“The real world is simply waiting for you to get rich,” writes Robert Kiyosaki, author of the book “Rich Dad Poor Dad.” Yet, so many people like us fail to accumulate wealth and prosper in our lives. The primary and most critical difference between a rich person and a poor person is how they manage fear. We fear many things because they challenge our existence and hold the potential to disrupt our ordered lives set by our expectations. And we’re no different from any rich person here because even the wealthiest of the wealthy deals with fear and loss, as it’s an inevitable emotion.
The Difference in Fears: Rich vs. Poor
The primary and the most critical difference between a rich person and a poor person is how they manage fear. We fear a lot of things because it challenges our existence and holds the potential to disrupt our ordered life set by our expectations. And we’re no different from any rich person here because even the wealthiest of the wealthy deals with fear and loss, as it’s an inevitable emotion.
Though the things that we fear and the things the riches fear have a considerable difference by the context and scale. We fear exams, public speaking, rejection, disappointment, humiliation, being judged, etc. which are quite trivial. Whereas the riches fear about getting sued, losing money in investments, failing to anticipate the next big thing, family’s welfare, crashing economy, etc.
Sure, there are many fears that both the riches and we fear in general. But if you look closely that our fears are mostly personal and linked to our personality. Which totally resembles that we haven’t developed ourselves on the basic internal level. We’ve still got to settle our interpersonal relationship with ourselves first, only then we’re able to think about all the external challenges with genuine opportunities.
Whereas the things the riches fear are mostly based on external parameters, where one doesn’t have much control over. They’ve sorted out their interpersonal relationship already, and have mastered and took total control over their inner self. While we’re busy settling our personal self, they’re modifying the world around them
Internal vs. External Fears
The fears that the wealthy contend with are often based on external factors beyond their direct control. These could include concerns about the stability of financial markets, potential lawsuits, or geopolitical events that could impact their investments and businesses. Unlike many of us who are preoccupied with internal fears and personal insecurities, the rich have already sorted out their interpersonal relationships and have taken total control over their inner selves. They have moved past the internal struggles that many of us still grapple with daily.
While we are busy trying to settle our personal lives, the wealthy are focused on modifying and influencing the world around them. This proactive approach is not something they were born into; rather, it is the result of a long, arduous journey marked by daring decisions, aggressive pursuits, and a willingness to embrace uneasiness and uncertainty. The key difference between them and others is that they began addressing their fears much earlier in life.
Thus, while we are still working on conquering our personal fears and insecurities, the wealthy have moved beyond these internal battles. They have mastered their inner selves, enabling them to focus their energy on larger, external challenges that shape their financial and social landscapes. This shift from internal to external focus is a crucial element in their journey toward and maintenance of wealth.
Three Fears That Keep the Super Rich Up at Night
Facing Fears Head-On
The wealthy embarked on an aggressive journey, deliberately choosing paths where they would encounter their fears repeatedly. The thought of sneaking away or quitting undoubtedly surfaced often, likely more frequently than the notion of confronting their fears head-on. Yet, they consistently chose to fight rather than flee. They intentionally placed themselves in challenging situations, knowing that building courage to face future adversities required such deliberate exposure.
This relentless approach has led them to fail more times than most people have ever attempted. The irony lies in the fact that it is the rejection from the general public that eventually fortifies their mental toughness. Repeated rejection, though initially painful, gradually loses its sting. By the time they have been rejected a thousand times, it no longer affects them. The emotional pain they felt in the early days is replaced by a profound realization: their capacity to endure rejection and persist is what equips them to handle tough individuals and difficult situations.
Their journey is one of constant self-improvement. With every passing day, they focus on bettering themselves, mastering their minds, and shedding any inner fears that could hinder their progress. This continuous process of self-refinement enables them to become resilient and adaptable, free from the personality-based fears that often serve as obstacles in life.
