It was just another ordinary day. The sound of tools clicking and a faint hum of running water echoed from the bathroom. I assumed it was the maintenance guy — until I saw who it really was.
It wasn’t a worker.
For a moment, I stood frozen at the door, not sure whether to say something or not. Then I finally asked, half-laughing, half-surprised:
“Marcelo, you? Owner of the building was on the door when I complained about the leakage.
He looked up, smiled calmly, and said,
“Yes, me. I like doing this sometimes. It keeps me active and connected to my buildings.”
That line caught me off guard. Because Marcelo isn’t just any landlord. He’s a man who owns more than fifty apartments across city and the suburban area — a multimillionaire by any standard. Yet here he was, on his knees, fixing a bathtub drain like a humble maintenance worker.
A Man Who Built Everything from Scratch
I couldn’t resist asking him more questions. I had always heard stories about Marcelo — how he came to the United States decades ago, how he built an empire out of nothing.
So while he worked, I asked, “How did it all start for you?”
He wiped his hands with a rag, sat back on the bathroom floor, and smiled. “I came to the U.S. in the early 1980s,” he said, his voice steady but nostalgic. “I was just a young man then — no degree, no family here, no connections. Only a high school diploma and a dream to live a better life.”
Marcelo told me he started from the very bottom. He worked 16-hour days, seven days a week, doing whatever jobs he could find — plumbing, lifting boxes, cleaning basements, washing cars, even hauling trash.
“Anything honest that paid a few dollars,” he said. “I did it.”
He didn’t complain about long hours or low pay. Instead, he saved every dollar he could.
While others spent on small pleasures — parties, alcohol, or gadgets — Marcelo was thinking long-term. Every penny he earned was a seed for his future.
The Turning Point
By his mid-20s, Marcelo had learned plumbing well enough to get steady jobs. He began doing small repairs for landlords, fixing broken pipes, and unclogging drains in old Chicago apartments.
That’s where he noticed something most people overlook — property ownership.
He said,
“I realized the landlord earns even when he sleeps. The worker only earns when he sweats. So I decided — one day, I’ll become the landlord.”
He kept saving and bought his first tiny apartment building a few years later.
“It was old, leaky, and almost falling apart,” he laughed. “But I fixed every inch of it myself — from pipes to paint.”
That single building turned into two, then five, then ten.
Over the next three decades, Marcelo slowly built a real estate portfolio worth millions. He didn’t do it through luck or inheritance — just through relentless work, frugality, and patience.
A Millionaire with a Wrench
So naturally, I asked him again — why still fix things yourself? Why not just hire people?
He looked at me, almost amused.
“Because I like it,” he said simply. “It keeps me fit, keeps me moving. And it reminds me of where I started.”
He paused for a moment, then added,
“Taking care of my own property gives me satisfaction. I get to see how my apartments are doing, talk to tenants, see what’s working and what needs love.”
At that moment, I realized Marcelo wasn’t just maintaining buildings. He was maintaining his connection to them — and to the journey that made him who he is.
A Simple Formula for a Rich Life
Before he left, I asked Marcelo one last question — the one that every young person wants to ask a successful man:
“What’s the secret, Marcelo? What’s your formula for success?”
He laughed softly. “Everyone wants a formula,” he said. “But mine is very simple. Just three things. He held up his hand and counted on his fingers:
- No alcohol.
- No drugs.
- Be loyal — to one woman your entire life.
That was it. No long lecture about investments, no financial tips, no complex business jargon. Just those three life rules.
I was honestly expecting something about real estate strategies or savings plans, but Marcelo surprised me again.
He said,
“If you can control your habits, you can control your life. People destroy themselves not because they’re poor — but because they can’t control what they do. Stay clean, stay focused, and life will show you your way.”
Finding Your Own Path
Marcelo wasn’t trying to sound wise or philosophical. His words came from experience — the kind of wisdom that comes from living, not reading.
He continued,
“You don’t need to copy someone else’s path. Everyone has their own road. You can become rich as a doctor, or as a plumber, or as an electrician. What matters is how you live — not what you do.”
That line hit me hard.
We live in a world that glorifies flashy success — big cars, luxury vacations, and social media posts. But here was a man who had it all — the money, the houses, the freedom — and yet found joy in fixing a bathtub with his own hands.
His wealth wasn’t just in money. It was in mindset, humility, and discipline.
Lessons from Marcelo
After he finished fixing the drain, Marcelo stood up, packed his tools, and smiled at me.
“All done,” he said.
I thanked him, but in truth, what I was thankful for wasn’t the bathtub — it was the unexpected conversation that morning.
It sounded so simple — yet it held the power to shape an entire lifetime.
When you think about it, success isn’t always about money or fame. It’s about clarity — knowing what matters and staying true to it. Marcelo’s story reminded me that you can build an empire with your hands, but you can only keep it with your character.
The Spirit of Hard Work Still Lives
Marcelo is now in his late 60s. Most people his age would be enjoying retirement, playing golf, or relaxing on a beach somewhere. But not him.
He still drives around the city, visiting his buildings, checking pipes, fixing leaks, and greeting tenants. To him, work isn’t a burden — it’s a way to stay alive, healthy, and grounded.
He’s proof that wealth doesn’t have to make you arrogant.
It can make you grateful.
It can make you humble.
And most importantly, it can keep you real.
Final Thoughts
That day, Marcelo taught me more than any self-help book could.
He reminded me that behind every success story lies a life of discipline, sacrifice, and quiet consistency.
He didn’t talk about luck or timing or business secrets — he talked about character. And maybe that’s what we all need to hear more often.
Because in the end, it’s not about how many apartments you own or how much money you’ve made.
It’s about waking up every morning, still willing to fix what’s broken — whether it’s a bathtub, a relationship, or a part of yourself.
