Why Most People Stay Poor (And How to Escape the Cycle for Good)

 The Lie We Tell Ourselves: "I’m Just Waiting for the Right Time" 

Let’s be honest—we all delay what we know we need to do. Whether it’s launching a side hustle, starting to save, getting fit, or fixing your habits, we push things to a future we imagine will be more perfect.

But guess what? That future never arrives.

We tell ourselves:

• "I’ll start when I get paid."
• "I’ll save when I earn more."
• "I’ll build when life gets easier."

But the truth is, waiting feels safe—even when it’s costing you everything.

 "Tomorrow is where your dreams go to die if you keep sending them there."

And when you look back a year from now, you’ll either be proud of what you started… or regret that you’re still in the same place.

Time doesn’t wait. The longer you hesitate, the more opportunity you lose.

Why Waiting Feels Safe (But Isn’t) 

There’s a reason so many people live in hesitation: it’s comfortable.

Waiting lets you avoid failure. It gives you an excuse to stay in your comfort zone. It gives you a story: “I’m just being smart.”

But here’s the problem: comfort is expensive.

Every day you delay action, you’re paying with time you’ll never get back. Time you could’ve been learning, building, stacking cash, gaining momentum.

 “The longer you wait, the more life you waste.”

The worst part? Waiting becomes a habit. You don’t even see it happening. You think you’re planning—but you’re actually stalling.

When you keep saying, “soon”, your goals keep saying, “not yet.”

Time is money—and every minute you delay is money slipping through your fingers.

A Personal Shift: When I Stopped Waiting 

I used to be stuck in this cycle too. I'd scroll motivational posts, watch success stories, even write down goals… but I wouldn’t start.

One night I realized: all my reasons for waiting weren’t based on reality. They were based on fear.

So I started. With one thing. I published my first post. It wasn’t perfect. But it was out there.

That small act shattered the mental wall. I stopped waiting and started moving. And everything changed from there.

In this post on turning your phone into a hustle tool, I shared how small action with zero budget got me earning before I even had 1,000 followers.

The Real Cost of Waiting

Let’s break this down.

Every time you wait, you lose:

• Time you could've been learning a skill
• Opportunities that passed while you hesitated
• Compounding results—whether it’s investing, content, or brand growth

Think of your salary. If you keep telling yourself, “I’ll start saving next month,” what happens? You spend the money. You miss the momentum. And next month? It repeats.

Delaying keeps you broke. Not because you don't earn, but because you never use your money to build.

3 Mindset Shifts to Kill the Waiting Habit 

1. Start Ugly 

Perfection is a trap. If you wait until you have the perfect camera, website, savings, or brand—you’ll never start.

Start with what you have. Improve as you go. Most creators and entrepreneurs you admire? They started with nothing but urgency.

 "Clarity comes from doing—not thinking."

2. Choose Progress Over Pride 

You're not too late. You're just distracted.

Start by asking: "What would my future self thank me for starting today?" Then move. Even if it’s tiny. Even if it’s not public. Even if no one claps.

In this post about breaking out of financial survival mode, I talk about how dangerous waiting can be. That applies to your money—and your time. Don’t waste either waiting for permission.

3. Set a 24-Hour Rule

If there’s something you know you’ve been putting off—start some part of it in the next 24 hours.

Don’t plan it. Don’t perfect it. Just start.

Even if it’s one sentence, one saved dollar, one email.

Because action kills fear. Every time.

Don’t Wait for the Right Time. Create It. 

You don't need another sign. You don't need more motivation. You don’t need permission.

You need movement. The smallest step you take now will teach you more than years of thinking about it.

Take the first step—even if you don’t feel ready. Movement creates momentum.

Waiting doesn’t protect your dreams. It buries them.

You have ideas, skills, goals, energy, and people to impact. But none of that happens if you keep hiding behind “later.”

 "The right time is whenever you decide to start."

Whether it’s saving, creating, applying, building, or healing—this is it. This is your time.

Let’s Talk 

What’s one thing you’ve been waiting to start?

Leave it in the comments—I want to hear from you.

And if you’re done waiting and ready to build, hit that subscribe button. I’ll send you real, no-fluff posts that push you forward.

Let’s grow together. No more waiting.