I published this same post on 20 November 2017. I just read the book, Hillbilly Elegy by J.D, Vance which supports much of what is said below.
RICH: GET RICHER POOR: POOR GET POORER
RICH: Come from wealthy family POOR: Come from poor family
RICH: Taught how to handle money, assets POOR: Not taught how to handle money, assets.
RICH: Have education, specially advanced education POOR: No or little education.
RICH: Thinks of the future POOR: Thinks only in the present.
RICH: Has positive attitude POOR: Has negative attitude
RICH: Keeps good company (i.e moral and like-minded friends and associates) POOR: Keeps bad company (may not have a choice of the type of company).
RICH: Seeks competent advisers POOR: Does not seek advice.
RICH: Sees seeking advice as helpful POOR: Sees accepting advice as a sign of weakness.
RICH: Has supportive, uplifting family POOR: Has a non-supportive family, or adversarial family.
RICH: Comes from stable community POOR: Comes from unstable and possibly dangerous community.
RICH: Has some money or position from which to start and the vision to use it POOR: Has nothing to start with and no idea of how to change, or even that change is possible.
RICH: From a community that seeks to advance it’s own (there many good communities, but the Mafia would also qualify) POOR: From a community that seeks to keep it’s members at the same level.
RICH: Has been helped and is willing to help others POOR: Has not been helped and restrains self from offering help to others.
RICH: Willing to accept help POOR: Will not accept help; sees accepting help as sign of weakness.
RICH: Thinks about wealth a lot (perhaps to the exclusion of more important life/family issues) POOR: Gives no thought to wealth, or thinks it is not possible for people like him to obtain.
RICH: Time and chance: they were in the right place at the right time POOR: No luck - - not just the excuse, “I’m not lucky”, but actually is not in the right place at the right time.
RICH: Recognizes opportunity, taught what opportunities are possible POOR: Does not recognize an opportunity, does not believe any are available.
We, all of us, have the opportunity to change. It is sad some of us don't know it, or don't believe we can take it, or just won't do it.
