What If Money Were No Object?
The following video is going viral at the moment and, while I don't usually respond to most New-Agey type philosophies, I have to admit that this one made me stop and think. I've spent the bulk of my life (from about age 10) in a relentless quest for money. I spent a few of the intervening years desperately poor, and the insecurity born from that time has driven me to consider nearly everything (and everyone) else in life secondary to money. It occurs to me now that perhaps this isn't the healthiest world view. I'd like you to watch the video and then tell me what you think.
I've done very well in my life and I would never try to convince you otherwise, but my success (such as it is) came at a pretty heavy price: multiple failed marriages, intermittent addiction issues, a general distaste for those people I considered my inferiors (most of the human race, as long as I'm being honest).
I wonder how my life would be different if I just did what I wanted to from the beginning and didn't worry about the money. I was so afraid of being poor again that I was willing to do anything to avoid it, and that almost pathological drive did a lot of damage to those around me.
Thankfully, I'm doing what I've always wanted to do now (for the most part). But there was a time in my life when my greatest concern was whether the surf was breaking right or left. I wonder where I'd be if I hadn't changed.






Comments
As the saying goes, money is
As the saying goes, money is not the root of all that is bad. Individual people are responsible for the choices made in life and the consequences thereof. Money is a necessity and without it nothing can function. Think about it. Anyone can do what they want to. But how will you eat during the process? Will you grow your own food? How will you travel? Will you walk thousands of miles to get to a destination? Who will build the car you travel in? What if they wanted you to pay them in a specific commodity that you cannot obtain? Money is that common medium of exchange and without it nothing in this world can function efficiently.
'Its stupid to spend your
'Its stupid to spend your life doing things you don't like so you can keep living your life doing things you don't like'
This is very true, but for most the idea behind working is to do something (even if you'd rather be roaming around outside) you are interested in for a period of time so later in your life you can actually do things you truly enjoy and would do if money were not an object.
It might be nice to drop everything and live the 'simple life' and there is nothing necessarily wrong with this if you are a single man and never plan on having a family.
You are able to blog / write about finance, etc. because you worked hard for so long and were successful at it, no? I think you'd have a lot harder time doing what you are currently doing & keeping a solid following if you spent your last 20 years doing something leisurely like traveling (which would have left you with no finance knowledge) or teaching finance (which would leave you with little credibility).
I can't even remember what it
I can't even remember what it is I like...
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love the sponsorship by Jos A
love the sponsorship by Jos A bank but to be honest I have tried my best to get away from money and do something I love (education and non-profit work) and have tried to always do that at least once a week. It keeps me sane and driven to make enough money where I can donate all my time to that cause.
My philosophy is simple (stolen from Bryan Dyson)
Imagine life as a game in which you are juggling some five balls in the air. You name them – Work, Family, Health, Friends and Spirit and you’re keeping all of these in the air.
You will soon understand that work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back. But the other four balls – Family, Health, Friends and Spirit – are made of glass. If you drop one of these; they will be irrevocably scuffed, marked, nicked, damaged or even shattered. They will never be the same. You must understand that and strive for it.
I've never understood how
I've never understood how people can work so hard at something they don't enjoy. There are lots of ways to make money besides an 8-5 desk job.
All I care about in life is accumulating bananas
Edmundo Braverman: I've spent
I've spent the bulk of my life (from about age 10) in a relentless quest for money.
Just curious, what happened at that time?
YOU JUST GOT TROLLED
http://www.troll.me/images/red-foreman322/dont-you...
UFOinsider: Edmundo
I've spent the bulk of my life (from about age 10) in a relentless quest for money.
Just curious, what happened at that time?
Nothing monumental, that's just about the age that I became aware that everything you want in life is currently owned or controlled by someone else, and it takes money to acquire it.
Edmundo
I've spent the bulk of my life (from about age 10) in a relentless quest for money.
Just curious, what happened at that time?
Nothing monumental, that's just about the age that I became aware that everything you want in life is currently owned or controlled by someone else, and it takes money to acquire it.
Imagine how vastly different your life would have been if you instead concluded that while everything you want in life is currently owned or controlled by someone else, and it only takes a skillful con-artist or thief to acquire it.
hockey1316: Edmundo
I've spent the bulk of my life (from about age 10) in a relentless quest for money.
