Jul 16 2009
Creating Wealth – our duty and our joy?
I talked recently about wealth being a sea, huge, vast and bountiful. And each of us can come to the sea to share in it’s riches – and we can bring a teaspoon, or a bucket or even fill our own swimming pool with the wealth it contains.
And fun though that metaphor is, it is limited. As I thought about it afterwards I realised it was about taking wealth rather than the more fulfilling role of creating wealth.
In his New Year message on the importance of economic development in creating peace, even the Pope said “The creation of wealth is an inescapable moral duty”.
For me, wealth creation is about adding value, giving back more than we take.
It’s possible to do this in business and as an entrepreneur. In general, people who give more also often make more. In terms of wealth creation this is not limited to capitalistic or entrepreneurial businesses. Within the public or not-for-profit sector, it is still vitally important to give a better service, to increase effectiveness and efficiency… that way “the jam spreads further” and more people can be served.
It’s also about empowering ourselves and empowering others.
In so far as any of us controls anything, having some degree of control of your own income generation is incredibly liberating.
“Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for life.”
Encouraging people to become skilled in the art and science of wealth creation at all levels of society can only give rise to more “fishermen”.
Yet another challenge for role models and educators!
Good title and good article. It encourages everyone of us to give proper attention to our area of responsibility.
Excellent