#rich #smart #wealthy #SmartPeople #RichPeople #DoGood #BeAGoodPerson
If you are so smart, why aren’t you rich?
Those who would wage war on smart people would ask this question.
Obviously, there is more to intelligence than the ability to make money. In fact, some not-so-smart people have made a lot of money.
But, those who are smart often want to use their intelligence not to enrich themselves, but to help others. Some would even use their own intelligence to help others get rich.
People who are just plain rich tend to be self-centered. If there is nothing in it for me, the attitude goes, there is no point in doing it.
But, truly smart people see a need – perhaps an obligation – to use their brain power to change the world to help others succeed.
Certainly, if they get wealthy in the process, they won’t complain. They may even donate a portion of their wealth to help those much less fortunate.
To put it succinctly, they give and they get. They don’t take.
People who are just plain rich have no problem taking. In fact, many will take things they are not entitled to take. They will use their wealth and power to dominate those who are less powerful.
Smart people who use their intelligence to help others ignite jealousy among the not-so-smart rich.
Smart, noble people tend to be popular. Those who are just rich tend to be not so popular.
The unpopular rich want to own the popular smart. Unfortunately, history has countless, horrible examples of human beings owning other human beings.
Wealth and power in the wrong hands can be devastating to many, if not all, of us.
Some of them will literally take from the meager incomes of the many simply to line their own pockets and satisfy their greed.
Why? Because they can. If we have the power to do so, we shouldn’t let them.
The suffering of the many can actually amuse those in power.
What type of human being can get a thrill from the suffering of others? It’s hard to determine where their humanity is. But, chances are, their wealth and power did not cause their inhumanity. Likely, they’ve always had it.
They will try to say that empathy is a weakness. Alas, it is a virtue.
So, let’s all try to be as successful as possible by helping, or at least not hurting, others.
Strive to be someone children can, and should, look up to. Children, in fact, do not learn nearly as much from our words as from our actions.
If you are fortunate enough to attain great wealth through noble pursuits, share that wealth generously, and effectively, with the most needy.
Attaining great wealth should not be a goal to reach at all costs. It should the a bonus for doing good, and being a good person.
When we all strive to do good, and be good people, everyone benefits.
Peter
Tag Archives: be a good person
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AMERICA
“The good old days weren’t always good. Tomorrow ain’t as bad as it seems.” Billy Joel, from “Keepping the Faith.”
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We just celebrated July 4 and America, though not yet perfect, is better off than it was decades ago.
How do we know? The numbers bear it out.
In his July 3, 2013, column, Jay Bookman of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution quotes these figures: the U.S. murder rate has fallen by more than half in the last two decades, from 9.8 murders per 100,000 residents in 1991 to 4.8 per 100,000 in 2010, according to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Report. The Georgia murder rate is down from 9.5 per 100,000 in 1996 to 5.6 in 2011.
The national high school graduation rate is almost 75 percent, according to Education Week. That’s the highest rate in 40 years and up eight percentage points just in the last decade. Latino graduation rates are up 16 points in that time frame; black graduation rates are up 13 points.
Who wouldn’t want a less violent, better educated society? As Bookman says, there’s a whole education industry whose profits depend on “failing” public schools. Though our schools may not be where we’d like, they appear to be getting better.
Though people have very different viewpoints, even the most criticized institutions appear to be accomplishing something. There is reason for everyone, no matter your point of view, to be optimistic.
Bookman says the “America’s Going to Hell” crowd will find fault with these numbers, but the rational among us will pay them no mind. America is looking pretty good for 237 years old.
What will it look like in 10 years? Or 20 years? We know that things are changing more rapidly than they ever have. We know that some jobs of decades past are gone forever. We know that technological advances are making things obsolete the minute after we buy them.
How do we navigate this new world? We become good people. How do we do that? By helping others and thinking of others first and self second. We do it by being friendly, upbeat and optimistic. Before you say, “woe is me,” say, whoa! Then say, all in all, I have it darned good.
Next to Bookman’s column was one by Mona Charen , who is glad she lives in America instead of living in the many places in which people are taking to the streets to protest their standard of living. Egypt, Brazil and Turkey come to her mind.
Yes, there was much to celebrate this July 4. But, there is more to go.
If you are at a crossroads in your life – not yet sure what the future will bring, or what you can do about it, visit www.bign.com/pbilodeau. You might have to think differently from what you are used to thinking, but it could be just the thing to set you on a path to wealth, personal growth and, yes, fun!
As things change, we often need to change as people. By all accounts, employers are looking for good people despite the high unemployment rate. Companies hire and lay off at the same time. They are not necessarily cutting for the sake of cuts, they may be transforming their culture. If you are interviewing for jobs, be yourself, but be upbeat about yourself and the situation you are looking at. Show your prospective employer that you can be innovative within his system. Show him not only that you are right for the job, you are right for the culture.
Employers want to know what you want to do, not just what you’ve done. Be creative. Show the employer you can be transformative. It may take practice for some to be themselves AND optimistic. If you have trouble being optimistic, remember Billy Joel’s lyric above. If tomorrow seems bad to you, look at figures Bookman quoted, and the goings-on in other countries that Charen cites.
Give natural optimism a go. You could be going places you never thought you’d see.
Peter