Our Approach to Fear
When examining the differences between their fears and ours, the approach and the subsequent outcomes are crucial. Our fears tend to be internal, often involving choices we make about how to handle them. We might choose to confront some fears, avoid others, or simply ignore them. However, it is rare for us to intentionally face our fears for self-improvement; instead, we often opt to avoid them, maintaining a safe distance to evade their potential consequences.
This tendency to shy away from fears stems from our apprehension about possible shame or loss. Avoiding fear is the path of least resistance, and discomfort, even in small amounts, typically prompts us to withdraw. For example, a person with stage fright who continually avoids speaking in public will perpetually live in fear. These seemingly minor decisions to evade uncomfortable situations and challenges gradually erode our natural competitive drive.
Facing fears is not just about overcoming them but about the growth and strength gained from the experience. While the wealthy take calculated risks and confront external fears beyond their control, we often remain confined by our internal fears, limiting our potential. The journey of facing and conquering fears is transformative, fostering resilience and fortitude. Choosing to confront fears, despite the discomfort, is essential for personal development and achieving greater success in life.
Taking the Leap: Embracing Fear and Failure
This is where rich-minded people take the leap. For them, facing fear is not just a risk but an opportunity to either lose or gain something significant. Regardless of the outcome, there is always a lifelong lesson to be learned. They understand that in order to achieve substantial success, they must embrace and become comfortable with failure. In contrast, we often avoid failure because we fear looking foolish.
World-class thinkers and the wealthy face adversities and suffer losses similar to ours. However, the difference lies in how they respond to these challenges. While the specifics of their losses may differ in scale and magnitude, their reaction is what sets them apart. They swiftly shift their focus to the opportunities that arise in a society gripped by fear and uncertainty. For them, every setback is a chance to learn, adapt, and find new pathways to success. By confronting fears head-on and viewing failures as stepping stones rather than obstacles, they continually position themselves to capitalize on opportunities that others might miss.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/kenrapoza/2012/04/17/what-rich-people-fear-most
Training the Mind: Overcoming Personality-Based Fears
Rich-minded people don’t hold any personality-based fear. They constantly train themselves to overcome their fears and conquer every single one of them. The Rich value their training, beliefs, stubborn will, and the lessons they learn more than the opinions of others. They know that it’s pointless to worry about their representation in the eyes of people during this training phase because these people are temporary in their lives and are unlikely to play an important role in their future.
By understanding and managing fear differently, the rich have unlocked their potential for success and innovation. They focus on their own growth and resilience, rather than seeking external validation. This mindset allows them to navigate challenges with confidence and adaptability. It’s crucial for us to reassess our fears and take steps to conquer them, transforming our lives and paving the way for prosperity. By adopting this approach, we can develop the mental toughness and strategic thinking necessary to achieve our goals and create lasting success.
Overlapping Fears: A Shared Human Experience
While the specific manifestations of these anxieties may vary, the underlying emotional fabric remains strikingly similar. At the core, both the affluent and we individual grapple with the fundamental insecurities of existence.
The fear of loss, a primordial human emotion, manifests differently for the two groups. For the ordinary man, it is often tied to tangible assets – job security, housing, and financial stability. It is the specter of descending into poverty or economic hardship. For the affluent, the fear of loss is often more abstract, centering on the erosion of wealth, the decline of status, or the dissolution of carefully constructed empires. Both, however, share the underlying dread of a diminished future.
Beyond material concerns, the existential questions of life and death permeate the psyche of the rich, the poor and us. The fear of illness, aging, and mortality is a universal human condition. The desire for love, belonging, and acceptance is a shared aspiration. Even amidst opulence, the wealthy yearn for genuine human connection, while the ordinary man seeks solace in interpersonal bonds.
However, the unique pressures of their respective positions introduce distinct anxieties. The ordinary man’s world is often circumscribed by immediate concerns – paying bills, raising children, and navigating a complex social landscape. The wealthy, while seemingly insulated from these pressures, face a different set of challenges. The burden of responsibility, the fear of public scrutiny, and the constant need to protect their assets can be overwhelming. Moreover, the existential dread of leaving a meaningful legacy can be particularly acute for those with substantial wealth.
