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The true value of money

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The true value of money

Old 11-25-2006, 06:17 PM
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The true value of money


Often I am criticized as being shallow and money focused. As a younger lad I must admit that money matters didn’t cross my mind as much but older now and with more responsibilities it is a common concern of mine. Normally people associate the concept of wealth building with an unhealthy obsession of material possessions and quests. It is also a common perception in our society to consider money as evil and the pursuit of it morally ill.

In fact, the acquisition of money is essential for a happy, healthy, full and balanced life. The lack of it is the cause of most matrimonial hardships, divorce, stress, personal loss, decreased health, lack of control in ones life, depression and lack of accomplishment. Money shortfalls can turn a dream job into a pit of despair and imprisonment. Under compensated workers are angry dissatisfied, uninspired and suffer low self esteem. In fact to me it seems that anything other than the pursuit of money is short sighted and grossly irresponsible.

Money is the essence of power, control and ability. A life with money offers a broad range of choices and influence. Money allows us to best provide for our loved ones and selves in a manner that best suits us and the situation. Money can create opportunity for education, self improvement, better healthcare and personal safety. Money allows one to take larger risks since it provides a safety net. It also gives one the ability to improve the world through donations of time, services and the life giving force of money.

Money has the power to corrupt but it is also the tool through which most of the good in the world and life occurs. To choose to view it as evil makes for an easy excuse to avoid taking responsibly for ones own self reliance, responsibilities and life. The attempt to justify an aviation career as a noble path of aviation martyrdom is shallow, self serving, self defeating and irresponsible. It is essential that one not overlook realistic income requirements. We all need to take an honest assessment of our careers as a source of satisfaction but also as an urgent source of income. In my estimation the prospects of an average aviation career is out of balance with the resources it consumes. The results of the blind pursuit of flying will be a life of deficit.

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Old 11-25-2006, 08:10 PM
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In fact, the acquisition of money is essential for a happy, healthy, full and balanced life. The lack of it is the cause of most matrimonial hardships, divorce, stress, personal loss, decreased health, lack of control in ones life, depression and lack of accomplishment. Money shortfalls can turn a dream job into a pit of despair and imprisonment. Under compensated workers are angry dissatisfied, uninspired and suffer low self esteem. In fact to me it seems that anything other than the pursuit of money is short sighted and grossly irresponsible.
This belongs on the Regional board
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Old 11-25-2006, 09:58 PM
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Isn't it ironic that the people saying "money isn't everything" are usually people with money. I don' hear many poor folks touting the benefits of being broke!
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Old 11-25-2006, 11:58 PM
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SkyHigh,

It also comes to my attention that an overabundance of money mixed with a dissatisfying career make for a bad combination. I agree with you, money facilitates life’s necessities. The thing about money, like CalCapt mentioned, is that once you have it, it’s not enough. As far as aviation goes, yes, it is a big risk, and one should be aware of the consequences. Like you so devotedly preach, one may never reach the top, but we at least have to give it a try. I believe that if you smartly walk into aviation, with a handy back up career, you cannot go wrong. I am currently at a point in college where I could easily continue with my career in Finance and try and forget about aviation, but deep inside me, I know I’ll never really forget aviation. That is a regret I’m not really ready to live up to. Life is full of little regrets that people make out of fear. It is that same fear that begins to make them bitter, because it prevented them from reaching their full potential, so they being inflicting that same fear upon others.

Like you previously stated, without money life does become difficult, and to some extent it’s hard to argue with you because the early salaries in aviation are extremely low, and maybe in unselfishness one could pick up a second job as a sacrifice for one’s pursuit of our dreams.

