#sorrynotsorry. Is the Self Made Nation proud of their wealth? Happy to be rich? Happy at all?
Looking back over a year of podcast interviews with fascinating founders, entrepreneurs and wealth creators, I see more and more evidence that ‘money can buy happiness’ (depending on your definitions).
In last week’s post, I recalled Kelsey Ramsden’s definition of happiness as the freedom to seize all the opportunities you’re given to accomplish what you want to accomplish; accumulating money itself isn’t the goal, dollars are simply Units of Freedom. (Listen to that interview again in Episode 2 of I’m a Millionaire! So Now What?).
Other guests of I’m a Millionaire! So Now What? (listen & subscribe here) have offered up other juicy lessons along the ‘Here’s How Money Buys Happiness’ lines.
Here are some of my favourite Season One lessons.
Episode 1, where Brett Wilson, notable Canadian entrepreneur, Dragon’s Den panellist and philanthropist, highlighted that money can always be used for good – whether it’s a little or a lot. ‘Meaningful contribution’ is a relative, and always relevant, concept:
“We do this garden party and I make fun of it because there is no garden; it's just a party. You cannot buy a ticket to the garden party; you have to be on the invite list. And I don’t judge people for what they bring. In other words, I'll pay for the party, you pay for the charity. And I say to people, I'd like you to bring a cheque that’s meaningful to you. And so to a young guy just recently laid off, $20 might be meaningful, but to a friend of mine who can't make it and sends me $10,000, I'm pleased.”
In Episode 30, Karina Hayat, co-Founder of Prizm Media with her husband Zeeshan, re-interprets our drive for the Pursuit of Happiness:
“...both Zeeshan and I, we have a motto. We all live for the pursuit of happiness. But we kind of changed that motto when we got married and when we started our business, that we’re going to live for the pursuit of impact. And that’s been our guideline for how we live our personal life and our business life…. seeing how we can combine all of our ideas from a technology standpoint, from a social standpoint, and seeing how we can help our local community as well.”
During our interview, Karina affirms that by pursuing impact, happiness ensues.
In Episode 35 I interviewed Linda Bolton, founder and co-owner of Natural Calm Canada. As a little girl growing up in poverty, Linda aspired to be a millionaire from a very young age – but not so she could have the ‘things’ she missed as a child:
“I would encourage every company that's a start-up to just have some kind of a goal to make a difference. I can remember from the time I was young, I wanted to be a millionaire. I grew up in Cabbagetown in Toronto and my parents didn't have a lot. It wasn't so much I wanted to be a millionaire so that I could have (things)... We drive basic cars. We don't have big houses... I still shop at thrift stores. Always have done. I've always been very careful and a very good steward of my money. But I always dreamt from the time I was a little girl to not have to worry about paying my bills, but to also have enough money that I could help others. And that's given me unbelievable joy.”
Contribution… impact… joy – none of these things need an apology. That’s why I believe we can be… should be… unapologetically wealthy.
Wealth makes you more of who you are. It amplifies your good intentions and good actions. It can amplify the bad as well. We live in a world where money opens doors, so it’s which doors you choose to walk through that matters.
During September, we’ll continue to answer the question I’m a Millionaire. So Now What? What does it mean to be rich? What is real wealth? Is it freedom? Opportunity? Energy? Happiness? Joy?
Tune into the pursuit of answers in TWO podcast episodes each week: Tuesdays and Thursdays!
And I would LOVE to hear from you. If you’re ready to unapologetically celebrate your success as a member of the Self Made Nation and tell your entrepreneurial story, PLEASE contact me directly through email at colleen.campbell@rbc.com. If you have any ideas for me, guests, introductions… please get in touch.
And of course, please subscribe to I’m a Millionaire! So Now What? with new shows every Tuesday and Thursday. We’ll continue to bring you more inspirational stories, practical strategies, and fun frank advice from and for self made millionaires.
If you’re ready to engage with a wealth management team that values your contributions to the community and the world, a team with a fresh perspective focused on building and strategizing financial plans that optimize how you spend, save & share your wealth, contact us at O’Connell-Campbell Wealth Management.