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I am not very much into computer games, but I am told that creativity comes when you keep an open mind and try new things out of comfort zones. So, I started playing a computer game named Build-a-lot.

Wealth building
It is a real estate strategy game. I am usually given with little money at the start, and need to meet some challenges, such as making big chunk of money or having certain numbers of luxury properties at the end of the game within time limit. (Read another blogger talking about this game)

I found the critical step is to maintain high level of cash flow by flipping houses and/or earning decent rental income. That way I can continue to increase the value or number of holding in my overall property portfolio.

That reminds me one important wealth building concept. Cash gives you the power to acquire assets, but only assets can retain and build true wealth. Cash or income is the mean and asset is the end.

Wealth building for the self-employed
For many self-employed and professionals, the start-up assets are our own education, skills and experiences, which can easily become obsolete and are difficult to scale up. The potential of your wealth will be limited to your individual life-time productivity.

Scale up
So we need to have scalable assets. We can hire helping hands or employees to expand the scope of works in the form of company. We need to invent work processes to coordinate peoples, deal with banks to secure working capitals, seek out volume of orders on top of being innovation to be competitive. Obviously, high stress comes with high responsibility and work complexity. It may not be an ideal asset strictly from the view point that it destroys our quality of life.

Or, go passive
I believe that the alternative logical important asset is real estate investment because this type of asset works for you in totally different way. We choose to be self-employed partly because we can steer our life and maintain certain balances. We can continue to enjoy our work, while real estate assets work for you at the same time by generating passive income. You may liquidate it for cash or exchange it for assets with higher values. The real estate market could depress like now, but in long run, it is still an ideal complement piece to  make self-employed a sustainable and fun life style.

Check out the fun:

Build-a-lot 4: Power Source [Game Download]

Build-a-lot 3: Passport to Europe [Game Download]

Build-a-lot 2: Town of the Year [Game Download]

Build-a-lot [Game Download]