I earn decent money and have a side hustle. But my wealth isn’t growing as fast as I’d like

OpinionMoney contributorSeptember 8, 2026 — 3:50pmSeptember 8, 2026 — 3:50pmI’m not growing (financially) as fast as I’d like. I’m earning a decent income, so I’m able to save and invest. I’ve also started a business on the side to increase my income. I feel like I’m doing everything right – saving, investing, etc – and I see people online who grow very quickly (for example, going viral within a few months of starting a social media channel; hitting a million-dollar net worth by 30, and so on). How can I fast-track my growth?Sometimes, focusing too much on speed of growth can backfire.How can I fast-track my growth?Simon LetchIt’s not uncommon for people to experience a crash-and-burn of sorts after rapid growth. I know of an online creator who was growing rapidly a few years back (millions of dollars in revenue within a few short years). Then she disappeared for a while. Now, she’s returned to share the story of how her life fell apart behind the scenes.I’ve seen some variation of this many times: the person who went hard to achieve FIRE (financial independence, retire early) by 30 and then fell into a depression, or the person who made a million within her first year of business and spent it just as quickly.I find that focusing on sustainable growth works better for most, and can also deliver faster growth long term. The strategies that deliver fast growth short term are not always the same strategies that optimise for sustainable growth long term. You can see this in other contexts: dieting might get weight off quickly, but it won’t keep it off long term.Sometimes, strategies that deliver fast growth will keep you chasing quick wins because they’re fundamentally unsustainable. So, is it possible to get 20 per cent returns trading stocks? Is it possible to grind your way to your next revenue goal? Sure, but the real question is: can you sustain it?What takes someone from being broke to having tens of thousands in savings, or being terrified of investing to being a confident investor, isn’t just about what they do financially – it’s also about the internal transformation that takes place.It may seem like you just want to brute force yourself to the end goal. But the truth is that you don’t just want to get there; you want to be able to stay there. You want to enjoy it when you do get there – not have your whole life collapse around you, or just drag yourself across the finish line.This takes a different approach, one that doesn’t just focus on the external outcome, but your own personal skills, mindset and capacity to create and sustain that outcome long term. In other words, the question isn’t “How do I get there faster?” Instead, it’s: “How do I grow into a version of myself where that outcome is a natural byproduct of who I am and how I live my life?”You can buy the investment that some influencer promises will get you good returns, but you also need to expand your capacity to tolerate market volatility to see that through long term.You can also have the perfect budgeting app, but saving consistently will also require a healthier relationship to spending so you’re not cycling through deprivation and bingeing.Likewise, you can have the best product or service, but if you’re scared of selling, or scared of being seen or judged by strangers, you’ll have a hard time getting yourself noticed in the marketplace.The focus isn’t just building the bank balance. It’s also on developing you, the person, because then the financial behaviours that lead to growth aren’t something you have to force – they come naturally. It can be compared to people who have developed an enjoyment for healthy food but aren’t necessarily trying to restrict their diet. Those choices are a normal part of their life, and the health outcomes are an inevitable byproduct.Having helped countless clients significantly fast-track their financial growth in under 12 months, I’ve seen that this is the key to faster and more sustainable growth. What takes someone from being broke to having tens of thousands in savings, or being terrified of investing to being a confident investor, isn’t just about what they do financially – it’s also about the internal transformation that takes place. They aren’t chasing faster growth, they are pursuing their own development and that naturally leads to faster growth.So, I invite you to take a step back. What is the specific outcome you want? “Faster growth” is too vague. What gaps do you see in your capacity to create and sustain that outcome? For example, if you want a million-dollar investment portfolio, are you ready to watch your portfolio value dip by tens of thousands with market movements? If you want to go viral on social media, can you stomach the judgment from strangers that might come with it?Right now, your focus is on the outcome, but you might get there faster by focusing less on the outcome and more on the process, by viewing wealth creation as a craft or a skill to refine and master, not as a destination to race towards so you can tick it off your list.Paridhi Jain is a money and mindset coach who combines practical strategies with mindset transformation to help clients create more freedom and fulfilment in wealth, work and life. Find Paridhi at: skilledsmart.com.auAdvice given in this article is general in nature and is not intended to influence readers’ decisions about investing or financial products. They should always seek their own professional advice that takes into account their own personal circumstances before making any financial decisions.Expert tips on how to save, invest and make the most of your money delivered to your inbox every Sunday. Sign up for our Real Money newsletter.From our partners