Why You Actually Should Get Rich
I was recently in a meeting with a client who was criticizing the cash flow of a project.Basically, she was saying that we weren’t helping enough people because we were a “for-profit” project.I can see this point of view, I spent some time in academia after all
The trouble here is her assumption that money is the only or top goal.
Money is a tool, just like any other resource. We just get it directly from our customers, and you get it from donors or government stipends.But guess where that donation came from?Someone built a business and then invested the earnings on Wall Street—and then decided to donate to you.If you got your money from the government, the money can from taxpayer dollars.
Here’s the punchline, people:
You can’t help people if you’re broke.In fact, you might not even be able to help yourself.Money is oxygen. It will fuel everything you want to do. It the means to an end—get this inverted and you will be very unhappy.It’s what you want to do with that resource that’s the important part to focus on.Yes. You should get rich.Then take that money and use it to solve problems for people.
2 Minute Action
How are you building your financial security and stability?Take 2 minutes right now to download an investment app like Stash or Acorns or iBillionaire.You don’t have to spend a whole day looking at Black Rock mutual funds. You can do that later over a slow weekend.Just take this moment to consider your financial trajectory and if that maps to your vision for where you want to be.If the answer is “I don’t know,” or “I don’t have a vision,” then you know where you need to start.
How To Find Your Optimal Productivity Zone
The Comfort Zone
Where things are predictable, safe, and boring. It’s unlikely you’ll grow here, because there isn’t enough stimulation.
The Learning Zone
Where your senses are heightened enough to absorb new information, and things are exciting, challenging, and new. This zone is right on the edge of anxiety but not quite there, yet. It needs to be close enough that all of your senses are stimulated and online, but not so close that you're incapacitated.
The Panic Zone
Where things are tense, frustrating, and exhausting. Symptoms of living a life in the panic zone might be chronic stress or anxiety, freezing up when looking at your task load, and constantly feeling like your life is in chaos or out of control. "Fire of the day" management style creates a work environment in the panic zone.
Get it?
Everyone is different. It's up to you to figure out how you're feeling and responding to your work.By understanding yourself better, you can make decisions about the work environment you put yourself in and the people you surround yourself with.It's up to you to know enough about yourself and TAKE ACTION to put yourself in the best position for success.No one else is going to do this for you!Not your boss, project manager, your mom, no one.
Where did this come from? Did you just make this up?
No, I didn't make this up.This is based on Vygotsky's Proximal Zones of Development, coined sometime circa the 20th century.
2 Minute Action:
On a scale from 1 to 10, how anxious are you at work?1 would be bored and 10 would be tearing your hair out.If you're between a 1 and a 5, you're in the comfort zone. You need to step it up if you want to move forward.If you're at a 6 or a 7, great! You're pushing your comfort level which means you're learning and growing.If you're consistently at an 8 or higher, you may be at risk for chronic stress, which has a bunch of nasty side effects.If your work environment changes a lot, like mine does, you may want to consider setting up an iOS or Android reminder to do this exercise every couple of weeks. You might find that you're stressed out no matter the environment, which would suggest that you need to work on some personal growth--or you might find out that there's really nothing exciting about your job, even at it's best.This isn't a cure-all, it's just a tool you can use to improve yourself.The point isn't for me to keep hitting you over the head with this stuff, it's for you to start asking yourself how you can use these tools/insights in your own unique life.