I hate shopping at Wal-Mart. It makes me sick to my stomach, but the important part is why... (And if you're going to read this, you need to read the entire page).

For as long as I can remember, I've had a burning desire to achieve above average financial prosperity... To have the million dollar home on the lake, the cars, and the ability to do anything, or buy anything I want. 100%, pure freedom.

But it's not just about material goods. Money gives you the freedom, options, and power to have a large and positive impact on society through charity, education, and reform.

Because I have such strong feelings and emotions attached to the desire to achieve wealth and success, I have equally strong feelings of repulsion for poverty and weakness.

Most wealthy and successful people share this repulsion.

Why?

Because they are consciously aware (unlike the majority of society), that thoughts, ideas, and attitudes are real things, and that they are contagious.

You will adopt the ideas, beliefs, and mindset of the people you spend the most time with (including the people found on TV, in books, or on tape), which will lead you to make similar decisions, which will lead you to assume a similar life and lifestyle.

Rich people know this, and they know that a person's mindset is fluid. It's always changing with the ideas and interactions it comes into contact with on a daily basis.

This is why rich people protect themselves from everything associated with struggle and poverty.

Ever wonder why they live together in walled communities closed off from the rest of society with massive gates? Ever wonder why they shop at expensive boutiques, fly first-class, stay at $500/night hotels?

Ever wonder why most of them belong to "members only" country clubs?

Is it because they want to enjoy the finer things in life? Well sure. But that's not the only reason.

They want to protect their minds from the thoughts of poverty and struggle that are held by the rest of common society because they know that all thoughts are contagious, and they have a burning desire to live un-common lives.

The rich get richer because they only invite and interact with other prosperous people.

The common man sees this behavior as "stuck-up" and "snobby". The rich simple see it as an unfortunate necessity, as I do.

That's why I never shop at Wal-Mart. Have I? Yes. But just walking into that store makes me physically uncomfortable. My stomach turns.

I feel that way because I associate that store and the people who shop there with struggle and poverty.

The entire company is designed around the concept of "saving money" and pinching pennies.

It's a physical monument dedicated to thoughts like...

"I only have this much money, so I need to save as much as I can."

"The economy is crashing, so I need to guard what little I have."

"I can't afford it..."

"We're on a limited budget."

That kind mindset is a disease voluntarily held by people who go through life as victims.

They are subservient to their boss, to economic times, to prices, and to money itself.

Money has the power, and they are lucky to acquire and save any that comes their way.

The rich think differently.

They believe and accept that they have the power to change and shape their lives as they wish. Money doesn't own their lives, they own the money. They have the power.

The difference between these two mindsets can be summed up like this...

Someone with a poverty mentality says, "I can't afford it".

Someone with an abundance mentality says, "How can I afford it?"

The more you start to think like the rich, the more appearant this mindset will become to you. One day, you'll walk into Walmart and you'll literally FEEL what I'm talking about.

You'll feel like you're out of place... Like you've walked into a club or restaurant where you're the one person who doesn't belong.

Now I know that there are a lot of people out there reading this who DO shop at Wal-Mart and are saying, "that's easy for you to say Mike. You don't have a family of 4 to support and you're not struggling to get this home business thing off the ground anymore."

Well I have shopped at Wal-Mart and I have been as low as anyone. When you're pawning your DVD collection to eat as I have, you've basically hit the bottom.

But the difference is that even during those times, I have NEVER been comfortable shopping there because in my mind, I was different. I didn't belong in that store. I didn't share the same mind-set that the rest of the people in there did.

I have nothing against saving money when you're struggling. I was there. But I do, and will always wage war against a poverty mentality.

Whether or not you shop at Wal-Mart is not important. Everyone starts from the bottom and does whatever they have to do. Whether or not you are comfortable and happy shopping at Wal-Mart is where your personal truth is found.

If you don't have the feelings, desires, and aspirations to separate yourself from the crowd of Middle America discount shoppers, then I don't know why you're even on this list.

To take this attitude of abundance vs prosperity to another level, I've also adopted the following habits:

I never use coupons and I never accept coin change from a purchase. If my bottle of water costs $1.75, the cashier gets $2.00 and keeps the 25 cents.

Why?

Because I NEVER focus on pinching pennies. I focus on MAKING MORE.

I constantly hold an abundance mindset, and these two habits are a physical expression of that mentality that I have held even when I was making $1,500/mo as a waiter. It's a message to my subconscious mind to always see life through a lens of prosperity.

If you find yourself thinking more about saving money, than making money...

If you have trouble seeing yourself as a leader instead of an employee...

If you're not sure how to make that transition from a poverty mentality that limits you, to one of abundance that leads to wealth, I'd encourage you to consider Being Mentored By Someone Who Makes 3Times More Than You.

By Perry Marshall

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