“Poor people's most needed trait to turn their lives around is ambition” — this phrase is popular because it hits the core.

Why is “ambition” considered the key fuel?

For those starting from a very low point, ambition is the primary motivation to break the status quo.

· Against “scarcity mindset”: Long-term resource scarcity can cause people to focus only on the present, becoming shortsighted. Ambition helps you lift your head and look ahead, enduring current hardships for long-term goals.

To turn their lives around, the poor need a complete setup of “ambition+”

Ambition is the engine, but a car needs a steering wheel, brakes, and tires to run.

1. Cognition (Steering wheel) — Ambition tells you where to go; cognition determines how far you can go. You need to understand the rules of the world, human nature, and learn to leverage thinking—using technology, capital, or teams to amplify your efforts.

2. Resilience (Brakes and shock absorbers) — Scarcity of resources means low risk resistance, making it easy to give up after a setback. Resilience allows you to get back up and continue after being hit.

3. Execution (Tires) — No matter how big your ambition, it’s just wishful thinking if you don’t act. Turning around the poor relies not on a single brilliant idea but on executing simple tasks to perfection.

4. Virtue (Fuel in the tank) — This is not empty talk. A person’s ability to retain wealth ultimately depends on reputation and virtue. Making others see you as reliable and trustworthy attracts continuous opportunities.

Therefore, the core formula for the poor to turn their lives around = Strength of ambition × Height of cognition × Depth of execution.

Back to your question, ambition is the most scarce starting point but not the end goal. If you have nothing now, first protect your ambition and don’t let life extinguish it. At the same time, turn this ambition into continuous learning and action.

Is your ambition enough to carry you through the toughest beginning? Or are you looking for specific methods?