People pay a high price for things that make them stand out in our society – the type of car they drive, the brand of clothing they wear, or which college they attend. But here is my two cents:

None of it matters. A lot of the things that we have been conditioned to think are important just aren't.

We have grown up in a society where the average girl has seen over 77,000 ads by the time she turns 12. Over time, these messages can become so infused into our own identities that we believe we need to have the latest "this" or the most expensive "that" to keep up our image.

At the same time, credit card accounts and personal loans have become so easy to obtain that we too frequently use them to get things we want, thinking they are things we need, regardless of whether we can afford them. We rationalize: "It's not really that big of a deal, a few things here and there." Wrong. It's a very big deal when people lose their houses, file for bankruptcy or can't provide for their families because they said, "Just put it on the credit card!"

You get to choose how you spend your money. When you make these choices, keep in mind that one of the fundamental keys to financial freedom is making money work for you. It all comes down to determining needs vs. wants. If you stop worrying about what other people think of your car or clothes, your focus can shift, allowing you to meet your needs rather than your wants. I recommend you read the book Rich Dad, Poor Dad (featured in this issue's brass Ten, on page 28). It can have a serious impact on the way you view money and how you choose to spend it.

A smart person puts a plan together early to identify his/her wants versus needs, and then follows it. That plan should include investing in assets (things of value that are expected to have a future benefit) rather than paying for things we want that turn into liabilities (money owed to creditors).

A nice car is a great example of a liability we often feel we need. Does it really matter what type of car you drive when a brand new car loses value the second you drive it off the lot?

When speaking to students, I am often asked how to manage money and how I created brass. In answering their questions, I ask them, "What type of car do you think I drive?" Their responses have included BMW, Mercedes, Ferrari and even Rolls-Royce.

The truth is that I drive a 1992 Dodge Stratus worth about $3,000… but I own the company and office complex I park at everyday.

Bryan Sims, CEO