A high level of self-awareness to personal values is the reason the super-rich live modest lives as opposed to lifestyles defined by “goodies,” which incidentally is the wish of every poor person.
Material wealth by itself does not define who you are. Therefore, the outward expression of the cash-rich and the majority poor who are yet to get past the critical level transition phase in self-awareness, is driven by contentment, a key definer of their personality and how they react to the world around them.
Take the example of Warren Buffet, a regular in Forbes’ top three world’s richest men. He still lives in a four bedroom house he bought over twenty (20) years ago. Britain’s top three super rich are not different either. They have kept very humble outlook despite owning huge fortunes. What makes them different from the poor majority?
The superrich are endowed with the ability to dream. They have the ability to see beyond the problem and are sufficiently convinced to solve the problems that a society may be experiencing. They next thing in their agenda is how to create more impact for the society, and this preoccupies their minds more than what people think of them or about them.
How many opportunities do you see waiting for you to transform into solutions for some customers? How many ways do you see yourself beginning to pursue the impossible?
If you look carefully, in every place, you will find something missing in the picture. Sir Richard Branson experienced a service gap while flying. That gap is now Virgin Airlines. Here at home, Nakumatt, Ukwala, Tuskies and lately Naivas are increasingly filling the do-it-yourself service gap, an enhancement of the duka concept that was popular in Nairobi until 1990’s.
Lately, sports bars are sprouting almost everywhere in the typical copy-cat style. The global trend pushing consumerism has also introduced the malls and the consumption based shopping. This too is making money for the early birds.
The superrich is a dreamer who conceptualises a problem affecting the society, into products that solve the problems for profit. They do not do it for more money into their lifestyle, but rather for the excitement of achieving a dream. This excitement carries them from one mega project to another bearing more risk and changing society.
Every time I share the idea of dreams and motivation with my students in various stages of employment, motivation beyond toys like owning a fancy car or home is rarely understood.
Certainly, there is a stage in life when toys are important to everyone, but for super rich, it has already ended. Money activates prized ideas into life, different dreams for different people. What are you dreaming about?
