. Those moments don’t just happen; we create them, and they’re too precious to rush through.  

Life has taught me that we never know when it will be the “last time,” so I aim to treat every interaction as if it were. The more I focus on what’s good right now, the more joy and gratitude I feel—and the more I realize that the richest memories are the ones we’re fully present for. 

Taste before you salt.

The shift I needed: Openness invites life to surprise us in the best ways. 

I love Robin’s reminder not to salt your food before you taste it. It’s a simple habit (one I’ve definitely been guilty of) and such a powerful metaphor for life.  

How often do we assume we know what’s coming—or judge an experience before we’re even in it?  

I’ve caught myself doing this—expecting something to be exactly like the last time, or assuming I already know how it will feel. But the truth is, every moment is new. The “dish” might surprise us, and we’ll only discover that if we stay open and curious.  

Now, I try to approach each situation like I’m tasting it for the first time—whether it’s meeting someone new, revisiting a familiar place, or facing an unexpected change. It’s a way of letting life reveal its flavors before deciding how to season it. 

Listen to learn, not to reply.

The shift I needed: Holding space to hear someone fully is one of the greatest gifts we can give. 

I’ve always considered myself a good listener—at least in professional settings. As a therapist, I know how to be fully present, not interrupt, and let someone feel truly seen.  

But in everyday life, I’ve noticed a different pattern: jumping in mid-sentence because I think I know what the other person is about to say. It’s not only arrogant, it robs them of feeling heard.  

Robin’s reminder reframed listening for me: “the person doing the listening is the person gaining the learning.” Now, I’m practicing listening as if each conversation holds something I’ve never heard before. I do my best to wait a beat before responding, resist the urge to finish their thought, and focus on understanding over answering. It’s amazing how much deeper connections feel when we offer the rare gift of our full attention. 

Always think like a beginner. 

The shift I needed: Staying a student is the surest way to keep evolving. 

When we reach a certain level of success, it’s tempting to believe we’ve “arrived.” I’ve been there. When my counseling centers were thriving, I was still committed to personal and professional growth, but I wasn’t pushing the business to innovate like I once had. That quiet complacency can be dangerous.  

The moment we stop learning, we start declining. Robin’s reminder to think like a beginner reignited something in me: the hunger to learn, the willingness to question, and the courage to try new things even when they’re uncomfortable.  

Beginners are open, curious, and eager to grow. Experts risk getting stuck thinking they already know. My goal now is to stay a student—pursuing growth for the results, the lessons, and the person I become along the way. 

Ask the billion-dollar business question.

The shift I needed: The questions we ask can shape the future we build. 

It’s easy to ask people what they liked about working with us—we enjoy hearing the good stuff. But Robin’s advice goes further: thank them for their feedback, then ask what they didn’t like. And once they’ve answered, ask, “If you were in my shoes, how would you go about making things great?” That last question is gold. Even if you can’t implement every suggestion, you’ll uncover ideas you might never have considered. This isn’t about fishing for compliments; it’s about creating something better. 

The truth is, we can’t improve what we’re not willing to see clearly. I’m excited to use this approach in the future, not just in business, but in relationships and personal growth too. Sometimes the most valuable answers come from the courage to ask the hard questions—and the willingness to really listen. 

My 3 Core Ratings (1-5)

This book felt like chatting with a wise friend who lets you peek into his day before sharing a nugget of encouragement. The quick, bite-sized chapters keep it light, and the mix of personal glimpses and practical tips makes it easy to enjoy. 

There are many great tips. Several reinforce practices I already use, and a few spark fresh shifts. Because there are so many ideas, the real growth comes from choosing a handful to apply deeply and consistently.

Ease of action really depends on your pace. The 175 short chapters are packed with tips—some you can use immediately, others require practice over time. Reading it in just a few sittings left me with more ideas than I could realistically apply or remember, unless they were already part of my routine.

Mic Drop Moment:

“What creates vast joy is not material goods but magical moments doing things
that flood us with feelings of gratefulness, wonder, and awe.”

– Robin Sharma

Notes, Nudges & Nuggets:

✔ Even one small, well-chosen habit, applied daily, can have a huge impact over time.  

✔ Simple kindnesses—genuine compliments, handwritten notes, remembering small details—can leave a lasting legacy.  

✔ A rich life grows from small choices: the conversations you nurture, where you place your energy, and the boundaries you protect.  

If you’re thinking about picking up this book – or doing any Amazon shopping – clicking through my link helps support future reviews at no extra cost to you. Thank you so much for your support!

Final Reflection:

Joy deepens when we slow down enough to notice it, when we let people feel heard,
and when we keep learning on purpose. The path is simple, not easy: presence over autopilot, questions over assumptions, humility over certainty. 

_________________________

Let one simple act of presence today transform an ordinary moment into a lasting memory.

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