Could financial struggles be rooted in the subconscious mind, shaped by the environment in which a person grows up? According to Nigerian-born leadership expert Dr. Sam Adeyemi, yes. He argues that many individuals, particularly those from impoverished backgrounds, are “programmed for poverty” by their surroundings.
“If you grew up in Africa, the projects, or in a poor community, whether in Europe, North America, or anywhere in the world, it is more likely that you’ve been programmed for poverty than for prosperity,” Dr. Adeyemi says. He explains that this programming comes from absorption—growing up in a poor home or deprived environment leaves lasting impressions in the conscious mind, which eventually sink into the subconscious and become part of one’s identity.
The result is a frustrating disconnect between conscious desires and subconscious programming. “Many times, the goals people set with their conscious mind are not in alignment with their programming,” he says. “People want to be prosperous and wealthy, but their programming is for poverty.”
To illustrate, Dr. Adeyemi uses a fruit metaphor. “If we really want an orange, but our roots are for mango, we’re getting a mango,” he says. “What should we do? Unfortunately, there’s nothing you can do to get your orange unless you remove some roots and put new ones in their place.” This metaphor emphasizes the role of environment in shaping outcomes. Just as soil affects a seed’s yield, the environment a person grows up in affects their mindset and the possibilities they see for themselves. “Your seed may be perfect, but the soil determines its full potential,” he adds.
However, Dr. Adeyemi insists this cycle can be broken. “The beliefs we’ve formulated from our environment can become deeply-rooted, but thankfully, they are not necessarily permanent.” For him, changing results in life begins with changing underlying beliefs—the “roots” that shape them. This idea is central to his SHIFTS process model, outlined in his latest book, SHIFTS: 6 Steps to Transform Your Mindset and Elevate Your Leadership (Wiley).
“Transformation begins with becoming conscious and disciplined around what we See and Hear,” explains Dr. Adeyemi. “What we repeatedly expose ourselves to influences our Insights, which shape the way we Formulate our decisions. Those decisions then inform what we implement (Transform), ultimately determining whether or not we Succeed, and get the oranges we’ve always wanted for ourselves.”
Dr. Adeyemi is the CEO of Sam Adeyemi, GLC, Inc. and founder of the Daystar Leadership Academy, which has graduated over 52,000 alumni. He holds a Doctorate in Strategic Leadership from Regent University and is the author of Dear Leader: Your Flagship Guide to Successful Leadership. His insights have reached more than 3 million followers on social media. For more information, visit SamAdeyemi.com.
