There’s no shame in being broke

Why is there shame in being broke? Who started that? Somewhere along the way, society decided that if you’re broke, you must be dumb, lazy, or simply unequipped to handle life.

People assume you just can’t get it done. “What are you doing wrong? Try my way. Do it like this. You need help.” The message is: if you’re broke, there’s something wrong with you.
But let’s flip that. Entrepreneurs can be broke and still be some of the smartest, gutsiest people on the planet. In fact, most are.

Starting your own business or inventing a product is one of the scariest, riskiest things you can do. And guess what? A lot of those people are broke, at least in the beginning. And “the beginning” can last ten years.

Does that mean they’ve failed? No. It means they’re all in. They’re putting every dollar into their dream. That’s why, when it’s time to shop, they might skip the $20 shirt at the mall and instead grab a $3 thrift-store bargain. Not because they don’t care about clothes, but because they care more about fueling their business. They believe in it 100%.

Here’s the thing: if you quit, there’s a 100% chance you won’t succeed. But if you keep going—even if you’re broke—you’ve still got a shot. Entrepreneurs know this. They might live with stress, uncertainty, and a thin wallet, but they’re betting on themselves.

Broke isn’t a permanent condition—it’s a season. Money comes and money goes, that’s guaranteed. And yes, being broke is uncomfortable. It’s stressful. It can sting your pride. But it doesn’t define your intelligence, your work ethic, or your future. If anything, it can sharpen your creativity.

Daymond John from Shark Tank built the FUBU brand from nothing and even wrote a book called The Power of Broke. He explains how scarcity forces innovation. When you don’t have money, you invent new ways, smarter ways, scrappier ways to move forward.

So instead of carrying shame about being broke, wear it like a badge. It means you’re trying. It means you took a leap. It means you’re out there chasing something bigger than a paycheck.

If you’re broke today, don’t let it stop you. Keep moving. Keep scrubbing forward. Because broke isn’t failure—it’s proof that you’re still in the game.

Wendy Kushel is the owner of Wendala’s LowCountry Sugar Scrub, LLC based in Bluffton, SC. Drawn to the Beauty & Personal Care Industry Wendy founded her company in 2020. Her background includes stand-up comedy, film, TV and a lot of sales and marketing. For more information about Wendala’s® LowCountry Sugar Scrub visit www.lowcountrysugarscrub.com or call/text 843-949-8933.