Today I was told that seeking money doesn't make a person happy.
"I buy that", I thought to myself. Money has never been a high priority to me.
But then I was told that striving for success doesn't make a person happy either.
"Okay", I thought, "now this guy's just breathing through his mouth."
His argument continued that helping others and serving a good cause is much more worthwhile and redeeming. He had books to prove it.
What the gentlemen failed to add to this argument was that his wife is a surgeon (no, really) who likely makes money in such quantity that it is delivered in truckloads. Leaving him completely free to fight the good fight without a care or desire in the world.
Here is where some would say, "it must be nice", but I contend that a man or woman without the desire to succeed in some fashion or another is very boring, a mouth breather, and living in a van down by the river.
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People who think that it's possible to reduce life to a single sentence ("money doesn't buy happiness" for example), are generally inflexible and intolerant. And hypocrisy of The Gentleman's type is rampant.
I've never understood the expression "mouth breather"... what exactly does it mean?
That reminds me of a time I was talking to one of my teachers. Each month he would put $1,000 dollars into his daughter and sons account so they would have money for college. He said that EVERYONE could do it, it was all about planning. The kicker though, is that his wife alone made $250,000 a year.
As I neared the end of college, I began asking "what should I do with my life" and the nature of the answer was tied directly to the respondents age. People my own age were worried about money, making enough to get by, and often about being successful in their profession. Towards middle age, people suggested that that was important, no doubt, but that I should also try to find something I enjoy doing. And up into their 60's and beyond, people told me that money keeps you fed, but that I should worry most about something meaningful, something "good for mankind" if you will.
Now, I'm only 24 and haven't had a lot of time to act on this advice. I live at home with my parents and work for ChemLawn because it pays the bills, but I've passed up other jobs on principle. I'm not exactly where I want to be, but I hope that when I get there after a slow, steady climb I might be able to look back and be happy about that path, and that I will have taken as few "because it pays the bills" jobs as I can.
The other advice I gleaned for the old-timers was this: long-term investment in either stocks or real estate, and keep your day job. The thing about putting away $1000/month for your kids would be nice, but perhaps $10 is nearer the mark for me. And then, maybe later I don't retire but use that nest egg for bettering lives (I'm already researching how best to contribute). Then my progeny will ask "Grampa, you're old, why do you still have to work?" "Because some people are still hungry and out of work."
It think it's a worthy goal, if a tad unconventional. Ask me in 40 years whether I made good on it.
Wish I could buy an apartment. So expensive here in Manhattan though. Then I go and do things like buy computers and motorcycles, damn it.
IMHO, striving for success - the process of hard work by which people use to achieve their goal - is a Good Thing.
But success in itself, the end result in its many forms (such as fame and prosperity), might not necessarily lead to happiness.
> living in a van down by the river
Whoa. My brother-in-law just referenced this Chris Farley SNL skit last night. Whata co-inki-dink.
You are right, of course. It's easy to give out handfuls of shiny dimes and strut back to your limo (or Lexus). But "success" means something different to everyone. For me, success doesn't equal money; it's something more spiritual. But I'm just a Lib-rul, what do I know?
Whatever his circumstances (and hypocrisy), it seems on the face of it that you both just have different definitions of 'success' - his more altruistic, yours more individualistic.
I think at the end of the day, if you can look at what you did, and found that you got paid to do it, it made you happy, and it in some way helped other people, you could consider it a successful day. String together enough of these days, and you've had a successful life.
I consider myself successful, in that I've almost always reached the goals I set for myself, have a job I love, and occasionally find myself in the unique position of being able to help someone or make someone's moment/day/week/life better.
Mitch, what color is the sky in your world?
Denying the fact that success is tied to money is ridiculous. The only people who don't believe that success is tied to money are people who don't have money.
People who live in run-down neighborhood and drive a '72 VW Bug will spend all day trying to come up with excuses and reasons why money is not important. I call it "justification for failure." It's a way to make yourself feel a little better about the fact that you dropped out of high school and claim a promotion to "shift manager" at Dairy Queen as your biggest accomplishment.
The fact is, even if you don't correlate money with material goods, having money allows you to have the freedom to do those altruistic things you would like to do.
As of February, 2004, The local animal shelter in my city is overcrowded. If they find an animal without identification and no one claims it, they will destroy it in 72 hours. I would love to be able to start an animal shelter that rescues animals who are at risk for being killed due to overcrowding. Can I do this? Of course not. I have to go to work so that I can pay bills so that I don't end up living on the street without a home or food. The more money I make, save and invest now will allow me to do those things I want to do later in life.
Fact is, you can do mostly anything you want if you have money.
I think anyone who is asked the question "What would you do if you won the lottery" allocates something to a charitable cause.
But most of us won't win the lottery. Most of us will continue to either live in mediocrity or DECIDE to do something about it and make ourselves more "successful."
For the record, the "gentleman" in the post isn't me.
Successful is all relative. I live in Los Angeles but visit San Francisco and various Southern CA beach cities often. Success is one thing there but when I go to TN where I am in the process of purchasing land in a city that is miles from the nearest "big" TN city I see things differently.
Success is staying happy in your current lot in life. Alot of us make money by simply sneezing but if we're not satisfied then what's the point. I have friends who make and some how "get by" on a combined 35 maybe 40k a year. I make easily double that and still live check to check just like I did in college working at the pizza parlor. Evaluate where you are and find a way to be happy or you will never be successful.
A good saying I like is that "Money never made me happy, but sure put a smile on my face" It's easily true.
Erm, do you practise Buteyko, sir?