If you want to be rich one day, say goodbye to these 9 behaviors

Becoming financially stable is a constant learning curve.

You earn more, you have to learn how to invest it differently. Oh, there are external influences that are going to affect my finances? Well, I better pivot!

And it won’t happen overnight, but you’ll be glad it didn’t.

I’m still on my personal journey and here are some tips to get you started: if you want to be rich one day, say goodbye to these 9 behaviors.

1) Procrastination

Coming from someone who struggles with ADHD, getting to the bottom of my procrastination was the key to improving my finances.

Is it rooted in perfectionism? Do you put a lot of invisible pressures on yourself to perform a certain way that it blinds you from your capabilities?

Or is the environment you’re in stifling your creativity and confidence? Causing you to have impostor syndrome despite working tirelessly on yourself?

Perhaps it’s the condition of your room or unfinished chores that haunt you every time you have to be productive.

Whatever it is, deal with it now so your work and life can have your full attention. 

Even if it takes time, not only will you feel better to be productive again, but you’ll feel much more inner peace overall.

2) Giving your inner critic the microphone

Listen, they can have microphone privileges, but under strict supervision.

It might not seem that deep in the moment, but the way you speak to yourself matters so much in the long run.

Personally it affects my mood, keeps me from trying again, and even my focus because I have someone in my head second guessing everything I do!

Sometimes when I’m stuck in a rut, I get maybe 500 words done a day because I can’t stop judging every single word choice. 

Telling myself that there are going to be terrible consequences if I’m not perfect.

The key to getting your inner critic under control is by identifying it, then talking about it, like how I am right now! 

Once you tell everyone about the demon inside your head, they will feel a lot less real.

3) Being overly logical

Logic has its place when it comes to building your wealth, but that doesn’t mean they belong everywhere.

Building wealth is about taking calculated risks, and sometimes logic will keep you in your comfort zone.

Especially if you’re young and at the start of your journey, you will benefit a lot more from taking a few leaps of faith to gain experiences.

I remember when I was a student with a student budget. I made myself very familiar with the thrift stores and quick and easy meals off Pinterest.

I wasn’t wealthy but I had a lot of fun.

Just goes to show you how being in a pinch can teach you a lot of survival skills and allow you to enjoy your youth at the same time.

So avoid analysis paralysis and approach situations with the intention of learning from the outcome.

4) Emotional spending

One thing I don’t miss from my youth is emotional spending.

I was in Paris for the first time a few weeks ago. I decided I wanted to take public transportation from my bus stop to my accommodation.

Big mistake, but the metro was $2 while the Uber would’ve been around $50.

But there was a point when I realized I underestimated how busy the metro would become. And how much of a nuisance I’d be with my big rolling suitcase.

I had accidentally rolled my suitcase on a French woman’s feet trying to go down the stairs. I was mortified and I’m sure the woman was too!

It made me apologize in my broken French and take refuge by the stairs as I contemplated if I should take an Uber for the rest of the way.

And guess what – I didn’t. It was truly a moment of growth for me. I took a deep breath and got to my hostel in one piece – no other feet were harmed in the process.

Jokes aside, these emotional purchases add up. And if I can abstain from them, so can you.

5) Lack of goals

This is the only time I’ll tell you that you shouldn’t freestyle your way through life.

I like to improvise here and there, but my life took a turn for the better when I started having hope for my future again.

Set specific, measurable and achievable goals for yourself. Perhaps you want to start a business or save up for a house.

Then I suggest breaking them down to short-term and long-term ones and then focusing on them one by one so you don’t feel overwhelmed.

Even though achieving these goals is the objective, for me having goals gave me a sense of direction in life.

So while I definitely enjoy being a little more successful than I used to be, I just like being able to get out of bed because I have the motivation to. That was the real win for me.

In fact, taking my goals seriously was what helped me embrace change!

6) Resistance to change

The world is constantly evolving and it’s important to keep up for your own sake.

Change is on either side of opportunity. And sometimes, making yourself available to opportunities requires you to change!

I used to have a very strict idea of myself in terms of who I was willing to work with and what I was willing to do.

If I had kept that mindset, I wouldn’t be here writing for you right now.

Even when I was a freelance artist, I never would’ve met those people and made those connections unless I had got out of my comfort zone.

So don’t be afraid to take on lucrative opportunities, even if they’re temporary. 

Little side hustles add up to big ones, and it’s worth keeping an eye on what’s trending to pivot when necessary.

And stay educated! If you are able to, even doing your own research and teaching yourself certain skills can increase your value in certain industries.

7) Unwillingness to learn new skills

Seizing new opportunities includes maximizing your talents or already existing skills.

For example, if you’re a visual artist, it would be worth it to add marketing or advertising knowledge to your skill sets.

Or if you’re a writer, taking a course on copywriting could add a lot of value as well.

When you view learning new skills as this huge undertaking, what you’re really doing is setting the wrong tone for your future.

Every job can be a stepping stone to your next one, even if they don’t seem totally related.

So the goal is to not have a specific end goal, but rather just see how far you can take it while having fun. 

Especially in today’s ever changing job market, having a range of skills that are just as ever changing is one of the few ways to stay financially stable.

8) Not seeking professional or educational help

Financial literacy is not just for the finance and stock bros.

And everyone should be encouraged to know about the current economic crises and how to save up through investments.

That means taking a course on investing, reading books on personal finance, or even speaking to a financial advisor.

Invest in your financial knowledge! It’s one of those things that may not seem to pay off right away but your future-self will thank you.

In addition, this is also about not wanting to ask for help at the beginning of your wealth building journey. And how problematic that can be to your growth.

I understand that not everyone has access to financial assistance. 

But I’m moreso talking about an unwillingness to ask for help because you think you have to do everything on your own.

9) Unwillingness to network

Not everyone is built to socialize and network the way that a majority of people do in the workforce.

As someone who doesn’t enjoy socializing without a clear intention, I had to build a certain understanding with myself on why networking was important.

First, you should try to work with people who have similar values and visions as you if you want to be able to work with them in the long-term.

Second, treat yourself as someone of importance and don’t be afraid to work alone until you find the right collaborators.

And lastly, understand that good quality connections can open doors for one another and teach both parties something new. So it’s not just about making money but also new experiences.

If you’re not a fan of networking events, there are virtual ones available.

But I’d even say that the best kinds of connections you make are the ones you find outside of formal settings. 

So just be confident in what you do and don’t be afraid to ask someone to work with you.

Remember – it’s not how much you make, it’s how much you keep.

Coming from someone who used to be too afraid to check my bank account, there’s hope for all of us.

Despite seeming superficial, chasing financial freedom can help you become a better person as you take control of your own life.

So take the time to get to know your spending habits, don’t be afraid to learn something new. 

The worst that could happen is you stay where you are. But once you start gaining financial knowledge, I assure you, you won’t be able to.