What Defines You - A Tale About Money

Take a 20 dollar bill and go to the closest public transportation stop. Walk up to someone and say "I'll sell you this $20 bill for $1". Nobody will buy it from you. There are some reasons for this: 1. Nobody hopes to complete a financial transaction at the bus stop. 2. Only a crazy person would sell you a real 20 dollar bill for a dollar, and dealing with crazy people is tricky, so this must not be a real 20 dollar bill and you should just walk away. Now here's another story: Put a 20 dollar bill in your neighbor's mailbox and walk away. Do this 4 days in a row. On the fifth day, knock on your neighbor's door and say "Hey, I'm the one that's been putting $20 in your mailbox, here's another one, wanna buy it for a dollar?" You'll sell it. Because your neighbor knows your crazy, but crazy in a very special way. And you've earned their trust. They know it's a real 20 dollar bill. In our minds, we go along assuming that $20 is worth $20. But that's not true. It's a mutual belief and if the belief isn't present, then they are worth nothing. Is money a reflection of your worth as a human? That number you see on a screen, does that define you? If you ask me, I'd say 2 things define you: 1. The value you've contributed to the people who you share this great Earth with. 2. How successful you are. And by successful, I mean happy. Don’t overthink life Don’t sweat the small stuff Be who you want to be Do what you want to do Live for now, in the moment

Just live life man, do it for you but live for others too. Give back, add value, serve others - I think that’s what gives life depth and meaning

Friends, if you appreciated this perspective and this message resonated with you, then I encourage you to subscribe and share this message with friends and family if you think someone near and dear to you could benefit from seeing this - it means more than you know. Onward and upward, Jordan Paris, NASM CPT