“For me to become (more) prosperous, what would I have to give up?” Randy Gage
I started with changing my mindset/beliefs. The goal is to get better results… you need the mindset and the actions. If you just change the actions without the belief…you will probably get what you already have.
Likewise you need the heart with the wealth to be truly prosperous. You could achieve wealth but lack love & kindness (not all wealthy people are evil, but some may be).
What You Need to Give Up to Become More Prosperous: A Clear, Honest Guide
Prosperity isn’t just about what you gain—it’s equally about what you release. Most people focus on adding: more skills, more income streams, more opportunities. But growth is often blocked not by what you lack, but by what you refuse to let go of.
If you’re serious about becoming more prosperous—financially, mentally, and professionally—you’ll need to make trade-offs. Some will be uncomfortable. Some will challenge your identity. But all of them create space for something more valuable.
This isn’t about becoming extreme or sacrificing everything. It’s about being intentional.
Here’s what you’ll likely need to give up.
1. The Need for Immediate Results
One of the biggest obstacles to prosperity is impatience.
You start learning a skill, and within a few weeks, you expect results:
- More money
- Better opportunities
- Recognition
When that doesn’t happen, you switch directions.
That cycle kills progress.
Prosperity requires delayed gratification. The people who build real income give their efforts time to compound. Skills take months to monetize effectively, not days.
What to give up:
The expectation that effort should pay off instantly.
What to replace it with:
A 90-day minimum commitment to any meaningful goal.
2. Comfort as a Priority
Comfort feels good—but it rarely pays well.
Staying in the same routine, avoiding challenges, and sticking to what you already know might reduce stress short-term, but it also limits your growth.
Prosperity demands:
- Learning new skills
- Facing rejection
- Taking calculated risks
If your main goal is to stay comfortable, your income will likely stay where it is.
What to give up:
The habit of choosing comfort over growth.
What to replace it with:
Daily discomfort in controlled, intentional ways.
3. Low-Value Time Habits
Time is your most valuable asset. How you use it directly affects your income.
Common time drains:
- Endless scrolling
- Passive entertainment
- Overconsumption of content without action
These aren’t inherently bad—but unmanaged, they quietly steal hours that could be used to build skills or income streams.
What to give up:
Unstructured, low-value time.
What to replace it with:
Focused blocks of productive work.
4. The Identity of “Just an Employee”
If you only see yourself as someone who completes tasks, your earning potential stays limited.
Prosperous people think differently:
- They solve problems
- They create value
- They improve systems
Even if you work a job, shifting your identity matters. You’re not just doing work—you’re producing outcomes.
For example, someone working with tools like ServiceNow isn’t just “handling tickets”—they’re improving operational efficiency and saving businesses money.
That shift changes how you’re paid.
What to give up:
A passive, task-based identity.
What to replace it with:
A value-creator mindset.
5. Fear of Judgment
Many people don’t take action because they’re worried about how they’ll be perceived:
- “What if I fail?”
- “What will people think?”
- “I’m not ready yet.”
This fear keeps ideas stuck in your head.
The reality: most people are too focused on their own lives to pay attention to yours.
Prosperity requires visible effort:
- Applying for higher roles
- Sharing your work
- Starting something new
You won’t always look polished—and that’s fine.
What to give up:
The need for approval before taking action.
What to replace it with:
Willingness to be seen learning and growing.
6. Scattered Focus
Trying to do everything at once is a hidden form of procrastination.
You might:
- Start learning multiple skills
- Explore different income ideas
- Jump between opportunities
But without focus, nothing compounds.
Prosperity comes from depth, not constant switching.
What to give up:
The habit of chasing multiple paths simultaneously.
What to replace it with:
Focused effort on one high-value direction at a time.
7. Excuses That Sound Logical
Some excuses feel valid:
- “I don’t have enough time”
- “I need more preparation”
- “I’ll start when things calm down”
But often, these are ways to delay discomfort.
Everyone has constraints. The difference is how they respond.
Prosperous individuals don’t wait for perfect conditions—they work within imperfect ones.
What to give up:
Excuses disguised as planning.
What to replace it with:
Action despite imperfect timing.
8. Cheap Dopamine
Quick hits of pleasure—social media, junk content, constant distraction—train your brain to avoid effort.
The more you rely on instant gratification, the harder it becomes to focus on long-term goals like skill-building or income growth.
Prosperity requires sustained attention.
What to give up:
Overreliance on instant gratification.
What to replace it with:
Activities that require effort but produce long-term rewards.
9. Fear of Investing in Yourself
Many people hesitate to spend money on:
- Courses
- Certifications
- Tools
But they’ll spend freely on entertainment or convenience.
This isn’t about spending recklessly—it’s about strategic investment.
For example, investing in certifications related to ServiceNow can significantly increase your earning potential in tech roles.
What to give up:
The mindset that investing in yourself is “too risky.”
What to replace it with:
Calculated investments in growth.
10. Short-Term Thinking
Short-term thinking prioritizes:
- Immediate comfort
- Quick wins
- Easy options
Long-term thinking focuses on:
- Skill development
- Career positioning
- Sustainable income growth
Prosperity is a long-term outcome.
Every decision you make either supports or delays that outcome.
What to give up:
Decisions based only on immediate payoff.
What to replace it with:
Decisions aligned with long-term goals.
11. Avoiding Responsibility
It’s easy to blame:
- The economy
- Employers
- Circumstances
While external factors do matter, staying in blame mode removes your ability to act.
Taking responsibility doesn’t mean everything is your fault—it means you choose to control what you can.
That’s where progress happens.
What to give up:
Blame as a default response.
What to replace it with:
Ownership of your direction.
12. Perfectionism
Perfectionism often looks like high standards—but it can actually delay progress.
You wait until:
- You feel fully ready
- Your work is flawless
- The timing is perfect
Meanwhile, opportunities pass.
Prosperity favors action over perfection.
What to give up:
The need to get everything right before starting.
What to replace it with:
Iteration and improvement over time.
13. Undervaluing Your Work
If you don’t recognize your value, others won’t either.
This shows up as:
- Accepting low pay
- Avoiding negotiation
- Downplaying your skills
Prosperity requires confidence in what you bring to the table—backed by real results.
What to give up:
The habit of minimizing your worth.
What to replace it with:
Clear communication of your value.
14. Isolation
Trying to do everything alone slows you down.
Opportunities often come through:
- Connections
- Conversations
- Collaboration
You don’t need a huge network—but you do need to engage with people in your field.
What to give up:
The idea that you can grow entirely on your own.
What to replace it with:
Intentional relationship-building.
15. Passive Consumption
Learning is important—but only if it leads to action.
Many people stay stuck in:
- Watching tutorials
- Reading advice
- Planning endlessly
Without applying what you learn, nothing changes.
What to give up:
Learning without execution.
What to replace it with:
Action-based learning.
16. The “I’ll Do It Later” Mindset
Delay is one of the most expensive habits.
Every time you postpone:
- Learning a skill
- Applying for an opportunity
- Starting a project
You push your progress further out.
Time will pass either way. The question is whether you’ll use it.
What to give up:
Chronic postponement.
What to replace it with:
Immediate, imperfect action.
Final Thoughts: Prosperity Is a Trade-Off
Becoming more prosperous isn’t about doing everything—it’s about choosing better.
You’re trading:
- Comfort for growth
- Distraction for focus
- Fear for action
- Short-term ease for long-term gain
These trade-offs aren’t always easy. But they are necessary.
If you consistently let go of what limits you and replace it with what builds you, your income—and your sense of control over your life—will increase.
Not because of luck.
But because of alignment between your habits and your goals.