What if You are Poor?

What to do if you are poor, unemployed, or have financial problems?

I believe that every problem has a solution. I do not believe in the no-win scenario. If you are poor and have financial problems, remember that the only difference between you and some rich and famous people is the attitude. To free yourself from poverty, you need to start with the right mental position. That is, you can do anything you put your mind to. Do not be afraid to live your dream. I know many people talk big like this, but it is true.

I realize there’s no shame in being poor, but it’s no great honor either – Fiddler on the Roof

There is nothing wrong with being poor – Start with the idea that there is nothing wrong with being poor. You need to believe this. The whole idea of freeing yourself from poverty is not about getting money. It is about changing your attitude. Again you have to believe that you can achieve anything you want in your life in any circumstance you were born into.

For example, both my brother and father, who have seen more extremes of rich and poor than I, both said they were just having happy when they were poor. Being poor has a certain cool factor all to itself. It is fun to be just a normal person and fly beneath the Radar.

God loves common people, that is why he made so many of the – Abraham Lincoln.

Change your mind – change your destiny – I remember reading a book, I can not remember the name of it about a woman who lives a nice life in both Hawaii and London. People often said to her; we can not achieve this; we are not you. Her reply was, I was just a secretary, and I changed my thinking.

The problem is reading things like this get you all fired up and ready to get rich, but it does not lead you to how to get rich. It only motivated you. My advice is to be patient. Use your imagination and dream for a few years if you need to. Relax about the whole process and be a beach bum if you need to. Ideas will open up when you are doing what relaxes you.

People make money when they are older – Another idea you need to realize is that most people do not start making real money until they are in their 50s. This is a statistic. Some people latter. So if you are 40 and not rich, do not worry, it is par for the course. Most people do not start making money until latter because it takes a lifetime to figure out what life is about.

Know the why, what and how of lifting yourself from poverty

For too long, we have been dreaming a dream from which we are now waking up: the dream that if we improve the socio-economic situation of people, everything will be okay, people will become happy. The truth is that as the struggle for survival has subsided, the question has emerged: survival for what? Evermore, people today have the means to live, but no meaning of living for. – Viktor E. Frankl, “The Unheard Cry for Meaning”

If you want to know how to get rich – read my posts on it on this blog. But more important – before the how or what is the why.

People think the problem with money and life is what. What can you do? What is the idea? Some people also think the how is a problem. That is how to set something up or accomplish your goal. This, I all wrong. There is only one question or problem. That is why.

Start with the idea of active indifference towards wealth  – If you know the why in life the how is easy. If you know why in your life, I think things fall into place easier. I have a pretty good why I have my family to take care of. But taking a step deeper, I believe this:

We should not prefer health to sickness, riches to poverty, honor to dishonor, long life to a short life. The same holds for all other things …. everything you do should be to add to God’s greater glory. – Ignatius of Loyola’s First principle and foundation.

It does not matter if we are rich or poor, it is all for the greater Glory of God and in doing so save our soul. How can you argue with this? If you want to change your life, start with finding you why. Be radical in your thinking.

It does not matter if people think poorly of me, or I live a life of dishonor. If you are actively indifferent, then this gives you freedom. There is a power in being powerless. Once you are powerless and free and free from any social fears or self-doubt because you are indifferent towards these things, you are more able to do your life’s work.

The above is the idea of active indifference.

My story perspective on wealth.

I am not the world’s most significant investor, nor am I the richest person. However, I have done well. What is well? My last real job was seven years ago at age 40. There is a good chance I will never have to work again in my life, and I will live my dream of living both in Europe and the USA and maximizing time with my family. This, to me, is wealth. Here is how I recommend you make money.

You might say that it is easy for me to say since I am a stock trading entrepreneur guy. But remember, I do not live in the USA. I lived in Poland and was living in a 190 square foot apartment and washing my clothes the sink. My wife’s family had eight people sleeping in one bedroom. My relatives in Ukraine still do not have running water. Wealth is relative. So if you feel bad, your family has to live in a 500 square foot apartment. My take on this is a good size. Do not feel sorry for yourself if you are poor. I think many Americans are spoiled.

Look I have horrible back pain as I use to work on the loading docks and can not even lift my own daughter. I have bleeding in my brain stem and dizzy and in pain. But what does that matter? I am not going to feel (too) sorry for myself. I am just going to know that every challenge I have in my life, I offer up to God and say ‘thy will be done’.

If you are healthy, you should be moving mountains. Just find the why in your life first.

What if you have you? Why who do you find you what?

I say, ask God to guide you and be patient. Start to meditate on what you really loved when you were a kid or now before you had to make a living. As yourself, if God could give you any superpower to be anything you wanted, a rock star or an investor, or anything, what would you be?

The answer will be different for everyone. This is the way the world works when we are all doing our own thing on this earth, the full benefits (Adam Smith).

The ‘How’ of freeing yourself from Poor

After this ‘why’ and ‘what’, the ‘how’ part is easy. Learn everything you can by reading books and on the Internet. Then, I pay people consulting fees as it accelerates the learning curve. Find someone in the area that you want to focus on and pay them. Gradually here and there. Until you know the process and are all set up. I pay for the people. Do not be cheap. Research things on the Internet until you are at a point you can go no further and find someone trustworthy to coach you on the how.

If you are poor and want to know how to make money, take some of the things I write here to heart. If you have any questions, write to me.