Shut up, Stop Whining, and Get a Life: A Kick-Butt Approach to a Better Life, Second Edition, Revised & Updated

CHAPTER ELEVEN

MONEY RULES!

There are people who say money is overrated. Those people obviously don't have much of it. Having money is a lot better than not having money. If you've ever been in the position of not having any, you would know that. I like having it. I can do a lot of stuff with it I could never do without it. So don't ever diminish the importance of money or the joy of having it. If you do, you won't ever have much of it.

But money is a sensitive topic. Make too much and they say you can't be honest. Give away too much and people will question your motives. Place too much emphasis on it and folks will call you shallow. Place no emphasis on it and people (like me) will call you irresponsible. Place the wrong emphasis on it and you will have big problems!

I got in a discussion with some friends of mine recently over the topic of money. I commented about the people who write me and others in the “money” business about how we have become way too focused on money. Many write me to say that my books and some of the other books that are also very popular are more about greed than anything else. Can you believe what people will say? I actually do get these kinds of letters. It seems that when you tell people to be as successful as they can be and to earn as much money as they can earn, then you are considered greedy and money hungry. Tell people to live up to their potential and then get put down for doing it. Amazing, huh? These folks tell me they are offended by my constant ...