The Financial Philosopher: Accidental Affluence

"I do nothing but go about persuading you all, old and young alike, not to take thought for your persons or your properties, but and chiefly to care about the greatest improvement of the soul. I tell you that virtue is not given by money, but that from virtue comes money and every other good of man, public as well as private. This is my teaching, and if this is the doctrine which corrupts the youth, I am a mischievous person." ~ Socrates

When I saw the title of a featured article, How to be a Millionaire by Age 25, on my Yahoo home page today, I expected to find a common thread: Self-made millionaires do not usually begin their successful journeys with the goal of becoming millionaires. My expecation was met.

For example, Michael Dell, who made his first million at age 19, says this:

I think people that look for great ideas to make money aren't nearly as successful as those who say, 'Okay, what do I really love to do? What am I excited about?'

Not surprisingly, other common themes in the article included other non-financial aspects of the young affluent:

Mistakes are opportunities so fear of failure is a losing trait.
Ignore people who doubt you.
Money is not required for success; you only need to find a way to create value for others.

No surprise here! Self-awareness, self-knowledge and self-motivation are integral to personal fulfillment, which often enables financial wealth.

Don't aim at success. The more you aim at it and make it a target, the more you will miss it. For success, like happiness, can not be pursued; and it only does so as the unintended side-effect of one's dedication to a cause greater than oneself or as the by-product of one's surrender to a person other than oneself. Happiness must happen and the same holds for success: you have to let it happen by not caring about it. I want you to listen to what your conscience commands you to do and go on to carry it out to the best of your knowledge. Then you will live to see -- in the long run, I say! -- success will follow you precisely because you had forgotten to think of it.~ Viktor Frankl

Being, knowing and acting as the authentic self is the definition of wealth. Money, material wealth and social status are simply by-products of being who you are...

--------------------------------------------------