Money, while just a fabricated illusory thing (it’s literally just numbers on a computer screen these days), is an important part of our lives. It’s clear in this day and age that we think money makes us happy. We think we have to go out and make all this money, and once we do, we will be happy! Yay! And all our troubles will be over… You may think you want a million, or a billion dollars, but in reality, you are only trying to get that money because of what you believe it will give you. Some think money will give us power, freedom, happiness, etc. This isn’t true though. Sit down and really ask yourself… what does money mean to me? Do I want it to impress people, or do I want it because I believe it will make me happy?
Money is a vehicle that we believe will give us certain feelings. Example, “ If I have that money, then I can buy that nice new IPhone or TV or car, and that will make me happy! But, you can have these feelings of happiness and freedom and power now. We all know rich people that aren’t happy, so it’s clear that the source of happiness isn’t simply a financial one. With that said, the purpose of this article, is to discuss how we can make more money in a way that fulfills us. And it isn’t just about making money for ourselves. Our goal is to be able to make more so we can give more and contribute more to those around us.
Would you rather follow your passion and do that every day or would you rather try and accumulate money for the next 30-40 years doing something you don’t enjoy in order to have a bunch of money that you think will give you those feelings you crave? Surprisingly, most people choose the latter. They work their butt off for 40 years and then they realize what a huge mistake they have made. Sure, we all have obligations, but you can find a way to follow your passion and get out of a job you don’t like. If you’re doing something you don’t truly enjoy, and you’re just doing it for the money, then get out and find another way. Where there is a will, there is a way. Have faith in yourself and just go for it!
Okay, that’s my two cents, now let’s get into the book. Tony Robbins is famous for his over the top motivational works, and he is a lot of fun to listen to. This book is all about money, but ironically, it’s not all about the Benjamin’s baby!
Tony Robbins felt the need to tackle this enormous topic because the world of money is complex and we need help from the experts to navigate it successfully.
There’s a lot of social conditioning when it comes to money, so it can be a hard topic for some and even sometimes taboo, but understanding how it works is essential to setting yourself up for success. Money can bring up lots of emotions. How does money make you feel? How do you feel when you have no money? Money is not a reflection of self-worth, but when you have none of it, it can feel that way. I have been in that boat in the past and I understand the feeling of having no money and being in debt. It sucks and makes you feel like less. Now that I’m not in debt, I realize that this simply wasn’t true. I labeled myself that way because I owed money to a financial institution. Looking back on it, it’s comical that I let that affect me in the ways that it did. Money is just a tool, so become the master of money… do not let it master you!
People like to attach emotions to money. If you have negative connotations with money, make sure you analyze those. Explore why you feel this way and find a way to see money in a different light. Having lots of money doesn’t make you a bad person, as some tend to believe. Your mindset towards money is a powerful thing. If you see money as a bad thing, then you will have a difficult time making more. Money is simply a tool. Like any tool, you can do good things with it, or you can do bad things with it. Money is an amplifier of your character. The more money you have, the more you can give, the more you can help, and so on. As Tony says.. and I’m paraphrasing here, If you won’t give a dime out of a dollar, you won’t give 1 million out of 10. Remember, there is no lack, there is only abundance, so don’t be afraid to give and help.
When you first start considering money you have to ask some personal questions because money is tied to all aspects of life. The following questions are relevant and important because we need to know where we are going and why. We have to understand our purpose and align our goals, attitudes, actions, and habits in that direction. These questions from Tony go back to repeat what I said at the beginning of this article, and I’m including them again because they are just that important.
So, what do we all really want? As many very wealthy people will tell you, it’s not just the money. What you really want, what all of us really want, is happiness and success. What good is money is you have no health, no happiness, or no friends and family to share it with? Ask yourself, if you had all the money you wanted, would you still do what you do now? What would you do? Most of us would follow our passion. What’s your passion? Think about what life would be like if you didn’t have to worry about money. You would still work, but it wouldn’t be about earning a paycheck, it would be about doing what you love. People learn the real price of money when they go after it for the wrong reasons. As many people have said before, money is a by-product. Don’t chase the money. Chase your passion and add value to the world in your own way and the money will come to you. It shouldn’t be about the money at all. If you chase something for the money alone, you won’t have the inner drive to see it through anyways.
What exactly do you want out of life? Having loads of money doesn’t mean you are successful. There is a stigma that success means having lots of money, but this is simply a societal construct. Success, or what I will call a fulfilling life, isn’t about having loads of money at all. Do more for others and become valuable. This is what Albert Einstein meant when he said
Try not to become a man of success, but try rather to become a man of value. Albert Einstein
You must define what a fulfilling life is to you in your own terms. Sit down and really think about what a fulfilling life means to you. Do you really want that nice car or those fancy clothes or do you want those things so other people will think more highly of you? Those extrinsic goals are empty. Think back throughout your life to all of your favorite moments. It’s always about how you helped someone or gave them something. Those are the moments that make us smile the most. It’s not the moments when you got that new flat screen TV or that car. Those are simply extrinsic in nature and won’t fulfill you.
We spend money that we do not have, on things we do not need, to impress people who do not care. Will Smith
So instead, focus on what you think a fulfilling life means to you. Again, you really need to have an understanding of where you are going and why. Having purpose and drive behind why you are saving will make it that much easier. So, now let’s get into the nuts and bolts of Tony’s book.
You don’t have to make a ton of money to be financially independent. This book basically covers how to save, and how to multiply and grow that money while you sleep. Less than 40% of Americans have a financial plan of some kind. The average credit card debt is just over $15,000 dollars. 75% of people have serious concerns about money, which is not good. If money is causing this much stress, we need to first understand how to save and invest money and then apply those principals so we can focus our energy on more important things in life.
Tony lays out 7 simple steps to financial freedom:
2 – Become an insider – know the investment myths
4 – Asset allocation
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