Poverty Stems From Poor Choices

Poverty stems from "choices." Poor choices are the primary cause of poverty, and reckless or misguided decisions can irreparably damage your life, dreams, and goals.

Common poor choices:

· Cheating during exams or while studying.
· Wasting money during college because your parents are supporting you.
· Choosing lies over honesty.
· Driving a car without insurance.
· Choosing bad friends.
· Choosing to watch TV or read worthless books.
· Driving 105 mph in a zone with a 55 mph speed limit.
· Robbing a corner convenience store.
· Binge-eating or drinking excessively.
· Trusting people with no verifiable track record.
· Deceiving someone close to you.
· Making unplanned purchases with credit cards.
· Going all out every weekend.
· Picking a supplier without checking their qualifications.
· Playing video games for more than 30 hours a week.
· Getting married within four weeks of knowing someone.
· Starting a company with an incompetent partner.

Choices made when you're young carry the most weight—they grow into the trunk of your life. As time passes, the branches reach upward and outward, growing thinner. They lose the power to bend the tree in new directions, because the trunk's age and experience have solidified their habits.

Make the right choices whenever you're young.

Even the smallest decisions you make day to day gradually reshape your habits and lifestyle. It's a process, but one that eventually carries enormous influence.

No matter your age, take stock of your life and analyze the crossroads you've faced—and which paths you actually took. The road you choose is up to you, and every road carries its own powerful force, leading you to different destinations. Whatever you decide today will surely shape tomorrow—possibly for weeks, months, years, decades, or even generations to come.