It’s import for a person who participates in the ‘civilized’ world to understand what money actually is. Without understanding it, you’re essentially walking blindly into a situation that has to be navigated with eyes open.

I’ve heard the saying “Money is the root of all evil!” and I’ve heard it often. This is a stupid phrase. It’s ignorant to lie to yourself and carry such a damaging and moronic belief with you. By saying money is evil, you are telling the universe you don’t want it. No wonder the 99% are broke. Oops.

It’s quite plain that money is neutral. It’s a unit of choice. It’s a system of privilege that we can use any way we feel compelled. Therefore it is obvious that money is something a person uses based on their own mental and moral code. Money is a neutral amplifier- it makes you more of who you are. To say that the rich are evil is to forget the evils also demonstrated by those who are also without much money - and the terrible things they’ll also do to acquire it.

Because rich and poor have the same balance of good and bad deeds surrounding the desire for money and the power it holds, it’s clear to any idiot that money is just a tool. You can say “Thank you” with money just as easily as you can say “F*@k you!” with it.

After all, what are you really saying when you pay a bill each month? You’re saying ‘Thank You.’Having gratitude attracts more things to be grateful for.

If people understand this, their perspective on money can be fixed to attract it. Correcting the perspective in our minds to a more positive setting can change everything. A positive and more open perspective allows you to notice things you would’ve naturally ignored before - including opportunities you were asking for. When you hold tight to limiting and negative beliefs, you turn your own vision off entirely to opportunities to have what you Say you want. This is called Self-Sabotage.

Your outlook on life’s privileges will define the actions you take to achieve personal success. If your outlooks or perspectives are negative or self-sabotaging, you destroy your chances of getting what you want, and will be left always wondering why life is so ‘unfair.’

I was with a client yesterday who owns a construction business, but is taking a sports business class at a local college. Being in his 40’s, he explained the next oldest person in the class was 25, and he couldn’t get over something that really bothered him about our generation. Why do we feel entitled to everything?

He couldn’t believe how many of the people in this class thought that by having a degree, they were guaranteed a 60K salary minimum. He said as a small business owner that if someone has experience, he would absolutely hire them over someone with a degree. (Which is what I hear from every small business owner I meet with.)

Even professions that require a degree (Doctors, Lawyers, Dentists, etc…) don’t guarantee much.

It doesn’t help that the educational system we’re stuck with is archaic and completely incapable of teaching the principals and innovative mindsets that truly affect our financial stability in this new economy- but on top of that, we have a generation of people that feel like they deserve things without having to put much effort into them.

I was listening to this man the same age as my parents, explain why he thinks my generation got so out of control.

“We’re partially guilty as parents to you all,” He said, “I know we instilled fear. We told you guys to go to school so you don’t end up flipping burgers. Somehow that translated into ‘You are above all of that’..” News flash to us - we’re not above shit. One thing I learned from a mentor of mine who is a self-made multi-millionaire: “If you don’t deserve it, you won’t have it.” Pretty simple. If you think you deserve it, that’s great!! Not having it just means you have more work to do. Stopping after you get a degree and wondering why the jobs aren’t rolling in will be the end of you.

Entitlement follows us in other areas. I know a lot of people who think they can use ‘The Secret’ to attract what they want with their thoughts. That concept is only partially true - a positive attitude defines you, but your actions in sync with those positive thoughts are what attract what you want. Even if what you wanted came your way without you being prepared or having worked for it- guess what? You’ll lose it. Statistically, around half of the people who win the lottery eventually file for bankruptcy. If you haven’t done the work or gained the knowledge to maintain or build something abundant for yourself - that ignorance or inexperience will take it right away from you - which sucks a lot worse that never having it in the first place!

Think positive and follow your heart on what you feel like you want from your life, but most importantly get Working on it now, and take the necessary risks! You can only have what you want if you do the work to keep it. Only your lack of knowledge and experience will steal your dreams either before they happen, or right when they arrive. Get ready to handle the life you’re asking for.

In high school, and even after I graduated, I always compared myself to people who I perceived to have what I wanted. I compared myself to girls who I thought were prettier and who noticeably got more attention from guys at school, or to people who I thought had advantages in life that I didn’t. My best friend in high school was a cheerleader, and if I had a dime for every time a boy asked me if I could hook them up with her, I could buy out Bill Gates. My confidence was low, because all I did was look around at everyone else and dream up how much better they had it instead of working on myself and my talents to be the best version of myself that I could.

Comparing isn’t something that I did alone - everyone does it, and it kills your progress on your way to becoming your Best Self. I talk a lot about being your Best Self because That’s what we’re all alive here to do in the world, and by comparing, you’re missing the point of what it means to be You. We compare in 2 ways:

1.) Comparing ourselves to people we think are doing better than us, are smarter than us, or have more than us, or by thinking that they have it ‘easy.’

2.) Comparing ourselves to people who we think are not as smart as us, are less refined or intelligent than us, or who’s opinions we think are wrong.

Both are different, but equally destructive. The 1st way keeps us immobile, jealous, and makes us feel like we’re somehow not good enough. I felt this way often. The problem is, You are the only ‘You’ in the world. There is no one like you and never will be again. Knowing this, it’s important to understand that whatever you are doing with your life - you’re already doing great as long as you’re progressing, learning from your mistakes, and doing it better next time. It doesn’t matter if someone else accomplishes their personal goals faster than you - all that matters is, are you progressing toward your own goals? The race is against yourself, and you sabotage yourself when you lose sight of the task at hand and start looking around at how everyone else is doing. Who cares? Find something meaningful to do with your own talents and you’ll see yourself living a life that is so happy and fulfilling that you’ll be happy for others who work hard to accomplish their goals too.

The 2nd way keeps you isolated, alone, and unable to use your knowledge to help others. I’ve been guilty of this one before too - and anytime I had something to criticize about someone else, it was often something I also was guilty of - or at the very least it made me look like a jerk and allowed people to think that I saw myself ‘better’ than everyone else when really, I was just feeling insecure about my own worth. This kind of comparison keeps you from being compassionate, and by comparing yourself in this way you’re basically projecting your own insecurities on someone who might be struggling in a different way than you are. If you think you make such better decisions than someone else, that’s great! You wouldn’t have the need to feel elite among others if you were truly doing what’s right for you. Wouldn’t you rather wish the best for someone who is struggling? Don’t forget they are a person too, and by being your Best Self you are setting an example. Don’t forget also that if you’re being your Best Self - your ego wont allow you the need to feel ‘better’ than anyone else. You’ll just feel happy to be you :)

The only reason anyone compares in either way, is because they feel inferior, or insecure. If you are truly working on yourself for the betterment of all around you, you would never feel the need to compare. Run your own race, and by doing your best and worrying about your own progress, you set an example for others.

“Don’t compare or judge yourself by someone else’s success or results. Everyone pays the price of success or the pain of regret. You have no idea the dues someone else has payed that you compare yourself to. Your success will be earned one victory at a time. You deserve success but you are not entitled to it.” - J Combs