“Living Richly,” vs. “A Rich Life”
[Editor’s note: It’s a little bit early for a Thanksgiving missive, but on the premise that no one will actually be reading this blog then, here goes:]
Dear Wall Street CEO:
Do you know the difference between living richly, and having a rich life?
Based on your words and actions, I’m guessing you don’t.
So, let me offer my distinction.
Living Richly
Living richly is all about keeping (financial) score: how many homes do you have, how much they’re worth, how big your, uh . . . “nut” is.
By contrast, having a rich life isn’t about money (unless you’re desperately short, like tens of millions of Americans these days).
Instead, it’s defined by such things as:
–How many people trust you implicitly — and how many people you trust that way;
–Having work that is not just remunerative but satisfying, and that harnesses your professional skills and talent(s);
–Whether you’re part of a (reasonably) functional, loving family — however you define it — as well as a healthy larger community and society; and
–How much you use your life to improve the world as you found it — indeed, how people will speak of you once you’re gone (assuming they do).
On all these latter counts, I suspect you do quite poorly — no matter how much money is in your bank account, or, after you’re dead, how many concert halls, University buildings, or endowed professorships bear your name.
In the business world, you’re a big winner — there’s no denying.
But that’s hardly the only realm there is, or even the most important one.
Just some “food” for thought this Thanksgiving . . .
Sincerely,
Ross Kaplan
Your fellow American and compatriot
