Do you know that the concept of accumulating wealth is not the same in different continents?
Asians emphasize hard work, suffering and sacrifice to get what they want.
Americans talk about individuals ‘being different’ to achieve that American dream.
Europeans place ‘enjoying life’ above having lots of money.
Mind you,’enjoying life’ does not mean being lazy. In fact, there are many millionaires and billionaires in Europe (you will agree with me after paying a visit to Switzerland). And many of them are self-made.
For Europeans, one can aim to be rich, but not giving up passion, satisfaction and style along the way.
In the TV series ‘Europe’s Richest People’, the show features wealthy people with totally different background — a musician, a clown, a yacht builder, an airline founder, a nightclub owner, etc.
It’s interesting learning from the experiences of these very rich in Europe. They said a few things that left much food for thought.
Name: Luca Bassani
Occupation: Luxury Yacht Builder
Estimated worth: 20 million euros“There are so many people who had a great deal of money but no imagination. They don’t know what to do with their money, and so things get bored. The most important thing in life is not to get bored.”
Name:Theo Paphitis
Occupation: Retail Entrepreneur
Estimated worth: 197 million euros“It’s all about the chill, the chase, the challenge, the success and then the recognition.”
Name: Christian Jagodzinski
Occupation: Computer Entrepreneur
Estimated worth: 30 million euros“Sometimes it’s great to be aware of the fact that really if you don’t want to work, you don’t have to work. And it’s very good to have that feeling to say that if tomorrow I want to stop doing what I’m doing I can afford to do it. That’s the freedom that money buys. That freedom is worth something.”
For me, the money from property investment has done at least two things for me:
1) Give me the sense of achievement and excitement when my investment decision proves to be correct.
2) Allow me to go where I want, to be with people I like, and to do things I enjoy (rather than tolling for money).
(Though these days my biggest spending and satisfaction come from buying food in the wet market to prepare for a sumptuous meal at home!)
Above all, I am now more mature to understand that success in life is more than money. And happiness almost always has nothing to do with money.
Investment guru Marc Faber said,
“I think in life success comes on many different levels, monetary success is just one of them, there are many other ways to be successful in life. If you have a happy family and are a good father, this is also a measure of success, if you can help other people this is also a measure of success.
I think our society over rates monetary success and associates success with having a big house, having 3 cars, being able to go on holidays and live the good life when in fact, these are all relatively superficial symptoms of success.”
Sadly, a lot of people are spending too much time and taking up too many mortgages to reach this ‘superficial success’, when they should have planned for financial freedom through consistent savings and careful investments.
Which path are you taking now?
Very true, it is very important to have passion and enjoy doing things you really enjoy. The dreams can be simple and inexpensive, unfortunately many people get loss or diverted in the mid of pursuing it/ them. Your article will serve as a very good reminder, at least to myself. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks Brandon. It’s a blessing for one to have different passions in life. For me, some make money while others don’t. But being able to pursue them make me a happy person!
Very true, it is very important to have passion and enjoy doing things you really enjoy. The dreams can be simple and inexpensive, unfortunately many people get loss or diverted in the mid of pursuing it/ them. Your article will serve as a very good reminder, at least to myself. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks Brandon. It’s a blessing for one to have different passions in life. For me, some make money while others don’t. But being able to pursue them make me a happy person!
What a coincident! My biggest spending and satisfaction also come from buying food in the wet market to prepare for a sumptuous meal at home! Can you share some of your home cooking recipes?
Ok, now back to the main topic. I also share the same sentiments with Marc Faber, I thrives to have a happy family and be a super daddy.
Yes, I like good food and love to prepare them. I started with dishes you’ll find in places like Crystal Jade. I’m brushing up on Thai and Italian too …
Good for you! I’ve never thought of being a mum myself so the required patience, self-sacrifice, etc. don’t come naturally to me.
But when I’m pushing the baby stroller down Orchard Road, attracting smiles, stares and snapshots from strangers of different ages and nationalities, I’m sure it’s more satisfying than showing off wealth : )
What a coincident! My biggest spending and satisfaction also come from buying food in the wet market to prepare for a sumptuous meal at home! Can you share some of your home cooking recipes?
Ok, now back to the main topic. I also share the same sentiments with Marc Faber, I thrives to have a happy family and be a super daddy.
Yes, I like good food and love to prepare them. I started with dishes you’ll find in places like Crystal Jade. I’m brushing up on Thai and Italian too …
Good for you! I’ve never thought of being a mum myself so the required patience, self-sacrifice, etc. don’t come naturally to me.
But when I’m pushing the baby stroller down Orchard Road, attracting smiles, stares and snapshots from strangers of different ages and nationalities, I’m sure it’s more satisfying than showing off wealth : )