| Many of us would wish for money, lots of it! Don't | | | | worth. |
| we all want to be rich? It is everybody's dream. | | | | True wealth lies in understanding the nature of |
| For some people, getting rich is one of life's | | | | money. Money is not the end itself, but the |
| ultimate goals. Many make the mistake of using | | | | means to a greater end. Money can be used to |
| money to define them as a person. | | | | add dimension to wealth - what matters most is |
| Make no mistake about it. Money is just a tool | | | | how we legally and ethically make it and share it. |
| that can be used for defining who and what we | | | | It is often said, "Along with great riches comes |
| are. It is still our attitude and way of thinking that | | | | stewardship and responsibility to use wealth for |
| defines us. | | | | noble purposes." |
| Money is only a medium of exchange. By itself, it | | | | The number one secret of flourishing businesses |
| is neither good nor bad. Money is neutral. Money is | | | | is the tunnel-like focus on their purpose and that |
| just a tool and just like any other tool or | | | | is, to be of service to customers. The true test |
| instrument, it can build or destroy. | | | | of a great business is the number of satisfied |
| Think of money as a hammer. It is a tool to build | | | | customers. Profit only comes second. |
| homes, assemble furniture, repair drawers, and | | | | Great businesses are not only known for their |
| reinforce structures. The same tool is used to | | | | exceptional products or services. What defines |
| demolish houses, disassemble furniture, destroy | | | | them is their business purpose. From this noble |
| drawers and wreck structures. | | | | purpose, everything else will follow: how the |
| For many of us, acquiring wealth is the end goal. | | | | business will be run, who its target customers are, |
| However, this seldom happens because once we | | | | production systems to be developed, and how its |
| arrive at our objective, we do not just settle | | | | products and services will be sold to the market. |
| down and spend money as if there will be no | | | | In essence, the purpose defines the success of |
| tomorrow. Human instinct drives us to aspire for | | | | the business. |
| more. We seek productive ways to use our | | | | True wealth is enhanced when shared with others. |
| wealth and become more successful. | | | | In the technical sense, the late Mother Teresa |
| True wealth lies not in our position and stature in | | | | may not have been personally wealthy, but the |
| the corporate world number of mansions we | | | | continuous flow of donations made her order one |
| own, bank accounts we have, blue-chip stocks in | | | | of the wealthiest ever. When wealth is used for a |
| our investment portfolio, businesses we operate, | | | | higher purpose and not for personal enjoyment |
| Ferraris and BMWs parked in our garage, credit | | | | alone, true wealth naturally increases. |
| cards we use, and exotic vacations we regularly | | | | In the end, we realize that money is truly a |
| take. | | | | blessing - as long as it leads us to aspire for true |
| True wealth lies in defining ourselves by who and | | | | wealth. True wealth does not come from what |
| what we are, not by what we do or do not have. | | | | we earn. It comes from what we do with what |
| We can never measure our self-worth by our net | | | | we have. |