"As a result, those home values have increased 10 to 50 times or more over the years," Rosenberg said. Those early investments increased their credit profiles, borrowing power and, of course, their net worths.
They spend money on extras that add value to their lives or fuel their passions, but only after they've met their own goals for saving and investing.
They see mistakes as learning experiences that can help them grow and improve -- not as excuses to give up.
"The ones who really made it big all had one thing in common," Rosenberg said. "They built a team of advisors and mentors and met with them regularly to keep their progress on track."
"You may not believe this in the world of business," Rosenberg said. "But every single one of these people were consistently ethical, provided a high degree of customer service and were passionate about their clients or customers."