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“If you’re not documenting your cash flow and looking for leverage, you’re leaving money on the table.”— John S. Rhodes, Rhodes Brothers
What if I told you that you could double your cash flow in just three years—without winning the lottery, getting a huge promotion, or working 80-hour weeks? Sounds bold, right? But it’s not only possible—it’s happening for people with the right strategies in place.
The truth is, earning 100% more cash in three years isn’t about luck. It’s about systems, smart habits, and leveraging what you already have in your life. It doesn’t matter if you’re starting from paycheck to paycheck or already have a side hustle. With the right roadmap, you can build a system that works for you—on autopilot.
In this post, we’ll break down the five-step system shared by John S. Rhodes from the Rhodes Brothers YouTube Channel, a practical framework that’s helped countless people increase their income dramatically in just a few years. We’ll cover:
- How to map your current financial system
- Where to find high-leverage income streams
- How to optimize your time and processes
- Ways to scale your income using small, repeatable steps
- The importance of reviewing and adapting your system regularly
And here’s the kicker: You don’t need to be a financial genius to do this. You just need to be willing to take action, track your progress, and be open to change.
TL;DR
🎯 Document your current financial system: Know where your money comes from and where it goes.
💡 Identify and focus on high-leverage income streams: Side hustles, investments, freelancing, or even switching jobs.
⚙️ Improve your processes: Automate, outsource, and eliminate time-wasters.
🔁 Scale with Kaizen: Use small, consistent changes for big long-term results.
🔍 Review and adjust regularly: Keep your system lean, efficient, and adaptable.
Step 1: Document Your Current Financial System
Before you can double your income, you must understand your current financial system. Think of it like GPS—you can’t get to where you want to go unless you know where you are.
📌 Actionable Tip: Grab a notebook, spreadsheet, or digital tool like Notion, Google Sheets, or YNAB (You Need A Budget) and write down:
- All your sources of income (salary, gig work, investments, interest)
- Your monthly expenses (fixed and variable)
- Assets vs. liabilities (bank balances, debts, credit card balances, etc.)
“Just by documenting your cash flow, you’re going to have breakthroughs. You’ll see money you didn’t even know you had.”
— John S. Rhodes
Tools to Help:
- Mint (budgeting + categorization)
- Personal Capital (net worth tracking)
- Tiller
Money (automated spreadsheets)
Step 2: Identify High-Leverage Income Streams
Here’s where things get fun. You don’t need 10 side hustles. You need one or two that are scalable and high impact.
John S. Rhodes suggests looking for income that isn’t 1:1 with your time. Think:
- Freelancing on Upwork or Fiverr
- Selling digital products (courses, ebooks)
- Investing in dividend stocks or high-yield savings accounts
- Creating content on platforms like YouTube or Substack
“The vast majority of millionaires I know have their own business—or at least a serious side hustle.”
— John S. Rhodes
Real Example:
Let’s say you’re earning 2% on $10,000 in a savings account. Moving that to a 4.5% money market fund doubles your passive income from $200 to $450/year. Same money, better system.
Step 3: Implement Process Improvements to Maximize Efficiency
You need more time, not just more money. That means streamlining your life and optimizing your work.
✅ Do This:
- Use accounting software like QuickBooks or Wave.
- Track time with RescueTime or Toggl.
- Automate savings and bill payments.
- Outsource tasks on Fiverr or OnlineJobs.ph (especially for admin or design work).
If you work a full-time job, look for ways to automate your workflow or delegate tasks to get 5–10 hours back each week.
💡 Pro Tip: Use the Eisenhower Matrix to sort tasks into four categories—Urgent/Important, Not Urgent/Important, etc. Eliminate or delegate the rest.
Step 4: Scale the System Through Kaizen (Continuous Improvement)
Kaizen is the Japanese philosophy of small, continuous improvement. Instead of trying to overhaul everything overnight, look for tiny changes that compound.
📊 Example KPIs (Key Performance Indicators):
- Weekly income from side hustle
- Monthly savings rate
- Website traffic or email list growth
- ROI from investments
- Set a recurring calendar reminder to review your KPIs monthly or quarterly.
