The Money Problem Most People Won’t Admit.

I’ve realized something recently…

A lot of us don’t actually have a “money problem.”

We have a money belief problem.

And most of the time…

we don’t even realize it’s there.

This week, I’m in Malaysia attending something called the Millionaire Mind Intensive.

It’s based on T. Harv Eker’s work and his book The Millionaire Mind.

I read the book years ago.

Loved it.

Not because it taught some magical way to make money…

But because it forced me to look at the way I thought about money.

And honestly?

That was uncomfortable.

Because a lot of the beliefs we carry around money aren’t logical.

They’re inherited.

From childhood.
From culture.
From family.
From experiences we never fully processed.

And those beliefs quietly shape:

• how we spend

• how we save

• how we invest

• how we lead

• how we react under pressure

• even how we show up in relationships

One of the biggest things the book helped my wife and I understand was this:

We were both looking at money through completely different lenses.

Not because either of us was “wrong.”

But because we were shaped differently growing up.

And once we understood that…

a lot of things started making more sense.

A lot of tension disappeared too.

Because sometimes the problem isn’t money itself.

Sometimes it’s the meaning we’ve attached to it.

Now here’s the part I’ve been thinking about lately…

I haven’t really struggled with making money.

But if I’m being honest?

I think I’ve struggled with keeping money long term.

More specifically…

I’ve struggled with building true residual income.

I’ve built things before that created income.

For a while.

Then they faded.

Fizzled out.

Didn’t truly become sustainable.

And at this stage of life…

that’s become a bigger focus for me.

Not:
“How do we make money right now?”

But:

“What are we building today that still pays us years from now?”

That’s a very different question.

Because quick money and long-term wealth are not the same thing.

And I think a lot of entrepreneurs confuse the two.

Especially right now.

We live in a culture obsessed with speed.

Fast growth.
Fast wins.
Fast money.

Everybody wants the shortcut.

Everybody wants the viral moment.

Everybody wants the thing that explodes overnight.

But very few people stop and ask:

“Will this still matter in 10 years?”

That question changes everything.

It changes:

• how patient you become

• what opportunities you say yes to

• what distractions you ignore

• how you invest your time

• how you think about leverage

• how you build your business

Because building for today feels very different than building for legacy.

And honestly…

I think a lot of us secretly know where our money wounds are.

We just don’t like looking at them.

Maybe it’s:

• fear of losing money

• fear of success

• fear of not having enough

• fear of investing

• fear of charging what you’re worth

• fear that it can all disappear tomorrow

And what’s interesting is…

those fears usually don’t show up loudly.

They show up quietly.

In hesitation.
In avoidance.
In procrastination.
In overworking.
In constantly chasing the next thing.

And the hard truth is:

The next level of your life usually sits on the other side of confronting the thing you keep avoiding.

Especially financially.

That’s why I think conversations around money matter so much.

And it’s strange to me that society almost teaches us not to talk about it.

Like it’s shameful.

Like struggling financially means you failed somehow.

But silence is usually what keeps people stuck.

We need more honest conversations about money.

Not performative “look how rich I am” conversations.

Real ones.

The kind where people can admit:

• what they’re struggling with

• what they still don’t understand

• what they’re trying to figure out

Because honestly?

That’s where growth starts.

Not pretending you have it all figured out.

And maybe that’s the bigger reason I wanted to share this.

Not because I have all the answers.

I definitely don’t.

But because I think more people need to realize they’re not alone in this.

If you want to hear the full conversation and the bigger lesson behind all of this…

watch the full video here. 👇

There’s more context to it than I could fit into one email.

Quick one, especially if you’re a physician 👨‍⚕️

We’ve been building something called AiM (AI & Marketing) Rounds.

But honestly…

it’s less about “AI tips” and more about creating a space where doctors can think out loud together.

Real conversations.
Real questions.
Real challenges happening inside practices right now.

No consulting fees.
No pressure.
No complicated funnel.

Just a community where doctors can ask questions about growth, AI, marketing, leadership… and get honest answers.

If that sounds relevant to you—

Just reply “JOIN AIM” and I’ll send you the WhatsApp link.

Simple as that.

A few things worth checking out 👀

Just sharing a few things I’ve been thinking about lately:

• 🤝 Let’s connect: My LinkedIn profile
• 📘 A book worth your time: The Delegation Trap
• 🤖 What we’re building with AI: A look at what we’re working on with AI
• 📖 Currently reading: The book on my nightstand right now
• 🛠 Tool I’ve been using: makes recording content way easier without overcomplicating the process

What’s one money belief you’ve had to unlearn?

Or one you think you’re still struggling with?

Reply and let me know.

Seriously.

I read every response.

And honestly, I think more people are dealing with the same things than they realize.

Sometimes the conversation you’re afraid to have…

is the exact conversation someone else desperately needed to hear too.

And if this resonated with you…

share it with someone who needs it.

Because money affects all of us.

But very few people are willing to talk honestly about it.

— Atiba