Why is it that some people are rich, and most everyone else is semi-broke, or at the most, middle-class?
Is it just mindset? Is it upbringing? Is it their knowledge? Is it what they’re doing?
What is it?
These questions were bugging the hell out of me one day while I was sitting at a stop light in Maui.
Here’s the scene: I’m looking around me at the light, and all the other cars are beat-up wrecks, even for Maui standards.
It’s like, “Wow, I don’t even know how these cars are driving. They’re rust buckets. They’re just terrible.”
I look at the people in these cars, and from my perspective, they’re all broke. It’s not that they’re bad people. They’re wonderful people. They’re just broke people.
…the kind of people who work and, in my language, slave away for 30 or 40 years, and never “get it”.
They work their asses off, and they never win. They never become super successful. They never become financially free. They don’t have a purpose and don’t really help anyone. And they’re always worried about money.
I said to myself, “If you could come up with an answer to help people solve this problem, that would do so much good.”
And I knew that any answer would have to start with the mind because it’s the source of all success— and all failure.
Money Beliefs That Keep People Broke
It’s absolutely possible to get rich doing what you love and helping others at the same time. But you can make it OVERLY hard for yourself with the way you think.
How do I know? That’s what I did. That’s why for a decade I was completely broke.
So what did I get wrong (and might you be getting wrong)? And what are better alternatives?
Here are 5 of the most common and DISASTROUS money beliefs I’ve encountered, both in my own life and in coaching and teaching over 2 million students worldwide.
1. “I don’t want to get rich because it means I’ll have to focus only on money.”
People get hung up on, “Am I just in this for me? Is it just about how much money I can make?” They resist doing what it takes to earn a lot of money because they think it’s selfish or shallow.
Alternative: You can be way more generous when you have way more to give! And you also earn a lot more money when you do focus on giving and helping, as long as you’re smart about it. So ask yourself, “How can I live my purpose and make a lot of money by helping a lot of people?”
2. “I want to get rich, so I need to focus only on money.”
On the flip side of #1, many people think that focusing on money above all else is what will help them get more. But it doesn’t work that way. People smell greed a mile away, and they will stay a mile away.
Alternative: Focusing on money is the worst thing you can do. Stop thinking about yourself. Focus on helping other people. If you do it in an intelligent way and package it properly, the result is you help them, and you get rich.
3. “I don’t want to try to get rich because then I’d be a slave to money.”
When you’re broke is when you’re a slave to money! I’m sorry – every decision, everything you do, and everything you don’t do has to do with money when you DON’T have it. It rules your freakin’ life, true or true?!
Alternative: How do you not be ruled by money? It’s easy. Have it. Have plenty of money. Don’t let anybody tell you that being rich isn’t fan-freakin’-tastic. The best thing about it for me is, I don’t worry about money. I don’t think about it.
4. “Money doesn’t solve all problems.”
The thinking here is that, because money doesn’t fix everything, it’s not worth having. This is very a very black-and-white mindset and makes no sense.
Alternative: You know what problems money does solve? MONEY problems! That’s it. Shitty stuff can happen to you in other areas. Why do you have to add money problems to the list? Get this part of your life handled.
5. “I don’t want to have a lot of money because other people don’t.”
If this is you, you’re saying that by you being broke, you’re helping somebody else have more money. It doesn’t work that way! You having less doesn’t make them rich! It just makes you… BROKE.
Alternative: Having money means you can help people who need it. You can do more good in the world because you have more to give. Money makes you more of who you are, so if you’re generous, then money will make you more generous.
These disastrous beliefs people have are keeping them from the life they want. Don’t buy into them. Allow yourself the possibility of getting rich so you can have the life you want and help others as well.
Seriously, wouldn’t it be great to be able to live your passion, do what you really love doing, help people and get really rich?
Answered: How To Get Rich AND Help People
Going back to that stoplight in Maui, I said, “Harv, you know how to do that. You do exactly that. Why are there so many parts to this that people are missing? And what can you do about it?”
