Some of you may already know that I travel around the region pretty frequently, having to visit and conduct seminars at my offices in Malaysia , Indonesia , Thailand and Suzhou ( China ). I am in the airport almost every other week so I get to bump into many people who have attended my seminars or have read my books.
Recently, someone came up to me on a plane to KL and looked rather shocked. He asked, 'How come a millionaire like you is travelling economy?' My reply was, 'That's why I am a millionaire.' He still looked pretty confused. This again confirms that greatest lie ever told about wealth (which I wrote about in my latest book 'Secrets of Self Made Millionaires'). Many people have been brainwashed to think that millionaires have to wear Gucci, Hugo Boss, Rolex, and sit on first class in air travel. This is why so many people never become rich because the moment that earn more money, they think that it is only natural that they spend more, putting them back to square one.
The truth is that most self-made millionaires are frugal and only spend on what is necessary and of value. That is why they are able to accumulate and multiply their wealth so much faster. Over the last 7 years, I have saved about 80% of my income while today I save only about 60% (because I have my wife, mother in law, 2 maids, 2 kids, etc. to support). Still, it is way above most people who save 10% of their income (if they are lucky). I refuse to buy a first class ticket or to buy a $300 shirt because I think that it is a complete waste of money.
When I joined the YEO (Young Entrepreneur's Organization) a few years back (YEO is an exclusive club open to those who are under 40 and make over $1m a year in their own business) I discovered that those who were self-made thought like me. Many of them with net worths well over $5m, travelled economy class and some even drove Toyota 's and Nissans (not Audis, Mercs, BMWs).
I noticed that it was only those who never had to work hard to build their own wealth (there were also a few ministers' and tycoons' sons in the club) who spent like there was no tomorrow. Somehow, when you did not have to build everything from scratch, you do not really value money. This is precisely the reason why a family's wealth (no matter how much) rarely lasts past the third generation. Thank God my rich dad (oh no! I sound like Kiyosaki) foresaw this terrible possibility and refused to give me a cent to start my business.
Then some people ask me, 'What is the point in making so much money if you don't enjoy it?' The thing is that I don't really find happiness in buying branded clothes, jewellery or sitting first class. Even if buying something makes me happy it is only for a while, it does not last. Material happiness never lasts, it just give you a quick fix. After a while you feel lousy again and have to buy the next thing which you think will make you happy. I always think that if you need material things to make you happy, then you live a pretty sad and unfulfilled life.
Instead, what make ME happy is when I see my children laughing and playing and learning so fast. What makes me happy is when I see by companies and trainers reaching more and more people every year in so many more countries. What makes me really happy is when I read all the emails about how my books and seminars have touched and inspired someone's life. What makes me really happy is reading all your wonderful posts about how this BLOG is inspiring you. This happiness makes me feel really good for a long time, much much more than what a Rolex would do for me.
I think the point I want to put across is that happiness must come from doing your life's work (be in teaching, building homes, designing, trading, winning tournaments etc.) and the money that comes is only a by-product. If you hate what you are doing and rely on the money you earn to make you happy by buying stuff, then I think that you are living a life of meaningless.
The fact that some people go all head-scratching over seeing rich people flying econ, proves the kind of mentality our society has, stereotype and absolutely shallow.
Being in an industry where I, at times, liaise with the “elite group”, on many occasions I am able to see how rich people act. And in Penang, i can easily conclude that most rich people, are definitely not ashamed to show off their wealth and is living large to make sure people “sees” their wealth.
The other day, i was chatting with my colleagues about wealthy people and their behaviour can we have reached a conclusion that, those people who are REALLY wealthy, lay low. They don’t mind leaving home with a t shirt and ¾ shorts and flip flop. The only 2 main things that indicates their monetary status, is their watch, and handbag/wallet. And when they talk, they are well-mannered and sincere. These, are the really wealthy people.
