From Free Mentality To Abundance Economy: A Necessary Mindset Shift For Growth And Innovation

Growing up in Nigeria, I witnessed something that has stayed with me for decades: a deep cultural struggle around paying for things that carry utility value, especially when intangible. From reluctance to pay electricity bills to apathy toward public waste management levies and even cable TV subscriptions. The reluctance to pay for these services was not merely a matter of affordability but a deeply ingrained cultural mindset. This mindset, which I term the "mindset of physical tangibility," dictates that if something is not physically tangible, even if it brings immense value, people struggle to pay for it. This prevailing mindset equates value with physical tangibility. This isn’t a character flaw. It’s cultural conditioning. One that, if left unchallenged, continues to erode not only public utilities but also private sector innovation, personal productivity, and national competitiveness. The Mindset of Physical Tangibility Let me introduce a concept I call the "mindset of physical tangibility." If something isn’t physically tangible, we often undervalue or ignore it, no matter how critical or impactful it might be. This mindset explains why many still struggle to pay for software or cloud-based tools, even if they promise exponential gains in productivity, income, and quality of life. During my 15+ years of working across product development, product management, program management, education technology and engineering consulting, I’ve seen this play out repeatedly. I’ve worked with startups, companies, educators, and engineering teams that had access to life-changing digital tools, sometimes even for free or at highly subsidised rates, yet remained reluctant or uninterested in adopting them. The Case of Engineering Design Software Let’s take engineering design as a case in point. I’ve consulted for firms that rely on cracked versions of design tools or free, insecure alternatives. The productivity loss is staggering. In one particular project, a team using cracked, outdated software was producing results at 25% of the speed and accuracy of a team using licensed, cloud-based solutions. When we ran a side-by-side benchmark: • Team A (using secure, licensed software) completed 5 critical design sprints in 3 weeks. • Team B (using free, outdated tools) completed just 1 sprint in the same timeframe. Beyond productivity, there were serious concerns about data security, legal exposure, and cross-collaboration bottlenecks. The irony? The cost of the software, when prorated across the value it generated, was less than the weekly cost of running diesel generators in the office. The Cultural Disconnect in Corporate Spaces This free-mentality challenge doesn’t just stop at individuals; it seeps into organisational cultures. Companies are often a reflection of the societies in which they exist. A serious friction emerges when a company introduces a productivity-first culture that encourages investing in the right tools. Yet, its team members have been culturally conditioned to expect everything for free. In my experience consulting for organisations that operate in this environment, the clash is immediate. Management wants world-class output using third-class resources. Employees, too, struggle with adopting tools they consider “unnecessarily expensive” or “foreign.” One solution I’ve found useful is what I call "Cultural Onboarding." This is a program that includes: 1. Mindset orientation: Helping teams understand the ROI of digital tools. 2. Use-case-based workshops: Showing, not telling, how the right tools increase output. 3. Cost-value modelling: Demonstrating how investing in the right tool saves money in the long run. Case Study 1 - Industrial Equipment Design & Manufacturing In 2021, a fabrication company in Ogun State (let’s say, Mfalme Heavy Industries (MHI)), transitioned from outdated, pirated 2D CAD tools to a modern, licensed 3D CAD system. Initially sceptical, the CEO insisted o first for a trial of the software license. This shift enabled virtual prototyping, reducing costly physical iterations by 75%, cutting project durations from 18 to 10 weeks, and saving approximately ₦15 million per project. The adoption process included hands-on workshops, mindset reorientation, and integration into the company’s workflow. Engineers quickly embraced the new tools, leading to improved design accuracy, reduced waste, and enhanced client confidence. The company also benefited from legal compliance and expanded its offerings to include digital design services. This case highlights how investing in digital tools can yield significant financial and operational returns. The transformation wasn’t about the tool; it was about the mindset shift. Case Study 2: Hi-Tech Hardware Design & Manufacturing In 2022, a startup in Yaba ( let’s say, NosaTek Labs) struggled with unreliable hardware prototyping using free MCAD and ECAD tools. Their process led to repeated failures, costing over ₦5,000,000 and eight weeks without a working prototype. The turning point came when they adopted a professional cloud-based MCAD and ECAD platform, which offered advanced features like auto routing, real-time design checks, and integrated simulations. This shift enabled them to produce a successful prototype on the first try, saving both time and money. The onboarding process included hands-on training in schematic design, PCB layout, and thermal/power simulations. With seamless integration into local fabrication services, NosaTek reduced its time-to-market from eight to four weeks. The professional quality of their design files and documentation impressed investors, leading to a doubled pre-seed round. This case highlights how investing in the right digital tools can dramatically improve product quality, speed, and investor confidence—even for small, resource-constrained teams. Case Study 3: Electrical Systems Design & Manufacturing In 2023, a company (let’s say, Jubilee Electrical Solutions) faced recurring design errors and inefficiencies while working on microgrid systems using manual tools like Visio and Excel. Their traditional workflow often led to undersized cables and costly rework, with each error averaging ₦15,000,000 in losses. To address this, we piloted this project using a licensed professional electrical ECAD suite, which introduced automated cable sizing, load flow analysis, and SCADA simulation. This digital-first approach eliminated design errors and streamlined the entire process. The pilot project demonstrated significant improvements: project duration dropped from 8–9 weeks to 5 weeks, and rework costs were eliminated. The software’s features—such as 3D conduit layout, BOM automation, and commissioning checklist generation—enhanced both accuracy and efficiency. Within three months, the software license paid for itself through savings and faster delivery. Engineers reported higher morale and confidence, and clients responded positively to the improved professionalism and reliability of the company’s designs. Embracing the Abundance Economy We can’t pay for everything, and we shouldn’t. But we must recognise what deserves our investment. A mindset built on always seeking freebies limits growth. On the other hand, a mindset of intentional abundance, where we evaluate tools, pay for the ones that offer value, and optimise their use, builds resilience and long-term success. We need to step away from the free meal economy and walk into the abundance economy. That means: • Educators investing in knowledge platforms. • Startups are paying for tools that optimise workflow and product delivery. • Corporations are rethinking budgeting to prioritise secure, scalable, value-adding digital solutions. A Call to Action As a society, if we are to embrace innovation and unlock the full potential of digital transformation, we must begin with a mindset reorientation. Not every software, tool, or platform is worth paying for, but those that are must be paid for, respected, and fully utilised. Let’s stop undervaluing what we can’t physically touch. Let’s break free from the trap of "if it's not tangible, it's not worth it." Let’s transition from the free mindset to the mindset of purposeful investment. Only then can we unlock the true promise of the digital and innovation economy. About the Author: Chukwubuikem Felix Amaefule is a digital manufacturing expert, product strategist, and EdTech leader with over 15 years of industry experience. He currently leads the transformational team at Generative CAD Services Limited, building scalable learning and product development solutions to democratise making in Africa.