Once, I had a bum mentality—a mindset of scarcity, fear, and small thinking. I agonized over every penny, stressed over minor purchases, and lived like life was all about scraping by. I thought saving money meant not spending it, even when that meant wasting time or sacrificing quality.
The truth? That mindset kept me small. Money doesn’t just solve problems; it changes who you are, what you think is possible, and how you approach life. Here’s how to escape the 9-5 grind and replace that bum mentality with the winner’s mindset of freedom, ambition, and action.
Why Start Your Own Business?
1. Job Security Is a Myth
Today, loyalty to a company is meaningless.
- Your job can be outsourced, automated, or replaced in a heartbeat.
- Your only real security lies in your skills and your ability to make money on your own.
Becoming an Online Entrepreneur
2. Hard Work Pays Off Only If It’s For You
Corporate jobs reward office politics and “playing the game,” not hard work.
- If you’re going to hustle, let the results benefit your own pocket.
- Build something that’s yours and reaps direct rewards.
3. Multiple Streams of Income Build Wealth
Even if you keep your 9-5 job, a side business gives you:
- Extra income.
- A backup plan if your job disappears.
- The foundation to go full-time into entrepreneurship when you’re ready.
4. Freedom of Time and Schedule
When you work for yourself:
- You set your own hours.
- Vacations, sick days, and family time are on your terms—not HR’s.
5. Corporate Work Is Soul-Crushing
Endless meetings, pointless reports, and being treated like a cog in the machine drain your spirit.
- Owning your own business lets you call the shots and live with purpose.
- There’s no better feeling than looking at a paycheck full of zeroes with your name on it.
The Four Ways to Make Money On Your Own
1. Selling Goods
- Create or source a product people want.
- This could be anything from handmade crafts to tech gadgets.
2. Selling Services
- Use your skills to solve problems for others.
- Examples: plumbing, personal training, graphic design, or coaching.
3. Selling Information
- Package your knowledge and expertise into books, courses, or consulting.
- You’d be amazed how much people will pay to learn what you know.
4. Being a Middleman
- Buy low and sell high.
- This could involve dropshipping, flipping items, or managing supply chains.
What It Takes to Succeed
Salesmanship
- Sell yourself and your services with confidence.
- You don’t need to be pushy; you just need to believe in what you’re offering.
Focus and Grit
- Building a business takes time and effort.
- Stop asking “How long will it take?” and start committing to doing the work until it’s done.
Reduce Expenses
- Starting out, you may not make much at first.
- Cut unnecessary expenses and focus on what’s essential.
Visualize Success
- If you think “this won’t work,” you’re already defeated.
- Believe in yourself, plan for success, and act like the winner you’re becoming.
How to Get Started
- Take Action on a Side Hustle
- Use your spare time to build a small business.
- Test ideas, learn as you go, and focus on generating that first dollar.
- Develop a Winner’s Mindset
- Average people make excuses. Winners find solutions.
- Focus on growth, not fear or failure.
- Learn Sales and Negotiation
- Whether you’re selling a product, service, or information, you’re always selling yourself.
- Get comfortable asking for what you’re worth.
- Fake It Till You Make It
- Confidence is key. Even if you’re starting out, act like a pro.
- Your skills will catch up to your ambition with time.
7 Reasons to Start Your Own Business
- You Control Your Job Security – No one can fire you from your own business.
- Hard Work Directly Benefits You – Not a corporate hierarchy.
- Build Wealth with Multiple Income Streams – Diversify your earnings.
- Freedom to Set Your Schedule – Your time is yours.
- Escape the Corporate Grind – Work doesn’t feel like work when it’s your passion.
- Your Job Guarantees Nothing – The economy is unpredictable; your skills and business are your only guarantees.
- It’s More Fulfilling – Nothing beats the pride of building something of your own.
The Bum Mentality vs. The Winner’s Mentality
Bum Mentality
- Worries about pennies while wasting hours.
- Waits for someone else to give them opportunities.
- Sticks to the “safety” of a job that can vanish at any moment.
Winner’s Mentality
- Sees money as a tool to solve problems and create freedom.
- Creates opportunities instead of waiting for them.
- Builds income streams, independence, and self-respect.
Final Thought: Escape the 9-5 Jive
The world has changed, and the old rules of security through a job no longer apply. You must learn to rely on yourself and your ability to create value and generate income.
Start today. Whether it’s selling goods, services, or knowledge, take one small step toward freedom. Your future isn’t decided by your degree, your job, or your boss—it’s decided by you.
What will you build?