Tools for Scaling:
- Google Analytics or Fathom for tracking web traffic
- ConvertKit for email list growth
- Calendly + Zapier for automating client bookings and tasks
Step 5: Document and Review Your System Regularly
Take a step back every 90 days and ask:
- Is this system still working?
- Are my income streams growing?
- What can I double down on?
- What’s draining my time or money?
Use a journal, spreadsheet, or software like Notion or ClickUp for quarterly reviews. And if you’re more visual? Try mind maps on Miro or MindMeister.
📌 Use These Questions:
- What’s working well?
- What’s underperforming?
- What’s an easy win?
- What can I eliminate?
Actionable Steps for Different People
🟢 Beginners: Laying a Strong Foundation
If you’re new to personal finance, side hustles, or wealth building, you’re not alone—and the good news is: you don’t need to know everything to start. You just need to build momentum.
Track Your Income and Expenses for 30 Days
Use apps like Mint, YNAB, or even a simple Google Sheet. Categorize every dollar in and out. This helps uncover spending leaks and underutilized income sources (like forgotten subscriptions or unused assets).
Open a High-Yield Savings Account
Banks like Ally, Marcus by Goldman Sachs, or Capital One 360 offer interest rates up to 4.5%—compared to traditional banks that offer less than 0.5%.
📌 Example: $5,000 earning 4.5% = $225/year vs. $25/year at 0.5%.
Start a Simple Side Hustle Based on Skills You Already Have
- Tutoring (via Wyzant or Chegg Tutors)
- Freelance Writing (via Upwork or Medium’s Partner Program)
- Dog Walking or Pet Sitting (via Rover or Wag!)
These require low startup costs, flexible hours, and can scale over time.
Bonus Tip: Use Canva to create quick flyers or resumes to promote yourself locally or online.
🟡 Millennials: Build & Scale with Digital Leverage
Millennials are digital natives—this is your edge. You can scale faster by building digital assets that earn while you sleep.
Build a Digital Product with Gumroad or Payhip
Package your skills into ebooks, templates, or mini-courses. Topics can range from budgeting guides to Canva templates to fitness plans.
🛠 Tools:
- Gumroad – Sell digital products easily
- Canva Pro – Design assets
- ChatGPT – Write outlines, titles, or even contentLaunch a Blog or Newsletter
Use WordPress, Ghost, or Substack. Build an audience around a niche (personal finance, parenting, tech reviews). Monetize through affiliate marketing, sponsorships, or selling your own products.
💡 Example: A blog with 5,000 monthly readers can generate $500–$2,000/month with the right monetization.
Start Investing Consistently
Use Vanguard, Fidelity, or apps like M1 Finance to invest in low-cost index funds like VTI or SPY. Even $50/month compounds over time.
Bonus Tip: Automate your investments with Robo-advisors like SoFi Invest or Betterment.
🟠 Nearing Retirement: Maximize and Protect
If you’re 50+, your focus is likely on maximizing returns, reducing risk, and possibly creating passive income for retirement.
Shift Funds to Dividend-Paying ETFs or Blue-Chip Stocks
Look for ETFs like VYM (Vanguard High Dividend Yield) or SCHD. These offer 3–4% dividend yields and are more stable than growth stocks.
📌 Example: $100,000 in SCHD at 4% = $4,000/year in income.
Monetize Your Home or Hobby
- Rent a room via Airbnb
- Host experiences (cooking classes, bike tours, etc.)
- Sell crafts or artwork on Etsy
Use Robo-Advisors for Simplicity
Platforms like Wealthfront or Betterment offer automatic portfolio rebalancing, tax-loss harvesting, and retirement planning tools. Set and forget.
Bonus Tip: Use SmartAsset’s retirement calculator to estimate your needs and adjust your current strategy.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
❌ Not Tracking Your Money
Why it’s a problem: You can’t manage what you don’t measure. Without visibility into your finances, you’ll overspend, under-save, and miss out on growth opportunities.
