The 7 Chains: Breaking Free from Wealth Myths in Your 20s
How One Young Man Discovered the Truth About Money... and Changed His Life Forever
It was a rainy Thursday afternoon when Leo sat hunched in a corner booth of his favorite coffee shop, eyes glazed over the screen of his cracked phone. He’d just received another job rejection email... this one from a position he wasn’t even excited about.
At 24, Leo felt stuck. He’d graduated with honors, followed the rules, kept his head down, and still, he was nowhere near where he thought he’d be financially.
"Maybe I’m just not meant to be rich," he muttered to himself.
That thought echoed louder than the espresso machine in the background. It was a belief that had taken root, watered by years of misguided advice and societal myths. Leo didn't know it yet, but that rainy Thursday would become the turning point in his life.
Across the table sat Elijah, a childhood friend visiting from out of town. Unlike Leo, Elijah seemed different... confident, grounded, and somehow untouched by the panic of their mid-20s. When Leo vented about his situation, Elijah listened quietly, then leaned in.
"You’re not broke because you’re lazy or unlucky," Elijah said. "You’re broke because you’ve been believing lies about money."
Leo frowned. "Lies? Like what?"
And so began the conversation that would unravel the myths gripping Leo’s life... one chain at a time.
Myth #1: You Need to Have Money to Make Money
“I used to think that too,” Elijah said. “But when I started my first side hustle, I had nothing but time and internet access.”
He explained how he began flipping used books online and freelancing writing gigs. No large investments, no trust funds... just effort. Leo realized that believing you need capital before you start was just an excuse for inaction.
“If you’ve got skills, time, or even just curiosity... you’ve got currency,” Elijah said.
Myth #2: A 9-to-5 Job Is the Only Safe Path
Leo nodded. His parents had drilled it into him: "Get a good job, stay there, retire at 65."
“But safe for who?” Elijah asked. “The company that can lay you off whenever they want?”
Elijah wasn’t against jobs... he worked too... but he saw them as stepping stones, not final destinations. The real safety, he explained, came from diversification: multiple income streams, financial literacy, and the freedom to pivot.
That idea hit Leo hard. He’d been holding on to his job applications like they were life vests... when really, they were just part of a much bigger boat.
Myth #3: Budgeting Is for Poor People
Leo chuckled awkwardly. He’d never bothered with a budget.
Elijah raised an eyebrow. “You think rich people don’t know where their money goes?”
He pulled out a small notebook. “Every dollar I earn gets a job. I budget because I respect my money. That’s how I grow it.”
It clicked for Leo: budgeting wasn’t about restriction... it was about control. Freedom didn’t come from earning more. It came from mastering what you already had.
Myth #4: Student Debt Will Hold You Back Forever
Leo winced. His student loans haunted him. He assumed they’d chain him down for decades.
“Yeah, I had loans too,” Elijah admitted. “But I refused to let them define my future.”
He explained how he aggressively tackled his debt by learning about interest rates, building extra income, and using repayment hacks. More importantly, he stopped treating debt as a death sentence and started treating it like a challenge.
“It’s a mountain,” he said. “Climb it. Don’t camp at the base.”
Myth #5: You Have to Choose Passion or Money
Leo’s head dropped. “I want to write. But you can’t make real money doing that.”
“Why not?” Elijah asked. “Who told you your passion and profit have to be enemies?”
Elijah shared how he combined his passion for design with marketing knowledge to create profitable digital products. It wasn’t about choosing one or the other... it was about aligning them smartly.
“You don’t have to starve for your art,” he said. “You just need to learn how to sell it.”
Myth #6: Rich People Are Just Lucky or Privileged
This one stung. Leo often scrolled social media, fuming at influencers flaunting cars and vacations.
“Some are lucky,” Elijah admitted. “But most just work differently. They take calculated risks. They invest. They read. They try, fail, and try again.”
It wasn’t about being born lucky... it was about thinking differently. Leo began to realize he’d been using envy as a shield from accountability.
“Stop looking at what they have,” Elijah said. “Start looking at how they think.”
Myth #7: There’s Still Time... You’ll Figure It Out Later
Leo always assumed wealth was a future-you problem. Something for his 30s, maybe 40s.
“Bro,” Elijah said, “compound interest is real. Momentum is real. Habits you start now will either build your freedom... or your regret.”
Leo sat back, stunned. He’d been delaying the very things that could build his future. Thinking he had time was the biggest trap of all.
That night, Leo couldn’t sleep. Not out of worry, but for the first time... possibility. He pulled out a notebook and began scribbling down ideas: a freelance writing service, a basic budget, books to read, podcasts to explore.
