We have created a money driven society, even time equals money these days. Observing the articles and advertisements published in our virtual world, especially in the industry I happen to be part of, raises my concern about the direction humanity is evolving. It is almost as if it has become a common frame of mind: It is free, that cannot be good…
Is money evil?
Money; designed to trade products and services, with the intention to decrease altercations. The coins and pieces of paper were made to provide clarity regarding the worth of a piece of furniture, a loaf of bread, a painting, an act of labor, etc. A clever solution of our ancestors and therefor money is, to me, not evil.
Unfortunately, even at the time money started to be the new normal, its original intention diminished very rapidly. The worth of those coins was determined by the authorities: kings and queens, chiefs of tribes and closer to our present time by presidents and shareholders of large companies. It has led to a variety of currencies all over the world, which, again, complicates matters.
We have created a money driven society, even time equals money these days.
Time and expertise
Don’t get me wrong. I do not advocate for a throwback in time when it comes to the use of money. I do believe it is an easier way to swap a product or service for some coins and pieces of paper than to exchange it for three chickens and a jar of jam. The invention of digital currency; hurray!
At the same time, I believe it is saddening to observe not only more people in roles with a certain authority seem to have become greedy. In the skilled helping industry (coaches, consultants, etc.), many peers have started to charge high fees for their services. Driven by educators who tell them to do so, because “your time and expertise are worth it”.
Again, don’t get me wrong. For sure, starting a business, keeping it thriving and making profit to provide for yourself and/or your family is costly. Who am I to tell you not to strive for the big house, the latest new smartphone, traveling around the world, giving your kids the world, chasing your dreams…
Your time and expertise are worth a ton, yes! And only you can decide how much that ton equals money-wise.
A new normal
Just like centuries ago, we have a choice how to value certain products and services. We can follow the gurus and keep the reimbursements ridiculously high. Charging small fees, or even no money at all; it cannot be good. It must be of low quality and the person offering must be unqualified. Really?
Just like centuries ago, have good intentions become worthless? Are we evolving in the direction that kindness becomes not worthwhile our trust?
To me, we do not only demolish the self-esteem of compassionate people, non-profit organizations, philanthropists and keep the money driven society alive; we are conditioning ourselves back to an ancient belief, recreating an old new normal…
It is free, that cannot be good.
4 Responses
Totally agree with you here, not only about the money driven society and greed. But indeed about demolishing the self-esteem of compassionate people too. The ‘worthlessness’ when something isn’t ridiculously expensive. We encountered this some years ago when my husband joined an exhibition with his art. He sells at low prices, because he believes art should be accessible for everyone, PLUS: he doesn’t need more. Buth the organizers of this exhibition told him to double or even triple up his prices, because he was ‘too cheap’ and ‘cheap’ unequals ‘art’… And I see it (alas) in ‘my world’ of Human Design also: people asking bizarre money for a reading, or for a course. Explanation: ‘but we are certified! and we will certify you!’ I think that can never be an excuse for exorbitant pricing. The way I see it, this will soon all break down, and make way for another way of ‘doing business’. With money as an exchange-currency, but with more heart, and less greed into it <3
More with heart, less greed….yes! Thanks Anuk, XxX
A very relevant topic right now, Patty. In the past here, bartering communities sprang up. They probably still exist. Then we had the “car share” phenomenon – that probably still happens too. The government here has allowed businesses a certain “cash” percentage that doesn’t need to be declared in recognition of the “black economy.”
Costs here are up across the board, as they are across the world. Some are correcting now that inflation is easing off. Interest rates were put on hold here yesterday, thank goodness.
Professional services are problematic. Finding someone who doesn’t charge the earth is a constant challenge.
The government here has increased the Medicare payments to doctors, so that they will see more patients. That has seemed to have worked for now.
Although my consultancy is moth balled for now, I never charged what many of my colleagues were charging. I could have, but didn’t. I also gave out plenty of free advice too.
Regarding the organisation I currently run, we are forever challenging quotes that are provided. I’m lucky I have a management team that is capable of doing that. Post COVID, the massive jump in road construction and building construction and so many other industries was blamed on transportation costs going through the roof, now it’s the cost of wages and salaries. Turns out that some of our biggest supermarket chains and others have been price gouging – they saw an opportunity to big profits without the reason being challenged.
I have never believed in stopping someone from making money, but I think greed is not good. I know many who work hard and have done well. They give is much as they get, in different ways. We need money. However, its value as a medium of exchange has lost its original purpose for now. Whether e-currency is causing an imbalance too, I’m not sure. What I do know though is that more of us do need to get together to create synergies to lessen the impact on each other.
Thank you for Connecting again, dear Sean, and sharing your insights. I especially love your last sentence 🙂