Rich or poor – what's your mindset?
Thinking is not just a way of perceiving the world, but a key factor determining one's financial future. In an era when economic opportunities are becoming increasingly dependent on personal strategies and financial literacy, thinking habits shape the real difference between poverty and wealth.
To change your financial reality, you need to start by transforming your own beliefs.
To change your financial reality, you need to start by transforming your own beliefs.
Money is in your head, not in your wallet
In 1912, J.P. Morgan uttered a phrase that became a classic in the financial world:
"Gold is money, everything else is credit."
This quote underscores a simple yet profound idea: money is, above all, a mindset. Rich people focus not on preserving their wealth, but on growing it. They think in terms of investments, assets, and growth.
The poor—in terms of survival, saving, and debt.
One thinks, "How can I make my money work for me?"
Another, "How can I avoid losing it?"
It is this difference that creates the gap between the financial worlds.
Rich or poor – what's your mindset?
Why are the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer?
The secret lies in the so-called Matthew Effect —a social phenomenon discovered by sociologist Robert Merton. Its essence is simple:“For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance. But from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.”
(Matthew 25:29)
This principle also applies to life: those who already have resources (financial, intellectual, social) use them to gain even more.
Meanwhile, those with limited resources often spend what little they have, failing to create the conditions for growth.
In science, this manifests itself as the phenomenon of citation: the more famous a scientist is, the more often their work is cited, regardless of its quality.
In business, the wealthier a person is, the greater their access to lucrative deals, investments, and information.
Rich thinking is a habit of action
The rich don't wait for the perfect moment; they create it.
The poor wait for an opportune moment, a government promise, or a "miracle."
A rich man asks:
"How can I increase my capital?"
A poor man asks:
"Why is everything so expensive?"
The difference is responsibility. Financially successful people make decisions and take risks. They know that without risk there is no growth.
Poor people look for someone to blame: the government, inflation, the boss, the neighbors. Everyone but themselves.
How the rich think
Focus on possibilities. Instead of saying "I can't afford it," ask "how can I afford it?"
Investing instead of spending. Money works even when its owner sleeps.
Socializing with common interests. Your environment shapes your reality—the rich associate with those who can inspire, not complain.
Long-term thinking. Instead of instant gratification, consider a strategy for years to come.
How the poor think
Fear of risk. Any change is a threat.
Complaining instead of solving problems. Energy is spent discussing problems rather than taking action.
Envy. The success of others is perceived as unfair.
Focus on saving. Saving doesn't always mean growing. Sometimes saving is simply a form of fear.
The rich don't wait for the perfect moment; they create it.
The poor wait for an opportune moment, a government promise, or a "miracle."
A rich man asks:
"How can I increase my capital?"
A poor man asks:
"Why is everything so expensive?"
The difference is responsibility. Financially successful people make decisions and take risks. They know that without risk there is no growth.
Poor people look for someone to blame: the government, inflation, the boss, the neighbors. Everyone but themselves.
How the rich think
Focus on possibilities. Instead of saying "I can't afford it," ask "how can I afford it?"
Investing instead of spending. Money works even when its owner sleeps.
Socializing with common interests. Your environment shapes your reality—the rich associate with those who can inspire, not complain.
Long-term thinking. Instead of instant gratification, consider a strategy for years to come.
How the poor think
Fear of risk. Any change is a threat.
Complaining instead of solving problems. Energy is spent discussing problems rather than taking action.
Envy. The success of others is perceived as unfair.
Focus on saving. Saving doesn't always mean growing. Sometimes saving is simply a form of fear.
Case Study: Michael Hayes and the Path to Financial Independence
Michael Hayes, a 29-year-old trader from Austin, followed a typical path from "poor mindset" to "rich mindset."
Having started his career with credit card debt and a constant fear of loss, he decided to take on a proprietary firm's 2024 challenge to test his ability to manage capital professionally.
He didn't achieve immediate success: his first month ended with losses. But instead of giving up, Hayes analyzed his mistakes, created an investment plan, implemented automated trading, and switched to a 2% risk management system.
Three months later, he received certification and his first prop account, worth $100,000, from which he netted $42,000 within a year.
Today, he invests part of his profits in ETFs and startups, trains novice traders, and admits:
"As long as I was trying to save, I remained poor. As soon as I started investing, I became free."
Thinking is the new currency of the 21st century
Ray Dalio said that "successful people find meaning in difficulties, not excuses."
The modern world rewards not just hard work, but flexible thinking.
Understanding that money is a consequence of thinking, not a goal, turns people into creators, not victims of circumstances.
Conclusion
Poverty isn't a death sentence, but a thought pattern that can be rewritten.
Financial freedom doesn't begin with a paycheck, but with the phrase:
"I take responsibility for my results."
So the main question is not how much money you have , but what kind of mindset you have .
Michael Hayes, a 29-year-old trader from Austin, followed a typical path from "poor mindset" to "rich mindset."
Having started his career with credit card debt and a constant fear of loss, he decided to take on a proprietary firm's 2024 challenge to test his ability to manage capital professionally.
He didn't achieve immediate success: his first month ended with losses. But instead of giving up, Hayes analyzed his mistakes, created an investment plan, implemented automated trading, and switched to a 2% risk management system.
Three months later, he received certification and his first prop account, worth $100,000, from which he netted $42,000 within a year.
Today, he invests part of his profits in ETFs and startups, trains novice traders, and admits:
"As long as I was trying to save, I remained poor. As soon as I started investing, I became free."
Thinking is the new currency of the 21st century
Ray Dalio said that "successful people find meaning in difficulties, not excuses."
The modern world rewards not just hard work, but flexible thinking.
Understanding that money is a consequence of thinking, not a goal, turns people into creators, not victims of circumstances.
Conclusion
Poverty isn't a death sentence, but a thought pattern that can be rewritten.
Financial freedom doesn't begin with a paycheck, but with the phrase:
"I take responsibility for my results."
So the main question is not how much money you have , but what kind of mindset you have .
Written by Ethan Blake
Independent researcher, fintech consultant, and market analyst.
October 15, 2025
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