Books, Brands, and Business-Investment or Expense? Get Rid of a Poverty Mentality

By Jeffrey Mangus, CEO, Mangus Media Group

I’ve been in the trenches of the writing and publishing world for over a decade, ghostwriting for Fortune 500 executives, crafting bestsellers that shift paradigms, and building Mangus Media Group into a powerhouse for visionary leaders. And through it all, above everything else, I’ve learned one critical fact—much like my friend Neil Patel hammers home in his marketing wisdom—it’s that mindset is everything in business. You can have the best product, the sharpest strategy, but if a poverty mentality shackles you, you’re doomed to spin your wheels.

Fees and pricing are hot topics in the ghostwriting industry. The problem in both ghostwriting and copywriting is that writers struggle to demonstrate their inherent worth. Many are seen as just a commodity and not valued. This has to change; writers and companies need to charge their worth and stick to their guns.

I spent many years worrying about other people’s bank accounts and adjusted my fees to match their so-called budgets to secure the work. But this was a recipe and a fast track to the bottom. It was a game of chase, and it was like hitting a moving goalpost. It was my poverty mindset rearing its ugly head. But once I saw this, and diagnosed my problem, I couldn't worry about budgets, as most people, if it is something they want to do, find a way to afford the service. And most importantly, writers are the most valuable part of the machine, making progress happen. Books and the writers that write them are the golden ticket to life changes, trajectory leaps, and soul alignment on so many levels it's not even funny.

This is why I am unapologetic about our fees for our services here at Mangus Media Group. Our team, all elite professionals with decades of experience, brings real-world value to every project. I recognize that writers have a profound impact on the world. But many writers, along with millions of other businesses, are stricken with a severe case of the poverty plague. Millions share this sickness, and you are not alone. To fix it, the defining mindset must be addressed.

Today, I want to dive deep into the poverty mentality that swarms around books and book writing, how it can grind your business to a halt, and why breaking free often starts with investing in your story and brand. I’ll share some real-world case studies from my experience, and then I’ll pull back the curtain on how Mangus Media Group’s Three Suite offerings—our comprehensive ecosystem of services—can be the game-changer you need. Let’s get into it.

First off, what is a poverty mentality? It’s not about being broke; it’s a scarcity mindset that whispers, “There’s never enough.” It’s that voice in your head saying, “Why spend on premium services when I can DIY it cheaper?” or “Marketing is a luxury, not a necessity.” I’ve seen it time and again: entrepreneurs who meet me, then go off and pinch pennies, skimping on professional help, and end up with mediocre results that keep them stuck in the minor leagues. For the record, I don’t want to see this happen to you.

Neil Patel talks a lot about scaling through smart investments—like SEO that compounds over time—and a poverty mentality is the antithesis of that. It’s fear disguised as frugality, rooted in beliefs like, “Success is limited, so I better hoard what I have.” In business, this manifests as hesitation to hire experts, reluctance to launch big ideas, or settling for lowball freelancers who deliver subpar work. The result? Your growth stalls, book projects fail, opportunities slip away, and competitors lap you.

Let me paint a picture of how this hinders businesses in real terms. Imagine you’re a tech founder with a revolutionary SaaS tool. You’ve bootstrapped it to profitability, but now you need to scale. A poverty mentality kicks in: “Why pay for a ghostwritten book to establish thought leadership when I can blog sporadically?” So, you cobble together content yourself, but it’s inconsistent, unpolished, and fails to resonate. Meanwhile, your rivals invest in high-caliber storytelling, landing TedX talks, media spots, and investor buzz. Your business plateaus because you’re not seen as the authority—you’re just another player in a crowded field.

Or take marketing: Neil Patel preaches testing and iterating with data, but if you’re scrimping on professional help, tools, or agencies, your campaigns flop, customer acquisition costs skyrocket, and revenue flatlines. I’ve consulted with dozens of CEOs who admit their biggest regret was thinking small early on. A poverty mentality doesn’t just slow you down; it creates a self-fulfilling prophecy where scarcity becomes reality.

