Niels Bohr once wrote: "Prediction is very difficult, especially when it comes to the future." This, of course, doesn't discourage fortune tellers and even... stock market analysts. They boldly venture into the unknown, predicting the future.
But is it possible to predict whether you'll be rich? Surprisingly, yes.
If a young man visited an “honest fortune teller,” their conversation might go like this:
“Until you’re forty, you’ll work hard, save nothing, feel dissatisfied with life, and give up many of your dreams.”
“That’s terrible… And what happens after that?”
“Then you’ll get used to it.”
Why does this prediction feel so realistic for so many people? The answer isn’t hidden in a crystal ball - it lies in one of the most important principles of personal finance. There are usually three scenarios. I wonder if any of them apply to you.
Scenario 1: The Carefree Conduit
A Carefree Conduit is a person who works hard, earns a salary or income from their own business, and then immediately passes it on to everyone else: shop owners, restaurateurs, hairdressers, tailors, renovation crews, television manufacturers, property owners, utility providers, travel agents, car dealers, and so on.
They are so absorbed in transferring money to others that they leave nothing for themselves or their family in the form of savings. Their financial motto is: “I don’t save because I have nothing to save.”
The more they earn, the more they spend - and, most interestingly, they are convinced that everything is fine. As a result, they continue consuming carelessly, unaware that just a few weeks without income would be enough to push them into bankruptcy. But such things only happen to other people…
Scenario 2: The Polished Prisoner
The Polished Prisoner has created a beautiful façade for their life: a house or apartment in a good neighborhood, a luxury car, designer clothes, the best restaurants, exotic trips. From the outside, everything looks like a fairy tale.
Although they earn well and hold responsible positions, their lifestyle is so demanding that they constantly rely on borrowed money. They proudly display gold and platinum credit cards, treating them as status symbols. Banks love them.
Their financial motto is: “Why limit yourself? It’s better to enjoy life.”
Meanwhile, the reasons for joy slowly disappear, while the limitations keep growing.
Even when their income increases, the stress of expenses and debt grows even faster. They work longer and harder, sacrificing time with family and loved ones just to keep up with payments. They are prisoners - though they would never admit it.
Scenario 3: The Conscious Realist
The Conscious Realist, as the name suggests, keeps their feet firmly on the ground. They know that the state of their wallet depends 100% on them - not on the government, not on minimum wage laws, not on economic growth, inflation, a boss, or a financial advisor, but on the person they see in the mirror every morning.
That’s why they follow one simple rule: “It doesn’t matter how much I earn - it matters how much is left.”
They live for themselves, not for appearances. They avoid debt and interest payments, keep expenses under control, and actively look for ways to grow their income. They consistently save and invest wisely. With each passing month, their financial situation improves - and over time, the pace of wealth accelerates. And time passes quickly.
These three scenarios - while somewhat exaggerated - illustrate how our approach to money shapes our financial future. Which one is closest to your life? Are you more of a Carefree Conduit, Polished Prisoner, or a Conscious Realist?
Probably only the third path truly builds wealth over time. Because wealth is not created by how much you earn, but by how much you keep, protect, and grow over time. By controlling expenses, avoiding unnecessary debt, and consistently saving and investing, Conscious Realists buy something far more valuable than luxury - freedom.
