6 Mindset Shifts That Will Shape Your Attitude to Work and Money

The way you think about money determines its role in your life.

People often say someone is luckier than others. They see the end result — the success, but not the hard work and the long way towards the desired outcome.

If you live your hopes, the bright future will never come.

Your feelings create thoughts; your thoughts trigger a discussion with yourself. The monologue helps you make decisions, which are transformed into actions later. If you want to improve your life — you’ll have to walk through the whole journey from an uncomfortable feeling to an action that results in a change.

Success rarely comes to people who wait for positive changes to come. Changing your mindset starts and ends with you.

A mindset shift helped me to double my income in 2020, despite all global challenges.

To help you make the most out of 2021, I share what I did to upscale my income last year and how you, too, can rethink the way you treat money.

When you change your mindset, you change your life.

“Who Works All Day Has No Time to Make Money”

It’s a powerful quote by John D. Rockefeller that has a lot to teach if you try to reflect on it.

Just imagine that most people work all day, 5–6 days a week, to earn their monthly paycheck. They don’t stop. If they do, they will lose their primary income source.

Several years of challenging and responsible marketing jobs taught me the following lesson:

Full-time jobs put you in the comfort zone, where you don’t risk working for someone else's business. You get your monthly paycheck no matter what.

I’ve realized that my full-time job will not let me earn as much as I wanted. I could find a better job, but it will most likely be the same rat race, living from paycheck to paycheck.

Last year, I tried to scale my income through side hustles. I partnered with a brand new hospital and helped them move their physical business online. I published over 100 blog posts in 2020, tried working on Upwork, and learned what it is like to be a freelance writer.

I earned more by working part-time apart from my official job. You, too, can scale your income if you dare to try.

If you dream big, don’t play small. Challenge yourself to be in control of your life.

Knowledge Is Cheap; Wisdom Is Priceless

We live in the 21st century, where information is accessible more than ever before. You can google anything and find answers to all your questions in seconds.

The Internet made information widely available, and knowledge became cheap.

There are many “expert opinions,” books, and in-depth guides available online. The question is: “What to do with all this information? How to apply it? Whom to trust?”

People want to have prompt solutions to their needs and wants. As a result, they are ready to pay for expertise.

It’s not by chance we have a growing number of bloggers developing their personal brands in various niche markets.

Knowledge is worth nothing until you know how to apply it and provide value to people.

Millionaires know this. That’s why they are millionaires. They love what they do, and the money is just a bonus.

Having One Income Source Is Risky

2020 was a challenging year for everyone.

In March 2020, the unemployment rate skyrocketed from 4% to 16% in the USA alone, according to the Labor Statistics Bureau.

The Pew Research Center stated that one in four (23%) Americans reported having emergency funds that could cover their expenses for three months only. Those who emptied their pockets are forced to find new income sources.

Perhaps, I was luckier than other people. As an online marketer, I’ve switched to remote work since March 2020. However, the global unemployment rise and economic decline taught me the following:

Don’t rely on one income source, no matter how reliable it seems today. Anything can change tomorrow.

Extra income sources give you the privilege to manage your life as you want and secure yourself financially.

My income remained unchanged for several years until I transformed my mindset and doubled my earnings in 2020. I’ve overcome my impostor syndrome and started writing, which made me an extra $4282,97 last year.

I used this money for self-education and investment, hoping to crush 2021 with much better results.

Investors “don’t put all the eggs in one basket,” neither millionaires have a single income source. Remember, it's risky!

Success Has Nothing to Do with Talent

People tend to justify their failures by pointing to others’ wealth and talent.

It is easier to associate success with life circumstances than work hard and fully control the own life. Successful people know they have to work their ass off to reach a new income level.

Albert Einstein once put it well:

“Genius is 1% talent and 99% percent hard work…”

It will be hard to move forward believing that some people are faster, smarter, more creative, or more talented than you.

Even if they do well now, what’s in it for you? It’s their effort that made them successful. You have your own journey in life. Everyone is talented and skilled, but it requires hard work and the right environment to uncover it.

Tom Corley, an accountant, the financial planner, and the writer interviewed self-made millionaires to find out their most overlooked habits. He admits that “nearly all of the self-made millionaires said one of their top priorities was cultivating rich relationships and avoiding the toxic ones.”

“Rich relationship” is defined by mindset, not wealth. Successful people are way more selective when it comes to making friends and partners. Positive, proactive people are better at staying motivated, achieving their goals, and inspiring others.

Don’t rely on talent and hope in life! You can only create your future if you start working on it now.

People Rarely Succeed Unless They Feel Dedicated to Work

I used to think anyone can be good at anything. It just requires time and effort to manage the subject. What I skipped in this formula is passion.

Passion is a feeling that makes you excited about the work you do. It motivates you to wake up every morning to do the job you genuinely enjoy.

If you are not attached to your work, chances are you won’t put 100% dedication to make it. I can’t honestly admit I was passionate about all my former projects. It might have looked that way, but I will fool myself if I say this way.

The earlier you adopt this mindset, the more thoroughly you will start listening to your inner self, which will help you understand your life vocation.

Don’t waste your time living others’ life and trying to please someone else. Passion leads to the dedication, while dedication will ensure you commit to the work you do. I am 26 with a whole life ahead, but I regret not knowing this truth earlier.

After All, There Are Things More Valuable Than Money

When we are young, we rush to make enough for a living. However, when we become older, our priorities often shift. We realize money cannot buy everything, and even the wealthiest people can be unhappy.

Of course, it is better to complain about life sitting in a Mercedes rather than in a bus.

However, successful people know money is just a tool that can help effectively leverage their time, energy, and family relationship.

Time is the most scarce resource in our life. You can neither keep it nor buy it. You can just live in the present moment without knowing how much is left for you.

Money cannot make you happy, but it can grant you extra free time to spend it with your family, take care of your health, and work on new, exciting projects.

The Bottom Line

The way you treat yourself now affects how your future life will look. It is only you who can make it bright, happy, and financially secure.

Adopted beliefs, life experiences, peers’ and parents’ influence form your “money mindset” that will lead you towards success or make you live paycheck to paycheck. Whichever way you choose, it depends on you.

Wealth isn’t money in the bank. It’s the knowledge that you could do it all again — Paul Blackburn.

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