What Makes Us Unique
While there are countless books and resources online that teach the specifics we are implementing, there are no programs that actively help those in need attain such materials. But we go beyond simply handing out books to those in need and hope they read and apply the lessons. We will have the custom literature that we can provide for free, but also follow up with individual involvement. Mentorship, call lines, chat services, and a complete network of knowledgeable team members will be developed and available to help more and more individuals as we grow.
Mission Statement
Prosperity Project has one singular focus: To increase the quality of life for all citizens by teaching the importance of personal development and financial freedom. We aim to accomplish this by providing easy to access tools, mentorship, and educational material on subjects starting with financial basics.
We will begin with essential knowledge like building credit, responsible budgeting and retirement planning. We will also focus on individual growth which covers subjects such as personal accountability, setting and reaching realistic goals, building a strong moral compass, healthy ambition, and building confidence.
Why We Started
The cycle of poverty is a challenge to break out of without the proper tools and knowledge. If you don’t know what your FICO score is, or how to raise it, you will start at a disadvantage in building wealth. If you don’t know how to properly budget and save, the paycheck to paycheck routine will seem impossible to break out of. And where is this knowledge actively taught?
Most learn as they go from their mistakes, or from their parents who share their experiences. For the vast majority of low income communities, parents themselves don’t have the necessary experience, and learning from your own mistakes will obviously present challenges at the most crucial point in their professional lives.
Prosperity Project was created to take a more direct approach and provide the tools needed, and also the motivation required to get a head start on building a prosperous future.
While our ultimate goal is to shrink the gap between low and middle income families and bring all out of poverty whenever possible, we recognize that the only way to achieve this is on a personal basis. It takes time, and a lot of resources, but if we can bring a single family out of their struggles, or set a single teenager on the path to success who otherwise would of struggled, this itself is a measure of success and why we exist.
From the Founder
As long as I can remember, I’ve always felt I was meant to change the world. Unfortunately, in order to find ways to make the world better, you must first seek out what is wrong. And every time I found something wrong, I realized there was nothing I could do about it. That was not a healthy outlook to possess as a pre-teen, which led to almost 2 decades of despair and frustration. I spent years at the base of these mountains, staring at the peak, overwhelmed by the task at hand. I never took a single step towards my goal because I never climbed a mountain before, I didn’t know how and didn’t have the tools needed. I didn’t even know what tools were needed.
We all face these mountains throughout our lives. While mine was one from a fortunate position, there are many whose mountain can be the simple act of saving to buy a car, graduating high school, or simply paying the rent on time each month. Regardless of your mountain, they all have one thing in common: it feels unattainable and overwhelming, and its always easier to say “I can’t” than it is to try.
The first step is obviously the most difficult, and its the most complicated to explain how I took mine. It was a mix of necessity and divine intervention that enabled a shift in perspective when I realized two universal truths which gave me a necessary boost. The first revelation was to dream big, but think small.
I realized I didn’t have to negotiate peace treaties or invent a cure for a disease to change the world, but that every small act of kindness could add up in a profound way. Paying for groceries for the single mom in line behind me at the store, spending time with a friend in a time of need, or even a simple smile toward a stranger can make their day slightly better, which in turn makes their world a little better. Years of doing this will inevitably make your corner of the world that much better as well.
After a few years of applying this philosophy, I began conquering one small mountain after another and noticed something funny… not only did I make those all important first steps toward my lifelong dream, but as I slowly trekked towards the summit, I realized how easy it started to become. And all of a sudden that unattainable peak was within reach. This lead to my second revelation: It wasn’t until I sacrificed my personal desires and accepted my limitations, that I could overcome those limitations and achieve more then I ever dreamed.
Now that I am in a position to make a larger impact in my community, I wanted to dig deep into the inner workings of society and recognize the root issues. After months of research, and a lot of prayer, I found my calling: to share the tools that I have acquired with everyone at the base of their mountain and to help those who can benefit most.
I realized that if it was that difficult for someone like me, blessed with parents who provided guidance and a comfortable upbringing, how difficult must it be for those less fortunate that don’t have that same environment and support? There are many who don’t acknowledge this disadvantage so they don’t pursue change, but what’s worse, is that there are some who do know there is an issue, and actively try to help, but develop programs and strategies that are detrimental in the growth of these families.
I started Prosperity Project to be the most effective organization to eradicate the disadvantage that hundreds of thousands are faced with in every major city across the country. Of course, I am still a ways from reaching that peak, so starting local here in Phoenix, we are taking the first steps to change the world, one family at a time.
– John Parker