True Wealth
- Steve Biermann
- 5 days ago
- 3 min read
Unlocking True Wealth: Climbing Maslow’s Hierarchy to a Life of Peace, Passion, and Purpose
If you caught last week’s video challenge—interviewing people close to you about you—how did it go? A little weird, right? That discomfort is often the doorway to growth.
In LIFEonomics, we explore multiple forms of wealth, but they all funnel toward the ultimate prize: True Wealth.
As Ron Carson—bestselling author and founder of Carson Group—beautifully puts it in his new book Find Your Freedom, True Wealth is “all that money cannot buy, and death cannot take away.” It’s about discovering your freedom and stepping into your fullest potential.
To map this journey, we turn to Abraham Maslow’s iconic Hierarchy of Needs—a pyramid that stacks human motivation into three core tiers. Let’s break it down, layer by layer, and then tackle this week’s eye-opening challenge.
Level 1: Basic Needs – The Foundation
These are the non-negotiables: air, water, food, shelter, rest, safety, security… and yes, in 2025, reliable WiFi! Without these, everything else crumbles.
Key Stat: According to the World Health Organization, roughly 2 billion people still lack safely managed drinking water, and 828 million face hunger daily. When basic needs are unmet, survival mode dominates—leaving zero bandwidth for anything higher.
Level 2: Psychological Needs – Connection & Confidence
Once the foundation is solid, we crave belonging and esteem. Think intimate partnerships, friendships, family bonds, and—crucially—the relationship with yourself (and for the faithful, with your creator). This level fuels accomplishment, confidence, and respect.
Key Stat: A meta-analysis of over 70 studies published in Psychological Bulletin found that strong social connections increase odds of survival by 50%—a boost comparable to quitting smoking. Yet Gallup reports that 1 in 5 adults worldwide experience loneliness, stalling progress to the next level.
Level 3: Self-Fulfillment Needs – True Wealth Territory
Here’s the pinnacle: achieving your full potential through an ever-expanding life of Peace, Passion, and Purpose. This is where True Wealth lives.
Effectiveness & Fulfillment Stats:
Harvard Grant Study (86+ years tracking 724 men): The #1 predictor of life satisfaction at age 80? Quality relationships and a sense of purpose—far outweighing fame or fortune.
Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index: Only 7% of U.S. employees are “thriving” in purpose (Level 3), yet those who are report 42% higher life satisfaction and 27% lower stress.
Journal of Positive Psychology: People scoring high in “self-actualization” (Maslow’s term) show 63% greater resilience during crises and 2x higher daily positive emotions than those stuck in lower tiers.
The data is clear: Level 3 isn’t a luxury—it’s the multiplier. It turns survival into thriving.
Money? It’s Just Freedom Fuel
Financial wealth isn’t the goal; it’s the rocket booster. It clears the lower levels—paying for groceries, security systems, therapy, or that plane ticket to a life-changing retreat—so you can blast toward self-fulfillment.
Think of it this way:
$0–$75K/year (U.S. context): Happiness rises sharply as basic + safety needs are met (per Kahneman & Deaton, 2010).
Above $75K: Gains plateau unless money funds Level 3 pursuits—learning, creating, giving.
This Week’s Challenge: Audit Your Life’s Time
Grab your calendar from the past 2–3 weeks. Tally the hours and calculate percentages spent in each Maslow level:
Hint: The last 5 minutes you spent reading this? That’s Level 3 fuel.
Your Next Step
Run the numbers. Be brutally honest. Then ask:“Where am I leaking time?”“What one shift could rocket me upward?”
True Wealth isn’t found—it’s built, one intentional hour at a time.
See you at the top. 🚀