At just 20 years old, Inayah McMillan had already done what most people only dreamed about. She became a millionaire.
Here’s the process she used to rewire her brain and shift from scarcity to abundance in her own words:
When people ask me how I became a millionaire by 20, they usually expect me to talk about some secret business model, a lucky break, or a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The truth is it wasn’t about any of those things.
It started with my mind.
I grew up in a big family where money was always tight. At one point, 12 of us lived in a three-bedroom, one-bathroom house. I wore my siblings’ hand-me-downs, and we often had to “make do” with less. Those circumstances shaped me, but the real limitation wasn’t my environment—it was my programming.
Your brain is like a computer. It runs on an operating system installed in childhood. Mine was programmed for poverty. And unless I hacked that operating system, I would keep running the same “struggle script” no matter what opportunities came my way. That’s when I decided: I was going to brainwash myself into success
Why Mindset Matters More Than Tactics
Most people think building wealth is about finding the right opportunity or learning the perfect skill set. While those things do matter, they’ll never override bad programming.
Think of your brain like this:
- The Floor: The minimum level of problems and struggle you feel comfortable with. If life gets “too easy,” you’ll unconsciously create problems to bring yourself back down.
- The Ceiling: The maximum level of success, happiness, and money you believe you deserve. If you exceed it, you will self-sabotage to drop back down.
I realized my floor was set at “just surviving” and my ceiling was capped at “barely getting by.” No business tactic could change that.
Reprogramming my brain was the only way forward.
The Wake-Up Call
The shift started when my brother Khalil passed away unexpectedly. He was young, his wife was pregnant, and he never got to meet his daughter. Losing him shook me to my core.
It forced me to confront a truth I had been avoiding life doesn’t wait until you’re comfortable to change.
I asked myself:
- If I keep thinking this way, what will my life look like in five years?
- If I don’t change now, then when will I?
Khalil’s passing gave me a new perspective. I could either stay stuck in victim mode, or I could take responsibility—not just for me, but for my family, for my niece who would grow up without a father, and for the legacy I wanted to build.
That’s when I became obsessed with mental reprogramming.
The Daily System That Changed Everything
Rewiring my brain wasn’t a one-time event. It was a daily discipline. Here’s the system I followed step by step:
Step 1: Clear Mental Resistance
Every morning, I began by releasing fear, doubt, and limiting beliefs. For me, this happened through prayer. For you, it might be journaling, meditation, or anything that re-centers you.
This step helped me stop asking “How can I make money when I don’t have any?” and start asking, “Why not me?”
Step 2: Program a New Identity
I wrote down two types of affirmations:
- I am… (present identity): “I am healthy. I am wealthy. I am capable.”
- I will… (future identity): “I will be a millionaire. I will retire my mom. I will change the world.”
I framed them, read them every morning at 5 a.m., and built vision boards to visualize my future. These weren’t just words; they were anchors for the identity I was becoming.
Step 3: Feed the Brain With Better Input
I cut back on mindless scrolling and replaced music with motivational audios, YouTube talks, and audiobooks. Even when it wasn’t fun, this daily choice shifted my vibration from scarcity to abundance.
Where your attention goes, energy flows.
Step 4: Act Like the Person You Want to Be
I didn’t wait to feel like a millionaire—I acted like one.
- I showed up to a billionaire family interview with confidence, even though I was just 18.
- I treated failed ventures like lessons, not proof of failure.
- I reinvested profits instead of spending them on temporary pleasures.
Identity came first, action second, results third.
Step 5: Build Consistency, Not Motivation
I didn’t rely on feeling motivated. I relied on consistency. Every day, I made one decision that aligned with my future identity. Some days it was small, other days it was big, but over time, those choices compounded.
The Results
When my Airbnb business finally worked, I wasn’t shocked by my first $100,000. I had already programmed myself to expect it.
From there, momentum built rapidly:
- By 19, I was scaling properties.
- By 23, my businesses generated over $13 million.
But here’s the truth: the money wasn’t the ultimate prize. The real win was who I became.
I carried myself differently. I spoke with confidence. I saw opportunities where I used to only see obstacles. And I realized that wealth wasn’t just about me—it was about what I could do for my family, my community, and the legacy I want to leave behind
How You Can Start Today
Most people will read this, feel inspired, and then slide back into old thinking patterns. Don’t let that be you.
Here’s your 30-day challenge:
- Write down your I am and I will statements. Frame them. Put them where you’ll see them every day.
- Dedicate 15 minutes daily to prayer, meditation, or journaling to clear resistance.
- Feed your brain abundance: swap one negative input (scrolling, gossip, music) for one positive input (audiobook, podcast, motivational talk).
- Take one action daily that matches your new identity, even if it’s small.
Do this for 30 days. Watch how you start carrying yourself differently.
Your external reality will never exceed your internal programming. Reprogram the mind, stay consistent, and success will become inevitable.
I brainwashed myself into millionaire success—and if I did it, so can you.
Salima
Just me thinking out loud over here