Learn to control money but do not allow it to control you

Firewalker

Of course, as usual, Ninky made two very good points which bugged me all day. Here is what I think about that.

a. Less competent people earning more than highly competent people because of their connections. Agree this happens but would like to make two points. First, when I mentioned competencies this was meant in a fairly narrow technical sense – for example competencies as a doctor, or a nurse or a plumber. The cases Ninky mentioned occur, I believe, mainly in occupations where the technical skills are not very well defined; for instance in management or politics. Second, social networks (or who knows or is related to whom) are very important and in social science are referred to as ‘social capital’. These networks can provide opportunities far and beyond one’s technical skills and competencies – but they are assets. In fact in many occupations, notably academia, one can be offered a position not only because of what they have achieved but also because of who they know and work with. These networks can distort the cost of labour but they rarely make selling one’s labour more secure; in fact quite the reverse – violating the relationships and expectations of one’s network can have swift and negative consequences.
b. Selling time more than once in multiple consultant roles. This appears to be the case but I don’t believe these ‘consultants’ are selling time or labour. They sell their name, ‘image’, ‘credibility’– but not their labour and hence not their time.

What I did not mention last night is that problematic as it is selling one’s labour is inevitable bar cases where people were born into wealth and or business. But if one is to have financial security (please note I am not talking about riches here) one ought to aim to develop the third group of income, namely assets. And here the fun begins – this is the group about I really know very little and need to learn loads. So patience (and hard work) is needed...mainly on my side.

Something spooky happened today. I went to the office (lately I do work from home quite a bit) and there in my pigeon-hole was a large brown envelope. I wasn’t expecting anything – nobody gets much in their pigeon-hole any longer. Full of anticipation I started pawing the envelope there and then – it was obviously a book. ‘Oh goody’ - I thought – ‘one of my friends has published another book.’ By then I was in my office so...I opened the envelope and...it was a book. A paperback entitled “Millionaire Women, Millionaire You” by Stephanie J Hale. And guess what? She is not my friend and in fact I had never heard her name until I opened that envelope.

I have absolutely no idea how did this book find me. And if it is someone out there pulling my leg please give me a sign.

And the thought for today is:

“If you’re in a bad situation, don’t worry it’ll change. If you’re in a good situation, don’t worry it’ll change.” – John A Simone Sr

Firewalker

Firewalker

Today I was thinking about the main differences between different Christian churches. If I have to express the differences in a simple sequence, I’ll say that:

Eastern Orthodox Christianity = hedonistic abandonment
Catholicism = hedonistic abandonment + loads of guilt
Protestantism = no hedonism, no guilt

And do you know what? I actually believe that irrespective of whether one is practicing a religion (or a denomination) this colours one’s behaviour because of very deep cultural norms we absorb. Let take my case, for instance.

I have never been religious, never practiced religion, never managed to believe in God. However, I am not an atheist but agnostic – my position is that since I don’t have proof either way it is probably safest to keep options open. Who knows, there might be a supreme being of some description – I just hope that if I meet him/her one day I won’t be disappointed like the guy in ‘Hitchhiker’s Guide...’. My parents were most certainly atheists and communists to boot. So no direct religious influence! And still, everything I do I do as a Christian Orthodox person – aiming for maximum enjoyment, minimum suffering and no guilt.

This is reflected in my ramblings about achieving financial health. But it also includes running – tonight running club was a totally humiliating experience.

Firewalker

ninky_2

interesting thought on religion firewalker. but which came first? the culture or the religion? as an atheist i consider that all religion started from humans and therefore it reflects the culture rather than creates it per se. maybe there is a feedback loop but ultimately i don't think we can seperate religion from the culture that creates it. therefore the same religion can be practiced in different cultures but with different interpretations - perhaps eventually becoming their own seperate branch.

williamD1964

Would argue that as a (failed) protestant christian (agnostic , but don't tell the wife!) I disagree with your "No hedonism, no guilt" assessment.
I would say, from personal experience, it is more like "Hedonism, guilt but ONLY if discovered!"

ninky_2

firewalker you don't come across as at all hedonistic in your posts. quite the opposite possibly.

elantan

can i suggest you missed out sexist

Firewalker

ninky wrote: »

but which came first? the culture or the religion?

Ninky, you are right on this one as well - I believe that customs came first, the need to enforce compliance (and to explain things that were not easy to explain, like tunder) brought reliegion about and that the church made the whole believes, customs, explanation thing much harder to change. There come dogma...Have you noticed that the ten commandments are in effect the rules that make human groups possible?

My son is an atheist - he is blogging about this.

Firewalker

Firewalker

williamD1964 wrote: »

Would argue that as a (failed) protestant christian (agnostic , but don't tell the wife!) I disagree with your "No hedonism, no guilt" assessment.
I would say, from personal experience, it is more like "Hedonism, guilt but ONLY if discovered!"

I am not telling nothing to nobody, mate. But tell me this - can you suffer? Can you embrace your suffering and make it into a virtue? If the answer is yes - I'll say protestant.

Firewalker

Firewalker

ninky wrote: »

firewalker you don't come across as at all hedonistic in your posts. quite the opposite possibly.

This is interesting, because I think I am. Anyway, I can't do suffering at all. Pleasure is what usually drives me - so everything in this diary I enjoy; just like I enjoy wiritng it.

Mmmmmm...(I am thinking and scratching my head in puzzlement)

Firewalker

Firewalker

elantan wrote: »

can i suggest you missed out sexist

Hi Elantan, this needs a bit more words - which version would be sexist? It seems to me this one transverses all churches - but they are getting better. Or at least CE is...or appears to be.

Firewalker