The things money cannot buy
Never make money the sole consideration in making your decisions.
THE year 2015 marks my 10th year as a working professional. I’m grateful I have achieved most of the things I have set out from when I was a fledgling professional. I had my highs and lows; won some battles, and lost some too. But overall, I couldn’t have asked for a better decade.
Others might consider this as a financial success, but the thing is I never considered money as the greatest barometer for success. It has never been how much I earned nor have. People have been harping about a lot of things that money cannot buy. And even thought it can buy a lot, some things are worth much more than that. I listed three things my money cannot buy.
Freedom
ON the third month of being a product-development assistant in a food-manufacturing company, I already wanted to resign. No matter how promising my career was (tasked to handle the China market), I wasn’t entirely satisfied. The monotony of a desk job in the past months was already getting to me, and I began dreading that I would be spending the rest of working life doing the same things over and over again. Despite the pay being above industry average; the compensation, position, career advancement didn’t appeal to me anymore.
I lasted another eight months before I took a leap of faith with my current work as a financial advisor. I left a promising and secured career to a totally unstable and often criticized profession. I couldn’t have made a better decision in my life. I wasn’t out to seek a better income. I just wanted freedom from the confines of a rigid schedule. I wanted a flexible working hours (if I do want to work at all). That was my primary motivation. The (much) higher income just followed. Furthermore, this freedom allowed me to pursue other endeavors such as teaching and hosting, which I wouldn’t be able to do if I had a regular eight-to-five (or in our case, it was until six) job.
Fulfillment
I still remember the time I saw my first published article. The elation was indescribable. My thoughts were immortalized over two pages. I wasn’t paid for it. But the fulfillment I felt was much more than what the editor could have paid me. Six years later, I still write a lot of articles for free, and I honestly do not mind not getting paid at all. Whenever I hear someone was compelled to take action because of what he read, that is more than enough payment for me. Getting paid is just a bonus. Besides, because of this attitude, I have written for some of the biggest publications in the Philippines including the BusinessMirror.
It’s the same fulfillment I have with teaching. My rate, while the highest in my school because of my foreign-language skill, is still low compared to the industry average. But the satisfaction of seeing my students learn and grow is beyond any premium as a foreign-language instructor. I was once asked if I ever considered teaching in other bigger universities. Surely, they can easily double my rate. Yes, they can. But here, I know I am making a difference and touching their lives. Something I doubt I would feel if I teach in another university.
To date, I do a lot of things for free simply because I love doing them—and I get paid a lot to do them. Do something you love so much you are willing to do it for free; and people will start paying you big bucks for it.
Virtue
IN 2008 I toyed with the idea of moving to another financial institution. A lucrative position had opened and I thought I was qualified for it. At 24, the idea of commanding my price was game changing. But my sister asked me, “How would your manager feel about this?” That was all I needed to turn down the offer. Yes, it was very tempting. But I cannot turn my back on my mentor who trained and guided me since day one. It was one of my wisest decisions to date. Several months later, this financial institution was gravely affected by the global financial crisis.
I remember my father once warned me sternly that my values and virtues can never be compromised under any circumstances. No fame, power or money should be higher than these. I owe a lot to my manager and I just couldn’t bring myself to jump over another company.
I was once asked what advise can I give to fresh graduates. My answer: Never make money the sole consideration in making your decisions. Had I made that mine throughout the past 10 years, I would not have achieved the things I have achieved now.
Kendrick Chua is a Registered Financial Planner of RFP Philippines. He is a Financial Adviser and holds the qualification Certified Investment Consultant. He is also regular host of Chinoy TV.
Source: http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/the-things-money-cannot-buy/
Comments
2,728 total views, 1 views today
Social