To make this concrete, let’s look at a couple of case studies from my playbook. Take Kelly, a CEO, for instance. When she first approached me, she was trapped in a poverty mentality without realizing it. Her education platform was solid, but she was hesitant to invest in a professional book. “I can write it myself,” she said, echoing that she didn’t see the real value of our ghostwriting services.

But after months of half-hearted drafts, she came back to me with her manuscript that was gathering digital dust, and her brand wasn’t gaining traction. We shifted her perspective. By working on her book and building a strong content ecosystem around it, she saw the difference. Her mindset shifted from viewing the book as an expense to recognizing it as an investment in expertise. It was rocket fuel for her company and brand.

Through Mangus Media Group, Kelly embraced our full suite of services, and we turned her ideas into a polished bestseller. The result? Her book opened doors to speaking gigs, partnerships, and a 40% uptick in enrollments. Kelly later told me, “Jeffrey, your team’s efforts turned my hesitation into momentum—I was playing small, but now we’re scaling.”

Another example: Scott, a vice president of sales, came to us with a wealth of industry insights but a classic poverty trap mindset—fearing the “promise of exemplary” a nd the “Expense of having us write his book with our white-glove writing and publishing. The problem for Svcvott was that he was gun-shy after trying cheap freelancers before, resulting in a generic book that didn’t capture his voice. This poverty mindset was hindering him from writing a book that could have been a game-changer.  

We broke that cycle by showing him the ROI of premium investment. Our team ghostwrote his leadership book, thoroughly explored the concept, edited it to perfection, and handled the launch with media amplification.

Post-publication, with our 2:1 coaching, Scott secured features in trade journals, enhanced his personal brand, and experienced a 25% increase in B2B inquiries. As he put it, “Jeffrey’s experience and authenticity flipped my scarcity script—now, we’re not just selling products; we’re leading conversations.”

These aren’t outliers; they’re proof that a poverty mentality can hinder progress, but the right mindset shift, paired with expert support, can unleash it. This is where Mangus Media Group shines, and why our Three Suite offerings are designed to thread together every aspect of your story for maximum impact.

Drawing from our team’s collective 200+ years in writing and publishing—think NYT bestsellers, award-winning editors, and global strategists—we’ve crafted a suite that eliminates fragmentation and scarcity thinking. The Three Suites isn’t just services; it’s an integrated ecosystem that weaves your book, brand, and business into a cohesive powerhouse.

At its core, the Three Suite includes our 360-Degree “First Word to Finished Book” Impact Initiative. We start with discovery sessions to blueprint your vision, capture your authentic voice through targeted interviews, and ghostwrite drafts that feel like you wrote them—but better. Our elite team of 20 professionals handles editing, design, and polishing, ensuring market-ready excellence. But we don’t stop at the manuscript. The suite threads in publishing navigation—whether traditional deals or self-publishing mastery—and book launch strategies that generate buzz.

Then comes the real magic: our Book, Brand, Business Ecosystem building. We align your book with your company’s goals, creating content that fuels marketing, opens speaking opportunities, and cements your legacy. Add in press and media amplification, where our strategists secure coverage to elevate your platform, and 1:1 coaching for long-term success. Why does this work?

Our extensive experience—spanning memoirs, corporate whitepapers, and everything in between—means we’ve seen a poverty mentality derail projects and know how to counter it. We offer all-inclusive pricing, so no hidden fees surprise you; it’s a transparent investment for outsized returns. Clients like Kelly and Scott didn’t just get a book; they got a threaded strategy that banished scarcity and propelled growth.

Overcoming a poverty mentality starts with recognizing it, then acting boldly. If you’re ready to invest in your story and watch your business soar, reach out to our team at Mangus Media Group. Click here to speak with our team. Book a free discovery call—let’s thread your success together. What’s holding you back?