This article from the Harvard Business Review looks at how the “ single-minded pursuit of wealth often leads smart people to do incredibly stupid things—things that destroy what money can't buy.” . It provides a list of poor decisions, unethical conduct, booms, busts bubbles and the documentary that chronicles some of these events. After that, it explores some of the concepts from book entitled “money and the Meaning of Life” which Jacob Needleman wrote about twenty years ago. In that book Needleman points out that an individual’s personality is basically the same with or without money. He then goes on to stress how important it is for a person to have an honest relationship with money. The writer makes the point that, in Yiddish there is only one word, “mensch” for an authentic human being and around a thousand ways to say fool. Finally the readers are challenged to look in the mirror.
There is nothing new in this article and therein lies its value. What was true twenty years ago when Jacob Needleman wrote “Money and the Meaning of Life” is still true today. Unfortunately, we did not “get” it then and so it bears repeating. This is especially true in light of the climate of corruption that seems to have taken control of much of the nation’s resources to an unprecedented degree. The lesson here is to look at the relationships people have with money. Look at how the economy went through various changes in the last twenty years. In that time fortunes were made, lost, and made again. A series of booms, busts and bubbles occupied the financial pages. In the social news a similar rollercoaster ride of wealthy, talented people rose to fame and fortune only to seemingly crumple under the weight of their own successes. In world news, we saw politicians, political parties and sometimes-whole governments rise and fall. When we look at these public people who experienced these changes in the glaring light of the media and paparazzi it is apparent that while their circumstances changed, the individuals did not. Down and out, on the top or traveling somewhere in between, if you are a worrier you will worry and “Being rich does not automatically lead to a rich life.” . The facts, as written in this article are there, well known and even the subject of a documentary. The greatest contribution to a new prospective on reoccurring topic is the reminder to look in the mirror and evaluate our own relationship with the pursuit of wealth and the meaning of life.
Many articles and opinion pieces talk about the public exposure of ethically impaired. This article is a necessary reminder not to pass judgment on others before we question the “man in the mirror.” We need to be responsible for our own outlook on life. Our own character, what we make of ourselves, our appreciation of the value of hard work and our honest relationship with money should be our primary concern. This is what will bring us real happiness. This is the point made by Jacob Needleman twenty years ago in his scholarly book and a century and a half earlier by President Abraham Lincoln when he said, “People are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.”
Works Cited
Bloomberg Businessweek. "Harvard Business Review ." 17 5 2011. 10 3 2012
