“Money is evil”
“Greed is bad”
“Power corrupts”
“Rich kids are spoilt”
“Rich people are arrogant”
There are so many notions that were subtly imprinting themselves on my psyche during my growing years. These kept coming up and I pondered about the source of their constant arrival:
Envy
Rejections for help
Unfulfilled expectations
Generalizing an experience
Overweighting the demeanor because it came from a rich person
And there would be many more. But the final result that showed up was a natural resistance towards earning tons of money, becoming rich and going for extreme success. The unintended consequence of this subconscious build-up was contentment with what life had to offer, settling for the ordinary, and never going all guns blazing for accomplishing goals or objectives.
It was subtle, but it was there.
But there has been a change as I have progressed in my professional career. I have begun to understand the role that money can play in making an impact on society. I could experience this firsthand as I started keeping aside 10% of my income to give away to causes I believed in.
When I look back at all the people I have supported, it makes me incredibly happy to witness the outcomes:
A relative could afford a surgery
A security guard could pay for his son's college expenses
An office assistant could send enough money to his family in Africa
My barber has married someone in the US and set up his own salon there
A friend of mine could sort out his financial mess with a bank and finally get married
The list could go on but what needs to be highlighted is the impact this has down the line. The security guard's son would finish his studies and get respectable employment is a far better outcome compared to his not being able to finish his studies and joining a rag-tag bunch of disgruntled youngsters or being employed in a low-income job. The friend who has a life partner and a kid now is great compared to him being caught in the financial mess and unable to marry.
It is empowering to think that money put to good use can alter the shape of reality and unfold a whole different future.
When seen in this context, money becomes a tool that can only magnify what intentions one has rooted deep within. For e.g. Mr. Beast wants to genuinely help out, and he does that by enriching others in the most entertaining way, which generates more money for him, leading him to help more. This whole loop could go on forever making Mr. Beast the richest solopreneur ever, and I would bet it all on this happening soon.
Watch out for the news announcing his hitting his first billion USD via Youtube alone. Even better, watch his latest video here where he helps out thousands of people to get their eyesight back.
But you don't need billions of dollars to do good in society, you could do it with USD 10 or even USD 1. What’s important is to realize the good that can be done when you have money at your disposal. And the beauty of individuals having money at large is that they may not get constrained via bureaucratic decision-making such as in corporations. Individuals could look at causes that they want to support and go all in to make a lasting change that could impact lives forever.
I have the privilege to save 10% of all my income and spend it on causes that I believe could make a change, could give someone a fighting chance, or help someone to survive for just another day. And the more I succeed, the more I earn, the more impact I could have on people around me, which could lead to them living better lives, and someday impact many more around them.
This thought process and my experiences have led me to believe that ‘Money is a beautiful tool’ - it helps, it empowers, it facilitates, it influences, it shapes, it encourages - it’s a shapeshifter, and the best part is that you and I get to decide how to use it, how to leverage it, and how to impact lives.
I feel moronic to have harbored stupid thoughts around money for a long time. I am glad that my orientation towards money has gone through a sea change over many years.
Mr. Beast’s video about curing 1000 people of blindness just triggered an emotion in me and I wanted to do the same to you via this writeup.
I am doubling down on my efforts to become a successful professional by learning to be more productive, more knowledgeable, and a better person. It all leads to, hopefully, a better outcome in financial terms. I encourage you too, to strive for all the success possible in your industry, which would enable you to impact thousands of lives around you. You won’t get a medal of honor for that, but it would make you feel good about shaping many lives for the better.
And yes, it makes the world a better place to live in for many, just because you made it so, in your own special way.
And if this thought resonates with you, then I urge you too to look at your goals and ask yourself a few or all of the questions below -
What would make me succeed? Am I doing it?
What would make me a better investor? Am I doing it?
What would make me a healthier person? Am I doing it?
What would make me better at building relationships? Am I doing it?
Your impact on society comes down to your ability and willingness to execute your plans for your own good first. Everything else comes later. Too many people have harbored grandiose dreams, with no focus on their own execution of their plans today. You don’t have to add a number to this statistic.
Stand out and make a difference. Someone might just be hoping to get a fighting chance from someone like you.
Rise Up. Show Up. Day after day. It’s worth all the pain and discomfort.
Thank You, Mr. Beast, and millions of others who make a difference in their own unique ways to make lives better !!! You inspire me to do more and be more.
And I know for certain, that’s where it all begins🤝