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Mindset Matters: Abundance vs. Scarcity Mindset and Why It Matters for Founders

April 9, 2025

“The only limit to our realization of tomorrow is our doubts of today.”

Franklin D. Roosevelt

One of the most common mindset blocks that holds people back – whether they’re starting a side hustle or launching a nonprofit – is the scarcity mindset.

It sounds like this:

“There’s not enough funding.”
“Someone else is already doing this.”
“I can’t afford to take a risk.”
“I’m not ready yet.”

Scarcity thinking focuses on limitations. It makes you play small, compete instead of collaborate, and second-guess every move. And worst of all? It can sneak in without you even noticing.

So what’s the alternative?

An abundance mindset shifts your focus to possibilities and potential:

There are enough clients, customers, donors, and supporters out there.
Opportunities can be created, not just found.
Collaboration creates more value for everyone.
Your current resources – however limited – can still make an impact.

Why This Matters for Entrepreneurs and Nonprofits

Entrepreneurs:

An abundance mindset encourages strategic risk-taking, pricing with confidence, and marketing with clarity. It reminds you that you don’t have to compete on price or overdeliver out of fear; you bring unique value to the table.

Nonprofit leaders:

Fundraising, partnerships, and community impact all thrive in abundance. Believing that there’s room for your mission creates space for collaboration and helps you build genuine relationships instead of operating from scarcity or urgency.

Practical Ways to Shift Toward Abundance

1. Audit your self-talk. Catch phrases like “I can’t,” “no one will,” or “we don’t have enough.” Replace them with “What can we do with what we do have?”

2. Celebrate small wins. Scarcity thrives on comparison and pressure. Abundance grows when you pause to recognize growth, even if it’s incremental.

3. Surround yourself with abundance thinkers. Whether it’s a mastermind, mentorship, or an online community – mindsets are contagious. Choose environments that lift you up.

4. Focus on value, not just volume. Instead of trying to reach everyone, think about deeply serving the right people. Quality creates impact – and often, more income or funding too.

In summary, you don’t have to wait for more money, time, or credentials to get started. You can begin with what you have, from where you are, and grow from there.

Because when you operate from abundance, you stop chasing permission and start building momentum.

Want to keep the momentum going? The next article in the Mindset Matters series will explore The Resilient Mindset: How to Bounce Back, Not Burn Out.

Mindset Matters: Abundance vs. Scarcity Mindset and Why It Matters for Founders

So what’s the alternative?

Why This Matters for Entrepreneurs and Nonprofits

Practical Ways to Shift Toward Abundance

Mindset Matters: The Resilient Mindset