# The Middle Class Turnaround is Not a Dream: 6 Habits to Change Your Life

The American middle class is shrinking. It has decreased from 61% in 1971 to 51% in 2023, while the proportion of the wealthy has jumped from 11% to 19% during the same period. What does this indicate? Wealth is concentrated in the hands of a few, but the window is still open.

The question is: how can the middle class break through? Wealth advisor Kevin Reed summarized 6 ways:

**1. Increase income first, then manage finances** — For those earning less than $100,000 a year, it is difficult to turn things around just by saving and investing. The first step must be to increase income, either by getting a promotion, switching jobs, or starting a side business. Increasing income is the first lever to leverage wealth.

**2. Find a Mentor** — Not all great people can guide you, but the right mentor can help you plan your career path, seize opportunities, and become your "personal champion" in critical moments.

**3. Approach tasks with an athlete's mindset** — Treat work like a competition and strive to win every day. This mindset can help you break through psychological barriers (which are the biggest obstacles for most people).

**4. Smart Finance** — Once your income covers daily expenses, consult a financial advisor to develop an investment strategy, avoid pitfalls, and truly grow your money.

**5. Learn to Donate** — It’s not moral kidnapping, but rather a change in the money mindset. Donating money and time to charities you care about can help you shift from a "scarcity mindset" to an "abundance mindset."

**6. Resist lifestyle creep** — This is the biggest killer. When colleagues are getting new cars, it's easy to feel like you "deserve" one too. But a high-interest loan can drain your finances faster than you can make money.

**Core Issue**: Would you rather delay gratification now to truly become wealthy, or would you prefer to pretend to be rich now?