How balancing financial security, lifestyle goals, and social impact can lead to successful wealth creation
I am grateful to be from a family where I had six siblings, of which three were adopted. Now, with four children of my own who all happen to be at home as I write this, I appreciate the blessing but also understand the sacrifices my parents made over the years. I remember my parents sitting at the kitchen table when we were young, balancing their chequebook and struggling to make ends meet.
Each generation faces similar challenges. Twenty years ago, my wife and I had to sell the house we just built and downsize because the stress of making payments seemed more than ideal. It was tough at the time, but now we are so grateful that we went through that time and were able to live in a wonderful neighbourhood for the past two decades. As a result of our businesses and opportunities, we have been able to pay off our mortgage and save money for a rainy day.
As you think about building wealth for yourself or future generations, it is important to clarify why you are doing it and how much is enough. Over the years, I have talked with many people about why they are investing their time or money in a business or property, and each person has different reasons. However, some of the key reasons I have come across include:
 |
| Related Stories |
| Turning business failure into success is a matter of focus
|
| 5 successful strategies to doing more with less
|
| Visualize your success if you want to succeed
|
Financial security: Abraham Maslow, an American psychologist best known for his theory of human motivation, talked about the need for security as a basic need. The need for people to feel secure in their ability to have enough money for necessities is a motivating factor for many families. Right now, perhaps more than ever, there is a sense of financial insecurity in many families faced with rising costs and higher debt loads. Being able to control your income, make enough money to cover expenses, and get out of debt is a motivating factor for many people. In his book Simple Wealth, David Ash discusses how owning a business or a commercial investment can make a huge difference in your ability to get ahead. This sense of security can be a life-changing experience for people constantly worrying about having enough money.
Lifestyle: Several businesses for sale could be life-changing because of their ability to create money year after year. However, these businesses take money, time and effort to understand how they work. Many people think owning a business will enable them to work when they want to, take multiple trips yearly and enjoy 100 rounds of golf a season. This is very possible but not realistic in the short term. Building a business is often a full-time endeavour until the business is profitable and has staff and systems so that it isn’t reliant on you as the owner. However, as your business or investment stabilizes, your ability to live a lifestyle that reflects your dreams becomes a reality.
Social Impact: Many business owners and investors I know want to make a positive impact in their communities. Despite what many people, especially politicians or government employees, might want to believe, the simple truth is that our society would fail without entrepreneurs. People like you who invest their own money, take chances on a business or commercial property, and spend money for improvements are the drivers of the economy. You are creating jobs, paying taxes and giving back to society. Wealth creation enables individuals like you to contribute to causes they care about. Through donations, funding social ventures, or establishing foundations, they make a significant impact on their communities and beyond. This social impact cannot be done without profit. Ensuring that your business and investment properties are profitable is essential to ensuring that you can have a positive social impact.
Family well-being and Future Generations: Recently, I spoke with a fellow who had several businesses. He told me he wasn’t planning to give his children most of his wealth. He said that he wanted his children to struggle as he believed that it was only through struggle that we grow stronger. Money can provide advantages for our children, but it can also prove to be a source of entitlement, dependency, conflict, and demotivation for personal achievement. Having a strategy to manage wealth to ensure we avoid these pitfalls for our children can be a problem that might seem distant but could be real.
So how do we create wealth?
I don’t profess to be the fountain of wisdom when it comes to creating wealth; however, The Richest Man in Babylon, written by George S. Clason, offers timeless advice on building wealth through simple and effective principles that you might employ. Here are some of the key strategies for wealth generation and financial success outlined in the book:
- Save at least 10 percent of your income: One of the foundational principles from the book is the idea of paying yourself first. Before paying any expenses, set aside at least 10 percent of your earnings for yourself. This savings serves as the cornerstone for building wealth. You might think this is not easy until you actually start doing it. Putting 10 percent of your income aside for savings or donations is easy once it becomes a habit.
- Control your expenditures: Clason emphasizes the importance of living within your means. By controlling your expenditures and avoiding unnecessary spending, you can ensure that your savings continue to grow. I know many wealthy people who are spendthrifts because they know that controlling their spending leads to money in the bank.
- Invest wisely: Saving money is just the first step; growing it is next. The book advocates investing your savings wisely in ventures you understand or seeking advice from knowledgeable individuals. The goal is to make your money work for you, generating additional income.
- Avoid debt: I once had a mentor who told me to pay cash for holidays and vehicles and only use debt for sound investments. Clason warns against the dangers of taking on debt with high interest rates, which can erode your wealth. Like my mentor, the book advises you to live within your means and use your growing wealth to avoid the need for debt.
- Own your home: Owning your home builds wealth over time. It provides stability and can also be an investment that appreciates in value.
- Ensure a future income: Planning for the future is a key theme in the book. This includes investing in insurance and retirement plans to ensure income in your later years, protecting you and your family’s future.
- Increase your ability to earn: Clason encourages self-improvement and education as a means to increase your earning potential. Learning more and becoming more skilled can open up new income and wealth-generation opportunities.
- Protect your wealth: Once you’ve begun to accumulate wealth, it’s essential to protect it. This means being cautious with your investments and seeking advice to avoid scams and bad investments that can lead to loss. Having lost hundreds of thousands of dollars in bad investments over time, I can assure you that cautious investments make sense.
- Seek counsel: The importance of seeking advice from knowledgeable and experienced professionals is highlighted. You can avoid common pitfalls and make informed decisions by learning from others who have successfully grown their wealth. Start today by reaching out to someone you would like to know more about and set up a time for a coffee.
Creating generational wealth requires strategy, a vision, and clarity about your purpose and use for the wealth. Whether it is to sustain your family, make a difference in the world or have a lifestyle where you can find purpose, your vision is your first step. Once you understand your Why, you can start focusing on your How.
Dave Fuller is a Commercial and Business Realtor, an award-winning business coach, and business author.
For interview requests, click here.
The opinions expressed by our columnists and contributors are theirs alone and do not inherently or expressly reflect the views of our publication.
© Troy Media
Troy Media is an editorial content provider to media outlets and its own hosted community news outlets across Canada.
