From Funk to First Raise

Back in the aftermath of the 2008–2009 crash, I landed my first proper job. Proper in name, at least. In reality, it was minimum wage, exhausting, and soul-sapping. The kind of role that makes you question whether you’re working to live or living to work.

What dragged me down wasn’t just the money, it was the constant need for approval. I cared too much about what other people thought. Every decision I made was shaped by “what will they say?” rather than “what’s possible?” That mindset kept me in a box — one I didn’t even realise I was building around myself.

The turning point came from an unlikely source: The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck. It wasn’t a finance book. But it broke something loose. It taught me to care less about appearances and focus more on what mattered.

The result? Within a year I made bolder choices at work, pushed for more, and secured a 35% pay raise. That raise wasn’t just money — it was proof. Proof that I didn’t have to accept scraps. Proof that caring less about opinions and more about possibilities opened doors. Proof that wealth, even in small doses, was available to me.

And once you get proof, belief follows.

Why This Matters

Here’s the hard truth: most people never build wealth not because they don’t want it, but because they don’t believe it’s possible for them.

Belief isn’t fluffy “positive vibes.” It’s the foundation of action. If you don’t believe you can grow financially, you won’t open that account, you won’t set up that transfer, and you won’t make the kind of decisions that build wealth over time.

External barriers are real. The world is unfair — race, sex, age, background, and connections all matter. But the biggest barrier is often internal. If you can’t see yourself becoming wealthy, then you’ll never take the actions that move you closer.

Wealth-building begins in the mind, long before it appears in the bank.

The Trap of External Excuses

The most common limiting belief I’ve seen goes like this: “I can’t because of…” followed by a list of external circumstances.

• The boss is stingy.
• The economy is broken.
• My family never had money.
• It’s just not possible in my industry.

These excuses feel safe because they protect you from disappointment. If it’s someone else’s fault, then you don’t have to try. But safety keeps you stuck.

Imagine someone working a 9–5, scrolling social media for two hours every night, convinced that “rich people” are simply born into privilege. Nothing changes. They’ve handed over their belief — and their power — to external factors.

Excuses are a luxury you can’t afford if you want to build wealth from nothing.

Belief Is Built Through Action

Here’s the good news: belief isn’t something you wait for — it’s something you build.

Action creates proof. Proof builds belief. Belief leads to bigger action. That cycle is how people go from nothing to wealth.

Take waking up in the morning. No one believes they want to get out of bed at 5am. But if you put your phone at the end of the room with a loud alarm, you’re forced into action. Once you’re up, the belief follows: “I am out of bed, I can do this.”

The same applies to building wealth, take actions to build those small steps.

• Open the investment account.
• Automate a transfer, even if it’s tiny.
• Aim for that first 1K.

The moment you see money growing — even a little — you start to believe more is possible. That’s how people who now manage millions once began. Not with belief, but with small action.

Everyday Mindset Shifts

Let’s look at a few anonymous examples of how action shifts belief.

• The Scroller: Imagine someone who spends every evening on social media, comparing their life to others. One day they delete the apps for a week and spend that time learning a new skill. By the end of the week, they’ve created something tangible. Proof builds belief.
• The Automator: Picture someone who decides to automate 100 into savings every month. After three months, they’ve got 300 they didn’t have before. The number isn’t life-changing yet, but the belief is. They start to see themselves as someone who can save.
• The Starter: Think of someone who sets a goal: invest 1K in 30 days. It feels impossible. But they cut expenses, sell a few things, and hit it. Suddenly, the leap from 1K to 10K doesn’t feel ridiculous. Proof is in their account.

None of these people started with belief. They started with action. Belief came after.

Practical Steps to Build Wealth Belief

So how do you begin if you’ve never had money?

• Remove social media: Stop the endless comparisons and wasted time. Mental energy is a currency — protect it.
• Set one clear goal: Example: build a 3-month emergency fund in six months.
• Open accounts quickly: Remove the friction. Do it in two days, not two months.
• Automate: Take emotion out of the equation. Let the system build wealth for you.
• Prove one win: Don’t try to overhaul your whole life at once. Nail one financial win first. That proof will fuel bigger goals.

Why Curiosity is the Key

If you’re reading this and asking, “Why should I believe I can be wealthy when no one in my family ever was?” — you’ve already taken the first step.

Curiosity is the seed of wealth. It nudges you to look around the corner, to ask “what if?” That’s how every wealth-builder started. Not with certainty. Not with inheritance. With curiosity.

When you act on curiosity, belief grows. When belief grows, action compounds. And when action compounds, the numbers follow.

Small Summary

• Belief isn’t a starting point, it’s a result of action.
• External factors exist, but internal excuses kill momentum faster.
• Small wins stack into proof, proof builds belief, and belief fuels bigger wins.
• Wealth is possible — not because you believe it first, but because you prove it to yourself.

Questions for You

• What’s one small financial action you can take today to prove progress is possible?
• If you removed social media for one week, how much mental space could you reclaim for wealth-building?
• Which matters more to you right now: staying comfortable with excuses, or testing one action that could change your trajectory?
• What would “belief in wealth” look like for you in six months — more confidence, more money in your account, or both?