Recently, I came across a jaw-dropping story. A 17-year-old girl caused $8 million in damages at a Walmart after lighting a fake plant on fire — all because of an intrusive thought. She had a lighter in her pocket, pulled it out to burn a fake leaf "just to see," and in seconds, the aisle—and store—was engulfed in flames.
Walmart couldn’t sell smoke-damaged merchandise. She was caught on security cameras, tracked, arrested, and sentenced: 60 days in jail, $4,000 bond, years of parole, and potentially $8 million in restitution unless she successfully completes her parole, in which case she still owes $1 million.
This isn't about judgment—it's about observation. The most eye-opening part? During the interviews, her mindset revealed zero ownership. She blamed her anxiety, her intrusive thoughts, her depression. These are real struggles, absolutely. But they don't remove responsibility.
And that's the point:
👉 People who lack ownership over their life often end up broke and miserable.
Joy—real, lasting joy—starts in the mind. Not in momentary happiness, but in how you respond to life. Depression and anxiety can often be worsened by the belief that you have no control. Ownership is the antidote to that. You must believe: You are in control.
Back in January, I made a major mistake with our email/text list at Prosperity Movement. A filtering tag cut our reach in half for a year. When I found out, I got excited and messaged everyone all at once—bad idea. We got banned by phone carriers for spamming, and it crushed our communication and revenue for months.
That was my fault.
Could I have blamed my business partners or our marketing team for not warning me? Sure. But I made the call, and I own that.
Now we’ve recovered, and I’ve grown. I will never make that mistake again.
Whether it’s in business, relationships, or mental health—ownership means:
Even in my past failed relationships, I’ve looked inward first. I could have done things differently—and better. That’s ownership.
You can cry over spilled milk… or you can take ownership, wipe it up, and keep moving.
At Prosperity Movement, our mission is to build wealth from the inside out.
Our main tool is trading—because it builds skill, confidence, and freedom. But at the root of it all is mindset.
Last week, 97% of our active traders had a profitable week. That’s not luck. That’s discipline. That’s ownership. That’s a community of people taking control of their lives and futures.
If that’s what you’re looking for, come join us.
You can find out more at ProsperityMovement.online or message me directly on Facebook. I’m the only Zach Schuenke—look me up.
Let’s help you build real wealth—starting in your mind.
My Own Mistake (and Why It Matters)What Extreme Ownership Looks LikeAnd That’s What We Teach
