There is a massive difference between being rich and being wealthy. They are as different as living with, and without a heart. They may look like identical experiences on a spreadsheet, or from the outside looking in, but being rich and being wealthy, are two drastically different experiences.
I can remember the moment when I first noticed the difference between the two lifestyles, and the moment I chose the goal of building wealth in my life.
I was at a Christian networking event I had been invited to. I am a sales person in my day job, so after engaging in small talk with a few strangers and looking for business, I found a table and waited for the speaker to take the stage.
My mind began to wander as I sat in the crowd, and I asked God: “Is selling all I am supposed to be doing with my life? Is sales my ultimate purpose in life? Are paychecks and weekends to be free all there is? Or is there more?”
I had no idea the speech I was about to hear would impact my views on the meaning of wealth forever.
As the room filled to capacity, the speaker grabbed a microphone and finally walked up on the stage. His hair was grey, and he faced the crowd with the same smile I have when I feel humble and confident at the same time. I identified with him immediately. His speech began describing the early career years of his career.
“When I was younger, cockier, and didn’t know any better, I was so power hungry that I missed out on all the things I deem important to experiencing a fulfilling now.”
I liked the way he spoke. He was calm and confident. I felt his motivation was to teach and help, and not sell. I leaned back in my chair and listened deeper, like I was watching a theater performance unfold just for me.
“In my 20’s, through my 30’s, I only paid attention to the things I had to do to be promoted in the companies I worked for. I spent the majority of my young career competing against my peers and comparing my job status to the people I met. My entire self-worth was found in how high I was on the corporate ladder, and how many zeros were on my paycheck.”
“All my energy was solely focused on creating opportunities for bigger promotions, and inflating the ego that drove me. My entire life became a warped fantasy where I could one day stand on the mountain peak of power and prestige, and stare down at the world like I was above everyone else. This fantasy became the only happiness I knew. Being rich, and better off than everyone else, was the only dream I knew.”
I sat frozen in my chair studying him. Did I view my life and career the same way? Is this the same journey I was taking with my sales job life, always wanting more and bigger commission checks? But I knew his story wasn’t over. Because as he stood in front of the crowd, he didn’t come across like he was the same ego-obsessed man he used to be. Something changed him. He was different. And his speech went on.
“After devoting 25 years of my life to extreme and often purposeless work, I was finally promoted to the position I dreamed of my entire career. I climbed to the mountain top I had always wanted to reach and I became the CEO of a large nationally-known company. I had all the money, power, and prestige I’d always wanted, and I finally knew what it felt like to have it all.”
I sat up in my chair. I was soaking in his every word like it was truth. Comparing my life and views to his, I wondered if his story is what living a great life is all about.
After taking a deep breath, he paused. The next thing he said was something I will never forget. He faced the entire crowd and continued.
“As I adjusted to this new job and lifestyle I had idolized and made the top of my world, I realized that I wasn’t finding anything there of meaning or importance. In fact, I found there was nothing there to justify my years of sacrificing to get to this place. My marriage and family started falling apart. I realized that I had spent my entire adult life only caring about myself, and I didn’t have any true friends to enjoy my moments with. The zero’s in my paycheck could buy me all the things I really wanted. They could buy me things, but they couldn’t buy me a purpose to be alive. As I looked out from the peak of my big office and career, I realized that if I had known how empty this place would feel, I never would have sacrificed my entire life to climb here.”
I realized at that moment that this was the path to becoming rich. And honestly, the way he described it, it did not look that attractive to me.
*
Not long after this, there was another moment that changed my life. It was the moment that made me discovered that I wanted to take the path to build wealth, rather than the path to become rich.
It was the moment that I realized my spiritual relationship with God was the most important thing to me and my happiness. It was an epiphany where I realized that my spiritual wealth was the source of all of the meaning, purpose, and happiness I’d ever experienced. All of the success I have ever loved in life, stemmed from my personal relationship with God.
Once I crossed the bridge to make my relationship with God my first priority in life, I began to see how interesting and gigantic the world really is. I saw clearly how tiny I am in the big picture. I am just one of 6 billion people, and as I traveled deeper into these revelations, the more I just wanted to help, learn from, and understand the people I met.
