Unlock TIPTOP-God of Fortune's Secrets: Boost Your Luck and Wealth in 5 Steps

Let’s be honest, we’ve all wished for a bit of luck to swing our way, especially when it comes to wealth. It feels elusive, almost mythical. But what if I told you that boosting your fortune isn't about waiting for lightning to strike, but about a systematic approach? Drawing from my years researching behavioral economics and even analyzing systems in unexpected places—like video game mechanics—I believe we can unlock a more prosperous path. I want to share a five-step framework I’ve developed, which I’m calling the TIPTOP-God of Fortune method. It’s not about magic spells; it’s about strategy, awareness, and deliberate action. Interestingly, the core idea hit me while I was playing a game recently, a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles title, of all things. The game had a shop where you could buy new abilities for the turtles using points from missions, but it was tucked away in a menu, easy to miss. I mostly blasted through the campaign with the default loadout, never feeling compelled to engage with that strategic layer. It was perfectly doable, but I realized later I’d missed the point. I had settled for a baseline experience, ignoring tools that could have diversified my tactics and perhaps made the journey more engaging and efficient. That’s a perfect metaphor for how many of us approach our financial lives: we stick with the default settings, missing the “shop” of opportunities that isn’t always front-and-center.

The first step is to Take Inventory. You can’t change what you don’t measure. For one month, track every single dollar in and out. I use a simple spreadsheet, but apps work too. This isn’t about judgment; it’s about awareness. When I did this rigorously three years ago, I was shocked to find I was spending nearly $175 a month on casual coffee and snacks I barely remembered. That’s over two thousand dollars a year on autopilot! That money was invisible until I made it visible. This data forms the bedrock of your financial “loadout.” Just like in that TMNT game, if you don’t even know the shop exists or what’s in it, you’ll never upgrade your abilities. You’re running the default kit, which is rarely optimized for peak performance.

Next, you must Identify Pressure Points. Look at your inventory. Where are the leaks? Where is friction? For me, it was that discretionary spending, but for you, it might be a high-interest debt costing you 22% APR or a subscription service you haven’t used in six months. This is about finding the missions in your campaign that are harder than they need to be. In the game, I never felt I needed new abilities to progress, so I didn’t seek them out. In life, you might feel you’re getting by, but “getting by” isn’t the same as thriving. Pinpoint one or two key pressure points—the strategic hooks that could change your game. Attacking a credit card balance is a far more powerful ability than you might think.

The third step is Procure Tools Purposefully. This is where you finally visit the shop. Now that you know your pressure points, you can seek specific tools to address them. This isn’t about buying a random stock tip or a get-rich-quick scheme. It’s about targeted, purposeful acquisition. Need to build an emergency fund? Set up a high-yield savings account automating a transfer each payday. Want to tackle debt? Research the debt avalanche or snowball method and choose one. For investing, a low-cost index fund is a foundational “ability” everyone should have. I’m a big proponent of robo-advisors for beginners; they handle the asset allocation for a tiny fee, like having a strategic coach. I allocated just 5% of my income this way initially, and it’s become a cornerstone of my portfolio. The key is to move from passive omission to active selection. Don’t let these tools remain hidden in a sub-menu.

Then, we Optimize Through Iteration. You bought a new ability in the game? You have to try it out, see how it feels in different missions. The same goes for your financial tools. Set a quarterly review—put it in your calendar. Did that budgeting app stick? Is the automated investment working, or do you need to adjust the contribution? Maybe you found a side hustle that brings in an extra $500 a month; where should that new cash flow be directed? Optimization is an ongoing process. My first budget was far too restrictive and broke down in two weeks. My second iteration, which included a realistic “fun money” category, has lasted for years. This step acknowledges that your first setup won’t be perfect, and that’s okay. The “God of Fortune” favors those who adapt.

Finally, Practice Persistent Alignment. This is the mindset piece. Luck, in many ways, is preparedness meeting opportunity. By running through the TIPTOP steps, you are systematically increasing your preparedness. You are aligning your daily habits with your long-term wealth goals. This creates a kind of gravitational pull for opportunity. You become more attuned to relevant information, more capable of acting on it, and more resilient when setbacks occur. It’s the difference between hoping for a windfall and constructing a sail to catch the prevailing winds. I don’t believe in a literal god of fortune, but I do believe in the compound effect of smart, consistent choices. They create their own kind of luck.

So, the secret isn’t a secret at all. It’s a system. It’s about moving from the passive, default-kit existence—where you might get by but never truly excel—to an active, strategic engagement with your resources. My experience with that silly video game was a wake-up call. I’d settled for functional when I could have had optimal, simply because I didn’t engage with a system that was offered to me. Don’t make that same mistake with your financial life. Unlock your own fortune by taking these five steps: Take Inventory, Identify Pressure Points, Procure Tools Purposefully, Optimize Through Iteration, and Practice Persistent Alignment. Start today. Visit your own hidden shop, and start swapping out your default loadout for something truly powerful. The mission is your life, and you deserve the best abilities for the journey.