Some Reflections on Poverty

Xuefeng

During the era of Mao Zedong, I had the experience of serving as a "local emperor" for three years. The scenes from those days remain vivid in my memory. Although every household was equally poor back then, some families still managed to live in relative comfort and abundance. These families had one common trait: they often invited me to their homes for meals, serving me with good wine and food and treating me with great hospitality. Conversely, the poorest households also shared a common trait—they never invited me over for a meal.

From this, I discovered a pattern: those who were more willing to give were often relatively well-off, while those who were stingy and unwilling to part with even a little tended to be the poorest.

When I first started my entrepreneurial journey, I didn’t have much money, but I still hired someone to help with household chores. As my financial situation improved, I hired two people—one woman to handle laundry and cleaning, and one man to manage the lawn, care for flowers, clean the swimming pool, and maintain the vehicles. Through this, I uncovered a small secret: the more people I hired, the more money I earned. Those who tried to do everything themselves without hiring help almost never managed to become wealthy.

Here’s a hypothetical scenario: you have 31 yuan in your pocket and need to travel 30 kilometers for an errand. If you walk, you’ll still have 31 yuan when you get there. But if you take the bus, the fare costs 30 yuan, leaving you with only 1 yuan upon arrival. Walking 30 kilometers takes six hours, while the bus ride only takes half an hour. So, should you walk or take the bus?

Those who choose to walk will inevitably remain poor, while those who take the bus are more likely to become rich.

Would you rather spend 20 yuan to order takeout, or spend 10 yuan to buy groceries at the market and cook at home to save the extra 10 yuan?

Those who order takeout are more likely to become rich, while those who cook at home are more likely to remain poor.

Would you spend 2,000 yuan on a washing machine and dryer, or save the 2,000 yuan by washing and drying clothes by hand?

Those who buy washing machines and dryers are more likely to become wealthy, while those who insist on washing and drying clothes manually are more likely to stay poor.

If you have 100,000 yuan, is it better to save it in the bank or spend it?

Those who save it in the bank will inevitably drift toward poverty, while those who spend it have a high probability of becoming rich.

Spending two hours to save 20 yuan on something that could be done in three minutes for 20 yuan is a mindset that inevitably leads to poverty.

The Chinese character for poverty (穷) offers some insight. It’s composed of the radicals for “cave” (穴) and “strength” (力). The strength is trapped inside the cave—this is poverty. Metaphorically, it refers to someone who only exerts their strength within their home, toiling endlessly in isolation. That’s poverty.

From this, we can conclude: those who focus solely on internal matters and reject external connections will remain poor. This principle applies not only to individuals but also to families, villages, cities, regions, and nations. A focus that is always inward leads to poverty, while attention directed outward brings prosperity.

Whether one is rich or poor is not determined by birth, physical strength, intelligence, or the environment. It is determined by mindset.

December 22, 2024