Someone Will Take Care Of Me: Toxic Financial Attitudes

Eleven years ago, I left a job at a small company. My boss, the head of the company, agreed to call the break-up mutual, but I was leaving the organization without any prospects for a new job. I spent the next few months looking for a teaching job that matched my interests and my degree, but this was well into the school year, and the positions were not forthcoming. After difficulty coming up with rent and after some kind of miscommunication with my landlord, I found myself without a place to live and an increasing mountain of debt.

My father stepped in and allowed me to stay with him. I was motivated to change this situation, as I had no desire to be a twenty-five year-old living with his father. He was gracious, and I was thankful, but we both understood that the more temporary this situation would be, the better it would be for everyone. I found a job with a corporation - and I stayed with the same company until I quit a few years ago to work on Consumerism Commentary and other entrepreneurial projects full-time. Within a few months of living with my dad, I was starting to build up my net worth and could afford to rent an apartment. I began taking budgeting seriously and figured out where I could save money.

I was lucky to have family to fall back on during difficult times. I never assumed someone would be there to help if I stumbled financially, but it worked out for me. It wasn't a situation I wanted to stay in, so I was motivated to change the situation and improve my life.

It would have been risky for me to assume that someone would take care of me, yet this is a fairly common attitude. Faith in yourself should come before faith in others if you plan to build wealth in order to meet the goals you set for your life. If you sit around and wait for the world to provide you with what you need, or if you have no fear of consequences because someone else will have your back, you give up your ability to grow.

When a person believes their actions have no effect on their ability to earn wealth, and instead waits for their family, the government, or God to take care of them, his likelihood of success falls significantly. These are all worthy of at least some faith, but modern economy and culture will make it difficult for anyone who doesn't have a strong concept of self-efficacy to succeed.

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