In Shanghai again

Gloomy sky overshadows the skyline. I am in Shanghai again.

I can't figure this city out. So many encounters are underpinned by inquisitions into other people's wealth, salaries and social status. People are indulged in their money thirst, adding no other meaning to life than making more and more money.

Should we take a quick minute to think about the most successful money makers against these typical inhabitants of Shanghai? Bill Gates, richest person on the surface of the earth, made his fortune by building up his software empire. Key success factors I would argue are his passion for software and his vision in its success. The ones that are the most successful tend to be those that see things before others, move ahead of the rest and execute with 120% commitment and a tinkle of iron cladders. A money thirsty individual unfortunately fails on all fronts.

Seeing before others requires one to farm barren land, create new markets, pioneer into unchartered waters. A money thirsty individual however resents uncertainties for the opportunity cost associated, and is more willing to obey market trends. He is blinded by existing wealth, well tested business models and is simply too busy with following. This indeed is the quickest way to make SOME money to cure their desperate thirst.

Moving ahead of the rest is no simple matter either. It is often rooted in one's passion and. It requires s a relentless warrior willing to take risks to accoomplish. Seeing opportunities is difficult for those blinded by existing pies, but acting on opportunies presents a whole new level of problems. They simply cannot stomach the opportunity cost of action! Short term gains of a few more percent of an existing pie thwart the effort to create a new pie that belongs to himself only.

Executing with 120% commitment and iron cladders speaks of one's integrity. A money thirsty individual tends to be well measured and balanced between different opportunities. Asking him to put aside other pursuits and focus on one thing and one thing only is virtually impossible. He needs an exit option at all times! Iron cladders run into similar problems -- can we piss off competitors? can we piss off suppliers? can we piss off even employees? Yes, in your road to success, any barrier shall be overcome!

My biggest problem against the money thirst is not that it prevents people from actually getting truly wealthy, but that it prevents people from being interesting human beings, living for an interesting and meaningful purpose. When life is reduced to making money and making money only, how are we different from those animals that rise to eat and rest once full? Even worse, these money thirsty become an animal that rests to rise, and rises to amass wealth that they have no good use over.

I pity these lost souls