Success vs. Wealth

There are some truly rich rewards that come from having gone through an illness like cancer, and I’m certain that they won’t be surprising to anyone reading this blog. Why? Because within our core, we all know what the truly valuable things in life aren’t things – they are the people, the memories, the magnificence of the present moment, and our ability to share and connect in love and friendship.

So often, however, we literally spend a lifetime focused on reaching our career and financial goals – or “providing” for those we love (often at the expense of our relationships themselves). Sometimes even reaching the goals we think we desire leaves us with huge voids in our lives, because at some point we awaken to the fact that money can never fulfill our purpose for being, our Raison D’être. This is one of the great enigmas of life – success and wealth do not define us, no matter what our limited perceptions may be. Success and wealth must, in fact, be personally defined in order to have any value. And in order to define those two ideas (yes, they are ideas), we must first define what is most important.

So if you are in an introspective mood, here’s today’s million-dollar question: Can we postpone our happiness for a future date? Can we sacrifice ourselves simply to accumulate the money we require? What do we have to lose?

When did we decide that money was so much more important than happiness or that a big house somehow replaced our core need for love, friendship, and companionship?

We can alter our concept of what is required for happiness and fulfillment, or we can alter our beliefs about the reception of wealth – either way our financial reality will change. Seeking money for money’s sake alone leaves us empty, lonely, and weak. An endless amount of money exists as it is freely reproducible. As an intermediary, money has the potential to provide access to “things” and “activities” that can assist us along our life-path. However, an abundance of money does not translate into an abundance of happiness or fulfillment; they are polar opposites with no direct correlation on the other. (Manual For Living: REALITY – A User’s Guide to the Meaning of Life – Page 133)

Keeping the above passage in mind, if we were to take the bold idea that our happiness and success are somehow separate from our financial position, how are we to experience the things and activities we truly desire? We have to put the tenets of happiness, love, inspiration and even FUN at the top of our list. Remember, its not the expense of our adventure but the quality of our connection and love that makes all the difference.

I’m not saying to disregard all financial goals here, or to relinquish the dream of sipping cappuccinos in a corner café of San Gimignano, Italy (been there, done that, trust me – ITS WORTH IT!). What I AM saying is that we must get our priorities in order, and if we are going to sacrifice time with those we love, it has to be for a worthy ideal, far more than the hoarding money for a future expenditure. We can be happy, we can be inspired, we can be of service, and we can be handsomely rewarded in the process. NEVER sacrifice your happiness or well-being.

And so, I share with you one of my favorite stories…

A boat docked in a tiny Greek coastal village. An American tourist complimented the Greek fisherman on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took him to catch them. “Not very long,” answered the fisherman. “But then, why didn’t you stay out longer and catch more?” asked the American.

The fisherman explained that his small catch was sufficient to meet his needs and those of his family. The American asked, “But what do you do with the rest of your time?”
“I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, and take a nap with my wife. In the evenings, I go into the village to see my friends, have a few glasses of ouzo, sing a few songs and dance all night…I have a full life.”

The American interrupted, “I have an MBA from Harvard and I can help you! You should start by fishing longer every day. You can then sell the extra fish you catch. With the extra revenue, you can buy a bigger boat. With the extra money the larger boat will bring, you can buy a second one and a third one and so on until you have an entire fleet of trawlers. Instead of selling your fish to a middleman, you can negotiate directly with the processing plants and maybe even open your own plant. You can then leave this little village and move to Athens, London, or even New York City! From there you can direct your huge enterprise.”

“How long would that take?” asked the fisherman. “Twenty, perhaps twenty-five years,” replied the American. “And after that?”

“Afterwards? That’s when it gets really interesting,” answered the American, laughing. “When your business gets really big, you can start selling stocks and make millions!”

“Millions? Really? And after that?”

“After that you’ll be able to retire, live in a tiny village near the coast, sleep late, spend time with your kids, play with your grandchildren, catch a few fish, take an afternoon nap, and spend your evenings drinking, dancing and enjoying your friends!”
Many blessings,

Seth David Chernoff