And then, you have the “half-way-there” kinda rich people. Let’s call them the HWT. These people are no doubt rich, but not FILTHY rich. What makes them different from the really rich people is:-
a) They get ALL-DRESSED-UP, ALL MADE-UP and NEVER FAILS to carry a big-ass LV or Gucci bag/wallet. LV for the ladies, Gucci for the dudes.
b) They really DON’T LOOK DOWN. The body posture is always straight up and they never look at people lower than their eye level. *giggles*
Here comes the best part....
c) And when they open their mouth, they ALWAYS / NEVER FAILS to associate themselves with big names. i.e my boss. *Giggles again*. Not only that, they always ALWAYS fill my head with information on the number of assets they have own. Pheww... at times i myself is fascinated.
Ok let me elaborate, but please do not classify me as stereotype. I am not, i am way more “un-stereotype” that you know =)
I am not trashing all HWT. But i am shedding some light on those HWT who are rather, self-absorb =)
I think HWTs are driven by the mentality that we have, that rich people MUST live up to their status. Why is it that for many people, those who earns RM6000.00 must be driving a camry, living in a RM400k condo and wears only Topman. Why?
The life style is more like a proving point to others that, HEY, I CAN AFFORD THESE STUFF. Yes, nice to know that you can afford it, but you are living a thin line, aren’t you?
Why is it when your pay cheque increased by say, RM500-RM1000.00, you can ONLY seen wearing TOPMAN? Why must you be in a ride that justifies your status?
WHY MUST YOU LIVE A LIFE STYLE YOU CAN BARELY AFFORD?!
Perhaps it is not wrong, perhaps it makes many people happy living like this. But i am the type who prefers to have a fat bank account with endless savings.
Just like what Adam Khoo said, if you spend spend and spend, you are back to square one. You spend more, but financially, you are in no different than who you previously were. (is this sentence grammatically correct??)
I have another story to share. So i have this colleague, her father is some big shot. Yes she is rich but this story is not about her. BTW, she is rich but so not HWT. This story revolves around the daughter of her father’s friend.
Let’s just call the her father’s friend as Mr X.
Mr X, according to my colleague, is the one of the richest Malaysian. So one can only imagine his wealth and the very very lavish life style.
Mr X has a few sons but his wife managed to bore him a daughter 12 years ago. So yes, she is 12 years old now. A very spoilt 12 years old, that is.
Mr X’s daughter is only 12 years old, but she gets 4 figure pocket money (god knows it that weekly or monthly), she has her own car which is a Nissan Murano ONLY, she has her own private driver and her own private bodyguard. Every day, her private driver and bodyguard will send her to school and back. And get this, SHE WILL NEVER GET OFF THE CAR IF NO ONE OPENS THE CAR DOOR FOR HER. And she is the only special student in the school who are allowed to wear makeup and bring all her electronic gadget to school. AND SHE WAS ONLY 12 YEARS OLD.
Oh and she is wearing a $15,000.00 diamond encrusted Chopard watch.
One time around 2 years ago, my colleague and her family, together with Mr X and his whole family, went for vacation in Europe. And there was one incident that really shocked my friend and she, told me about it.
Mr X’s daughter was shopping in Milan and saw a tiny bracelet that she liked. That very tiny bracelet cost a staggering 50,000 euros. She insisted to her mom that she wants it and she wants it NOW. Her mom refused to buy it for her, and she just lost her temper and yelled at everyone in her face and that included, her mom and dad.
Isn’t it sad knowing that millions of innocent people out there are suffering from poverty, and here you have a 12 years old yelling and shouting just because she couldn’t have her 50,000 euros bracelet? And who else are to be blame if not her parents? This poor child will never know the value of money and is going to live to regret it.
MONEY IS NOT EVERYTHING.
Money can buy you a house, but not a home. It can buy you medicine but not health. It can buy you roses and diamond rings but not true love.
So back to the story.
Another type of rich people is of course, the my-daddy’s-rich case. These people are simply lucky. They are born lucky. We admit it and at times, we do get jealous of this people, having no monetary woes and just livin’ their life. But one thing that irks me, is MY-DADD-IS-RCH-SO-AM-I!!!
Heck, i just HATE people living large, flaunting their wealth and CARS all over the place just because their daddy’s rich. Of course, not everyone is like that. I have some really rich friends who are merely living a life like the rest of us, only more shopping spree and more bags than me!
But this is to someone i know.
