A couple of years ago, two American business tycoons – Donald Trump and Robert Kiyosaki – wrote a book with one of the most fascinating titles I have ever come across: Why We Want you To Be Rich. In it, they use their different perspectives and experiences in the world of business to help readers understand why financial literacy is so important. They couldn’t have been more correct. Too many people just get by not taking the time to understand money or how they can make smart decisions with it.
Money is such an important part of existence on earth. It is the currency of our world and it allows us to do so much. Whether we consider ourselves materialistic people or not, there’s no denying that money has the capacity to open doors and allow us to go places where we probably wouldn’t be able to go without it. Yet, at the same time, there’s also no denying that it also has the capacity to destroy us and everything around us if we let it master us. We’ve all read stories of people who’ve won the lottery and done shocking things after the fact. This thing called money: what is it about it that exerts so much power?
A friend recently posted to me some powerful and deeply insightful words by Zimbabwean businessman and philanthropist, Strive Masiyiwa (as of September 2014, he was reported by Forbes Magazine to be one of Africa’s wealthiest men with a net worth of more than US$600m). He said this:
“Money amplifies character; it does not change or make character”. Never say to yourself, “when I have money, I will help other people.” You will do with money, then, what you do now:
If you are compassionate by character, you will show compassion even with little. And when you have much, it will be amplified, by your doing more. What can you do, now, with that little that you have?”
Being rich is not so much about what we have but who we are and what we do with what we have. The lout who wins the lotto doesn’t become a new person. He’s just a lout with a million more ways to show how much of a lout he is. Quoting Trump and Kiyosaki, yes we want you to be rich. But then what? Will you just waste it all on yourself and live only for show? It’s really about who you are. If you can be honest about who you are and become someone who will add value to the world, then your riches will have true meaning and they will even live beyond you.
What are your views about money and wealth? Do you agree with Strive Masiyiwa? We’d love to hear your thoughts so please connect with us and leave your comments.
Perhaps your focus has been so much on making money and building a stack of cash for yourself but somehow you’ve lost a sense of what really matters in life. We believe there is more to life than just being rich. We believe in a life that gives us a wealth of heart that no recession or financial crash can take away. If you want to find out more, please click on the banner and popup at the bottom of this page and let us know if you want to walk this journey with us.
Till then, may you prosper in all you do!