· personal  · 3 min read

Building a Future My Kids Can Use, Not Just Inherit: Tech, Assets, and Story

DRAFT

Outline

Hook: I’m not building wealth for my kids to inherit at 60. I’m building systems, skills, and assets they can use starting at 18. Tools they can leverage, knowledge they can apply, networks they can access. Usable future, not distant inheritance.

Core Argument: The traditional model—work, accumulate, leave it all when you die—is broken. Better: Build assets and systems your kids can benefit from while you’re alive. Digital products, reusable code, documented knowledge, relationships. Things that compound and transfer.

Key Sections:

  1. The Inheritance Problem

    • Traditional: Kids inherit money at 60 (after they needed it)
    • Better: They access value at 18, 25, 30 (when it matters)
    • Not: Hand them everything
    • But: Give them leverage, not just assets

  2. Asset Type 1: Digital Products (Living Inheritance)

    • SaaS products I build: Transfer ownership eventually
    • Code libraries: Open source or family license
    • Content: Blog, courses, knowledge base
    • Value: Income stream OR learning resource
    • Example: 99 Minds → Could be their business someday

  3. Asset Type 2: Documented Knowledge

    • Life lessons: Written, not just told
    • Technical knowledge: How I built things, lessons learned
    • Decision frameworks: How I think about X
    • Network: Introductions to key people
    • Format: Obsidian vault, blog, video
    • Access: While I’m alive to discuss it

  4. Asset Type 3: Reusable Systems

    • Home systems: Smart home they can replicate
    • Business systems: Project management, client acquisition
    • Personal systems: Personal blueprint, idea pipeline
    • Tech stack: What I use and why
    • Value: Template for their own life

  5. Asset Type 4: Network and Relationships

    • Professional network: Introductions when they’re ready
    • Creative community: Music, tech, entrepreneurship
    • Not: “Use my network” (entitled)
    • But: “Here’s someone who can help when you’re serious”
    • The currency: Relationships built on value

  6. Asset Type 5: Skills and Capabilities

    • Teach: Coding, product thinking, music, business
    • Not: Force career path
    • But: Give them tools to build what they want
    • Learning together: Projects, side-by-sides
    • Example: Franklin helps with treehouse, learns building

  7. Asset Type 6: Financial Literacy (Not Just Money)

    • How money works: Investing, taxes, business
    • How I built wealth: Real strategies, honest numbers
    • Mistakes I made: Learn from them
    • Systems: Budgeting, planning, goal-setting
    • Not: “Here’s money” but “Here’s how to make/manage it”

  8. The Story Layer (Why It All Matters)

    • Assets without story = Just stuff
    • Assets with story = Legacy, lessons, meaning
    • Example: “This is the first product I built, here’s what I learned”
    • Documentation: Why decisions were made
    • The gift: Context and wisdom, not just things

  9. Access Strategy (Gradual, Not All at Once)

    • Age 18: Knowledge base, starter network, first code libraries
    • Age 25: Deeper business knowledge, stronger network access
    • Age 30+: Consider transferring digital products
    • Not: Dump everything at once
    • But: Support their journey with increasing resources

  10. What NOT to Leave

    • Obligations: Don’t burden with “must maintain X”
    • Rigid expectations: They choose their path
    • Just money: Doesn’t teach anything
    • Broken systems: Only leave what actually works
    • Debt: Financial or emotional

  11. Building WITH Them, Not Just FOR Them

    • Involve kids in building family projects
    • Teach as you build
    • Let them contribute ideas
    • Ownership: They helped create it
    • Example: Franklin’s input on treehouse design

  12. The Long Game

    • This isn’t “I’ll be done by 45”
    • This is: Build continuously, share progressively
    • Age 5 (now): Exposure, involvement
    • Age 15: Real learning, contributions
    • Age 25: Full access, partnership potential
    • Age 40+: Maybe they’re teaching me

Examples/Stories:

  • Personal: Documentation of all technical decisions for future reference
  • 99 Minds: Could be their SaaS business or learning resource
  • Code libraries: Reusable components for their projects
  • Franklin: Already involved in building, learning
  • Network: Will introduce when he has something to offer

Takeaways:

  • Build assets kids can use at 18+, not inherit at 60
  • Digital products: Transfer ownership eventually
  • Document knowledge: Why, not just what
  • Systems: Template for their life
  • Network: Introductions when they’re ready
  • Skills: Teach capabilities, not answers
  • Story: Context makes assets meaningful
  • Involve them: Build with, not just for

Cross-Links:

  • ← “Why I Care More About Scenes and Routines” (Series 5-39)
  • ← “From Starter Home to Franklin’s Treehouse” (Series 5-36)
  • ← “Designing a Life for Future Me” (Series 3-27)
  • ← “Build Once, Leverage Forever” (Series 2-20)
  • ← “Personal Blueprint” (Series 3-22)
Share:
Back to Blog