No, I am not promoting the secret to the elixir of everlasting youth. Real estate? Nope. Be a star? Nope.

I decided to write this after recently coming across several people, especially young people, expressing the desire to be millionaires by the age of thirty and being financially free, or financially independent, as most of them would put it. Nothing wrong with those aspirations, on the surface at least. If we dig a little deeper, we might hear remarks like "I can only help others when I am in a position to do so". I take it that means financially able to. Being financially free to most people seems to include things like not having to get up in the mornings if they don't want to, ordering meals at fine restaurants without having to look at the right hand side of the menu (if they bother with a menu at all, that is), scooting off for a holiday whenever they feel like one, bringing the kids to places and having experiences most kids never even dream of, etc.

Am I envious? No. I am already in the top 2% of this globe's population. I have more than enough to eat, access to clean water whenever I want it, a great roof, four walls and a floor to shelter me from the balmy, mild tropical elements, a world-class transport system to bring me basically anywhere I would like to go, and so on and so on. No, I am not envious, I am richly blessed. Just having my family alone would have me counted amongst those most blessed already! So what's my point?

I'm actually quite concerned that increasing numbers are equating financial wealth with happiness and fulfillment. Now, I am all for financial wealth, and this globe actually has more than enough resources to support more than six billion, if you care to look hard enough. What I am concerned with is that so many people derive their sense of security and self-worth from having financial wealth. It's the other way round, Gals and Guys! We are already wealthy when we know we are fulfilling our purpose in life. We are already wealthy when we share our bread with those who do not have as much as we do. We are already wealthy when we invest time and energy helping people out of trouble and encourage them towards significance in their own lives. Financial wealth is a by-product of being wealthy. It does not by itself define wealth.

Yes, I know you've heard all this before. That does not deter me from sending this message again. You need to hear it. You need to realize that a lot of what is commonly perceived as wealth is derived from the exploitation of masses who do not know better, internet or no internet, who need to be mentored, coached, trained, led, whatever you want to call it, out of poverty and into genuine wealth. That those "masses" are comprised of people just like you and I, and that you and I could have easily been one of them.

So, for my countrymen, just after celebrating our nation's 46th birthday and now staring into yet another "economic crisis" worldwide, take a step back from your frenetic schedule and ask yourself this "What genuine value am I bringing into my work, my family life, and into the world at large?" If you can answer that well, and you will know within yourself whether you answer well or not, nothing will shake you.

I wish for you the discovery and full expression of your own genuine value. Go well!