Down But Not Out

If you’ve been with me this year, following me on Make More Monie, I hope that some of what I’ve been writing has helped. Something I want to share in this post is how I came to deal with the age-old question everyone asks of each other, “How are you doing?” and the equally-aged response, “Good!’ or “Great!”

Now I’m the first to acknowledge that this is a standard greeting and response between two passing acquaintances or even strangers. For whatever reason, though, I never liked the fake back-and-forth of this greeting, especially between those that I felt close to or considered they were close to me. You know, like family or friends.

When I was really struggling, not just financially, but emotionally and mentally, it seemed to me that I could be honest with those I assumed were close to me. In an effort to own my struggle and to bring it into focus, so to speak, I thought of a response to this standard greeting that might “fit”. I also thought it was fitting as it reflected honestly not only how I felt, but my actual situation. It also provided for an optimistic spin that I liked and it actually felt good, like a positive mantra should.

So, in those days, when happening upon those that I thought of as more than just a passing acquaintance that were asking upon seeing me, how I was doing, I replied, letting them know that I was, “Down, but not out.”

This simple act of nonconformity showed me how few people really cared how I was actually doing, as, by the time I responded, most had already moved on, either physically, mentally or both, never actually caring about me, or seemingly never caring whether they even heard a response at all.

Of the remaining ones; they only pretended to be interested. I know this because as soon as I told them how bad things were – not asking for anything, and just being honest – they would simply bail on the conversation with a dismissive “you’ll be fine”, or even saying how lucky I was that I wasn’t so-and-so living wherever or suffering whatever.

Despite realizing this particular dynamic, I still continued answering this way, because I came to understand that this simple act of either saying it out loud or only to myself – and meaning it, of course – acted as a constant reminder of what my priorities needed to be; those that supported me and me alone. In fact, this is how I got myself out of the desperate situation I found myself in, working at the “M’mm, m’mm, good” ol’ manufactory. For my mentees that are facing what I faced down over my lifetime, who are looking for something — anything — that might help, by repeating it, I think it will help one embrace what they are today en route to moving towards success, as I am trying to do myself.

The realization also demonstrated to me just how alone we all are and drives the point home how, if we are going to be successful, it is absolutely up to us, and us alone. As such, I am going to do what I can to give those looking for it, the benefit of my experiences and lessons learned, as well as provide those lessons learned by as many successful trail-blazing mentors as I can find, and that I hope to attract onto my platforms.

Who knows? Perhaps one day, those of you reading these very words I’ve written may be one of them!

Note: When you have made the conscious decision to really succeed, Make More Monie will endeavor to provide you with plenty of real-world examples of individuals that have “made more monie”, and who are happy to share exactly how they did it. No throbbing music, no pounding of chests and no primal screaming. Only top-of-the-line ‘fun’ancial mentorship with bottom-line results!

Disclaimer: The information contained herein should not be construed or considered professional advice. Nonetheless, thanks for reading! If it resonates, there’s “plenty more where that came from” on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X ‘n’ YouTube.

Recent Posts