Thinking Like Rich People
Being poor is different than being broke. Poor is a mentality but being broke is a fixable financial situation. To become rich you must stop thinking like poor people and start thinking like rich people regardless of your current financial state.
I was recently listening to the book “Secrets of the Millionaire Mind” and the author emphasized that to become rich you must think like rich people. If you stay stuck thinking like poor people you will remain poor. Dave Ramsey passionately ranted about this on his YouTube channel. Even the Bible says: “He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.” Proverbs 13:20
While this seems pretty intuitive, how many of us have found ourselves doing what poor people do instead of doing what rich people do? More often then we care to admit! So, how do we break free from this negative cycle?
The first step is to understand how rich people think and identify areas where you struggle with a poor mindset. That is what I love about “Secrets of the Millionaire Mind.” The author plainly lays out 17 “wealth files” or principles that guide you on how to think (and act) like rich people.
How To Start Thinking Like Rich People
Principle 1:
Rich people believe “I create my life.”
Poor people believe “Life happens to me.”
When you have a victim mentality you feel like you have no control over your financial future. You play the blame game and point fingers at your upbringing, the government, the economy, or anything else except yourself. However, once you realize that God has given you the power to get wealth (Deuteronomy 8:18) and that your own actions determine your income, then you will start to take intentional action towards financial success.
Principle 2:
Rich people play the money game to win.
Poor people play the money game to not lose.
If you are perpetually afraid of taking a risk, you probably won’t go far financially. Taking risks is part of moving ahead in life. Every job promotion, business venture, or investment opportunity incur a certain amount of risk. Ultimately, it comes down to doing your due diligence, being realistic, and ultimately having faith to take the leap.
Principle 3:
Rich people are committed to being rich.
Poor people want to be rich.
“The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.” (Proverbs 13:4) If you are committed to becoming successful, then you will do the work. If you aren’t willing to do the work, your wishful thinking will never get you anywhere.
Principle 4:
Rich people think big.
Poor people think small.
We are all very acquainted with our limitations. If we focus on that it will hold us back from doing big things or thinking big thoughts. Poor people focus on themselves because they are worried about survival. Blessed people, on the other hand, focus on God and helping others. Your value in the marketplace is directly tied to how many people you serve. Therefore, when you focus on a limitless God and have a great desire to serve as many people as possible, you will naturally think bigger picture and will, in turn, find greater opportunities.
Principle 5:
Rich people focus on opportunities.
Poor people focus on obstacles.
We should have the perspective that we are stewards of what God has given to us and He owns everything! Understanding that, we know that we aren’t limited only by the opportunities we can create for ourselves. Rather, when we are faithful and fruitful with the blessings God does give us, He creates more (and bigger) opportunities for us to be blessed. So when we are faced with an opportunity, even if it comes with challenges, we trust that God will help us maximize it.
Principle 6:
Rich people admire other rich and successful people.
Poor people resent rich and successful people.
Don’t despise the rich, join them! This again is the result of a poor mindset that is self-focused instead of others-focused. When you genuinely care about other people, do your best to help them win, and celebrate their successes, others will be more likely to do the same for you!
Principle 7:
Rich people associate with positive, successful people.
Poor people associate with negative or unsuccessful people.
Again, the scripture says it best: “He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.” (Proverbs 13:20) You are influenced by those you surround yourself with. So if you want to win the race surround yourself with thoroughbreds instead of nags!
Principle 8:
Rich people are willing to promote themselves and their value.
Poor people think negatively about selling and promotion.
If you feel guilty for having money or making a profit, odds are your subconscious will hold you back from becoming wealthy. The reality is, when we embrace Business as Mission and understand that God blesses us to be a blessing to others while financing His kingdom, we can break free from ‘money guilt’ and pursue God’s blessing with confidence. Profit is good when the market is willing to pay your price and you aren’t taking advantage of people.
Principle 9:
Rich people are bigger than their problems.
Poor people are smaller than their problems.
It can be daunting to face a large problem or obstacle. Again, in our own strength, we can be overwhelmed. However, when we are in alignment with the flow of blessing and have the favor of God we are able to lean on the strength of our Lord through the hardest times. We will still face hard times, but He will be there to help carry us through.
Principle 10:
Rich people are excellent receivers.
Poor people are poor receivers.
We have been programmed that it is more blessed to give than to receive. While that is true, in order to be blessed to the point of being able to give you must first receive! There is no shame in receiving a blessing from God but we should not forget the greater purpose of that gift is so that we can give back to God and help finance the kingdom.
Principle 11:
Rich people choose to get paid based on results.
Poor people choose to get paid based on time.
If you aren’t confident in your abilities or are just plain lazy then you are terrified about depending on your performance for your paycheck. Instead, if you are diligent and work hard to do your best while believing that God will bless your efforts, you are confident in getting paid based on results.
Principle 12:
Rich people think “both.”
Poor people think “either/or.”
Interested in starting a business? You aren’t stuck either working this job or starting your own business. Why not work and start the side hustle until it becomes more profitable? Instead of looking for the win-lose look for a win-win.
Principle 13:
Rich people focus on their net worth.
Poor people focus on their working income.
Thinking like rich people means giving up the focus on the short-term payday and start focusing on the bigger picture of your financial success long term.
Principle 14:
Rich people manage their money well.
Poor people mismanage their money well.
If you need help getting your personal (or business) finances in order I highly recommend Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University. It is a great way to learn how to start telling your money what to do instead of wondering where it went.
Principle 15:
Rich people have their money work hard for them.
Poor people work hard for their money.
Leveraging your money to generate greater income or better yet passive income is a huge step towards wealth creation. Once you get the compound interest engine warmed up it is a very powerful wealth builder!
Principle 16:
Rich people act in spite of fear.
Poor people let fear stop them.
If you aren’t doing anything that makes you a little scared then you probably aren’t taking much of a risk. It takes a lot of nerve just to cross the street in some cities! But you can’t stand at the intersection of ‘what if’ and ‘I don’t know’ forever. At some point, you must face your fear and step out there! The sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road! There is a lion in the streets!” (Proverbs 26:13)
Principle 17:
Rich people constantly learn and grow.
Poor people think they already know.
As is mentioned in the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People you must continue to sharpen the saw. If you quit learning or think you have got it all figured out, you become a dull person pretty quick and when market changes happen, you won’t make the cut!
Conclusion
Congratulations! If you made it through that entire list you must want to be successful! Programming yourself to start thinking like rich people doesn’t happen overnight. However, if you will commit to being disciplined about overcoming your past mindsets and shift your paradigm you can think differently!
If you are looking for more resources to help you as you start the journey to thinking like rich people feel free to check out our other blog articles such as “Living in The Flow of Blessing” or subscribe to our podcast for more content.
Finally, another principle that rich (blessed) people have is generosity. You could start being generous today by sharing this article with someone you know who would appreciate and benefit from this content. Thank you!
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