You ever hear that tired line, "It's not about black or white, it's about mindset"? Yeah, I'm saying it. Because it's true. And if that makes you squirm, good. You're exactly who needs to read this.
I saw an article on Esquire called "4 Men with 4 Very Different Incomes Open Up About the Lives They Can Afford." Bullshit. It should've been called, "4 Men with 4 Very Different Mindsets." The money is just the scoreboard. The game is played in your head.
Before you start screaming about privilege, listen up. There are poor white folks and poor black folks. There are rich white folks and rich black folks. If you stay stuck blaming the 'man,' the 'government,' or your 'entitlement,' you'll never see what real money looks like. Not evil money, not shifty money. Just more money. The kind that buys freedom.
Forget the comments section on that article. It's a cesspool. Your time is too valuable for that noise. What you need to focus on is how much your own thinking needs a gut check if you feel like the world's got you by the throat, drowning in debt and problems. The real difference between someone barely scraping by and someone stacking chips? It's not where they're from, their skin color, or their damn religion. It's how they react, how they produce results for themselves.
Let's look at how two different mindsets see the world. One's a trap, the other's a ladder. Decide which one you're climbing.
The Poverty Mindset: A Cage of Excuses
Here’s a snapshot from the Esquire piece. Demetrius, 25, bar-back in Chicago, two daughters. Making $7 an hour plus tips. Let's dig into his answers:
- Budget? "No, but I have been working on trying to recently. I know I have to pay bills for food, for clothes, gas. It’s a lot of things that go into budgeting. It’s hard to plan for, because you never really know what you’re going to need to spend money on. And the amount of money I make varies, because I work different hours. The biggest two-week check I’ve had so far is $250."
My take: MINDSET. That's all it is. This ain't budgeting, this is hoping. You need a plan, not an excuse list. - One thing your family needs but can’t afford? "I don’t really think about stuff like that. I just try to make do with what I have. I feel like I’m just working to pay for the bills. I don’t even have time to spend with my family—to take them out to certain places."
My take: "Making do" is a poverty sentence. It’s a loser's attitude towards goals and money. You don't have time with your family because you're barely working enough to get by! Your family doesn't need you to 'make do'; they need FREEDOM and a father who chases more than just bills. - One thing you want but can’t afford? "I’d buy a newer-model car. And every time those commercials come on TV—the Pillow Pets—my kids always ask for those. It’s discouraging, having to tell them all the time that we can’t afford things."
My take: This guy's watching TV when he should be out there finding new income streams. He wants a new car but isn't thinking about anything with an ROI. He's worried about Pillow Pets, not building a future for his kids. Insane. - Last thing you bought that required serious planning? "I bought a TV—a Black Friday deal. It’s a Vizio 39-inch. I paid like $250. I had to work for it. I saved up."
My take: A TV requires serious planning? This isn't planning for growth; it's planning for distraction. He doesn't need that TV; he needs a new source of income.
The Abundance Mindset: Building a Life of Freedom
Now, let’s flip the coin. Yakov, 41, real estate agent in Miami, making $250,000 a year. One son. Here's how he rolls:
- Budget? "Yes, I’m very organized with it. Overall, my fixed expenses are about $7,000 a month. They include rent and about $1,000 a month for transportation, $180 a month to the cleaning lady, $200 for gas for the vehicle, and a handful of little things—$300 a month for Netflix, Pandora, Skype, subscriptions like that."
My take: This isn't just a budget; it's a financial command center. He knows every dollar. He's in control, not reacting to what hits him. - One thing your family needs but can’t afford? "Nothing."
My take: That's the sound of freedom. When needs are met, you can focus on building something bigger. - One thing you want but can’t afford? "I’m a fan of watches, and there’s a Cartier that just came out that’s about $10,000. It’s not that I can’t afford it; it’s just not a priority right now."
My take: He *could* buy it. But he chooses not to, because his priorities are bigger than instant gratification. This is self-control. This is vision. - Last thing you bought that required serious planning? "I spend money traveling every year, and that’s something I put some thought into. Last December, I went to Austria, Slovenia, and Italy."
My take: Planning for experiences, for growth, for living. Not for another damn screen to stare at. This is a life being built, not just endured. - Saving for retirement? "I am saving, but not for retirement. I’m saving up to buy an apartment building, which will give me another stream of income. My money is all in play right now to make more money. The kind of life that I want to live when I retire is not one I have to manage by having, you know, a million dollars and 3 or 4 percent [interest]. It’s not going to happen."
My take: This is the mic drop. He’s not saving to stop working; he’s saving to invest, to create more income. His money works for him, not the other way around. He understands the game.
The differences are undeniable. They're huge. And I'm telling you again: it's not about black or white. It's about mindset. That's why I'm always pushing to shift towards abundance, prosperity, action, strength. I wasn't born on the poverty line, so I won't pretend to know that struggle firsthand. But I know a mindset that holds people back when I see one. And changing that mindset is WHY I built The Comfort Killers.
It's about what you do and what you strive for. Not who you vote for, not what music you like. That's all petty bullshit when it comes to your actual life. In a few years, there'll be new politicians, new music, new movies. The world keeps changing, keeps growing. It's YOU who might be stuck, talking the same tired shit with the same tired people. Expand. Get out of that damn circle.
If you think your struggles are about color, race, sex, creed, or religion, and not about your goals, your action, your commitment, then I feel sorry for you. But I also know sometimes you need a punch in the mouth like this article to wake you up, to push you out of your comfort zone. I'm here. We're here. We are The Comfort Killers.
Kill the comfort today
- Audit your excuses: Write down every reason you tell yourself why you can't get ahead financially. Now, for each one, write down one concrete action you can take to dismantle that excuse. No 'can't,' only 'how.'
- Stop passive consumption: Cut back on mindless TV, social media, and other distractions. Redirect that time and mental energy into learning a new skill, researching income streams, or planning your next financial move.
- Define your abundance: Don't just wish for 'more money.' Get specific. What's the number? What will it buy you (freedom, security, investment)? How will you get there? Create a raw, detailed plan, and start working it.