When I start talking about money, I feel like I'm walking on eggshells or opening up a can of worms. If I talk too much about the M word, I come across as being too obsessed with money.
We can't deny the fact that in the real world, money is important. We're not even talking about having too much money here. Let's say you're fired from your job, having no savings can make you desperate. To me, building wealth is merely building a nest egg to cushion against any unforseen circumstances.
Many people like to link wealth with unhappiness. I wonder why? Sure, the tabloids are filled with people fighting over inheritance and wealth. It could be these are the type of people who like to fight anyway. So, if they're not fighting over money, they would probably be fighting over something else. Scandals like this sell!
Sure, we don't need lots of money to be charitable. I am not wealthy but I have seen how a US$50 loan to improvished women in Africa had helped them start up a business, generate income to feed the family and even earn extra to pay back the loans. This was done through KIVA where layman like us pool together funds to help entrepreneurs in 3rd world countries. The two women I had funded managed to pay back loan amounts ranging from US$500-$1,000 within 1 year! Quite admirable.
On a similar vein, my small annual contribution keeps several Tibetan monks fed and educated at a tiny village school run by volunteers. One year, I was late in paying the sponsorship and I realised that my tardiness could mean the little kids may be deprived of an education. If I stopped a single purchase of a designer handbag, I could sponsor 3 little monks for a year.
We're privileged to live in a country that gives us opportunity to build wealth. I've seen housewives who have built a thriving business on eBay. How did they start? By selling their old clothes. Being successful gives them a sense of fulfilment. Maybe money will make them greedy for more but then again, it goes back to the person's core values.
In my line of business, some of the wealthiest people are also the humblest. You wouldn't be able to tell the difference just by looking at them. They're just as grounded as we are. They have come to terms with their wealth.
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9 comments:
Mine's always saying: "Bye bye!"
Read your comment on the other topic and I understand your POV. Maybe since I'm not a parent yet, I haven't thought about what you've experienced. Plus I'm not a business owner. I agree with you that expanding your business is good, not only for yourself, but you're also providing job opportunities for many people to work in your company. :-)))
Hey, don't worry too much when you're talking about money!!! I don't see you as being obsessed about money. I see you as being keen on learning more and more from other people (whether they're successful businesswomen/men or travellers or whatever).
I like the discussion you've brought up, even though my POV may be limited and I may be rambling (as the topic is really wide), so keep it up! ;-D
I've also met very humble rich people, but I've also met humble rich people who spoil their kids too much and they end up being miserable when their parents are dead since they don't know how to run the business. There are so many different types of people with so many different types of lives. :-))))
And I agree that we do need to save money for rainy days. My Mom always tells me that a woman needs to have money or jewelleries to sell for rainy days, as life is so unpredictable. And I've been following her advice, too. :-)))) Especially when you're raising kids, you're gonna need more money than ever, I guess??????? That's what my Mom's been telling me, too, anyway. :-))))
Oh yeah, mind you that when I posted my comment yesterday, my brain was tired already, so I was definitely rambling and not thinking much about your perspective.
As to your question on why people link wealth with unhappiness...you made me think. I think maybe sometimes I have that kind of feeling 'coz not everyone is able to cope with the wealth and responsibilities they have, especially if the wealth is coming too fast. Hmmmm...
Oh well...I'm rambling again. Better stop here.
I just realized something really important. I never knew that those experiences made an impact on me personally, but they did.
One reason why I feel "queasy" talking about wealthy people is because of the experiences of my aunt and my brother.
Remember that one aunt of mine married a rich person? They married grandly, but then his mother took away all the jewelleries given to her prior to the wedding? And they didn't even have a legal marriage certificate? Thus when the guy died, the house was left for his children, not for my aunt.
And then my brother met this rich girl who liked him so much (I even thought she loved him), but her parents didn't approve of my brother since we come from a middle class? I can assure you that my brother has plenty of charm, so I can't see any other reason as to their rejecting him as a future son-in-law EVEN THOUGH it's actually for the best of the both of them. I can't imagine the burden he'd have faced if he'd have married the girl - the pressure and all that since it seems that her parents want more from a guy than what my brother has.
Anyway...I just realized that those things have been embedded in my brain. I have personally met a rich family who doesn't care about the guy's status. The daughter of this rich family marries a non-rich guy. They even paid for his tuition to get a Master's degree and they paid for their wedding and house and all that. But they stated to him prior to their wedding that none of his family members could have a hand on their wealth (or ask for a loan or anything).
So even though I KNOW there are many wonderful wealth people (which unfortunately I haven't personally met), yet I can't be fair still. :-((((
But your posts have made me realize this, so THANK YOU!!! I need some healing to dooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I don't care much about others' wealth or the lack of it. My friends are just friends, I don't classify them as rich or poor. But, personally, I don't like to be poor. I don't spoil my kids with material possession but I provide them with what they need. I used to work hard to live, now I still work hard but I think I'm much wiser about money than I used to be. I think most people have choices, if you don't like the life you have, you can do something to change it but if you just whine about it then nothing will change. Being wealthy is not a crime, being wealthy doesn't make you a bad person. I think wealth and personality are two quite separate things.
Anyway, I like your blog, I think you are not afraid to confront some difficult questions in life and it's very interesting to read your POV. - ckl
CH - Subsconsciously when ypu think that wealth is always saying 'bye bye' to you, you're actually rejecting the chance to be wealthy. You must start thinking, "I welcome wealth" then you'll attract wealth.
Amel - Actually your case really makes me think the author is talking sense. He started by saying how our minds are conditioned from young. Most of us think that money is evil, or money creates nothing but problems. So we're in effect saying 'No' to wealth. Even if you suddenly have a sum of money, you'll feel bad or guilty and soon,you'll lose it simply becos you're not ready to embrace it.
CKL - Thanks for reading my blog :-)
I like your POV. It's very healthy and realistic. It really is all about the personality.
Even though I have been talking about building wealth, anyone can see that the same principles apply to other areas of our life. If we weed out negative thoughts in our inner self, we can only attract more good things in our life.
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