Sahil Bloom

What if we’ve been measuring success all wrong? For much of our lives, we’ve been conditioned to see money as the only true measure of wealth. Sahil Bloom challenges this notion in The 5 Types of Wealth, a book that balances aspiration with actionable steps and grace while recognizing what makes us beautifully unique and dynamic as humans. During our recent conversation, Sahil’s authenticity and practical wisdom shined as he discussed his journey, his insights, and the profound lessons embedded in his work. 

For the full interview, listen to our ‘Evolving with Gratitude’ podcast episode here. Also available on your favorite podcast platform.

Starting with the Right Questions 

Sahil began our conversation with a bold statement: “I don’t have the answers for you.” This might seem unconventional in the world of self-improvement, but as Sahil explained, “The reality is that every single person’s life is completely different. All of our considerations, our backgrounds, our priorities, they’re all different. The most important thing that I can do is help you ask the right questions.” This approach invites us to wrestle with our own truths, empowering us to uncover what holds the deepest meaning for your life. 

Redefining Wealth

Sahil’s path to redefining wealth stemmed from a deeply personal realization. Reflecting on his early years, he admitted, “The first 30 years of my life, I basically made all of my decisions on the basis of insecurity… I was looking for an external solution to an internal problem.” Despite outward success, Sahil found himself chasing an elusive sense of fulfillment, a phenomenon known as the “arrival fallacy.” He shared, “We think that one day we’re going to wake up and feel contentment, joy, and happiness. But what we find, time and time again, is that it’s a fallacy. You get there, you feel a momentary blip of euphoria, and then immediately you feel this, ‘Is that it?’” 

Money is a contributor to time, people, purpose, and health, but it’s not an end in and of itself. 

–Sahil Bloom

This realization led Sahil to reevaluate his life and define wealth in a more holistic way, identifying five distinct types: Time Wealth, Social Wealth, Mental Wealth, Physical Wealth, and Financial Wealth. As he aptly noted, “It is about time, people, purpose, and health. Money is a contributor to a lot of those things, but it’s not an end in and of itself.” 

The Beauty of Time Wealth 

Never let the quest for more distract you from the beauty of enough.

–Sahil Bloom

Among these, Time Wealth holds a special place in Sahil’s heart. He shared a poignant story about an older man he met while walking his newborn son. This gentleman said: “I remember being out here with my newborn daughter. She’s 45 years old now. It goes by fast, cherish it.” Sahil took his son back home and brought him into bed with his wife. “My wife was still asleep, and the sun was just coming through the windows. It’s a moment I’ll never forget. It’s so clear in my mind because he had this little smile on his face. And I just had this sensation that, for the first time in my life, I had arrived. But I didn’t want anything more.” Sahil goes on to share a powerful truth: “Never let the quest for more distract you from the beauty of enough.” 

Building Mental Wealth

Mental Wealth, another pillar of his framework, is rooted in purpose and mindfulness. Sahil’s “1-1-1 Method”—writing down one win, one stress point, and one moment of gratitude each day—is a simple yet impactful practice for cultivating awareness. He emphasized, “When we don’t pause and recognize [beautiful moments], they don’t get internalized. Stopping to notice these moments improves your mental health, it improves your sleep, and you just feel so much more texture in your days.” 

Investing in Social Wealth 

On the topic of Social Wealth, Sahil highlighted the Harvard Study of Adult Development, which revealed that the strength of our relationships is the greatest predictor of our health and happiness later in life. He explained, “We don’t think to invest in relationships in the same way as we think to invest in a stock or a mutual fund, but relationships pay dividends. Arguably [relationships are] even more important and more impactful than any financial investment you can make.” 

Simplifying Physical Wealth

Physical Wealth, often glamorized on social media, is another area where Sahil’s perspective is refreshingly grounded. Using a video game analogy, he explained, “Level one of movement is just move for 30 minutes a day. Walk, jog, sprint, run, ski, dance—whatever movement you enjoy, do that every single day for 30 minutes.” 

The most successful people in the world, in whatever domain, have a tiny gap between when they consume information and when they act on that information.

–Sahil Bloom

Sahil also emphasized the importance of shrinking the gap between consuming information and taking action: “The most successful people in the world, in whatever domain, have a tiny gap between when they consume information and when they act on that information. That momentum is life-changing.” For example, if you’re inspired by Sahil’s advice to move daily, don’t wait—lace up your shoes and go for a walk right now. Then, reflect on how taking one small step can create the momentum needed to build your physical wealth over time. That simple action can be the start of a positive domino effect for your physical wealth.

The Life Razor: A Guiding Principle 

At the core of his book is a practical tool called the Life Razor, which helps us define our priorities with a single guiding principle. Inspired by Netflix founder Mark Randolph’s ritual of never missing a Tuesday dinner with his wife, Sahil encouraged us to create our own version: “What’s your statement of, ‘I am the type of person who ___’?” What is it for you? For Sahil, it’s being the type of person who will coach his son’s sports teams, a commitment that shapes his actions and reinforces his values. 

A Call to Action 

Ultimately, Sahil’s message is one of empowerment. He reminds us that time is our most precious asset, and redefining wealth starts with recognizing its value. 

“Time tends to be one of those things we don’t think about until the very end, when it’s the only thing we think about,” he said. “ Making that mental shift, recognizing just how finite, just how impermanent your time is, just how precious it is, that is what unlocks all of this.” 

Tiny daily investments make a huge long-term impact. 

–Sahil Bloom

Sahil’s The 5 Types of Wealth is more than a book—it’s an invitation to pause, reflect, and take meaningful action toward a life rich in all its dimensions. As Sahil himself put it, “Tiny daily investments make a huge long-term impact.” 

Start small: Reflect on what truly matters to you and take one action today to align your time with those priorities. 

In Bold Gratitude
Lainie 

Connect with and learn from Sahil Bloom 

Website: SahilBloom.com 

Book: The 5 Types of Wealth: A Transformative Guide to Design Your Dream Life 

Events: The5TypesofWealth.com/events

The 5 Types of Wealth: A Transformative Guide to Design Your Dream Life by Sahil Bloom