✅ Fix it: Use YNAB, Personal Capital, or Tiller to get a real-time snapshot of your finances. Set up budgeting categories and automate data entry.
❌ Chasing Too Many Income Streams
Why it backfires: Spreading yourself too thin leads to burnout and half-finished projects. You’ll waste time “starting over” every few weeks.
✅ Fix it: Apply the 80/20 Rule. Focus on 1-2 streams that have the most potential and double down.
💬 John Rhodes says: “You don’t do all the things—you do the few things that matter most.”
❌ Ignoring Automation
Why it matters: Manual tasks drain time and mental energy. That’s time you could be
using to generate income or relax.
✅ Fix it:
- Use Zapier to connect apps and automate tasks
- Use Calendly for scheduling
- Use AutoInvest options in Betterment, SoFi, or Fidelity
- Set up auto-transfers to savings/investment accounts
❌ Never Reviewing Your Strategy
Why it holds you back: What worked last year may not work now. Your goals, income, and opportunities evolve.
✅ Fix it:
- Schedule a quarterly “money day”—review income, expenses, and goals
- Use Notion or Trello to document your financial system
- Update your KPIs (e.g. income growth % or savings rate)
📌 Pro Tip: Pair your reviews with a reward (a favorite coffee shop, a solo hike) to make it something you look forward to.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get started with increasing my income?
Start by documenting your current cash flow. Use a simple spreadsheet or budgeting app.
What’s a high-leverage income stream?
It’s one that scales—like digital products, content, or software. You do the work once and earn repeatedly.
Can I really double my income in three years?
Yes, with focus. Many people do this by switching jobs, launching side hustles, or investing smartly.
What if I have a full-time job?
Start small. Reclaim 5–10 hours a week by cutting distractions and streamlining routines.
Do I need a business to increase income?
Not always, but having a side business dramatically increases your chances of hitting 100% growth.
How do I find time to build a side hustle?
Use the Eisenhower Matrix and cut out low-value tasks. Use your evenings and weekends wisely.
What if I fail or lose money?
That’s part of the process. Start small, test ideas, and pivot quickly.
What tools do I need to get started?
Start with Google Sheets, Notion, and a high-yield savings account.
Should I pay off debt first?
Yes, especially high-interest debt. But don’t stop building income while you do it.
How do I stay motivated?
Track your wins, join a community, and follow creators like the Rhodes Brothers for regular inspiration.
Your Financial Transformation Starts Now
Doubling your income in three years might sound like a dream—but it’s a dream that’s entirely within reach. You don’t need to be a millionaire, an influencer, or a tech wizard. You just need a system, a little consistency, and the willingness to improve step by step.
Here’s what you can do today:
- Document your current financial system
- Identify one high-leverage income stream to explore
- Free up 5 hours a week to work on your side hustle
- Set a calendar reminder for your first system review
Your future self will thank you.
Get started today by subscribing to the Rhodes Brothers YouTube Channel for the latest tips, tools, and strategies to help you grow your income, start a business, and build the life you want.
Resource List
📚 Books
- Work the System by Sam Carpenter
- The Millionaire Fastlane by MJ DeMarco
- Atomic Habits by James Clear
- The One Thing by Gary Keller
- Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki
- The Lean Startup by Eric Ries
🎧 Podcasts
- Smart Passive Income by Pat Flynn
- The Side Hustle School by Chris Guillebeau
- The Tim Ferriss Show
- BiggerPockets Money Podcast
🛠️ Tools and Apps
- Mint, YNAB, Personal Capital – for budgeting
- Gumroad, Podia, Teachable – for selling digital products
- ClickUp, Notion, Trello – for productivity
- Zapier, Calendly, Toggl – for automation
- Upwork, Fiverr, OnlineJobs.ph – for outsourcing
- Vanguard, Fidelity, Betterment, Wealthfront – for investing
- Ally, Marcus, Capital One 360 – for high-yield savings
🎓 Courses
- Skillshare – Business & productivity
- Udemy – Digital marketing, freelancing
