Why is there an inverse correlation between money and relationship?
The greater the level of financial success the person has achieved in the Game of Life – he or she will have the smaller circle of close friends and family.
The corner stone of civilization is money. Without money as the extrinsic motivation, there is simply no progress – the exponential advancement within the last three hundred years in the area of medicine and technology is not possible.
Modern progress along with higher standard of living across the globe came with a price tag – the loss in personal connection.
For a moment let’s split life into two halves just as most sports – football and soccer.
Unless a person is genetic endowed and/or is fortuitously picked the right family for birth, the first half of the game will be loaded with fantasy, uncertainty, bliss, hardship, irrational, wisdom – all possible realities will available in the aisles of the Life Supermarket.
In this first half, the core objects of the game are –
- Figure out your skill, hone it and trade in for a pay day
- Pick out your mate
- Procreate and prepare your children for the new game
Although, it is a mystery for everyone of how much money is required for the player to successfully meet all the core objectives in a timely manner – $10,000, $1,000,000 or $1,000,000,000? (Read The Money Plays).
Slowly and surely, everyone will understand that money is the indispensable component to play and maintain the presence in the game.
Figuring out “what skill I am good at” is the first priority the top players in the competition invested the bulk of their time explored in the early years right after puberty.
Once an acceptable niche is found more time is devoted to increase the proficiency of the skill in preparing for the competition – for a payday.
As money is an indispensable component for keeping up with the modern life cost of living, time is fundamental currency in relationship building.
Let do an example to prove time is the fundamental building block in relationship.
Imagine one day you walked across a pet store and spot a cutest puppy in the store window. You stopped and looked down at the cutie. The puppy looked up, eyes are locked and you knew the dog is going home with you.
When you found out the price tag is $1000, you was taken back for a moment. However, the initial connection was so overwhelming the credit card unconsciously flew out of your wallet.
From the first time you saw the puppy to the moment it sat in the passenger seat to be taken home – it took less than 30 minutes.
As you backed out the parking lot, the passenger door swung open. The naïve dog jumped out the car and ran across the lot. In less than 3 seconds, another car ran over the dog while looking for a place to park.
So here is the question – will you miss the dog a month from now?
Let’s make a small change to the story. You successfully brought the dog home and lived with it for the next six months.
In one beautiful evening, you sat with the dog in front of the porch enjoying the sunset. Suddenly, the dog distracted at something on the street front and dashed toward it. Unfortunately, the UPS truck rushed to make the final delivery and ran over the dog.
Again, here is the question – will you miss the dog a month from now?
It is logical to conclude with high certainty that the majority of the population will miss the dog in the second scenario.
Why?
The bond between you and the dog has grown within six months. Time is the critical component in a relationship – especially true between people.
Time is the fundamental component in relationship building and it is a very limited resource – especially for people who are fully committed to the path toward financial success.
Since time is a limited resource and if invested in the effort of making money, there is less time devoted toward family and friends. Hence, the number of close interpersonal connections are small – a reflection of the modest time invested.
As time is the fundamental component in relationship building, competition for financial betterment is the un-building of relationship.
The players who compete for money in the Game of Life can be grouped into two categories –
- Friends
- Blood related family members
Let’s do an example of friends!
You and your best friend have been together since the first grade. High school prom, dating, mischief were shared experiences – unique and exclusive to both of you.
Both of you just graduated from the college of engineering and are looking for the first big career opportunity.
That summer, Google decided to create a brand new position to lead a 10 years secretive project and the requirements are fully matched with your best friend and you.
Hypothetically, Google will only interview two candidates and only you and your best friend are aware of the covert project.
Here is the question – will both of you apply for the position with the full awareness that there is only one opening.
Let’s say after the lengthy interview with both of you, the project manager could not decide which candidate to lead the project – and strangely requested one of you to volunteer the forfeiting the once in a life time opportunity.
Will you withdraw your application for sake of the advancement of your best friend future?
This hypothetical example of the competition for financial betterment in general – will undoubtedly define the quality and the number of friends a person will have within a lifetime.
In a purest sense, true definition of friendship occurred at two mile markers – the years prior to puberty and rare but not impossible in the last decade of life.
Finally, competition for financial betterment will turn family members against one another. Family feud for money is common among families that have successfully competed in society for their shares of the wins – with some ended in tragedies.
Without debating on its merit, in the world of competition, money has become the de-facto score board for highly competitive individuals, it the most effective and tangible metric to measure for the investment of their time and effort – this is the reality.
Once money has been conditioned consciously or unconsciously to be the personal score board, deep and meaningful interpersonal relationship with family and friends will be the constant and contentious struggle – you can’t have your cake and eat it.
Simply put – with time as the limited resource and the Darwinism survival of the fittest as the rule of the engagement – the bigger the bank account the smaller the circle of family and friends.
Let’s play the Game of Life!
