I always hate people who say money doesn't matter
I believe that people around the world have two basic desires. .. The right to choose your own path to happiness.
And second, they want financial freedom. In other words, I want to be financially independent. In reality, without financial freedom, people are not truly free. Personal freedom may not make much sense for single mothers who live in poverty and struggle to put food on the table. That means she and her children are free to be hungry and free to be poor.
We live in a very sophisticated and prosperous society, but perhaps only 5 percent of Canada's population can be considered financially free. Economic freedom has different meanings in different parts of the world. Here in North America, I think financial freedom means accumulating a sufficient amount of wealth after working for 30 years. That way, you can own a decent home, have enough money in the bank to quit your job, and make the most of your profits. Savings. At that point, you will be free to nourish your heart and soul by pursuing lifelong passions and hobbies. It's a simple snapshot of what comes with financial freedom for me.
Still, few people are financially free. why.
So few people are financially free. why.
Western societies have focused on creating an excellent charter of human rights and freedoms. These rights and freedoms should always be protected. They laid the foundation for the development of a prosperous democratic society. But at the same time, it is incomprehensible that our society is no longer focusing on how we can achieve economic freedom.
The desire to achieve financial freedom inspired me to start my own business as a young man. It was a fire in my belly. I made a lot of sacrifices, worked very hard and invested a lot of time and money to build some successful businesses. They gave me the financial independence I've always wanted — and that independence makes more sense to me than any material possessions, honors or awards I've received in the course of my career. ..
This is the main reason I strongly believe that entrepreneurs and individuals who set up small businesses need to have a reward system. Without the concrete financial rewards associated with entrepreneurship, the enormous amount of personal time and effort needed to build a business from scratch and the savings that everyone in their right mind earned. It doesn't put your investment at risk.
Think of the industry in which I have worked most of my life. If you can buy government bonds and make more money, why would anyone invest money to build factories, buy machines, and hire employees to make products? .. Most individuals who start a business from scratch pay a high price and face a fairly high probability of success. That is why the reward must be considerable.
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And I always hate people who say money doesn't matter. The truth is that money can be a great motivator, even if it is just a tool for achieving other goals such as financial freedom.
At this point in my life, I want to serve society. I want to play my part in building a richer and more democratic society, a more equitable and free society. Above all, I want to find a way to give people the opportunity to pursue the same path to financial freedom that I have followed.
Looking back on my career and adding up the hours I worked can be unbelievable. I've worked straight a couple of days and nights to complete my order. In the early days of my business, I sometimes took short breaks while working on Saturday or Sunday. I sat under an old chestnut tree outside the factory and took in fresh air. When I see a young couple buying ice cream or going to the movies, I sometimes think like this.Why am I doing this?I didn't receive the order, but I didn't make that promise to the customer, so I got stuck bashing the metal to meet the deadline.
If I can start over, I'm sure I'll do something a little different, but I'll do exactly the same. I paid a lot of money, but the rewards are immeasurable, and the reward I value most is my financial freedom. I am free, completely free, and have no more feelings in the world.
National Post
• Email:fstronachpost@gmail.com
Frank Stronac is the founder and inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame, one of Canada's largest global companies, Magna International Inc.
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