So I decided to create the answer for people. And I mean on the spot. I drove a few miles to a great coffee shop I know. I got a coffee, grabbed a brochure from the counter to write on, got out a pen, and sat down.
I said, “Harv, straight up, if you were telling someone you really loved how to live their purpose, live their passion, help a lot of people, and make a lot of money, what would you tell them?”
It literally took me 90 seconds. I wrote down Step 1, Step 2, and so on until I had 8 steps. And that was it.
Eight steps to go from literally nothing to millionaire— or multimillionaire— and help a LOT of people along the way.
I knew I needed to make this information as accessible as possible. And that meant making it easy to get and easy to learn and use.
So I turned these 8 steps into a book. But not just any book. If it were me, I would not sit down with some 300-page book with small text and comb through it. I’m not gonna read freakin’ War and Peace.
I like books that are easy, fast, and get to the point quickly. In and out. I want to know what the main premise is and how to do it. Give me the steps, and I’m done.
So that’s how I created this book, and I did it by applying the proven “accelerated learning” approach I’ve used on stage for decades. It helps you learn more, learn faster, and retain what you learn better than any other approach on the planet.
The book is called Five Years To Freedom. And it walks you step-by-step through how to make a lot of money by helping a lot of people. It’s fun, easy, and FAST to absorb. Within 45 minutes you’re done.
And remember how I said I wanted it to be easy to get? Well, I don’t need to make money from this, and I don’t want anything standing in your way. So for now, we’ve made it available for FREE! You have literally no excuse not to learn this information.
This is YOUR time. If you learn these steps and implement each one into your life, you will get rich. If you don’t use these steps, or if you miss one, you will be broke or pretty close to it.
Get the book. Do what it says.
Help people and get rich. It’s as simple as that.
For Your Freedom,
Wendy Lansdon says
Cant wait to read this book and implement into my life!
Rene Carlos Tamez says
Thanks for sharing once again.
Edward Watt says
Over many, many years, I had the privilege of listening to people from very humble beginnings in
life talk about money. Never did I hear anyone mention any regrets wishing they hadn’t made a decision to become rich or wealthy. Comments shared were I wish I had done it sooner or I never thought life could be this good. One more, I wish I had worked twice as hard. Book will be ordered
Thanks for sharing Harv
Brenda Trott says
Always a good story.
Ema says
Can’t wait to read this book and apply.
Verne Casavoy says
I always appreciate a free. However, as you have not asked for my address, I presume that you are sending it as email. If so, I have always had trouble reading books on my android. (I’m old school about reading hard copy.)
Also, I do not subscribe to Instagram, twitters, facebook, or any social media for that matter. Hard copy or BRIEF emails … you promoters tend to be too long winded to hold my attention long.
Jonathan R Aba says
Wow, what a blessing, can’t wait to read it and try my best to do what it says.
THANKYOU Harv
Bernice Nemtzov says
I love the way this is written. Give yourself a high five and say “ I’m awesome”. Great stuff for real. Gets me excited! Thank you.
m m ganesh says
great points. about point # 5 people may not be convinced of that message. They will require some economic knowledge . Have a read at this book by jay w richards..” money greed and god ” . Dont be afraid of the economics word or god…… it is a GREAT book on money and the beliefs associated with it. You, mr harv may get some ways on presenting your ideas in a different more convincing way across your readers and viewers.. It is one of my most favorite books .
m m ganesh says
seems like an interesting book… have read your earlier book.. will soon be buying this also
Mbugua says
Thanks Harv.
The one l love best is ‘Stop thinking about yourself. Focus on helping other people”
Che Hong Huang says
Thanks for this great sharing. Looking forward to read it.
Rohinie says
I am eagerly awaiting to read the book. I am very much inspired by your book Millionaire Mind .
Ngozi Mbah says
Thank you very much. How do I get my copy?
Dean Helerbet says
such a good article, you are definitely right!
My problem was in thinking only about money, this is why now i have problems in relations in my family