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| Nigeria’s Minister of Works, Housing & Power, Barrister Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) with wife, Dame Emmanuella Abimbola Fashola |
Intro
Once you’ve
worked hard to earn it, it does seem a bit unfair to share it. But if you don’t
you run the risk of your hardworking outstretched hand turning into an
arthritic grasping claw. Money can be earned, grown, guarded, fought over, used
well, used badly, won, lost, buried, invested, given away, bought back,
exchanged and divided up. But the nicest thing to do with it is surely to share
it.
worked hard to earn it, it does seem a bit unfair to share it. But if you don’t
you run the risk of your hardworking outstretched hand turning into an
arthritic grasping claw. Money can be earned, grown, guarded, fought over, used
well, used badly, won, lost, buried, invested, given away, bought back,
exchanged and divided up. But the nicest thing to do with it is surely to share
it.
I’m not talking
do-gooding here. I’m talking sharing because sharing is a kind thing to do. It
won’t buy you a ticket into heaven but it will help others. I know you’ve
worked hard, grafted, and burnt the midnight oil to get to where you are today
and why should you give it away to those who are lazy or less focused or
indulgent or plain liberty-takers? Yep, good point.
do-gooding here. I’m talking sharing because sharing is a kind thing to do. It
won’t buy you a ticket into heaven but it will help others. I know you’ve
worked hard, grafted, and burnt the midnight oil to get to where you are today
and why should you give it away to those who are lazy or less focused or
indulgent or plain liberty-takers? Yep, good point.
But I’m talking
here about the less well off, the unfortunate, the weak, the needy and the
deserving.
here about the less well off, the unfortunate, the weak, the needy and the
deserving.
Wealth is a bit
like a beautiful painting. Sure you can hang it in your study and only you get
to look at it. But you can also share it and let others look as well. Ah, but
you’ll say wealth decreases if we share it. Does it? Does it really? I doubt it
somehow. I think for every penny you give away – or share with someone less
able to gain prosperity – you double its value; maybe not in hard cash but in
other ways.
like a beautiful painting. Sure you can hang it in your study and only you get
to look at it. But you can also share it and let others look as well. Ah, but
you’ll say wealth decreases if we share it. Does it? Does it really? I doubt it
somehow. I think for every penny you give away – or share with someone less
able to gain prosperity – you double its value; maybe not in hard cash but in
other ways.
“I’m not a party pooper but I have noticed that
those who handle their wealth sensibly and share it and are generous with their
time and money get back a whole lot more than those who squander, misuse,
indulge and generally behave as if their wealth gives them a license to show
off”
As I say, I
don’t want to browbeat you. It’s just I’ve noticed that the really successful,
happy rich people do feel at ease sharing their wealth and that is a lesson for
all of us.
don’t want to browbeat you. It’s just I’ve noticed that the really successful,
happy rich people do feel at ease sharing their wealth and that is a lesson for
all of us.
I read of a nice
couple the other day – both rock musicians – who had bought a big house in the
countryside in Oxfordshire (or some
other Home County) with nine acres and were settling down to raise kids and I
thought what a good investment as it provides:
couple the other day – both rock musicians – who had bought a big house in the
countryside in Oxfordshire (or some
other Home County) with nine acres and were settling down to raise kids and I
thought what a good investment as it provides:
• A stable place
to bring up kids
to bring up kids
• A sound
investment as long as the current boom in house prices continues
investment as long as the current boom in house prices continues
• A nice place
to live in the sense of peace and quiet with no city pollution
to live in the sense of peace and quiet with no city pollution
• A friendly
place for the children to grow up with neighbors looking out for them
place for the children to grow up with neighbors looking out for them
• A sound
investment in history and heritage.
investment in history and heritage.
On the other
hand, I read in the same paper of a fashion model who was in the news a lot
because of her drug habit. An expensive habit I have no doubt. I guess you can
see where my interests lie from these two snippets gleamed from the newspapers.
One is a sound and wise investment and the other is just self-indulgent trouble
that lends nothing to the wisdom of wealth.
hand, I read in the same paper of a fashion model who was in the news a lot
because of her drug habit. An expensive habit I have no doubt. I guess you can
see where my interests lie from these two snippets gleamed from the newspapers.
One is a sound and wise investment and the other is just self-indulgent trouble
that lends nothing to the wisdom of wealth.
I’m not a party
pooper but I have noticed that those who handle their wealth sensibly and share
it and are generous with their time and money get back a whole lot more than
those who squander, misuse, indulge and generally behave as if their wealth
gives them a license to show off; enough moralizing and preaching. I did
promise not to. But these are genuine observations and I’m sure you’ve made
similar observations yourself. Those who abuse their wealth don’t tend to stay
wealthy for long. Here are a few questions regarding our wealth and how wisely
we might handle it:
pooper but I have noticed that those who handle their wealth sensibly and share
it and are generous with their time and money get back a whole lot more than
those who squander, misuse, indulge and generally behave as if their wealth
gives them a license to show off; enough moralizing and preaching. I did
promise not to. But these are genuine observations and I’m sure you’ve made
similar observations yourself. Those who abuse their wealth don’t tend to stay
wealthy for long. Here are a few questions regarding our wealth and how wisely
we might handle it:
• Why did we get
wealthy in the first place?
wealthy in the first place?
• What is the
best use of wealth?
best use of wealth?
• What are our
long-term goals and expectations for our wealth?
long-term goals and expectations for our wealth?
• What do we
think our wealth will bring us?
think our wealth will bring us?
• What could we
do with our wealth that would be beneficial to others?
do with our wealth that would be beneficial to others?
• What sort of
world do we want?
world do we want?
• How do we and
our wealth wish to be seen?
our wealth wish to be seen?
• What will they
say about us after we’ve gone?
say about us after we’ve gone?
• What legacy
will we leave behind?
will we leave behind?
I personally think the best use of wealth is to
teach children how to earn it, invest it, save it and spend it wisely. As we
all get more and more affluent, there is a real need to introduce some element
of monetary discussion into the curriculum. Children need to learn about tax,
insurance and spending and all the stuff we never got taught and have had to
learn the hard way as we went along. Mind you, I would also make sure every
child could read and write before they left school and could drive a car.
teach children how to earn it, invest it, save it and spend it wisely. As we
all get more and more affluent, there is a real need to introduce some element
of monetary discussion into the curriculum. Children need to learn about tax,
insurance and spending and all the stuff we never got taught and have had to
learn the hard way as we went along. Mind you, I would also make sure every
child could read and write before they left school and could drive a car.
From The Book; The Rules of Wealth by
Richard Templar
Richard Templar
(Read Rule
90 of Rule of Wealth tomorrow on Asabeafrika)
90 of Rule of Wealth tomorrow on Asabeafrika)
Read-to-Wealth Series
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