My attitude began to change my life. My journey to find a new way to wealth began. My personal needs for prestige became less important to me, and fulfilling the needs of others became my new mission. I began to realize that money isn’t what makes you happy. It’s our feelings of meaning and purpose, and our adventures with God. When you realize you don’t need money to make you happy, you find that there’s a lot left over to save and invest. When the real source of happiness is pursued, and your leftover money is invested, the path to a wealthy life naturally begins in front of you.
*
As I write this story, I am reminded of a Socrates quote from thousands of years ago.
He wrote: “The wealthiest man is not he who has the most. It is he who is content with the least. For contentment is the source of all wealth.”
When your favorite things in life don’t cost much money, your opportunities to become wealthy multiply.
In conclusion, to find a wealthy life, these are the steps I encourage anyone to take:
1) Make your relationship with God your #1 priority in life. Let your spirituality define you, not an overpriced car, home, or job title.
2) Renew your mind and attitude to take you on a bigger mission and purpose of life than always making more money.
3) Since money is no longer the source of your happiness, allow your purpose, faith, and ability to help others inspire you. Save and invest and bless others with the rest. Free yourself from the need of money so you have the time to find the real life you dream about.
I’ll end with three of my favorite quotes that help define the difference between being rich and wealthy:
— Wealth Well Done (@WealthWellDone) November 3, 2016
The moment you don’t have to rely on others, or expensive things, for your happiness you will be on the path toward a wealth-filled life.
— Wealth Well Done (@WealthWellDone) November 3, 2016
People who want to be rich dream of money. People who want to be wealthy, dream of time, freedom, purpose, and happiness.
— Wealth Well Done (@WealthWellDone) November 3, 2016
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I agree with you. Here’s a quote I love: “Live simply, so others can simply live.” Mahatma Ghandi
I agree with you. Here’s a quote I love: “Live simply, so others can simply live.” Mahatma Ghandi
Totally agree Renee! We’ve just found a path we’re happy to be on, and want to share our story of adventure with others. When you live simply, it frees up your time to focus on others, and helping and building positive relationships with others, is ultimately what brings the most happiness in life. Thanks for sharing your quote!
Wow what an incredible story. I was hanging on every word and I felt like I was in the room with you when the talk was going on. Thanks for sharing, I know I will be thinking about this article for the next couple of days.
Awesome Mustard seed money! So grateful for your compliment and support. Much like you, we are a spiritually-centered lifestyle, mindset, and financial blog. Our mission is inspired by this scripture: Matthew 25:21 “”His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share in your master’s happiness!’
When you focus on doing the small things right, it leads you to opportunities to do the big things right. People always fantasize about doing the big things right from the beginning, but what they often overlook, is the path to get there goes through many tests where you have to do the small things right in order to graduate to the big things. God bless and thank you for stopping in! Reach out any time to connect, and imagine ways for us to do God’s work together.
Wonderful article. You are so right. As a physician I’m not rich, but getting money is not a problem. I have been so focused on getting ahead and getting money that I definitely have not given enough attention to some other things. I have now seen the error of my ways, I am now working on strengthening my relationship with God, family and friends. Having money but not having a friend to call and talk to sucks!
Thanks so much @Drsan1!!!!! Your comment is so inspiring! I love your openness and willingness to share your deepest revelations and feelings. You are going to fit right in and be good friends with the team we’re building here at Wealth Well Done. Your testimony is a great example illustrating why it takes so much more than just money to build a wealthy life. Our definition of wealth is actually only 20% money. The other 80% is found in the quality of your thoughts, friendships, and your spiritual relationship with God. If you only have money, you don’t have wealth. But if you only have positive thoughts and friends, and no money, it is debatable if you truly have wealth. But combining a little bit of money, with a positive mindset, attitude, and a focused drive to create a relationship with God and good friends, and you can create more wealth than you ever thought possible. Thanks so much for the awesome and inspiring comment. I am going to share it on our facebook page I like it so much!