I want to be Rich. This is the most common goal that is set by my generation.By my generation, I mean the twenty & thirty somethings. I am sure that this goal is now being set by even younger people.
But then our generation also realizes that just setting a goal of being R.I.C.H is not enough. We have been taught that our goals should be SMART goals, Specific, Measurable,Attainable,Relevant & Time Bound. So then the R.I.C.H goal is made SMART by saying " I will be a millionaire by the age of forty, by saving 15,000 dollars a year for the next ten years and investing wisely." Wow so now that we know what exactly needs to be done,we go about working longer hours,showing our bosses we deserve to get that bonus, we deserve to be promoted and voila at the end of the ten years we are forty and we are millionaires. Goal attained, mission accomplished!
So now that we are R.I.C.H ,we have arrived. But, guess what No! we realize that the millionaire at forty is not so rich after all. And I am not just talking of inflation and real value of money. What I am saying is that there is more to be earned and millionaire tag is just not the same as the billionaire tag. After all the Forbes list of the richest does not feature millionaires any longer. Phew, lets get back to the goal setting and surely in the next ten years we would be R.I.C.H.
Well, this maybe too much of a generalization. But, surely at the heart of the matter is in today's world being R.I.C.H means being in a "Race for Increasing Consumption for Happiness". If you have a car and a house of your own, it is not enough. The house has to be in the most premium locality,the car has to be an Audi or a BMW. Oh well, you have all this but then do you have a vacation home, a separate car for your wife, kids, nanny? Oh, but maybe we do not need one as we did not have the time for relationships, so no wife nor kids. After all,we were too busy getting R.I.C.H.
Well, a change needs to come about. The definition of R.I.C.H needs to change it should no longer be a race but a "Reaching out for Increased Contentment & Happiness". Material achievements should not define our richness. We need to identify what and how many material possessions are enough for our comfortable living. And when we do this we should not allow the neighbour,the friend or the media to set the standard.Sure, there is no harm in striving to do better. But, then in today's world of innovation there is always something better out there. So true richness will be when we can make up our minds as to how much is enough for us today. Of course we need our creature comforts. But, then trying to attain something for the sake of attaining or because someone else has it, without analyzing whether we really need it is surely not sustainable living? After all, how much difference is there between a 42" LCD TV and a 50" LCD TV? Oh, but then there is always the LED.... :)
But then our generation also realizes that just setting a goal of being R.I.C.H is not enough. We have been taught that our goals should be SMART goals, Specific, Measurable,Attainable,Relevant & Time Bound. So then the R.I.C.H goal is made SMART by saying " I will be a millionaire by the age of forty, by saving 15,000 dollars a year for the next ten years and investing wisely." Wow so now that we know what exactly needs to be done,we go about working longer hours,showing our bosses we deserve to get that bonus, we deserve to be promoted and voila at the end of the ten years we are forty and we are millionaires. Goal attained, mission accomplished!
So now that we are R.I.C.H ,we have arrived. But, guess what No! we realize that the millionaire at forty is not so rich after all. And I am not just talking of inflation and real value of money. What I am saying is that there is more to be earned and millionaire tag is just not the same as the billionaire tag. After all the Forbes list of the richest does not feature millionaires any longer. Phew, lets get back to the goal setting and surely in the next ten years we would be R.I.C.H.
Well, this maybe too much of a generalization. But, surely at the heart of the matter is in today's world being R.I.C.H means being in a "Race for Increasing Consumption for Happiness". If you have a car and a house of your own, it is not enough. The house has to be in the most premium locality,the car has to be an Audi or a BMW. Oh well, you have all this but then do you have a vacation home, a separate car for your wife, kids, nanny? Oh, but maybe we do not need one as we did not have the time for relationships, so no wife nor kids. After all,we were too busy getting R.I.C.H.
Well, a change needs to come about. The definition of R.I.C.H needs to change it should no longer be a race but a "Reaching out for Increased Contentment & Happiness". Material achievements should not define our richness. We need to identify what and how many material possessions are enough for our comfortable living. And when we do this we should not allow the neighbour,the friend or the media to set the standard.Sure, there is no harm in striving to do better. But, then in today's world of innovation there is always something better out there. So true richness will be when we can make up our minds as to how much is enough for us today. Of course we need our creature comforts. But, then trying to attain something for the sake of attaining or because someone else has it, without analyzing whether we really need it is surely not sustainable living? After all, how much difference is there between a 42" LCD TV and a 50" LCD TV? Oh, but then there is always the LED.... :)
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