Let Giving - Not Money - Motivate You
December 6, 2007 | In Making A Diff. Lifestyle |
Table of contents for Understanding Ourselves
- Creating Our Self Definition
- Only We Have The Power To Change Ourselves
- Choosing Our Support Carefully
- Let Giving - Not Money - Motivate You
As I mentioned in Living The Making A Difference Lifestyle, I’ve dreamed of being an activist for a long time. One of the considerations that held me back was money. There doesn’t seem to be a lot of money available for those who are pursuing their dreams, unless they somehow manage to “get lucky.” But, I refuse to let that hold me back any longer. There is more to life than money.
Photo by Mr. Kris
Of course, there must be a balance. Certainly, we need a certain level of income to sustain ourselves; shelter, food, and clothes generally don’t come free. But how much is enough? Each person must answer that for themselves, but there are lots of folks who will try to convince you that more is always better.
Recently, I spent an hour listing to a regional sales director for Aflac tell me about how being a salesperson for his company could change my life. Perhaps it could. But, it could also continue the trend I want to reverse, the trend of caring more about my income than my giving back.
During the hour I was listening to the sales pitch, I realized that the gentleman standing at the front of the room was very good at what he does. I wondered - he’s a great salesman, but is he a great person? Has he fallen into the trap of pursuing money at the expense of his dreams?
Where Is The Line?
This made me think - where do I draw the line? When does needing money shift to crowding out my dreams? It’s clear that concentrating on making money to the exclusion of everything else including ethics is over the line. However, the line isn’t always clear cut. I know that deep down my soul sings when I’m giving back and making a difference. And I know that my soul shrivels when I bust my butt just to make someone else rich.
But, that shriveling is counteracted whenever I find a way to contribute. I know that this isn’t an easy world to live in, but I also know that if I can reach out and touch one other person, get them to think about how they live their life, I’ve made a difference.
If that person I touch is a salesperson - so much the better. I don’t think salespeople are bad people. After all, the products they sell are necessary in the world today. And I have no way of knowing if the gentleman from Aflac recycles or races in charity marathons or volunteers at an animal shelter, or any other number of things. All I know is that he sells Aflac. Only he knows deep down, where no one else can see, if he is a good person and if he is making a difference in the world or if he is simply out to make a buck.
How Will You Resist The Pull Of Money?
How about for you? Have you spent more time than you would like pushing aside your dreams in order to make money? What will reverse this for you? How will you keep moving toward your dreams when the lure of money hits hard?
For me, it’s that feeling of hope, the deep knowledge that I am a good person. Do you know what makes you tick, what drives you to reach out to others, drives you to make a difference? Think about it. And when you have the answer, or even just think you do - use it to color your day to day activities. Use that knowledge to approach the world a little differently and find ways to drive giving rather than just income earning.
Living solely to make money doesn’t bring happiness, or get you closer to your activist goals. However, I believe it’s possible to find the balance that allows us to find happiness and contribute even while we are making money. Shift your perspective and look for the greater “why” behind your actions. You will start to see how who you are, deep down inside, creates needed balance and can be used to make a real difference.
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[...] is definitely something I’ve given thought to. In Let Giving - Not Money - Motivate You, I spoke of how I don’t feel that just working for someone’s bottom line is for me. I [...]
[...] First Leg - Understanding Ourselves: Creating Our Self Definition Only We Have The Power To Change Ourselves Choosing Our Support Carefully Let Giving - Not Money - Motivate You [...]