The Right to Make Mistakes and the Poverty Trap

Imagine a person who grew up in poverty. Their behavior may seem extreme and sometimes even illogical. They are either miserly, hoarding every penny, or, on the contrary, acting like a generous benefactor, throwing money away to gain approval from people they believe will save them in tough times. These extremes don't happen by chance—they are rooted in a deep inner belief that money is temporary and unreliable, and it can disappear at any moment.

Imagine a person who grew up in poverty. Their behavior may seem extreme and sometimes even illogical. They are either miserly, hoarding every penny, or, on the contrary, acting like a generous benefactor, throwing money away to gain approval from people they believe will save them in tough times. These extremes don't happen by chance—they are rooted in a deep inner belief that money is temporary and unreliable, and it can disappear at any moment.

Such people often take on high-risk projects, which, at first glance, might seem like a plus. After all, to escape poverty, you need to take risks—making mere pennies every year rarely saves anyone. And, seemingly, once they start their own business and begin earning, they can finally relax: the money is flowing, and now they can live differently.

But here’s the paradox. The habits of poverty continue to live in their minds, despite their financial success. A person who once lived on a dollar a day, even after earning thousands, can't allow themselves to calmly enjoy the fruits of their labor. Instead, they continue to tighten their belt, refusing to take profits out of the business because the fear of making a mistake is still deeply ingrained. Poverty has taught them that any mistake equals death. And although the real threat of starvation is gone, their mind still echoes, "You can't make a mistake."

This fear controls everything. They are afraid of losing their job, even if they are in high demand as a specialist. They're afraid of burnout but can't leave the business because they believe it's their only support. They’re scared to delegate tasks because “employees will ruin everything.” They're afraid to take money out of the business because the business is their "lifeline."

And so the cycle repeats. There is money, but it's all tied up in the business, which supposedly can't fail because, without it, there would be no way to live. As a result, either burnout sets in or, worse, bankruptcy, when they simply run out of strength to keep going.

This fear of delegating and letting go of control leads to a situation where they take on all the work, not limiting losses and not trusting anyone with even small tasks. This creates a scenario where they can neither grow the business nor enjoy life. The fear of failure paralyzes them, and all efforts are directed at endless control and maintaining the status quo.

But there is a solution. If you recognize yourself in this story, it’s time to stop and rethink your approach. Stop listening to the voice of panic that tells you mistakes are unforgivable. Allow yourself to make mistakes, take money out of the business, and even take risks. Realize that a million dollars in the business is just numbers for cash flow, but a million dollars in your personal account is real security and the chance to live comfortably.

Add a little risk to your life. And here’s what you'll find—living with risk and the possibility of losing something on the way to success is much more peaceful than constantly trying to avoid any danger. In the end, we all die, and what matters is not how many mistakes you avoided but how richly you lived your life.