Note: This post is largely inspired by T. Harv Ecker’s book, Secrets of the Millionaire Mind. It’s filled with tons of great insights and ways to literally re-program your mind for wealth. I strongly suggest you give it a read.
Being poor sucks, but it doesn’t have to be that way. The good news is that, if you know some of the reasons why you’re so poor, you can change your life. Here are some of the reasons why you are poor.
Reason #1: You believe that life happens to you.
Rich people understand that they create their life. Poor people believe that they are creatures of circumstance and luck. Rich people know that their habits and decisions culminate in their life – there’s no point in blaming, justifying, or complaining. Poor people moan and complain about what “happens to them”, effectively making them a crap magnet. You can either be rich or you can be a victim of life, but you cannot be both.
Reason #2: You get paid based on your time, not your results.
Rich people get paid based on their results, while poor people exchange their time for money. On the surface, a steady paycheck doesn’t seem all that bad. Your bills can get paid and you know exactly what you’ll have each and every month. The problem is that since your time is limited, this strategy places a ceiling on your income. A salary doesn’t mean “security”, either. Here’s a direct quote from Secrets of the Millionaire Mind,
“Living based in security is living based in fear. What you’re actually saying is that ‘I’m afraid I won’t be able to earn enough based on my performance, so I’ll settle for earning just enough to survive or to be comfortable’”.
The richest people either work on commission or work for themselves. Let’s face it – you could bust your butt for a salary and not get a dime more. Make sure that you get what you’re worth.
Reason #3: You hang around other poor people.
It’s often been said that you are the average of the five people you spend the most time with. Analyze your time – are you spending too much of it with other broke people? You should surround yourself with people that will help you learn and grow. If all you do is hang around people just like you, what do they have to offer you? Can you learn something from these people? They can probably tell you what happened on TV this week, but they can’t tell you a thing about building wealth. Cut the cord!
Reason #4: You focus on working income, not net worth.
A J-O-B (Just Over Broke) isn’t going to cut it. Rich people focus on net worth, while poor people focus on their income. Even rich people had to work hard for their money, but usually it is a temporary situation. Poor people work hard for their money forever, while rich people get to a place where their money works hard for them. The more your money works, the less you have to work. That’s the beauty of passive income.
Reason #5: You won’t get out of your comfort zone.
Repeat after me: “If I never get out of my comfort zone, I will never get rich”. The middle class wants to be “comfortable”, but the rich understand that feeling uncomfortable about situations typically means they are growing. Here’s another quote from the book:
“Nobody ever died of discomfort, yet living in the name of comfort has killed more ideas, more opportunities, more actions, and more growth than everything else combined. Comfort kills! If your goal in life is to be comfortable, I guarantee two things. First, you will never be rich. Second, you will never be happy. Happiness doesn’t come from living a lukewarm life, always wondering what could’ve been. Happiness comes as a result of being in our natural state of growth and living up to our fullest potential.”
The next time you feel the fear or discomfort, realize that you’re doing something right. Don’t let them overpower you. After all, they’re only feelings, with no power to stop you.
Being poor sucks, but it doesn’t have to be that way. The good news is that, if you know some of the reasons why you’re so poor, you can change your life. Here are some of the reasons why you are poor.
Reason #1: You believe that life happens to you.
Rich people understand that they create their life. Poor people believe that they are creatures of circumstance and luck. Rich people know that their habits and decisions culminate in their life – there’s no point in blaming, justifying, or complaining. Poor people moan and complain about what “happens to them”, effectively making them a crap magnet. You can either be rich or you can be a victim of life, but you cannot be both.
Reason #2: You get paid based on your time, not your results.
Rich people get paid based on their results, while poor people exchange their time for money. On the surface, a steady paycheck doesn’t seem all that bad. Your bills can get paid and you know exactly what you’ll have each and every month. The problem is that since your time is limited, this strategy places a ceiling on your income. A salary doesn’t mean “security”, either. Here’s a direct quote from Secrets of the Millionaire Mind,
“Living based in security is living based in fear. What you’re actually saying is that ‘I’m afraid I won’t be able to earn enough based on my performance, so I’ll settle for earning just enough to survive or to be comfortable’”.
The richest people either work on commission or work for themselves. Let’s face it – you could bust your butt for a salary and not get a dime more. Make sure that you get what you’re worth.
Reason #3: You hang around other poor people.
It’s often been said that you are the average of the five people you spend the most time with. Analyze your time – are you spending too much of it with other broke people? You should surround yourself with people that will help you learn and grow. If all you do is hang around people just like you, what do they have to offer you? Can you learn something from these people? They can probably tell you what happened on TV this week, but they can’t tell you a thing about building wealth. Cut the cord!
Reason #4: You focus on working income, not net worth.
A J-O-B (Just Over Broke) isn’t going to cut it. Rich people focus on net worth, while poor people focus on their income. Even rich people had to work hard for their money, but usually it is a temporary situation. Poor people work hard for their money forever, while rich people get to a place where their money works hard for them. The more your money works, the less you have to work. That’s the beauty of passive income.
Reason #5: You won’t get out of your comfort zone.
Repeat after me: “If I never get out of my comfort zone, I will never get rich”. The middle class wants to be “comfortable”, but the rich understand that feeling uncomfortable about situations typically means they are growing. Here’s another quote from the book:
“Nobody ever died of discomfort, yet living in the name of comfort has killed more ideas, more opportunities, more actions, and more growth than everything else combined. Comfort kills! If your goal in life is to be comfortable, I guarantee two things. First, you will never be rich. Second, you will never be happy. Happiness doesn’t come from living a lukewarm life, always wondering what could’ve been. Happiness comes as a result of being in our natural state of growth and living up to our fullest potential.”
The next time you feel the fear or discomfort, realize that you’re doing something right. Don’t let them overpower you. After all, they’re only feelings, with no power to stop you.
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