Just curious, what happened at that time?
Nothing monumental, that's just about the age that I became aware that everything you want in life is currently owned or controlled by someone else, and it takes money to acquire it.
Imagine how vastly different your life would have been if you instead concluded that while everything you want in life is currently owned or controlled by someone else, and it only takes a skillful con-artist or thief to acquire it.
Unfortunately, that was the calculus early on. To this day I battle the grifter within me.
FYI, in case anyone likes the
FYI, in case anyone likes the soundtrack, its by Ludovico Einaudi, in my opinion the best modern composer.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qvglWAHDak&feature...
Great, great post... thank
Great, great post... thank you for this. Unfortunately what I want to do takes money to start so I guess I will keep working for a little while longer. But it is an eye opener...
hockey1316: love the
love the sponsorship by Jos A bank but to be honest I have tried my best to get away from money and do something I love (education and non-profit work) and have tried to always do that at least once a week. It keeps me sane and driven to make enough money where I can donate all my time to that cause.
My philosophy is simple (stolen from Bryan Dyson)
Imagine life as a game in which you are juggling some five balls in the air. You name them – Work, Family, Health, Friends and Spirit and you’re keeping all of these in the air.
You will soon understand that work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back. But the other four balls – Family, Health, Friends and Spirit – are made of glass. If you drop one of these; they will be irrevocably scuffed, marked, nicked, damaged or even shattered. They will never be the same. You must understand that and strive for it.
What a nice way of looking at things.
If only I had not such a hatred for reading, I would discover so much interesting things like this.
My favorite thing about these
My favorite thing about these videos is the music, one of these days, preferably a rainy one, I'm just going to gather the background music for all of them and sit out on my balcony with some beers, a pen, and paper.
I'd like to travel the world
I'd like to travel the world and visit every country and learn every language...
What's that? I need money to do that?
"A man generally has two reasons for doing anything. One that sounds good, and the real one." - J.P. Morgan
Paging Stephen Ridley? Look,
Paging Stephen Ridley?
Look, I'll be first to admit that doing something you hate isn't worthwhile, but the fact is that life is kind of a pain in the ass without money. Money buys options and opportunities, and it can be used for good. Is money itself bad, or are the people who worship it bad?
Oh wait, that's too long/too much effort for a 3 minute Youtube video.
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Why the "what if"? Money is
relinquis... Killing the GMAT this December; Over/Under set at: 725 GMATs.
BTbanker: I'd like to travel
relinquis... Killing the GMAT this December; Over/Under set at: 725 GMATs.
This guy acts like money and
"A man generally has two reasons for doing anything. One that sounds good, and the real one." - J.P. Morgan
Relinquis: Why the "what if"?
Head of Metal Website: www.headofmetal.com
https://twitter.com/headofmetal2012
Relinquis: BTbanker: I'd
Edmundo Braverman: a general
Edmundo
relinquis... Killing the GMAT this December; Over/Under set at: 725 GMATs.
Yes money doesn't buy
Banker88: Yes money doesn't
Head of Metal Website: www.headofmetal.com
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hhhmmm, what do I want to do
Happiness is a state of mind.
That's great. Wonder how true
Relinquis: I only wish I had
Eddie, great video. I've been
Check out my WSO Blog
"Money can't buy happiness" I
whitemamba1309: "Money can't
All I care about in life is accumulating bananas
Edmundo Braverman: Funny you
notamonkey: whitemamba1309:
Great video. The audio
And I think it's gonna be a long, long, time
Money is necessary but not
If money were no object, I
Check out my Blog
For those of you who aren't
relinquis... Killing the GMAT this December; Over/Under set at: 725 GMATs.
Is that George Soros' voice
"The future isn't what it used to be "-Yogi Berra
"Perhaps you've failed to take into account my hidden assets"-007
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My BLOG
Corrolary to Relinquis' post,
YOU JUST GOT TROLLED
http://www.troll.me/images/red-foreman322/dont-you...
Dude's speaking at my school
^^ UVA or
I tell you, we are here on Earth to fart around, and don't let anybody tell you different.
Kurt Vonnegut
I don't want money to get
And I think it's gonna be a long, long, time
Very well put.... I've also