What does real money and wealth look like?
Many people in this country think it is BIG cars, houses or trips to foreign cities. We are a very elitist society where many folks imagine material things are the true measure of wealth.
It amuses me how one can get away with many traffic offenses for as long as you are driving or are in a BIG car. Or how doors open in so many places if your appear to be dressed expensively.
In public functions, those with cars are given special treatment while those who walk or use public transport are openly discriminated against.
These things have been normalized and have become a way of life to most of us!
Regrettably, many young people, public figures, politicians and influencers get into extreme financial holes to meet or appear to meet these societal expectations.
But quite to the contrary, the world of money is the exact opposite!.
I have often seen some of the High Net-worth Individuals (HNI) in the country quietly pulling their travel bags in airports. A number of the world’s billionaires have walked in the streets of Nairobi and other tourist destinations in the country without anyone ever noticing.
Yet, we are daily being bombarded with ‘supposed high fliers’ slipping into depression, being auctioned or dragged into courts for illicit financial dealings.
For avoidance of doubt:
1. Money is very quiet – banking halls are quiet, wealth neighbourhoods are quiet, exclusive members clubs are quiet, boardrooms where real money is transacted are quiet, high end markets and eateries are quiet, among others; what other evidence do you need?
2. If you’ve money, you have it – people with real money do not require any form of external validation from anyone else. They simply know their net-worth and don’t have to talk about it;
3. All material things are comparably very cheap to the wealthy -once you’ve a lot of cash, you can comfortably afford anything that you desire. To them, anything and everything is cheap, hence no excitement for unnecessary show-offs;
4. Real monied people understand the value of money – they thus have no desire displaying unnecessary opulence to those who do not understand the value of money;
5. Wealthy people understand there is a mark of sophistication in simplicity – you do not have to appear complicated for no apparent reason. If anything, products and services that have created world’s billionaires are the simplified ones that make them accessible and affordable to majority, if not all the people;
6. Wealthy people understand money is made from and through people – the rich understand money comes from people. So they treat everyone with kindness and respect because they understand those people would be their next customer; and
7. Wealthy individuals see beyond facials and face values – if growing money was that easy, then we would all be billionaires. All great and valuable things aren’t displayed all over for everyone to see!