Can You Become a Millionaire with No Money and Just a Dream?

It’s World Millionaire Day today – and it got me thinking.

Everyone wants to be a millionaire. Well, maybe not everyone, but most people want the freedom it represents. The stability. The reassurance that you won’t have to check your bank balance before treating yourself. The ability to quit a job you hate. To never panic about rising bills. To make silly purchases and do wild things, just because you can.

That dream of financial freedom is what drives a lot of people to start businesses. Especially those who are starting with nothing. No investment. No safety net. Just a vision, a dream and a ton of pressure.

But let’s be real: not everyone who starts a business becomes a millionaire.

Some do get lucky. Some have support systems – handouts, inheritance, connections. And then there’s a small group who grind their way to that first million with nothing but grit.

Entrepreneurship with Nothing but Grit

Starting a business, especially with little or no capital, is one of the boldest acts of entrepreneurship. For many, it’s not just about becoming a millionaire – it’s about creating options where none existed. Entrepreneurship becomes a way out, a way up and sometimes a way through. It offers the possibility of rewriting your future, on your own terms.

But it’s also a gamble. Without access to resources, networks or funding, entrepreneurs often rely on sheer determination, late nights and relentless belief. That’s where grit kicks in – but this alone can’t cover rent or pay suppliers. That’s why we need to talk more honestly about the hidden costs of “making it” and who really gets the chance to try.

Maybe the real question on World Millionaire Day isn’t “how do I make a million?” – but “what does success really mean to me?” For some, it’s about hitting financial goals. For others, it’s about creating something lasting, building community, having an impact or just proving to yourself that you could do it.

Not everyone who starts a business will become a millionaire, but that doesn’t mean they’ve failed. In a world obsessed with flashy numbers and follower counts, maybe we need to get better at celebrating the quieter wins: sustainability, purpose, growth and freedom on your own terms.

What Is Grit – And Why Isn’t It Always Enough?

I think that grit is the combination of passion and perseverance in pursuit of long-term goals. It’s a character trait, not a gift. You don’t wake up with it – it builds over time. It grows from hunger. From frustration. From wanting more. From refusing to stay stuck. But here’s the catch – grit alone isn’t always enough, because grit means less when you don’t also have privilege.

You can be the grittiest person in the room, but if you’re carrying more weight – systemic barriers, lack of access, financial stress, poor health or even just the absence of a supportive network – the climb is steeper. Much steeper.

So today, on World Millionaire Day, I’m not just thinking about being a millionaire – I’m thinking about why we chase that dream and what it really takes to get there. And maybe, most importantly, how we can support more people with grit to have a shot.

Portobello Business Centre - where grit meets graft

At PBC, we meet people with grit every day. They come to us with determination, passion and ideas bursting with potential – but often without the safety nets, capital or contacts that others take for granted. Many are navigating business for the first time, juggling personal responsibilities or trying to build something real in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis. That’s where we step in.

If you’ve got the hunger and the hustle, we’ll help you get the right tools in your hands. We offer funded and low-cost business support designed to help you grow steadily and sustainably.

Because grit can only take you so far!

Our support includes:

• One-to-one business advice and mentoring

• Support with finding funding including discretionary grants

• A friendly inclusive community where your background doesn’t define your future

  
  

At PBC, we don’t just believe in entrepreneurs. We back them.