I know your daddy is rich but HELLO, YOU ARE NOT. Why do you have to go flaunting your new BMW in the facebook and my goodness you even revealed your car’s number place. What kinda dumbass does that?! Hello! And every single time you change your phone from iphone to this and that, out comes the pictures in facebook saying “hehe my new phone, nice?”.. “hehe my car, powerful?”. OH FOR HEAVEN’S SAKE! You have 40 pictures of your narcissistic self, another few pictures of your new BMW and another few pictures of your new phone. DUDE, DONT YOU HAVE A LIFE?! And cheers to you, if you’re gonna get a BMW 1.8, you might as well bang your head on the wall and please, stop talking about racing cause your ass is about to get smoked!
This guy is an idiot. I remembered 3 years ago, he was talking to me about cars, (and although i might not know much about cars), he never thought that there is slight possibility that i might just know more about cars than him. So there he goes, talking about Harrier and this and that. And eventually, i got annoyed. I shoot him back with a simple question. “HEY, WHY DONT YOU TRY OUT THE BNR 34? WITH A 3.0 IN YOUR HANDS YOU’LL NEVER HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT GETTING SMOKED RIGHT?”. He jammed and asked me back, what is R 34? Sadness, i was 17/18 and even i knew about it.
This is the classic case of OH I KNOW! F FOR FERRARI AND L FOR LAMBORGHINI!!
So my point is, there is no point living up to a life you did not deserve in the first place.
Is it really that shameful admitting to yourself that you might not be earning as much as others so you DO NOT need to be driving big cars and carrying a LV bag.
I respect those people who are not afraid to get their hands dirty and work hard to live the life style they deserve. Its like this, you don’t have to be driving a Civic when you earns like RM3500.00.
I am not saying luxuries are stupid. But people need to know how to plan!!! We are having this stupid and shallow mentality that living large is a must whereas i am on a totally different route.
I would love to own a HERMES bag, a pair Giuseppe Zanotti heels and a Prada shades. And did anyone saw that pink Herve Leger dress? OH LOVELY! But im not one of those morons who’d rather eat grass for the rest of the month just to own a Prada bag.
I use to complain alot. Why do i have to pay for this and that when my friends had their monetary issues all sorted out by their parents? Why do i have such monetary commitment when i am barely 22? Why do i not have a new car yet? Why don’t i own a Burberry purse yet? i complained and complained and blamed the whole world for all the issues.
Then i realised. How lucky am i to be me? I have everything. I have my own car, i have my loving parents who are always there for me, and i am going to have my degree soon thanks to my parents again.
So i am not Bill Gate’s daughter, so i don’t drive that Fairlady that i love so much, so i am not as lucky as other people who do not have to work non stop like me, so i have to travel daily from mainland to island without reimbursement, so at times i hate my job, SO WHAT?
I am lucky as hell to be the daughter of my parents, lucky enough to live in a semi-D far far away, lucky enough to have 3 wonderful but sickening brothers, lucky enough to have the people i have beside me now, lucky enough to have the amount of clothes i have now, and most importantly, i am lucky enough to be able to know how lucky i am and how i have learned to appreciate everything i have in my life. I am lucky enough that my parents didn’t give me so much money and lucky enough that they groomed me to realise the true meaning behind life and lucky enough, to know life is imperfectly, perfect.
I am living better than i used to be years ago and i am loving it.
You might not have everything, nobody does. But what you can do, is to be positive and manage yourself well and work your way to whatever it is that you want. Do something you are passionate about and the money that comes with it, is a bonus. Set a goal in life and work towards it. You have a pair of arms and legs, what is impossible? Life is a whirlwind itself and life is meant to be lived on day at a time, not one year at a time.
You said, IF LIFE GIVES YOU LEMON, YOU MAKE LEMONADE.
Well it is time to prove it. Make lemonades! Don’t blame the world and don’t blame yourself. Blaming, is a game of excuses. It will get you nowhere. The route to success begins with acknowledgement and appreciation followed by setting your goals and persevere ALL THE WAY.
Aim for the moon, because even if you don’t reach the moon, you will still be among the stars.
If Lindsay Lohan can “sing” and release an album, what is it that we can’t do?!!!!!
