Adopt an Abundance Mindset to Grow Your Wealth
Embracing an abundance mindset is crucial for wealth growth. When you start believing you deserve wealth, opportunities increase significantly. Unfortunately, too many people stick to a scarcity mindset, which can hinder their financial progress.
My financial journey is public, and through sharing my experiences, I aim to shed light on the less obvious aspects of personal finance. We all have blind spots, and sharing insights helps illuminate these areas for better understanding and growth.
Here’s a vital observation from my journey since starting Financial Samurai in 2009 and exiting Corporate America in 2012: the profound impact of positive thinking. After leaving my stable job, my initial goal was merely to survive without regretting my decision. My modest income from real estate, CDs, and dividends, though decent, wasn’t lavish, especially in San Francisco with high living costs like a $18,000 property tax bill.
However, I believed I could generate at least $50,000 annually online given my blog’s traffic. My total pre-tax income around $130,000, post-taxes, was roughly $95,000—enough to maintain my lifestyle with a bit left over. Initially, I enjoyed the freedom to travel and live comfortably without the pressure to earn more. But the publication of my first book in 2012 rekindled my desire to increase my income as I started to enjoy the rewards of my efforts.
Setting new goals, I aimed to expand my blog’s reach from 125,000 to 500,000 pageviews per month by 2014, anticipating that revenue would follow. Remarkably, I achieved this goal without altering my routine of posting several times a week and engaging with my readers—proof that mindset shifts can lead to substantial outcomes.
By 2014, I had matched my former $250,000 finance salary through my blog, validating my decision to leave Corporate America. The flexibility and satisfaction from blogging far outweighed the benefits of my old job, like 401K matches and healthcare. My blog continued to grow, reaching one million pageviews a month by mid-2015 without additional marketing efforts.
However, a trip to Asia in 2015 reminded me of the joys of simple living. My mother was content in a modest apartment in Taipei, contrasting sharply with my life in the U.S. This experience shifted my perspective—I questioned the relentless pursuit of more money when I already had enough to be happy.
Post-Asia, I adopted a mindset of contentment, which interestingly led to a plateau in my blog’s growth as I focused less on expansion and more on maintaining my existing quality of life. This shift underscored the power of mindset in influencing not just personal satisfaction but also professional output.
Encouraging others to adopt an abundance mindset, I emphasize that there’s plenty for everyone. This mindset fosters a positive feedback loop of motivation, achievement, and fulfillment, diminishing feelings of envy and competition. Instead of viewing life as a zero-sum game, an abundance mindset reveals that we can all succeed.
Transitioning from a scarcity to an abundance mindset involves recognizing the unlimited potential for income and growth beyond conventional employment. By focusing on opportunities rather than limitations, you can escape mediocrity and achieve exceptional personal and financial growth.
Ultimately, whether increasing public visibility or choosing to remain private, the decision should align with your values and goals for growth—be it financial, personal, or community-focused.
