My Friends and Family Don’t Have a Money Problem… They Have a Priority Problem

I want to preface this post by saying that most of whom I am discussing are friends and family that complain about how unpleasant life is and their self-inflicted financial perils that they have undertaken. If this crypto opportunity isn’t on your radar and life is just “peachy”, then please by all means, keep it positively pushin’!

For most of us, family is everything. It’s the reason we get up every day, punch the clock, and endure the grind. But here’s the harsh reality: many people work hard to earn money, only to hand most of it over to bills, debt, and consumption. If family is your driving force, shouldn’t there be a better way to secure their future than just working to survive? The issue isn’t how much we make—it’s how we use it. Money isn’t the problem—it’s priorities. Most people become experts in spending, earning the unofficial title of “consumer specialists.” But what if, instead of mastering consumption, we learned what money really is and how to use it to create more of it?

Money isn’t just paper or numbers on a screen—it’s a tool. And like any tool, it’s only as effective as the person wielding it. Used wisely, money can multiply, build wealth, and provide opportunities. Misused, it becomes a burden, trapping you in a cycle of earning and spending without progress. The truth is many of us spend the bulk of our income on fleeting pleasures and short-term fixes rather than long-term security. We claim we “can’t afford” to invest or save, yet we splurge on takeout, designer clothes, the latest gadgets, and other nonessentials. The result isn’t a lack of money, but a misallocation of it.

Learning about money isn’t just about investing or saving; it’s about breaking free from the mindset of scarcity and consumption. It’s about understanding how to make your money work for you, so you’re not always working for it. It’s about leveraging resources to create lasting security for the people you love most.

Imagine this: instead of seeing your paycheck vanish into someone else’s pockets, you use it to plant seeds for growth—investments, education, and opportunities that compound over time. Imagine building a legacy that benefits your family not just today but for generations to come.

I’ve observed that individuals across different financial backgrounds—whether well-off, facing financial challenges, or somewhere in between—are generally aware of cryptocurrency. This includes those who make both sound and less-than-ideal financial choices while working typical full-time jobs. Despite this awareness, there’s a prevalent lack of basic understanding about cryptocurrencies, leading to skepticism and fear. As a result, many hesitate to engage with this emerging financial opportunity, often missing out on its potential benefits due to uncertainty and misconceptions.

When I ask them, “What is cryptocurrency?” the most common response is that they’ve heard of it but don’t really know what it is. I often reply, “To understand cryptocurrency, you first need to understand what money is.” Then I ask, “What is money?” At this point, many people start to answer confidently but soon become unsure, typically responding with statements like, “It’s what I use to buy things or pay bills. I go to work and get paid weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly.” They describe how they receive income but often struggle to articulate a clear definition of what money actually is. This lack of understanding highlights a deeper issue: if we don’t truly understand money, how can we expect to effectively use or grow it, let alone engage with new forms of it like cryptocurrency?

For women and racial minorities, these priorities become even more urgent. Historically, many have had less access to financial resources, opportunities, and knowledge, leading to a significant wealth gap. But this gap isn’t set in stone—it can be changed by taking control of finances, investing wisely, and prioritizing long-term growth over immediate consumption. For women, especially women of color, there’s a compelling need to break free from cycles of financial dependence and build wealth that lasts for generations. The power to do so lies in shifting priorities, learning financial literacy, and taking action to make money work for you. Understanding how to make money work in both bull and bear markets isn’t just about wealth—it’s about empowerment. It’s about breaking down barriers that have historically kept many from financial success.

Think about the opportunities that were available in the past: If people had taken advantage of stocks early on or had embraced the internet in the 90s and early 00s, many could have secured financial freedom. Those who saw the rise of tech giants, who invested in Amazon, Google, or Apple before they became household names, understood that the key to wealth was recognizing and seizing opportunity when it arose. But many didn’t, either because they were too focused on immediate consumption or didn’t believe in the potential of these new markets. The result is a massive, missed opportunity—a lesson in how failing to prioritize long-term growth can cost you.

Each financial cycle runs parallel with US presidential elections—how convenient. A typical cycle lasts 4 years, with 1.5 years of Bull Market and 2.5 years of Bear Market. The money is made in the bear market and realized in the bull market. This cycle presents an opportunity: the time to build wealth is in the quiet periods, when others are fearful, not when the market is booming.

The difference between where you are and where you want to be often lies in the choices you make today. The potential is already there—it’s just waiting for a shift in focus. It’s not about having more money; it’s about making what you have work harder for you. Priorities are the foundation of progress, and with the right mindset, financial stress can transform into lasting success.