Some Call It Greed

We have seen a change in our nation’s attitude toward wealth and those who try to achieve it. It seems to have started a year or so ago and began to gain speed immediately following the collapse of the economy. Things such as building businesses and maintaining portfolios are now consider greedy selfish endeavors “How dare he try to make money now? Can’t he see that there are people suffering?” For some reason people see the suffering but not the cause, the collapse of wealth. It was just a few short years ago when wealth and achievement were celebrated.

The focus has changed from wants to needs. How often do we hear, “does he really need that trip, airplane, luxury car etc.?” Need is understandable in a person’s own life when the current circumstances cause personal cut backs. However need should not be a factor when looking at others. Want is an acceptable reason for having something. I went to an expensive restaurant not because I needed to but because I wanted to and there is nothing wrong with that. I can still remember hearing the collect gasp that was uttered when it was announced that Michel Jackson’s elaborate casket cost more than $25,000.

In times like these, I remember the teachings of one of my many mentors. “It is indeed not selfish or greedy to create businesses, focus on achieving your goals or building wealth. It is in fact selfish and greedy not to do so. If you have been given the intellect, the strength and the courage to create businesses, achieve great things and make money and you do not do it, then you are selfish. The businesses you did not create will not provide the goods and services the public wants. The non-existent business will also not provide jobs for your local community. The world will not benefit or be encouraged by the things you did not achieve. The wealth you did not create did not benefit people in need around the world. Not many great chartable works are funded by the impoverished.

Not only is it selfish and greedy to not do all you are capable of doing to build your wealth, but it is also unpatriotic. America is the country credited with the phrase “making money”. Before America came into existence money was not made, it was inherited or otherwise transferred. Wealth creation is an American born idea. It goes hand and hand with freedom and liberty.

Another important concept I have learned from my mentors is that wealthy people support charities. It is important to be part of the solution and many worthwhile causes allow us to do just that. Now it is an especially important time to find a cause and support it. With the government created (it is my blog so I will tell it like it is) economic crisis we are now in charitable giving is down. The lack of private sector support for many worthy causes is giving the government another excuse for interfering more in our daily lives.

Some of you may be saying that you will start giving once you have become wealthy. Please let me share another concept with you. In order to achieve or create anything great you should follow these three principles. First, make your desire known. Second, do everything you know to do to accomplish it. Third, accept it is being done. The first two are easy to understand but what does accept it as being done mean? It simply means being ready to accept the fact that you actually have achieved your goal. One of the ways to do this is to begin to act as if you have already achieved it. In other words if want to be wealthy then act as the wealthy act and start to give. Pick a cause that you can get behind and support it.