Wealth Is Not A Bad Thing
Posted by Mitch Mitchell on Dec 29, 2006
Earlier today I was having an email conversation with a friend of mine, and I happened to mention that I hadn't had my most profitable year, but I probably had my most successful year, and next year I was going to have both. Her response back to me was "Success is not always measured with money. Even those who have nothing can lead successful lives".
It's an interesting take on things, one that reminded me a lot of a book I just finished, The Tao of Pooh, and it's successor, which I'm almost through with, The Te of Piglet, both written by Benjamin Huff, and both very good. In them, he describes the principles of the Taoism through the Winnie the Pooh characters. The principles are based on the writings of Lao-tse, in what is known as the Tao Te Ching. In talking about wealth, he said this:
1. If I were suddenly to become known, and (put into a position to) conduct (a government) according to the Great Tao, what I should be most afraid of would be a boastful display.
2. The great Tao (or way) is very level and easy; but people love the by-ways.
3. Their court(-yards and buildings) shall be well kept, but their fields shall be ill-cultivated, and their granaries very empty. They shall wear elegant and ornamented robes, carry a sharp sword at their girdle, pamper themselves in eating and drinking, and have a superabundance of property and wealth; such (princes) may be called robbers and boasters. This is contrary to the Tao surely!
When one sees this, one gets the feeling that the principles of Tao would be against prosperity and wealth, and it may or may not be true. However, it doesn't really matter much to me, because I'm of the opinion there's nothing wrong with attempting to attain wealth. In my mind, wishing to attain wealth isn't what's bad; what's bad is if one gets there by nefarious means, and if one doesn't then try to help others with some of that wealth.
For instance, in Secrets Of The Millionaire Mind by T. Harv Eker, he tells the story of going to a party he was invited to in a very affluent neighborhood he'd just moved in to, expecting everyone to be a snob because that was always his impression of rich people. Instead, not only did he find that people were very engaging, but when the person hosting the party started talking about a charity he was trying to raise money for, every person in the room with a checkbook took it out and wrote a check for the charity, and at the end of the party they had given $250,000.
Then in the book Cracking The Millionaire Code by Mark Victor Hansen and Robert G. Allen, they tell the story about a man named Brandon Barnum, whose created a foundation called Giving Globally, with which he hopes to create over a trillion dollars by 2014 to help pay off the world's debts.
Of course, we also heard stories this year about Bill Gates and Warren Buffett, both of whom are donating their time and significant portions of their wealth towards helping others throughout the world with poverty, disease, education, and a host of other things that our world has to deal with.
When I say I want to be rich, wealthy, prosperous, it can be seen by others as a negative. Personally, I don't care, because I'm the only one who lives my life. I have goals and dreams I want to attain. But, as I wrote in my last entry, I also have goals towards being able to give money to charitable causes. My initial amount is relatively low, but it would be a lot of money for me. As I can increase my wealth, and I say it that way because, if I said it else wise, it would mean that I'm showing I have doubts as to whether I will ever get there, I can increase my donations and help in my own way.
Even the words of Lao-tse seems to allow this, at least in my own mind: "Love the world as your own self; then you can truly care for all things."
Good points all, Mr. Mitchell, but I think you missed the point your friend was making. Their statement that “Success is not always measured with money….” actually re-affirmed your own statement that, “I hadn’t had my most profitable year, but I probably had my most successful year…” They merely agreed with you… that acquisition money was not the sole determinant of whether or not you were successful this year. The rest of it is as it is.
My own personal view is that money is not everything, and though I do pursue the acquisition of some degree of wealth, it is — or will be — the by-product in many cases of things I do in helping other people become successful. It is not the acquisition of money that is most important for me, but what will be done with the money acquire; because money for money’s sake… well… it’s not what I’m after. Most success doctrines also indicate that acquisition of money is not in itself successful, because there are millions of people with money, who are miserable still.
“Love the world as your own self; then you can truly care for all things†is not reference to material wealth. If you have material wealth, you are able to “truly care for all things” in ways, perhaps, that those without material wealth cannot. But, does the nurse you pay with your wealth have any less successful life than you because she didn’t have money? Is she still contributing and “caring for all things?”. I could go on… but I think you get my point.
Have a very successful 2007 — with or without big bucks 😉
Kelvin
Mitch,
You yourself said this year was not profitable, but that it was successful. Thus you have said that your own success for the year was not tied to money.
You use the word “wealth.” Wealth is not just about money (check the definition in Dictionary.com). Having wealth is having plenty of whatever it is that makes you feel wealthy. For you, that is money. For others, it may be something else.
Did you see the teachers from “The Secret” on Larry King Live? I found it interesting that Larry King asked those questions that he knew would keep viewers tuned in — how to attain money, love, etc. — but the teachers talked about understanding what you need/desire and attaining that. Money to do???? Ah, you want to be charitable! What if the universe delivered a way to be charitable beyond your dreams, yet it did not require money or wealth to do so?
BTW we taped both Larry Kings when he had people from “The Secret” on. If you have not seen them, we can loan the tape to you. (Right now, K.R. has it.)
Jill
P.S. — I think the Tao strives for harmony — within (the person) and without (among all people). Without? He who indulges while others starve is a robber baron. (Chapter 53) Personally, I like what Chapter 33 says: “He who knows he has enough is rich.”
Mitch,
One of the books that “The Secret” is based on is: “The Master Key System” by Charles F. Haanel. In Part 16 he talks about wealth.
“Wealth is a product of labor. Capital is an effect, not a cuase;a servant, not a master; a means, not an end.”
“Wealth should never be desired as an end, but simply as a means of accomplishing an end. Success is contigent upon a higher ideal than the mere accumulation of riches, and he who aspires to such succes must formulate an ideal for which he is willing to strive.”
If you have a clear vision of what you want to do, keep that vision foremost in your thoughts and the means to accomplish it will appear. That may just happen to be money. Then you’ll be able to do what you want. And if you have any extra money, I could use a little.
Good luck,
Tom
Hello 🙂
Here’s the link with the definition. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/wealth
This way we don’t have to look it up. I believe Mitch’s intent was to say that while he may be wealthy in his life, he’s looking to enhance not only his life financially but to spread this wealth, in the monetary sense, in order to help others as well.
It sounds more like he’s acheived a great number of things, and with these things he would like to create monitary wealth in order to have the balance of “wealth” that he seeks in his life.
Surely, money does not buy happiness, and a poor man can be just as happy as a rich man, providing his desires for himself in his life have been met. Surely, if you were to get a thesaurus out, you’d see wealth branches out quite nicely into several arena’s.
The idea of success, is highly individualized. As we accomplish one goal, it leads to another, and then another.
Perhaps it’s not the intention of the comments here to sound, not so supportive, however while we can say success is not measured by money, to be able to do MORE THINGS for others DUE TO this success is certainly a wonderful idea.
This is, what I believe Mitch is saying here.
That while he feels he has been successful this year, he has other visions and goals which he “has” been attaining his true goals, of helping others through doing well financially himself, is what he is saying.
It enables him to do more for more people. That is an admirable goal I think.
Some things simply “do” cost money, while there are certainly things that DO NOT cost money, there are two sides to the coin I believe.
Okay, I’m off to nap, I’ve been sick, have a great new years 🙂
Sue T.
“Love the world as your own self; then you can truly care for all things.â€
Words I think everyone should take into consideration.
Not bad words at all, John; I did like that quote, obviously. 🙂