I don’t want to be rich and famous – but then again, I do. Before I can explain that little bit of nonsense, I need to explain something about myself. It has become quite clear to me through the years that I don’t see, think or do pretty much anything the way other people do. I don’t actually have a problem with this. I function just fine, thank you. But whenever you see or hear me make any statement – on pretty much any subject – you can assume that I don’t mean what you think I mean. This is partly why I spend so much time explaining myself.
Let’s just say, I have no wish to be rich and famous the way most people think of those terms. I don’t need a private yacht or a permanent party or scads of cash leaking out of my pockets – most of that sounds incredibly boring. A private island might be nice, however. (I’ve always wanted a secret base/evil lair) As far as fame is concerned, most of it just looks too painful. Who needs to be the center of everyone’s attention all the time? Besides narcissists, I mean. Many actors, rock stars and even sports heroes regularly complain about the pressure put on them by public exposure. I do notice that politicians don’t seem to have the same gripes. Coincidence? I would like to be known and appreciated – not mobbed. And tell me if you think those people – the rich and famous – are actually better people for the money and fame? Not usually.
Yet everyone seems to want these things. And because they want these things, there are always tricksters, snake-oil salesmen – gurus – who (for a fee) will tell you how they became rich and famous and how you can too.
Balderdash.
Whether it’s a teenage Tik-Tok influencer or a middle-aged man in a suit trying to show you how to become a wealthy star overnight, they’re all lying to you. They may have made their money or their fame in a particular way, but usually it’s not a repeatable formula, and they’re no longer making it big that same way. They’re earning their money and fame from you. In other words, they may have made their first million in real estate, but now all their income comes from seminars and books. Not precisely crooked, but deeply shady. Besides, why do you want to be like them, anyway?
That is the real question, isn’t it? In a country where we have the highest standard of living in human history, why do most of us still ‘want it all’? The answer is not shocking, but the solution might be. The answer is simple: we all want to live at ease, adored by all those around us. That’s at base what being rich and famous means. Now – how do you do that? That’s where the solution comes in.
Becoming wealthy in a wealthy country is really not that tough. You simply have to be willing to give up a couple of ridiculous ideas about money, do some fairly easy research and become the master of the money that comes in your door rather than the slave. There are a ton of books and websites (mostly free!) that you can turn to in order to get the info you need, but you need to give up at least two commonly held ideas, first. First false concept: money is evil, and if you want money that must mean you’re evil. Absolutely wrong. Money is a tool, nothing more. It’s absolutely neutral. And money won’t solve your problems, either. Money only solves money problems. Second false concept: there’s only so much money to go around, so if the rich people have all the money, you can’t get any. While that might have been true a hundred years ago, it no longer is. Money is nothing more than an idea, bits in a computer somewhere, and you have just as much access to it as they do – if you know how to get it. Any other concept of money is based on fear and ignorance. So, stop being afraid of money, and stop being ignorant – get financial training. As I said before, it’s everywhere and it’s mostly free.
Furthermore, do you really need to be a millionaire, let alone a billionaire? Sit down and figure out how much money you need coming in, monthly and annually, in order to live comfortably and do what you’d like (without going crazy), then figure out a way to get there. That’s the real worth of a financial education. Start with a book called The Richest Man in Babylon – that book is like a First-Grade education in financial literacy.
Now, as far as fame, let’s break this down a bit. Most people don’t really need to have hordes of worshipers screaming their name. Those that do, need to be locked up. What most people mean when they say, ‘famous’ is actually more like ‘important’. We want to feel that we are appreciated, that people recognize our worth. That’s actually very simple to achieve, but counter intuitive. Keep this fact firmly in mind: you become important in direct relation to the number of people you are helpful to. Or put another way, in order to be the greatest, you must be the servant of all. Sound familiar? Yep, that’s what he meant.
So, there you go – the secret to fame and fortune. I’ll admit it’s much simpler in concept than it is in practice, but hey! If you didn’t have to work for it at least a little bit, it wouldn’t be worth anything to you, would it? If you like, you can consider me a guru – a ten-cent guru, and the last one you should have to listen to. And I don’t even want your money.
Be well.
bcd