Time is Money & Money is Everything?
Busting money myths and increasing your net worth
by Beau Henderson
Follow the Money is what Richard heard growing up, and he bought into the story that everyone was selling: Follow the money, and it will lead to happiness. But sacrifices would have to be made along the way.
Money must come first, before friends,
before family, before even his own health
He went along with the story that we are all told and many of us still believe. He bought into the “just doing business” wink and handshake that brushes everything else aside because, as the saying goes, the end always justifies the means. When faced with a tough decision, Richard always chose money.
And he followed the money until one day,
he saw the truth about where it was leading him.
By then, it was too late…
As a young financial advisor, I looked forward to meeting Richard, a new client and a man worth several million dollars. A man who, on paper, appeared to have absolutely “made it”.
If you have bought into these money myths,
the equation that money = happiness, chances are you’ve got money.
And little else!
The day I arrived to meet Richard, his nurse answered the door and led me through his mansion. I learned then that the millionaire had sustained a severe and very dangerous heart attack. Both his son and daughter were estranged, he didn’t see his grandkids, and his wife had recently left. It was also then that I began to reassess my definition of what makes a life truly Rich.
One of the most important lessons my clients have taught me is that regrets come not from the things that we try,
but from the things we don’t try…
One of my own favorite relationship investments is visiting with retirees. I love to see the looks exchanged between couples who have been together for decades. Or the laughter that is shared between them before a story has even started because they both know it so well. Sometimes they step on each other’s lines; sometimes they get a little choked up. They’re so sure of the story, so sure they can tell it best without leaving anything out. These meetings are just priceless to me and when I realized that, I stumbled on a revelation.
Experiences, shared or had alone, become our memories,
the most valuable assets that you can own.
Unlike a car or a house, these assets never rust or break down, and no maintenance is required. Memories cannot be taxed, stolen or lost in a lawsuit, nor do they depreciate over time.
In fact, better yet, the more they are withdrawn and told over and over again, the better they get!
Memories incur no penalty, withdrawals can be made as early as the next day, and doing so only makes them stronger. What other asset can boast this kind of return?
I started asking my clients, after hearing a particularly funny or poignant story, “I bet you wouldn’t trade that experience for all your net worth, would you?”
And the answer is always, without exception, the same …
“No. No we wouldn’t,” they say.
“We wouldn’t trade it for all the world.”
Nothing can increase your net worth like the value of a unique experience.
Make an investment for yourself today, big or small, alone or with a loved one, and enjoy the immediate returns a unique experience can add to your RichLife.
Take a minute to share with everyone one of your most prized "unique experiences"
I’d love to know what it is and so would they!
Leave a comment below or
stop by our Facebook Page and share them right on the wall!!
Seeing YOUR face and reading YOUR RichLife comments on my wall makes my day!
Make an investment – big or small – great advice. Wondering if appropriate here. When a baby is born some invest into CD for that child's head start. Think that continues to be use use of money for jump start? Thanks Beau for always great advice.
There are not many things more precious that great family memories and most of them are not from spending a lot of money on a special vacation or something like that.. The best memories are often things that happen spur of the moment. I am so thankful to now get to store up memories with my grandchilren.
Investing in yourself is the true way to improve yourself, change your life, help others and move forward. Beau, brilliant post and great advice! Thanks for sharing.
Beau,
I love this post. My husband is an estates attorney and he talks about this exact thing all of the time. He loves seeing his clients, the ones who have been married for years, sit together and just talk and retell their stories to him.
This is such an insightful message Beau – thanks for sharing. A reminder for us all, not to loose sight of what's really important.
Amazing wisdom Beau! You are such a blessing to so many…thank you for inspiring me to always look a bit deeper!
Beau, I've always believed that "you only regret those things you don't do." That parallels your "regrets come not from the things that we try, but from the things we don't try …" Mine grew from my father saying, "If you're deciding about doing something and it won't result in a great story, don't do it." Guess it's the same thing! Lovely article!
I know by experience what you are talking about. My dad worked very hard, never had time for his family. The moment he wanted to change that, he died. It was a very painful experience for all of us. Finances are very important, but it never should be the only thing that we chase. Thanks for your insight!
Love the message of this article, Beau! People in our lives are our greatest assets for sure. I love this quote "Make an investment for yourself today, big or small, alone or with a loved one, and enjoy the immediate returns a unique experience can add to your RichLife." You can never go wrong by investing in yourself. Many times, people forget the personal growth side of things.
Thanks Beau for your advice! I recently received your book in the mail on the weekend! I look forward to reading it and learning from you! Thanks for sharing your wisdom!
Love, love your message and one that should resonate with many. I've seen many who were 'rich' in $$ but so very poor when it came to the true meaning of 'rich'. I would much rather live in a cardboard box, then lose the love of my family and friends. Investing in oneself if extremely important as long as they can distinguish the true meaning of investment. Thanks for your enlightening post!
People are always more important than money. My family and my friends are so much more important to me. Without strong relationships, our lives would be a poor existence, indeed.
Money comes before health! I truely believe that, I have been very ill in the past and let me tell you by my personal experience you can't do a darn thing for yourself to better your health if you don't have some money. Great post!
I so love your message! I am one that truly believes that health comes before money. Yes, of course, we all need money but for me, it is not the main goal. I figure if one is healthy then money is just icing on the cake! Thanks again for your message Beau!
Amazing post Beau! I also love watching those special interactions between couples that have been together forever. Those experiences really remind you where true riches lie 🙂
Love this! My hubbie and I are investing in one another this weekend by heading south for a few days of R n R. Throw in dinner with friends along the way, a concert Saturday night, and some outlet mall shopping on the way home and we'll have another awesome experience for our emotional savings account 🙂
Love the message that you shared above Beau! Thank you. I needed to hear that =)
As others have said, LOVE this article! What a marvelous balance to a discussion of money matters, thank you!
I think about this on a daily basis, Beau. My kids are young, so they are constantly saying and doing things that are completely priceless. I know when financial times are tight for us I still think – we could live together in a paper box and be just as happy as we are today with all of our "stuff." Thanks for the great reminders in this article.
As I always do…loved this article. I've been contemplating these same ideas lately, knowing that my husband and I will look back at this time of incredible financial struggle with lots of shared laughter. I pray that we'll find a way to NEVER lose focus on the fullness of a rich life even as our money-horizons broaden. Thanks for such a heartfelt article.
Change your thoughts, change your thinking, change your life. Great article, Beau!
The LEARNED Preneur @ NormaDoiron.NET
Thank you, for a beautiful and powerful message! So many people think that when I do this or when I have that, etc. that their life will get better. But it's only when they get where they need to be inside of them, that their whole life gets better…most importantly, their relationships!
Very good points Beau! These days we can't survive even 2 weeks without having any money…well the right mindset and wealthy mindset is the KEY and you are such a masterful coach! 🙂 In regards to stories I see every moment as my wealth and appreciate as it comes, I think I learned too many lessons in my life not to LOL 🙂