Success is Greed?
We left Europe or other places to have independence, to have the ability to stand up for freedom to have the ability to work hard and stretch for success always with the risk of failure. But that is what made us different. We did not want to be owned or given. We wanted to be free and to be dreamers.
My life as a person, a father and now as a financial planner has been to do the best I could. In a conversation with an acquaintance the other day they told me I should not be a coach or an advocate and that it wasn’t important to win. They really did not need more money. They were okay, financially. They really had done well without me. Yes, if everything goes right they have enough for themselves.
All reasons to minimize my potential as a coach or advocate. How do people come to the conclusion that it is good enough? What is good enough? Do we ever have enough?
I always taught my kids to do the best they could with 100% effort, then be happy with who they were.
Do your best, be happy with yourself!
If we are measuring success by what we need… then of course someday we will have enough. But what about what others need. I believe if I could increase the efficiency of every American by 10%. Maybe you don’t need more, maybe you are successful enough. What is successful enough? If we are more successful then we can give some away. If we have more wealth can’t we give to those that don’t? If we create more success, doesn’t that allow us to give some of our success to those that never had a chance?
Is financial success greed, or the opportunity to share?
I believe we are born in the greatest country in the world. Here we can be anything we want and achieve things that most people cannot. Yes that may mean financial success, yes that may mean greed or other moral dilemmas enter our life. But the benefit of this country and the success it allows us to reach is that we can enjoy that freedom and even more importantly we can enjoy giving excess wealth away to those that don’t have it.
So I don’t understand someone telling me they don’t want to do better. I don’t understand someone telling me that being a coach or an advocate for financial success is unworthy or worse yet, unethical! Our success is a gift from God. Our success is a gift from above that allows us to give to those in need. And there is no better success or feeling than giving to those that are in need.
Financial success is rewarding, uplifting, hopeful, heartwarming, compassionate, and an opportunity to share!
I found that giving to a church that needs help is rewarding. Giving to a person that can’t afford the basics that I have is uplifting. Giving scholarships to students that will be the future of my country gives me hope. Giving to the family that has had a personal tragedy, which for many is impossible to fathom, gives me warmth. Helping build a school for people, who 50 years ago were cannibals and have little of the luxury or hope I have in this country, gives me compassion. Tithing to my local church gives me the ability to share.
Is success evil?
Success is only as evil as a beholder of the success. But financial success has such potential to do good, to be good and to create good!
So the next time someone tells you that you do not need to plan or that you are too successful. Ask them if giving more away is evil? As we receive we should give!!
Sincerely,
Wayne von Borstel, CLU, ChFC, CFP®, MSFS
Personal Financial Advocate
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