January 02, 2007

Applying The Secret: Money Part 2

A new year and a new post. Today we'll tackle money myth number 2. Rich people are snobby, greedy and just plain mean!

It's ridiculous to think wealthy people are more greedy and snobby or mean just because they have more money than everyone else. Money doesn't make you more anything, you just become more of what you already are. If you're nice you'll be nicer. If you're a jerk you'll become more of a jerk.

The only thing money can change about you is your bank account. That's it. You'll still be the same person with 1 dollar or 1 billion dollars.

People can be snobby, mean and greedy if they are rich, middle class or even poor. There's all kinds of people with all kinds of net worths and personalities. Making having negative beliefs about wealth is a surefire way to ensure you won't achieve whatever level of financial success you seek.

Why this is so is because you'll want more money, but have a conflicting thought such as "People with lots of money are all snobs. I don't want to be snobby like all of them." Maybe someone thinks this because they had a bad expeirence with someone who they thought was wealthy (that person may or may not have been wealthy) and suddenly they decide everyone who was like that individual is snobby, greedy, mean... whatever.

A recent study shows households that make more than $200,000 or have a net worth of 1 million dollars or more more likely to give money than other classes. This is only logical. The more money you have the money you can give away. Does every single person of this demographic make donations regularly to charities. No. All they all like that. No.

Here's some surprising characteristics of the average millionaire according to the book The Millionaire Next Door:

"*More than 80% are ordinary people who have accumulated their wealth in one generation. They did it slowly, steadily, without signing a multi-million dollar contract with the Yankees..."

* Fewer than 20% inherited more than 10% of their wealth, and more than half never received a penny of inheritance.

* They "wear inexpensive suits and drive American-made cars. Only a minority... drive the current-model-year automobile." (Warren Buffet, billionaire and one of the world's wealthiest individuals, drives a six year old Lincoln Town Car. The founder of IKEA drives a Volvo from the late 80's and sometimes even takes the bus.)

* About half have lived in their current home for 20 years or more. (Again Warren Buffet has never moved out of his childhood home in Nebraska.)

* 80% are college grads, and 38% have advanced degrees.

* 20% are retired. Of those still working, about two-thirds are self-employed -- mostly entrepreneurs, but also self-employed professionals, such as doctors and accountants.

* On average, they invest nearly 20% of their household realized income each year."


People's notions of the wealthy also come from mass media. TV and movie portrayal of the wealthy are often based on stereotypes to make the plot more interesting. When was the last time you saw a wealthy person portrayed in a positive way in a movie or TV show?

They are often portrayed as soulless people who are vapid and extremely greedy pitted in a battle against everyone else. Rarely do you see them portrayed as an actual human being with feelings. Yet, the wealthy are part of the human species as far as I know.

There are wealthy people who are snobs but snobbery is just a false facade to hide one's true personality, it is a defensive mechanism much like arrogance. Again not all wealthy people fit the mass media stereotype of being snobby, mean and greedy.

If you find you have negative connotations about wealth reflect on why you have them. Go through each belief in a non-judgmental, loving way and ask yourself, "why do I believe that?" Search for the source of that belief and reflect on its meaning to work it out in a logical manner.

So there you have it, there are all sorts of people from all sorts of backgrounds. Just remember thoughts lead to feelings which lead to action which leads to results.

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