Over the next six months, everything changed. Leo picked up freelance gigs, started an emergency fund, read every book on personal finance he could get his hands on, and even launched a small blog around writing tips. He still had student loans, still rented a small apartment... but something fundamental had shifted.
He no longer felt stuck.
He no longer felt powerless.
And it all started the day he stopped believing in myths.
Moral of the Story
Your 20s are not a waiting room for wealth... they're the foundation of it. The biggest barrier to financial freedom isn't lack of money, but the false beliefs you hold about how money works. Break the myths, and you’ll unlock not just income, but independence. Start now... not someday.
About the Creator
MIGrowth
Mission is to inspire and empower individuals to unlock their true potential and pursue their dreams with confidence and determination!
🥇Growth | Unlimited Motivation | Mindset | Wealth🔝
Keep reading
More stories from MIGrowth and writers in Motivation and other communities.
“He Kept Going When No One Was Watching — And That Changed Everything”
No one ever noticed the days he almost gave up. There were no messages asking if he was okay. No one wondered why he became quieter. No one asked how much effort it took just to keep going. To the world, he was just another ordinary man. His name was Ayaan. Ayaan’s life didn’t collapse in one dramatic moment. It slowly faded. Missed opportunities. Rejected ideas. Silent disappointments. Every failure was small, but together they became heavy. He had dreams once. Big ones. Dreams that kept him awake at night, imagining a future where his hard work would finally matter. But over time, those dreams began to feel unrealistic—almost embarrassing. People around him seemed to move forward effortlessly. They celebrated promotions, achievements, and milestones. Ayaan watched from the side, smiling politely while feeling invisible. At work, his efforts were ignored. Among friends, his voice faded. At home, expectations weighed heavily on him. Slowly, a dangerous thought settled into his mind: “Maybe I’m not good enough.” That thought followed him everywhere. It followed him on crowded buses. It followed him into sleepless nights. It followed him every time he tried again and failed. One night, after scrolling through endless success stories online, Ayaan closed his phone and stared at the dark ceiling. His chest felt tight, not because of pain—but because of exhaustion. He whispered quietly, “How long do I keep trying?” There was no answer. But that night, Ayaan made a decision—not a loud one, not a confident one. A tired decision. He decided to keep going, even if nothing changed. The next morning felt the same. The same routine. The same doubts. The same fear of wasting his life. But Ayaan showed up anyway. He worked when no one praised him. He studied when no one guided him. He practiced when no one believed in him. Some days, motivation disappeared completely. On those days, discipline took over. He reminded himself: “I don’t need applause. I need progress.” Weeks passed. Nothing dramatic happened. No sudden success. No recognition. No miracle. But something subtle began to shift. Ayaan became calmer under pressure. He learned to sit with discomfort instead of running from it. He stopped comparing his journey to others. The silence that once scared him now became his training ground. Months later, a serious problem appeared at his workplace. It was complicated, risky, and easy to blame on someone else. Most people avoided it. Some pretended it wasn’t their responsibility. Ayaan didn’t announce himself. He didn’t seek attention. He simply started working. Late nights. Mistakes. Corrections. Learning. There were moments he wanted to quit. Moments when fear whispered, “You’re not ready.” But he answered back, “I’ll learn.” Slowly, the problem began to disappear. Not perfectly—but steadily. People noticed, quietly. One afternoon, his manager called him into the office. Ayaan expected criticism. Instead, he heard a question that stunned him: “Where did you learn all this?” Ayaan paused. How could he explain years of silent effort? How could he explain working when no one cared? He simply replied, “I kept going.” That moment didn’t change his life overnight. He didn’t become famous. He didn’t suddenly become successful. But it changed something far more important. His belief in himself. For the first time, Ayaan understood that life doesn’t always reward effort immediately. Sometimes, it watches. It watches who continues without praise. Who improves without recognition. Who grows in silence. Years later, Ayaan looked back at the version of himself who almost quit. The man who felt invisible. The man who thought no one was watching. And he smiled. Because he finally understood the truth: Life was always watching. Not to judge. Not to rush. But to see if he would keep going when it was hardest. The world doesn’t reward those who only work when they’re seen. It rewards those who build strength in silence. And sometimes, the moment that changes everything doesn’t come with applause. It comes quietly. After patience. After effort. After consistency. That is when everything finally begins to change. Final Message Keep going—even when no one is watching. Especially then.
By Inayat khanabout 8 hours ago in Motivation
Comments