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July 10, 2008
 Was Freud right? Is money crap? I know, that's a very, very, loose paraphrase and/or interpretation of what he said. I tend to think he was just as nuts as his subjects though! But in this case, he was on to something.
The Haves...
Do you know anyone with money? I mean a lot of money. I know a few successful people, and I've read a lot that's been written by very successful people, and the one thing I've learned is that they're not driven by money. Maybe a small percentage of them are, but most are not. I'm not saying they don't like or want money, I'm saying the primary driving force behind them getting up everyday and doing whatever it is they do, is not money. It's a love for what they do, or a goal to reach, or a dream to fulfill, or a desire to change the world.
And the Have Nots...
Do you know anyone without money? Sure you do. What drives them to get up everyday and do whatever it is they do? Money. A paycheck. I'd guess and say that if you polled people with jobs, 90% or higher would say they would not continue working the same job if they won the lottery. They have something else they'd rather do: something they love, or a goal to reach, or a dream to fulfill, or a desire to change the world. But they put that dream, that goal, or that passion on the back burner and wait... and it never materializes.
If you've never read Terry Dean's great book Financial Freedom, stop right now and order it. One word of warning, if you're one of those non-Christian types, this book is based on the Bible and Jesus. It is an eye-opening book that helps to put money in its proper perspective; it helps you shed false beliefs that money is evil, and teaches you how to go about achieving your goals in life.
What? Money is NOT Evil?
What was that I said in the last paragraph? Money is not evil! Nope, just like guns don't kill people, money is not evil. Some people use money (and guns) for evil purposes. If your beliefs are not solidly grounded in faith, having a lot of money can corrupt an otherwise good person. But, give a truly good person the ability and tools to earn a lot of money, and they will use it for a lot of good. Think of the good you could do with a million dollars: the hungry you could feed, the uneducated you could educate, the medical problems you could help heal, and the list goes on and on. There's no shortage of need, that's for sure.
Money, money, money.
Everyone puts so much importance on money. But, did you know that money is pretty much useless. You can't take it to the bank and exchange it for gold; the Gold Standard went away around 1913 I think. The value of our money is based on a lot of variables that are shrouded in mystical illusion much like The Wizard of Oz. Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain (that would be the Federal Reserve Chief). Money is more of a concept now than anything else - it has value only because we believe in it and the government that prints it. Think about it, money is just ones and zeros zipping back and forth between computers. Tracked and balanced and verified, but still not worth much of anything until we use it.
Potential Power:
Money is like a battery. That pack of batteries in your desk drawer does nothing. Nothing, except collect dust. Until you put them in a flashlight, camera, voice recorder, shaver, child's toy, etc. then, and only then does the value of a battery become real. Its potential is realized. Money in your pocket, bank, mattress, or buried in your backyard is useless until it's used. Only then is its potential realized.
Fact:
I want you to read the second and third paragraphs again, the ones about people with money and people without money. There's a subtle truth in those two paragraphs. A truth that people like Joe Vitale talk about and teach everyday. Books have been written on nothing less than the truth that's revealed in those two paragraphs. In fact, I link to several of Joes books in the right column of this blog, and I've read them all, they're really good and worth your time. What is it this truth? Keep reading and I'll tell you, but first I want to quote a really smart guy.
Albert Einstein was a very smart man. Ok, so I have a knack for understating the obvious! Old Al was known for saying that time is relevant and he gave this great example. He said:
An hour sitting with a pretty girl passes like a minute, but a minute on a hot stove seems like an hour.
Albert Einstein |
So what does Einstein's quote about a pretty girl and a hot stove, and the hidden truth in the first two paragraphs mean? Its means this:
Passion + Action = Opportunity for Success
The successful people I talked about in the second paragraph are not driven solely by money; they're passionate about something, and that something is what they're doing with their life. They're analogous to the "hour sitting with a pretty girl". They give their best to whatever it is they do and they do it with passion: because it's what they love to do and want to do. Their days zip by and they live life with fullness, with a purpose, with happiness. Because of that, their chances of success and becoming wealthy are much, much higher.
The non-successful people in the third paragraph are the ones sitting on a hot stove. They drive into work every morning with a dreadful attitude. Some may not hate their jobs, but a lot do. Some dread their jobs so much they get stomach aches, drink alcohol, take "happy pills", etc. Even if you don't hate it, it's a job and nothing more. They know it'll never be anything else: they leave their dreams at the door and punch in for 8 hours on a hot stove. Some are brainwashed to believe that they matter and that the big wheels of commerce will grind to a halt if they fail to show up. Guess what Bubba... it ain't so. Even if you're one of the wheels at the top making so called Big Bucks. You're just another brick in the wall, just another number, just another cog in a great big mesh of gears that will keep on turning if and when you check out. But, because most people value money above their dreams and passions, they trade their life for a paycheck.
Take this Job and Shove It...
Sure, I make it sound simple. I know you can't walk in tomorrow and say "Take this Job and Shove It". Especially if you have a family to provide for. But, what you can do is start the journey. You can start to learn that there's another way. It may take three days, three years, or even more, but once you realize the truth, it can't come fast enough. Once you learn the truth, you have the ability to see through all the facades and realize you've been blind.
What About Doctors, Lawyers, Teachers...
I know some of you reading this are saying "sure Fred, but what about doctors, or lawyers (the good ones), or teachers?". What about those types of jobs, you know, the important ones? Yes, there are jobs that are important and in some ways much more than just a job. The world is not black and white - there's a lot of gray! The best doctors, lawyers, and teachers don't practice for money, they practice because they love what they do, they love helping people, healing people, teaching people, and making a difference in the world. They're passionate about what they can do for others, and they're driven by that passion. It's a shame that teachers are so underpaid - they should be right up there with doctors and lawyers.
So there you have it, think of money like toilet paper and life will be much happier! That's an extreme statement, but put money in its proper perspective, not as the source of happiness, and happiness and success become much easier to achieve.
Until next time,
Fred
P.S. I stole the photo for this post from www.jeremyinc.com you can go there and buy a roll of toilet paper just like that!
About the Author
Fred Black is an experienced online business operator, programmer, web site developer, father, husband, musician, and songwriter. Visit his Internet Business Blog at: http://www.pqInternet.com.
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Posted by Fred on July 10, 2008 | Printer-Friendly
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