Some parents did their best to provide for their kids, while others didn’t. When we look at people who are successful today, we often hear stories of rough childhoods or traumatic experiences they had to overcome. They learned early on that getting what you want—or making a change—takes action.
Some of the greatest minds came from nothing. They had little growing up and, most interestingly, only had themselves to rely on. Yet they found a way to survive—and even thrive—against all odds.
One study found that 79% of millionaires in the U.S. didn’t inherit their wealth, and many of them live modest lives. They don’t get carried away by money or glamour; instead, they use what they need and share their wealth. Look at how many wealthy people live today—the Mark Zuckerberg’s, Bill Gates’, Tony Robbin’s. How do they spend their money and live day to day? They aren’t consumed by entitlement; they understand that money is a tool to improve their lives and the lives of others. That doesn’t mean they don’t enjoy nice things—they do—but they don’t parade them around.
Money is powerful—and it can corrupt people if they’re not careful. It has a way of revealing someone’s true colours. It can also cause a kind of amnesia, making people forget who they were before wealth. Many believe money will solve all their problems, but as Jim Carrey once said, “I wish everyone could become rich to know that is not the answer.”
Money is not the answer. It never was, and it never will be. Nearly 2,000 years ago, Marcus Aurelius, emperor of Rome, wrote: “Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself, in your way of thinking.”
We must decide how we live—no one else can do that for us. We don’t need much to be happy; the simpler, the better. A simple life means fewer worries, fewer problems, and more time to focus on what truly matters.
Take care.