This is “Why” You’re Not Making Big Money

"My Mind Playin' Tricks On Me"

Geto Boys

[Verse 2: Willie D]

“I make big money, I drive big cars

Everybody know me, it’s like I’m a movie star...”

These lyrics by Willie D of Geto Boys just about sum-up why the average person never gets to be rich.  Being rich isn’t everyone’s desire.  Many people are happy to work a long career, budget, and save for retirement.  Sorry, this post is not for you.  However, if you’ve ever aspired to have the things in life you feel you deserve, for example, enough money for an early retirement, a fancy car, a big home, etc., and have failed to get there, your problem may not be a lack of money sense or skill.  I am here to tell you that what could be holding you back has nothing to do with lack of want, energy, or even regular motivation, but rather has everything to do with your life: who you are, what you stand for, and why you’re on this planet.

Most people associate wealth with being able to afford more things without concern for depleting one’s funds.  It’s a lifestyle thing.  The typical working class individual is after the lifestyle the wealthy get to enjoy.  I mean, who wouldn’t want to be able to eat like a king, travel often, have a personal chef, (insert your dream state of existence) and so on?  People get after it, meaning, they work hard, without rest sometimes, in an effort to make their dreams come true.  Not seeing the financial outcomes they’d hope for, tired and defeated, they give up.  They go back to what they can depend on to keep them living, not alive: a job.

Where in the path to becoming rich do people err?  It’s not at the beginning, the middle, or the end.  People screw-up becoming rich before the beginning!  In what I learned network marketers call, “The Why.”  Your, “why,” is something greater than you, believe it or not.  It’s the selfless blueprint of your reason for starting on your path to financial independence.  My wife, Jessica, is an Arbonnista (Arbonne International).  Before she could get really good at presentations, selling to people and convincing them to join her team, she had to work for numerous hours on her “why.”  All the Arbonne consultants, just like most other network marketers, have a “why.”  Somewhere in their presentation they share their “why” with their guests.  Having a good “why” makes them thousands.  Having a great “why” makes them millionaires.  But it’s no gimmick!  You see this is as sincere as sales can get.  I’ve never seen so many people cry at an event (other than a funeral) as much as I have when witnessing a great Arbonne consultant relating his/her “why.”

An Arbonne "opportunity" meeting taking place.  Lady on the left thanking her team on the right.

Why do you want to be rich?  Is it because you want more things?  That’s a horrible, selfish, and insincere “why.”  It won’t add meaning to your life.  

Is it because you want a super lifestyle?  Okay, but this is still about You, and may be what deep down sabotages your every move.  

Self-made millionaires started out with huge, and I mean huge, “why’s.”  They wanted to be rich in order to get their family out of poverty.  They wanted to be rich in order to pay for a loved one’s cancer treatment.  They wanted to be rich to send a sibling to college.  They wanted to buy a loved one the prosthetic they needed.  They needed the money for a parent’s operation.  They see a need to provide a service to underserved people and they want to give to these people (via a charity, e.g.) throughout their lives.  Do you see the difference between the motivations to get rich here versus what you may be holding onto in your mind for motivation?

Your “Why” Can Evolve

When I first came to this country as an immigrant from Mexico, my “why” for becoming rich consisted of helping my family out of poverty.  This fed my being for many years, until I became a professional and a successful investor, and realized my parents can now count on me whenever in need.  I’ve been able to help my parents financially many times.  But the need to do so has lessened over the years (my parents are in good health and spend below their means) and this became a problem.  My motivation for becoming rich diverted back to me, and I had to find something more pure, so to speak, a worthier cause to continue my wealth-building path.  My “why” had to change.

Money as a motivator can work for some people.  You don’t want to be like these people.  Deep down you want to matter for/to someone other than you.  What’s the point of living otherwise, right?  Well, as it turns out, making lots of money goes hand-in-hand with helping others in a way that inspires you.  My “why” today is all about helping others become wealthy.  My platform is this blog.

To help you get started on your own worthwhile “why” I invite you to go to my About Me page.  In it you’ll read my core belief: “Every person has limitless potential to be successful, wealthy, happy, and helpful to others.”  And this is my educational agenda: “I also believe financial literacy has the power to transform the lives of members of ethnic minorities (especially Latinos and Blacks) who are economically challenged.”

The secret to wealth creation is helping people, period.  Sure there are mechanics to making money, but you won’t get anywhere without first scripting a great “why” for becoming rich.  This is fundamental.  Once you’ve clarified your “why” I guarantee you’ll never be devoid of purpose.  And when obstacles appear along the way, which invariably they will, you’ll always have your “why” giving you strength to find solutions.  Finally, you’ll better appreciate the lifestyle of your dreams when you know you didn’t step on everyone to get to the top, that along the way you guided and assisted others.   

If you need help with your “why” email me: calilimexica@yahoo.com.  I’d be more than happy to help you get your mind to stop playin’ tricks on you.  Thanks for reading!