Most wealthy people own their businesses and work for themselves. They use their talents and skills to build their business empires. They constantly pursue more revenue, efficiency, and productivity. They work hard, think critically, and take significant risks while making sacrifices along the way. They are always hungry for creative ways to acquire and retain talented employees who can help them succeed. Their journey from poverty to wealth is never simple, and for many, it may seem impossible to follow.

Every new college graduate usually faces two options: 1) Become an entrepreneur and start a business, or 2) Become an employee that a business owner dreams of hiring.

Unfortunately, most people never try to pursue the first option. I don’t blame them—schools and parents rarely prepare students to become entrepreneurs. Our educational system is designed to prepare students to become employees, not employers. Those students who persist in starting a business often possess something in their DNA that gives them the courage, desire, and motivation to succeed. I admire them for that.

But what about those students who choose option 2, to become an employee? Do they still have a chance to build wealth and succeed in the future? The answer is yes, but only if they choose to be different from most other employees.

What do I mean by that?

Remember that all business owners, CEOs, and top executives are always looking for people who can help increase efficiency, productivity, and revenue. They are willing to pay a high price to find those employees.

Jim Rohn, a famous motivational speaker from the ’80s, said, “Here is a simple economic formula that works for everybody and that everybody should know: We get paid for the value we bring to the marketplace. We don’t get paid for time.”

The value we bring is one part of the equation. It can be a product or a service. But the other part is the value you become, and this is what you should focus on. For example, you can become an expert in a particular field and acquire unique skills that guarantee you a high income wherever you go. What you become is worth far more than what you bring. Once you understand this basic formula, go to work on yourself harder than you work on your job to become an entrepreneur—or someone whom those CEOs, business owners, and top executives are eager to hire.

A few years ago, I shared this philosophy with a young student who had just graduated from college. He asked, “What should I do at my current job to implement this economic formula?” I replied, “I have a list of steps that may help you plan your career and income. You can take these steps and apply them to yourself.”

Here is the list I gave him, in case you’re curious!

1. Focus on the value you bring to the table. Don’t focus on the time you spend at the office. Remember, you get paid for the value you bring to the marketplace, not for time worked. Many people spend so much time at the office just to satisfy the 40-hour workweek or to appear as if they’re working hard. Unfortunately, they bring little value to the table and do themselves no favors by doing this. Don’t be like them. Focus more on creating value than on the time spent in the office.
2. Learn more than one skill. Make sure the skills you acquire can be used in your current and future jobs. Don’t waste time learning skills that only apply to your current position—remember, your current employer will soon be your former employer.
3. Ask yourself not what you are getting, but what you are becoming. True success and happiness are not about what you get. They are about what you become.
4. Invent something new. Find ways to increase efficiency and productivity at your current job. Make sure that your innovations can also be applied in future roles.
5. Do your best at every job. Always strive to do your best, no matter what role you’re in.
6. Go above and beyond. Do more than what you are paid for, as long as the extra work makes you valuable to your current and future employers.
7. Work harder on yourself than you work on your job.
8. Focus on self-training. Make self-training part of your lifestyle. It can be one of the most valuable investments you make.
9. Read at least one article related to your field every day.
10. Reward yourself for small steps of progress. Those small steps will eventually lead to big results.
11. Help colleagues see their own potential. Inspire others to grow and improve.
12. Always be open to better opportunities. Moving to a better job should be a normal process, so don’t be afraid to repeat this journey if it means improving your career.
13. Practice public speaking. Do whatever it takes to improve your public speaking skills.
14. Earn more, spend less, and invest the difference. Strive for financial independence as quickly as possible so you can work for joy, not necessity.

What about you? Have you tried any of these steps? If not, give them a try.