Imagine someone offers to sell you a car valued at $10,000 for $3,000. The only reason he is selling this car is that he desperately needs the $3,000. But you don’t need a car. As a matter of fact, owning a car is the least of your problem and all you have in your bank account is $300. That is 10% of the cost. What will you do? And what do you think the majority of people will do in such a situation? Tell your response in the comment below. Also, subscribe to After School TV for more insightful videos like this. Let’s use this scenario to make a case for wealth inequality and mindset inequality.
Wealth Inequality
There is a huge divide between those who have and does who don’t have. The divide is so wide that the 26 richest people on earth have the same net worth as the poorest half of the world’s population – that is 26 to 3.8 billion. Since the beginning of wealth creation, there has always been an outcry about wealth inequality in society. People at the bottom, understandably have had to fight for a fair share of the unlimited resources God has bestowed upon the earth.
The rich and the elites in the society would rather hand you bread to eat today than give you the key to unlock your chains. They preferred to give the people the semblance of freedom, like the Roman Coliseum, then have them enlightened.
When we look through history, we could see some justifiable reasons for the masses to resent the rich. Out of their greed, they had created a society that consistently widened the gap between the haves and have-nots. As new opportunities emerge in the economy, the vast majority of people do not have the resources to take advantage of them. When the average person stumbles on a $3,000 opportunity that is worth $10,000, they don’t have the resources to cash in, which is evident in the impact of wealth inequality. So the prophecy continues to hold true – the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer. That is the case for wealth inequality. And it is a valid case.
Mindset Inequality
Now let’s make a case for mindset inequality. If someone offers to sell you a car valued at $10,000 for $3,000. But you don’t need a car. Owning a car is the least of your problem and all you have in your bank account is $300. What will the majority of people do?
I’ll tell you what most people will do. And then I will also tell you what few people will do.
Most people will walk away from the opportunity because by virtue of how society functions, they are disadvantaged to have the resources to pull off such transactions. Most people wouldn’t even bother because, they don’t need a car; and even if they do, they cannot afford it. To sum it up, most people will let the opportunity pass.
However, here is what few people would do if such an opportunity is presented to them. Few people will offer their $300 to the owner as a down payment for time to raise the balance. Few people will go out and look for a buyer that will buy the car for at least $8,000. While at it, they will look for $2,700 loan from wherever they can find it with minimal risk. Or form a partnership with someone with the money to capitalize on the opportunity. The bottom line is that only a few people will think through and see-through with owning that opportunity. The rest of the people will walk away from it.
So while the person in the minority could get at least $5,000 richer from exposure to this opportunity; the person in the majority keeps his $300 and gets zero dollars richer.
The difference between these types of people is not their net worth or their intelligence. The difference is their mindset. And this opportunity-seizing mindset is not evenly distributed. Among other reasons and to a large extent, this is also a valid reason why, despite living in so much abundance – abundance in information, knowledge, network, and resources – the wealth gap continues to widen with no end in sight.
What You See is What You Get
Wealth inequality may be a problem in our society today. But the problem is not just inequality of opportunities but inequality of mindset. Many people are so entrenched in their negativity and pessimism that they cannot see the opportunities staring them in the face. Unfortunately, their perception becomes their reality because your definition of how the world works, and your role in it, deeply impact your reality. Two people living under the same roof could be living in two different realities. One sees a world filled with an abundance of opportunities while the other sees a world filled with inhumanity and oppression – two extremes of optimism and pessimism. You know what’s more disturbing; both of them would be genuinely right. Both of them can make a clear argument for their perception of reality.
The biggest battle for mindset inequality is convincing people that it exists. People are more comfortable pointing to external sources as the sole reason for their suffering than the point at the person standing in front of the mirror. No matter how you try to convince the majority of people that their lives can change for the better if they would focus on the one thing they have the chance at changing; their mindset. That there are technological progress, opportunities, and resources they could use to their advantage. They would rather look for the typo in your message.
Of course, there are rich people who got lucky and inherited their wealth; there are oppressors and corrupt government officials. But there are also many who simply worked hard, made sacrifices, stayed committed, and used available resources to create a more rewarding life for themselves.
Whether you choose the side of optimism or pessimism, you will be right. But the side you choose will make all the difference with how your life will turn out because what you see is what you get.
The Reality of Abundance
Depending on where you look in society or on the internet, you will find something to confirm your perception of reality. If you believe there are no good men or women anymore, there is an abundance of proof of this reality out there. If you believe there is no hope for the poor, you will always find confirmation for that. If you want to shift to the perspective of abundance, the first thing you must do is to change where you look.
On the surface, it would seem pretty easy to say change your mindset and change your life. But changing how we think is one of the most difficult things to do. Your only chance at it is to start controlling what you feed your mind. The type of content you expose yourself to on the media influences your life more than you know. This also applies to the type of company you keep. You are not as strong-willed as you think when it comes to your perception of reality. The media you consume shapes your perception of reality.
I firmly believe that there is an abundance of opportunities out there. But you will have to put in the work to become the type of person that would seize these opportunities. To be honest, the mindset inequality gap is not closing any time soon – it will rather continue to widen. The majority of people will continue to feel less responsible and blind to opportunities for commercial value. Everyone is not going to suddenly decide to focus on working on themselves. So your best bet is to focus on moving your position within the gap. Here is how the world today has made this easier for you.
Low Entry barrier
The media industry, for example, used to be reserved for select few professionals and high net worth individuals. Today, anyone can start a media business. Today, you don’t have to be highly trained to profit from the most lucrative industries. You can build a technology solution and sell it to almost any industry. The low entry barrier is a wealth creation game changer.
Low Capital requirement
Today, for less than $100, you can start a business using technology. If you don’t have $100, you can start with zero capital helping other people sell their product for a commission. You don’t need money to start making money. There is an abundance of wealth to be made, and an abundance of resources to make it possible.
Low Barrier to Education
You no longer need money to get an education. There is an ocean of free and low-cost information and courses out there that can equip you with skills that can change your life. You just have to make your education a priority and change your perspective of what education is.
Unending technology innovation
Innovation in technology continues to raise the bar. The top most valuable companies in the world are all tech companies. Some of the most valuable companies today are dominating in industries where they own no physical asset; Uber dominating the transport business with no vehicles; YouTube dominating TV without creating their own content; same with Facebook. All of these companies are creating more opportunities for more people to profit from.
The opportunities are just endless. You need to start connecting with smart, positive, and creative people to gain a better perspective. Start putting yourself out there. And if you are offered an opportunity you don’t have the capacity to execute, don’t walk away. Seek out other people to join you to exploit that opportunity. Remember, if you believe the world is doomed, you are right; if you believe it is teeming in abundance, you are also right. Until next time, YOUR SUCCESS MATTERS!
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