Money will buy me a house but not a home, a bed but not a good night’s sleep..- Zig Ziglar
Is money everything? This was the title of my speech at a seminar in central London organized by Find Your Voice. Many professional speakers from all walks of life attended and delivered messages that motivated and empowered people to take control of their lives. I was one of four speakers and the theme was: “Money makes the world go round.” I would like to share with you the views I expressed at the seminar.
One of the problems with the literature on success is that most of the time the word “success” is often interpreted to mean material success or power. This generally includes the amount of money a person earns or has; the type of car they drive and the size and location of their home. However, we must remind ourselves that true success is not just the definition of Hollywood.
Success is a journey and not a destination. The mistake most people make is aligning money with success. Money is just a medium of exchange and can never be compared to success.
I believe that success can be divided into eight categories; these are: spiritual, health, family, career and business, finances, self-development/intellectual, personal needs, and community. Therefore, it is worth noting that true success is not only when you are financially rich, but when you are rich in all eight categories.
Money can buy you material possessions, but it cannot buy you happiness and peace of mind. Money is used in exchange for other things, but this paper money that we spend (eg pounds, naira, dollars, etc.) is not the only money we should have. There is ‘money’ hidden in all of us; the only problem is discovering that we have such ‘money’ within us.
Let’s consider this; if one is only financially rich and lacks the intellect to enrich others, or is unsuccessful in his family life and his own health, then the person is as good as he is poor. Let’s not get too carried away by this mother of change medium -money- and let’s stop considering other aspects of life.
I once knew a rich man who, despite his wealth, is poor in health. He died despite the great financial wealth that he had accumulated. Would you say that such a man was rich? Not because? Since he was only monetarily rich, this seemed to be at the expense of his health.
I was at the mansion of one of my mentors, Richie Dayo Johnson, in Netherne-On-the-Hill, Surrey, and as we sat in his studio that Sunday night, I asked him, “DJ (as I basically call him) tell me what money can and cannot buy. He replied, “Dayo, money can buy you a house, but it can’t buy you a house. Money can buy you insurance, but it can’t buy you security. Money can buy you entertainment, but it can’t buy you happiness. Money can buy you medicine, but it cannot buy you good health. Money can buy you a bed, but it can’t buy you sleep. Money can buy you company, but it can’t buy you friendship. Money can buy sex, but it can’t buy love. Money is called currency because it is designed to flow through you. Money doesn’t change you; it just reveals who you really are.”
I totally agree with Richie Dayo Johnson. In addition to this, I believe that money can buy you many women but it cannot buy you a good wife. It can buy you a good book, but it cannot buy you wisdom and knowledge. He can patronize you through the school, but he can’t buy your intellect. However, the things that money can buy are temporary, but the things that money cannot buy are, most of the time, eternal.
Who are you when you have money and who are you when you don’t? The bottom line is that money doesn’t change you; it just discovers you. Why don’t you take some time to reflect on those things that money can’t buy; Are you surprised to find that money really isn’t everything?
Is your spiritual life in order? Are you in good health? Do you have control of your finances? Are you developing intellectually? Are you giving back to society? If you answer YES to all of these questions, then you can confidently say that you are thriving and therefore successful.
Now tell me, IS MONEY EVERYTHING? I stay with my case.