Here’s my problem with Money-mindset Gurus
#1 Enough with the Millionaire inspiration
If you have been on the self-awareness and self-growth journey, you would have definitely listened to content that talks about Money-mindset.
They teach about abundance, limiting beliefs, and how to create an active & passive income to live a balanced life.
I have found these speakers/writers to be highly inspiring. They have helped me navigate through some of my own limiting beliefs concerning money.
Having said that, I do have few problems with certain influencers. The ones who display numbers (specifically to push towards a multi-millionaire/billionaire lifestyle). Here’s why:
#1 Enough with the Millionaire inspiration
How many times have you listened to a podcast about Money-mindset and has the word “multi-millionaire” come up? If not that, the talks are about 6-digit, 7-digit income.
The millionaire inspiration is a problem. Rather than using the resources for the good of self and others, most of such contents talk about capitalistic greed. When the dangled carrot is only huge houses, cars, lavish lifestyles, expensive fitness/health products, it seems to lose the purpose of “improving the mindset entirely.”
How can one improve their overall personality if all they are taught is to earn vast sums of money at the cost of health (hustle culture), environment, and people (who may suffer because of your over-indulgence)?
#2 Blind to the bigger picture
Most people who create the “get rich” content do not talk about the world’s bigger picture.
The only reference made about the bigger picture is in the form of an excuse. The usual excuse is- If the money goes to the right hands, then good things will happen in the world. While this statement is 100% true, how much of it is practical? Does it really go to the right hands? Based on our present experiences, how many multi-millionaires and billionaires really help the needy besides the exceptional few.
Yes, they may donate 1–5% of their net worth, but they take much more from the resource pool.
Hardly any gurus throw light on how hoarding Money just for your own selfish needs can impact literally millions.
As I see videos after videos of celebrities showing off their 2000 sq. ft closet for their 200 bags or their 24 bedroom mansion where two people live, it makes me even more suspicious.
Are we promoting people to be their best self or are we pushing them towards shopping/capitalistic addictions?
The world cannot sustain a million more multi-millionaires. It’s that time of the century where we need to teach people about resourcefulness and not grab as much as we can for ourselves. We have a population of 8 billion for Pete’s sake.
Dear Money-mindset gurus: Please talk more about unnecessary consumption and responsible resourcefulness.
#3 No considerations for the Environment
While everyone talks about Mutual funds and other investments, nobody really talks about a wise investment that may benefit the Environment.
Which companies are helping protect the Environment?
Which companies are being innovative in sustainably producing their products?
In recent research to find a sustainable clothing/shoe brand, I spent close to 5–8 hours of content to finally order a pair of sustainable shoes where the company went above and beyond to track their “footprint.”
As I hear innumerable content about “start your own company” or “get rich,” nobody (or significantly fewer people) has been seriously talking about responsible businesses.
Is your investment going to the right hands?
Are your products toxic to the Environment?
If the company is making enough profits, how are you giving back to the community?
Isn’t it time that we expand our conversations?
#4 Hustle vs. Mental health
The hustle culture has been making the rounds for quite some time. Movies usually show the hustle culture as people who hardly sleep for 2–3 hours, chug cups of coffee, grab a meal while traveling or working, and barely have time for themselves or their families. The hero of the movie is usually shown to be someone who wants to make their life successful.
While the Money-mindset gurus heavily promote the hustle culture, they do not reflect on the impacts of less/no sleep, overdose caffeine, or unhealthy food on an individual’s health and relationships.
I agree that the pattern has been changing in the past few years where now more and more people are talking about mental health, relationships, and the importance of sleep, but it still hasn’t evolved enough to reach all spectrums of jobs & businesses.
#5 There needs to be an Upper limit
There are 46.8 million millionaires and 2825 billionaires globally, the wealthiest 1% own 44% of the world’s wealth.
It infuriates me that the Money-mindset Gurus do not talk enough about wealth inequality. How are we still having funding issues for critical global causes while someone owns 300 pairs of shoes?
Like any other animal, humans have the mentality to hoard for themselves to have a secure future.
But how much is enough?
How much are we harming the global population by taking more than we need?
Do you own more than two houses to make an income out of it?
Do you overbuy and waste products?
I highly recommend going through the below website to learn more about income inequalities based on various factors. It was a real eye-opener.
#6 Promoting irresponsible celebrities
Yes. I usually listen to a podcast to learn aspects from specific individuals and ignore the “bad parts.” But in recent years, there has been the widespread promotion of celebrities as a symbol of success. The same stars live in huge mansions, travel in private jets, and take vacations in their remote islands. We comfortably turn a blind eye to the carbon footprint caused due to such lifestyles.
Why are such celebrities portrayed as a symbol of success while volunteers and people who work in challenging conditions and spread kindness are given less to no limelight?
I no longer find certain celebrities to be inspiring. They seem more blind, addicted, and annoying, not to realize how much damage they are causing by “showing-off” their lifestyle and promoting over-consumerism.
Having said the above points, I would like to reiterate that there are genuinely notable money-mindset influencers who talk about balance, environment, resourcefulness along with creating abundance and getting rid of limiting beliefs. For those influencers, thank you so much for making a positive impact.
For the rest, it’s time to evolve.
Check out my YouTube channel for inspiring videos: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBfUxVSxC0koxGSkwzVRYzQ
