Stop Playing Defense—Why Most People Never Get Rich and How to Play to Win

Monday morning arrives, and you're faced with two choices at breakfast: settle for instant oatmeal or try the new local café that's a bit above your usual budget. It seems small, but it hints at a bigger pattern. Later, when a new job opens up, the comfortable voice inside says, 'Just be happy if you go lateral. Why reach higher?' You might even catch yourself saying, 'I just want enough to pay my bills on time.'

But notice those who aim for more—they don't measure success in comfort or the absence of pain. They set ambitious targets, sign up for stretch assignments, and occasionally order the mysterious 'market price' dish at a restaurant without blinking. They've consciously decided that the goal is wealth and generous abundance, not scraping by. In fact, financial psychology studies reveal that the difference between thriving and surviving often starts with the size of your intention—not your luck or background.

A concrete example comes from a business owner who saw her competitor settle for a single, cozy store while she envisioned a chain of hundreds. Three years later, one had a steady paycheck and the other was creating jobs (and wealth) for dozens. Behavioral science confirms: setting bigger objectives pulls you into higher-value activities, relationships, and chances. It’s not arrogance, but clarity and courage, that build meaningful abundance.

Ultimately, success isn't about never feeling fear, but about cultivating the mindset to play offense—to pursue winning outcomes, not just avoid losses. That means stepping forward, acting bigger, and turning opportunities into reality even when it feels uncomfortable.

If you truly want to move into the big leagues, start this week by writing down a net worth and income goal so ambitious it makes you a bit nervous—don't settle for minimums. Watch yourself over the next day: whenever comfort creeps in, challenge those thoughts by consciously reframing them, pushing your intentions higher each time. And for a real test, make that small but bold move—order a meal without checking prices or put yourself in a new environment where successful people gather—then notice how your sense of possibility starts to shift.