Would You Rather Be Rich Or Poor?

Strange question, right? I mean, who really wants to be poor. And yet there are plenty of poor people in this world. And what about the flip side of this coin? Does everyone want to be rich? If the answer is “yes” why are so few people actually wealthy?

I think it all boils down to some misconceptions that have produced limiting beliefs. Here are two of them …

The first is that money is an evil thing. Okay, I know, some of you are thinking: it’s thelove of money that’s the root of all evil. I get that. And I believe that’s true. But at the same time, I love money! And I’m not ashamed to admit it! And, I know I’m not a bad person for thinking this way.

So how can I love money and at the same time agree that the love of money is the root of all evil? Context is everything my friends. Evil is elevating money to the status of a god. When you make money your master, when you become its slave, you step into the pit of evil.

I have no spiritual attachment to money. I don’t have an emotional attachment to money either. For me, money is a practical tool – a means to an end. I love it for what I can do with it. That’s it! Nothing more. Bottom line: there is no spiritual argument against money.

The next limiting belief is the so-called philosophical argument against wealth. Kierkegaard said he’d rather have “the passionate sense of potential” instead of wealth. Smart, well-respected guy … must know what he’s talking about, right?

Earl Nightingale, author of the classic self-help works The Strangest Secret and Lead the Field said, “a library of wisdom is more precious than all wealth.”

So, were these two guys happy and wise in poverty? No way! Kierkegaard lived off an inheritance and didn’t have to work a day in his life. Nightingale helped so many in his audience become wealthy he couldn’t help, but become wealthy himself!

Again, look at the context. That passionate sense of potential Soren Kierkegaard cherished so much could be better translated today as your vision! And what do you think the chances are that with the right vision, you can become wealthy? I’d say pretty damn good!

And does wealth come to the foolish or the wise? Does the old proverb a fool and his money are soon parted ring true?

Or how about the classic – money can’t buy happiness. Does this mean you’ll be happier trying to find two nickels to rub together rather than sitting on a pot of gold? Does it mean money is evil or that it will bring misery? Listen … if you’re miserable as a poor man you’ll be miserable as a rich man too.

See where I’m going with all this? No one is saying vision, or wisdom or even happiness should be sought to the exclusion of wealth. They are all precursors to wealth. If you have a vision that will inspire others, if you have some wisdom under your belt (or a good mentor in your back pocket) and if you’re generally a happy person, you’ll find it much easier to get rich. And when you get there you’ll have no regrets because you’ll know in your heart you earned every penny honestly and fairly.

To your success!

Jordan