“Greed is good”. We all know who said it. If you don’t, go watch the movie “Wall Street”. Your life will change. Mine did. Gordon Gekko had it right. Greed is good. And while greed has a negative connotation, the concept behind greed, or the pursuit of wealth is a positive one.
Greed drives productivity. It’s a fact. The cycle goes as follows: Greed/Motivation—–>Innovation——>Productivity. Productivity is the driver behind any capitalistic society. It creates efficiency and leads to even more innovation. When people ask me why do rich people work, I laugh. The standard answer to a question like that is that they are working for the love of work, and not for the pursuit of wealth. I find that to be a load of crap. While they may not be truly working to acquire more wealth, they understand this cycle. If we all became millionaires, and decided that was “enough”, where does innovation come from? Why would we be motivated to create? Innovation comes to a standstill, productivity drops, and society fails.
I won’t deny that greed can lead to unethical decisions. This is inevitable for both weak and corrupt individuals. But if we assume that the majority of the world is not weak or corrupt, then greed, motivation, and the desire to succeed will only lead to the structuring of a more efficient society. And those who are smart enough to see the unethical decisions will ultimately lead to failure will only do the opposite anyways.
When it comes down to it, you have to decide what is important to you in life. If it’s family, do the family thing. If it’s music, do the music thing. But if it’s money, or the desire to create wealth, you better be greedy. And while I suggest you don’t follow Gordon Gekko’s exact footsteps (he ended up in jail), I’d say you should put yourself in situations that allow you to stay hungry. Because otherwise someone hungrier than you will do it better.
4 Comments
October 15, 2007 at 8:36 am
It’s understandable that money is a natural motivational tool for progress and innovation. Deep down, most of us are greedy sinners.
Most people commonly believe that money is the root of all evil. I beg to differ, having money, in my opinion tends to exemplify the quality of person you really are. If you are the flashy type, you drive a Lamborghini to the grocery store. I’m not, so mine will be in my garage, because I am tinkering with suspension settings to get the perfect handling around the track.
If anything, you’ll run of life before you run out of money. If you do become rich, remember to always “be rich,” not just in financial statements, but in the soul.
October 15, 2007 at 9:47 pm
I don’t think most of us are greedy sinners Dan. I can’t live so cynically to believe that the majority of the world is unethical. But I do agree with “exemplifying the quality of the person” when acquiring money. It will definitely accentuate your flaws, as well as your positive attributes.
October 18, 2007 at 8:29 pm
Well done. Another excellent post! But be careful, you may force Atlas to Shrug!
October 18, 2007 at 11:21 pm
Thank you Brian. Speaking of Ayn Rand, I’ve been meaning to read Atlas Shrugged. I just don’t have the time, but I need to make some. I have a feeling it would appeal to the ::cough cough:: liberal ::cough cough:: I mean capitalist in me.