Show me the money!

One of my friends signature has a line after his name & coordinates which reads "I look at Forbes 100 richest men, if I am not there, I go to work". Out of curiosity, I asked him, "Do you really mean it? to which he replied, "If I am not there, I would feel I haven't achieved enough?" I left from that place thinking to myself, "Is money that important in life, that sombody thinks it as a goal to be achieved?"

As usual, I started reading through bulletins, talking to friends, read almost everything on how people perceive the importance of money. I came across a quote which goes like this - "When you have all the money in the world, you fail to recognize youself & when you have no money with you others fail to recognize you!" - anonymous. Now this quote strikes a balance between the importance of money & perhaps, other things. Other things could be family, friends, work, health etc. I asked my friends 2 different questions.

1) Does money make you happy? - the responses were in negation when pitted against family, friends etc.



2) Does money make you unhappy? (Does the financial problems concern you? is the right way of interpreting this question)- A firm "yes" came out as an answer from most of my friends. Out of the 10 folks I spoke to all prioritized (most important - important) in the order of family, friends and money. Nobody said money is not important :). My dear friend Kurt believed family+friends+money = peace. I couldn't agree more!

Let's not get lost in the process of earning money that we forget ourselves, our family and friends. Money can buy everything but happiness.

Earn enough, spend sensibly, care more, he happy!
~RJ