you do not have the same 24 hours as beyonce
The Myth of 24 Hours & the Invisible Labor of Wealth
We do not all share the same 24 hours. Period.
This isn’t exactly news, but let’s be real: it hit me hard recently just how deeply we’ve bought into the illusion that we’re all working off the same playing field. Through my coaching sessions, I’ve watched patterns emerge—folks aren’t just asking for advice or resources, they’re craving structural support. They book me to keep their to-do lists, to stand beside them in major life shifts, and to hold them accountable. Essentially, they’re buying back their time.
Network Impoverishment & The Hidden Structure of Wealth
I started looking into something called network impoverishment—it’s the way systemic inequality leaves certain communities, especially low-income and segregated ones, cut off from the generous, solution-based support that wealthier folks treat as a given.
If you’re struggling financially, odds are everyone around you is too. So when your car breaks down, rent’s due, or an emergency pops up, the "solutions" typically end up exploitative: predatory payday loans, unsafe side hustles, or overstretched community resources. Meanwhile, network enrichment (a nicer term for nepotism) flips those crises into mere inconveniences—because wealth comes with an entire ecosystem ready to intervene before real chaos hits.
Buying Back Time: The Silent Privilege of the Wealthy
And here’s where that idea of "we all have 24 hours" blows up:
Wealthy people aren’t just hardworking. They have entire systems dedicated to buying back their hours. Every day-to-day detail of their lives—childcare, housekeeping, finances, scheduling, research—is handled by someone else. They’ve got assistants, advisors, chefs, drivers, nannies, and entire squads ensuring their mental and emotional energy remains intact for what really matters to them.
It’s easy to label them as "highly disciplined" or “super-productive,” but that’s not the full story. They’re running on a delegation machine that spares them from the usual friction of daily life.
Meanwhile, the rest of us juggle dual roles: we are both the client (reaping the benefits of paying bills on time, having groceries in the fridge) and the manager (the ones actually scheduling the appointments, planning the budget, driving the errands). We do all the heavy lifting ourselves.
Picture a single parent working full-time: she’s the one paying bills and booking doctor’s appointments, but she also has to rely on those outcomes—like a stable home—to function. She’s torn between managing and benefiting from her own labor. Contrast that with a wealthy executive who can outsource tasks to an assistant, nanny, or housekeeper, freeing up mental space for creativity, leadership, or frankly, relaxation. They get to focus on the bigger picture while someone else handles the details.
And the biggest mind-bender? The cultural narrative that we’re supposed to be “self-made” is constructed by people who outsource nearly every chore or responsibility. Tell me that doesn’t make your head spin.
“Community Is Not a Weakness—It’s a Necessity.”
What if we dropped this obsession with solo capacity and started building structures around mutual support? For too long, we’ve been sold the lie that leaning on each other is weak. But history shows we do better—way better—when we rely on communal systems of care, accountability, and shared effort.
The Myth of Self-Reliance
The “self-made” ideal is so ingrained in Western culture that we rarely question it. It implies success is purely the result of individual hustle, conveniently brushing aside the reality that we stand on the shoulders of communities, infrastructures, and generational resources. Truth is, humans evolved surviving together. From ancient tribes to modern-day neighborhoods, collaboration was and still is the backbone of progress.
Rugged individualism? It’s a relatively new phenomenon. And it directly contradicts centuries of humanity thriving on mutual aid and shared responsibilities.
“Asking for Help Doesn’t Mean You’re Losing; It Means You’re Human.”
We’ve been taught that needing support is a moral failing. But study after study shows that when people tap into community-based programs, everything from mental health to coping skills improves. That’s because life is easier when you don’t have to face it alone. Peer groups, shared resources, neighborly favors—they all break down isolation and remind us that we’re not alone in this.
Your personal victories can skyrocket when you realize you don’t have to figure it all out by yourself.
Building Community-Based Infrastructure
So how do we get there? We start by shifting away from the notion that every person should be a self-contained island. Instead, we invest in systems that foster shared resources and collaborative problem-solving—think community childcare co-ops, local time-banking, skill-sharing networks, or co-housing arrangements. By weaving these infrastructures into daily life, we create an environment where more people can genuinely flourish.
Research even shows that when communities come together—pooling resources and looking out for one another—health disparities drop and social cohesion rises. Because tackling the root causes of inequality works better when we do it collectively, not just individually.
Challenging Individualism Myths
Ultimately, we need to debunk the idea that leaning on each other is a liability. It’s actually our biggest strength. Through education, conversation, and simply practicing community care, we can reshape these outdated perceptions. Let’s make it normal, even admirable, to say “I need a hand here” or “I have your back.”
Instead of forcing ourselves into rigid self-sufficiency, we should be asking: how do we create a culture where support is standard, not stigmatized?
Because if there’s one thing I want you to walk away with, it’s this:
“You are not failing. You’re just functioning in a world that withholds support from the many and sells it as a luxury to the few.”
Let’s change that.
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