Your Financial Path-Rich or Wealthy?
“Being rich is having money; being wealthy is having time”
Being rich versus being wealthy
The quote you see above is from Margaret Bonnano, a fiction writer most famous for authoring seven Star Trek novels. As you know by now, I enjoy learning from successful people who have come before me, and I love quotes from these people to help me make the points I’m trying to make. When it comes to Afterburner Success Partners and the associated course, I would have to say that no quote is more important than this one. Why is that? Because while I want to help you become wealthy, I most definitely do not want to help you become rich. “Well, wait a minute, Dave, aren’t they the same thing?” No, no, and no! Let me give you my take on the difference, or as I like to say, “the world according to Dave.” Consider these descriptions. Note I said descriptions, not definitions:
Rich is to have more money and stuff than the average person, typically much more. There are different levels of rich: little rich, somewhat rich, stinking rich. I associate rich people typically being only interested in themselves or their inner circles. While some rich people are kind and nice, I often associate rich people with thinking they are better than others or having an air of superiority. Often, the rich crave power. Rich people may or may not be happy. They may or may not be self-made. You see these people on TV, social media, and other media. You know them when you see them.
Wealthy-Having financial freedom. Prosperous enough to live the life of one’s choosing without having to struggle to meet not only basic needs but also enough to experience at least some of the finer things in life. Wealthy people do not compare themselves to others, as wealth is a relative term, just like success is. Wealth provides not only an opportunity but a desire, indeed an innate obligation, to help others by using the time, talents, and resources they have been blessed with for good or the betterment of society. Wealthy people are happy and content. Typically, they are self-made. They are secure, safe, and not anxious. They can achieve their dreams and live their best lives. Wealthy people may live next door to you. On the other hand, they may be prominent in the community. You may even confuse the wealthy with the average.
Ponder my descriptions of those terms for a few minutes and see if you agree. If you do not, modify them to suit your own descriptions.
When I moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 1988, I was amazed by the generosity and philanthropy of the people who grew up here and/or lived here before me. Signs of their positive influence are visible in the community. Some of them still live here, and some have passed, but as you visit the community, signs of their generosity are everywhere. When you live here, you are always hearing about how they help these folks or support that cause. They are wealthy.
Some of the names you will know, others you may not: Phillips, Kaiser, Zarrow, Schusterman, Mabee, Rainbolt, Pickens. There are many more. Click on the link in Note 1 to see more.
What’s really interesting to me is not where these people ended up but where they came from and their personal traits. Again, see the link in Note 1:
Many came from humble beginnings.
They worked hard and persevered through many hard times.
Tough losses were experienced throughout their lives and careers.
Their virtues and, oftentimes, faith carried them through life’s toughest times.
They recognized their generosity as a source of strength and success.
Study that list of virtues carefully. What stands out to you?
Others who helped shape the Tulsa community might surprise you. All of them are wealthy although at least one of them likely has, or has had, little financial wealth. Click on the link in Note 2 to see a few of these fine folks.
Now, I don’t know about you, but this is how I want to be remembered. These are wealthy folks. Not rich folks. This is my desire for you and why I established Afterburner Success Partners and developed the course for you.
If I were king
Have you ever said, “If I were king for a day, I would…?” I think we all have at some point in our lives, and what we mean when we say that is we would desire to make a large-scale change that would positively benefit our society. We typically want to help other people. That said, if I could, I would like to see the Afterburner Success Partners course offered at least twice as part of a young adult’s formal education. I would like it to be mandatory in high school, probably in the student’s junior year. Then, I would then like to see it offered in college. You see, financial literacy and setting a path for one’s life are not often taught. Yes, many children are taught these concepts at home, and they are the fortunate ones. Learning these concepts early in life will give one a head start. Some people never learn these concepts, and that is to their detriment.
I would also like to see and teach the course in the general community. Many churches offer noncredit courses to their congregation that are beneficial to them. While most are to improve an individual’s Biblical knowledge and draw them closer to the Lord, others are more general in nature. Diane and I are taking one of the former courses at our church as I author this post.
There are other opportunities to teach people how to improve their lot in life. Perhaps the course could be offered to individuals as part of aid programs. Folks receiving aid, whether from the government or private entities, are likely not achieving their dreams or living their best life. But, perhaps, with a bit of education, they could get on that path.
I would like to see the course offered in prisons. No one wants to return to prison, and the community wants those who are incarcerated to learn skills that will make them productive members of society.
All of this is why, at Afterburner Success Partners, we say, “We take you where you are.” Almost anyone can benefit from learning the concepts taught during this course. If I were king for a day, I’d get this course going to all the institutions I just mentioned.
Application time
So, as we begin to transition from learning about the process of setting and achieving goals to developing financial goals, we are beginning to learn how to apply what we have learned in our first goal category. That category is to determine and then set course to achieve our financial goals for our life to come. Why are we doing this? So we can achieve our dreams and live our best lives! But you already knew that didn’t you? That’s all for this week!
What’s in it for Me
Ultimately, we all work for money. Of course, it’s so we can pay the bills and make a life for ourselves and our families. But we want more from life, don’t we? We want financial freedom. We want to be wealthy. We want to be able to help others. And that’s what’s in it for you!
Call to Action
Sign up for the course today. Recommend the course to those leaders who may be able to offer it to others who would benefit from this type of knowledge. Perhaps this is your way to help those close to you. Diane has a saying, “Bloom where you’re planted.” That means to grow where you are. Is this your opportunity to use your influence for good?
Recommended Resources
Buy and read the book It’s Not About the Money by Bob Proctor (Note 3)
Up Next
What is lifetime financial freedom to you?
Notes
Please note that as an Amazon Affiliate, I may earn a small commission on the sale of any of these recommended resources.
Legacies of Giving: Famous Oklahoma Philanthropists: https://voicesofoklahoma.com/learning-center/legacies-of-giving-famous-oklahoma-philanthropists/
25 Tulsans who shaped our city, Tulsa People Magazine: https://www.tulsapeople.com/blogs/25-tulsans-who-shaped-our-city/article_2d5a4603-d7fa-50c5-a8e2-60d089f9a936.html
It’s Not About the Money by Bob Proctor: https://amzn.to/3A35ghu