Poverty Mindset
“That’s too much money!”. I’ve heard people say that about high paid CEOs and celebrities countless times. Here’s the thing; almost no one can throw a 100mph pitch or run a company as big and complex as GM. Those people are the elite of the elite. They have done things to develop themselves that most people can’t even comprehend...
Mark Cuban was learning the collectibles market and brokering high-level collectible sales when he was 15.
When Warren Buffet was 6, he was selling gum in his neighborhood.
When Kobe was 19...he was playing on the same court as Michael Jordan. What were you doing when you were 19??
These people help produce so much revenue for their organizations that it is equitable they be compensated lavishly for their contribution.
None of us like poverty. Poverty is a lack. It’s a distraction. It kills the soul. Humans aren’t made to spend their existence fighting for survival, we’re made to produce abundance and when that’s not happening in someone’s life, it’s a symptom of a sickness. This definitely doesn’t apply to only finances; poverty mindset vs abundance mindset is all about finances and self-development. If you have a good worldview and practice towards one but not the other, then you would still fall into the category of having a poverty mindset.
There are middle and upper-class families pulling in six figures a year who have great savings and investment disciplines, but spend no real energy on self-development. That’s a poverty mindset.
Why is poverty mindset such a bad thing? Because when someone has this mindset, they are not fully taking responsibility for themselves and therefore, and in the long-term have a negative net-effect on those around them and on society as a whole. A lack of focus on self-development consistently sends signals to those you influence. You’re helping them be less. You’re allowing yourself to be less. It’s the same with finances. Many people live their lives so burdened financially that it affects how they are able to connect with those around them, leaves them with an inability to be truly generous, and often even leaves debt and financial complications to family after they are gone.
An abundance mindset is when someone takes TOTAL ownership of their situation. Yes, things happen that are not our fault, but how we react and how we think are on us. Abundance mindset is disciplined and insightful enough to work long-term, in a wise way, towards true abundance.
Don’t begrudge those who are wealthier than you. Instead, spend time considering, without bias, how they got there. Most people who built wealth from the ground up are heroes in the area of self-development, incredibly generous, and totally deserve their success.
Here are some questions to help you test whether or not you have a poverty mindset:
- Do you feel others should give you more?
- Are you critical of those who are wealthier than you?
- Do you spend more energy complaining about others than on your own self -development?
- Do you read on a regular basis?
- Do you feel that your income level (whether low or high) is your responsibility?
- Are you bothered when you hear about CEOs getting paid $10million a year?
- Do you think poorly of those who want to be wealthy?
