Just recently published in 2025, Sahil’s book, The 5 Types of Wealth, has been my favourite book so far this year. I listen to a couple of books per month to ensure my learning is current to inspire learners on courses and high performers with their coaching. Today on World Book Day it is great to share my reflections. Thank you too to my husband Mike Boxall who recently attended Sahil Bloom’s book launch and gave me a signed copy.
Working through the 5 types of wealth, Sahil explores the following:
- Time wealth
- Social wealth
- Mental wealth
- Physical wealth
- Financial wealth
Being a superfan of Daniel Pink’s book ‘Drive’ it is great to see financial wealth tackled last because this ‘external’ motivator is not the only source of wealth. Long-term happiness, growth and success goes far beyond the money we make or our financial assets. Wealth is about the richness in other areas of our lives.
Time Wealth
How many of us are victims to time? Saying such things as ‘I can’t keep on top of things!’ or not noticing we’ve spent several hours scrolling through meaningless content on social media or even doing things which are not our priorities…. Sahil refers to one of my favourite models which explores the difference between urgency and importance – acknowledging we have a choice about where we turn our focus. We have absolute control over how we focus our time/attention/energy and we have a choice to say no to distractions or things which are not aligned to our purpose, the legacy we wish to create, relationships or passions. By making intentional decisions to spend our time on what truly matters will give us that sense of purpose, joy and self-worth.
Social Wealth
Social wealth refers to the relationships and networks we build throughout our lives. Both our personal and professional connections need to offer support, opportunities and enrich our lives. Sahil provides so many practical tools in this chapter to evaluate your relationships and to focus on those which are most enriching – letting go of those which are not or decreasing the time you spend with people who drain your energy. I especially loved the concept of ‘loud listening’ and reflected on a 121 which was set for one hour in length and was a networking/introduction meeting with a fellow business owner. After 55 minutes they said, ‘ooh, we’d best talk about you now’. Suffice to say, I didn’t decide to work with them moving forward as ‘reciprocity’ was completely missing and I suspect collaboration and trust would have been difficult longer term. I love spending time with people I feel safe with and take Sahil’s advice to focus on quality not quantity in my relationships.
Mental Wealth
Unlike the person I’ve just mentioned above, curiosity is key to mental wealth – taking time to ask amazing open questions, to listen and learn. On a daily basis pursuing growth and consistently chasing our full potential by having a growth mindset is key to having great wealth in this area. For me personally, this is the place in which I feel wonderfully wealthy. When Sahil explores the Ikigai principle, I can allocate some big ticks in:
- Doing what I love
- Doing what I’m good at and thankfully
- Doing something which the world needs.
Every day I chase my purpose which is ‘to use global inspiration, utilising training and coaching to create entrepreneurial and creative workplaces so that people feel safe to be innovative and are the best version of themselves’. This is my purpose and not someone else’s and provides me with daily meaning, it also assists with my decision making on both a short and long-term basis.
Physical Wealth
This chapter emphasises the importance of taking care of your body and maintaining good health. This area is often overlooked despite it playing a crucial role in our ability to succeed and live a fulfilling life. Without good health, it becomes much harder to achieve the other types of wealth.
Physical wealth isn’t just about working out or looking good—it’s about creating a sustainable, healthy lifestyle that supports all other areas of your life. This includes proper nutrition, regular exercise, sufficient sleep, and stress management. Sahil also highlights the importance of being proactive about your health, with a focus on prevention rather than just reacting to problems as they arise. He sees this area as the foundation which allows us to pursue our goals and to enjoy the other forms of wealth. Without it, we may feel limited or restricted in our pursuits.
Financial Wealth
If we mention ‘wealth’, this is probably the area which is referenced first – the money and assets that give us the ability to buy what we want and secure our financial future. Financial wealth provides security, freedom, and access to opportunities. However, Sahil advises that it’s important to remember that financial wealth is only one piece of the puzzle. While money can buy you comfort and open doors, it doesn’t necessarily lead to fulfilment or happiness. The key is not just making money, but making money that aligns with your values and goals. The parts of this area which I found most useful were to be clear on ‘what is enough’, ‘creating and receiving value’ and the 7 basic principles of expense management. No one teaches you this at school, college or university and I know I definitely picked up some bad information on route.
Overall
You may have read some of the principles in different places, however, what this lovely book does beautifully, is bring them together into one place and offers a well-rounded approach to fulfilment in our lives. All 5 areas of wealth are interconnected and by intentionally, consciously and deliberately practicing the areas of growth in each area by using the practical tips, we’ll be able to achieve a happier, balanced, resilient and more successful life.