“The acquisition of money is essential for a happy, healthy, full and balanced life”. That life is not full and healthy without a proper and satisfying career. Does the man, who has millions in the bank and a high stressed life, live happily? Does his daughter live happy not seeing her dad, only in the end to see him in his casket when he dies? Is the money she’s left with, the true key to happiness? Is being surrounded by four white wall’s the true key to happiness? Is having a pool in my backyard the true key to happiness? Is having a Lamborghini, the true key to happiness? Is flying a B 777, the true key to happiness? (Everyone has a different perspective to what is happiness, those who have a hard time defining the true meaning of happiness for them, will for the most part pick money. This is because money brings to them many material things that they long to have, but sadly once they have these things, they realize that they need something else. Something to fill the void in their hearts, because they begin to feel alone in a world where everything, but true happiness are easily accessible).

I don’t know, but for me, having a loving wife, and a great career, is the true key to happiness. Money is an object, and if you are smart enough to see its facetious side, you’ll see that it is minimally needed to fulfill our basic needs.

Aviation may not make you a millionaire, but it fills one part, for true happiness in my book.

In the end, everybody is different, some need more than others. It is important to note that it is those who have it all that feel like they have a void in their hearts, and it is always those with less money, that feel like they need more money. The key is to balance the eying and the yang.

We only live once; we are not coming back in the future to give our dreams a try. The time is now….

Last edited by favila008; 11-26-2006 at 12:03 AM.
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Old 11-26-2006, 08:15 AM
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Originally Posted by favila008 View Post
SkyHigh,

I don’t know, but for me, having a loving wife, and a great career, is the true key to happiness. Money is an object, and if you are smart enough to see its facetious side, you’ll see that it is minimally needed to fulfill our basic needs.
I couldn't agree more with you there. Having that special someone makes life so much better. I consider myself real lucky to have found her already. All thats left now is my career. .
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Old 11-26-2006, 08:45 AM
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If you have a loving wife, hopefully you'd want to provide a bit more for her than "basic needs." That includes time as well as money.
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Old 11-26-2006, 08:56 AM
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of course, I am determined to make good money. There are flying jobs that pay well. Don't have a wife yet, I wouldn't think about getting married without any real income. It's just good to know I have that support already. Were both waiting till we are on our own to take it any further. I was only agreeing that money alone is not everything, but it is imoportant.
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Old 11-26-2006, 08:58 AM
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favila008, Puppyz

We all have to make adult decisions in life. I am sure that if you were to ask every banker, accountant and plumber what they wanted to be when they grew up they would give answers like pro-football player, fishing guide and ski instructor. Flying might make a good hobby one day but as a source of income it doesnt add up anymore. The pursuit of it most like likely will preclude the possibility of having a wife, kids, financial security and the home and happiness part.


Attitudes like yours is why the airlines are loosing professionals and are being replaced by those who are turning the career into a working hobby. To accept the idea of a second job at this point in your progression is proof that you are not using your better judgement.

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Old 11-26-2006, 09:02 AM
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sorry skyhigh but i'm just agreeing to the fact that having that support also makes life worth while. Notice I did not quote his entire post. Money ALONE is not everything to me. However I am not agreeing that working for 20 grand a year is something I want to do. I believe I should be paid well for what I do. Im aiming for the money, not the airplane. There are flying jobs that pay well and I plan on trying to find those jobs.
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Old 11-26-2006, 09:12 AM
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Originally Posted by Puppyz View Post
sorry skyhigh but i'm just agreeing to the fact that having that support also makes life worth while. Notice I did not quote his entire post. Money ALONE is not everything to me. However I am not agreeing that working for 20 grand a year is something I want to do. I believe I should be paid well for what I do. Im aiming for the money, not the airplane. There are flying jobs that pay well and I plan on trying to find those jobs.
I am sorry to have made an incorrect assumption. If you dream of having a wife and kids one day it is essential to be able to fully fund that life and not lay the responsibility for them and yourself upon the rest of the world.

No one can say for certain that conservative efforts will be rewarded or that the pursuit of your wildest career dreams will certainly lead to disaster however we reap what we sow in life. Plant mostly corn and wheat. Leave the last row or two for flowers.

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