Heraclitus posited that man cannot step onto the same river twice much less two or more people step onto the same piece of water (river) twice. So Heraclitus’ philosophy states that the world is in constant flux and no two people can really follow the exact same path and this is my thesis for personal finance and wealth.

I can illustrate step by step the path that I’ve taken to building the wealth I have now but it’s going to be virtual impossible for anyone to follow it exactly or closely unless they live in the same places I lived, experienced the same triumphs and set backs and lived life exactly the way I lived it.

I think this explains why, despite hundreds and hundreds of personal finance, get rich, and self development books fail to make everyone healthy wealthy and wise. A real estate guru might write the best most perfect way to invest in real estate to make millions but if the real estate market changes or if the capital markets don’t exist then it’s completely irrelevant when the world moves on and changes.

And while no two people can step into the same river twice, everyone can step into it at their own leisure and at a time of their choosing and take something away from it.