Comments on: Business Success vs Friendship

By: George Manty

George Manty — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 02:57:28 +0000

Monika,

I think people do change when they become wealthy, but I also think that their friends perceptions of them changes too.

My father worked his way up the corporate ladder through his lifetime and has made it to the “wealthy” status. Growing up as a child we weren’t really wealthy, but a few years after college he started to move out of the middle class into the upper middle class and beyond. I do think that he changed some over time. I think it’s inevitable for most people to change as they grow into a new social status. Especially when part of their growth involves them having to network with other people who are wealthy (like my father). On the other hand, I know that many people do get jealous of their friend’s financial success. This can lead to the misperception that our wealthy friend no longer likes us, because they are interested in new things and have made new friends.

The fact of the matter is that all kinds of status changes affect the way people react to us. If I was to lose my job and become homeless, many of my friends would undoubtedly think differently of me. If I was to become paralyzed and couldn’t do anything, many of my friends would think differently of me.

Very interesting conversation that you started…

By: Monika Mundell

Monika Mundell — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 00:25:44 +0000

@ A dust collecting fool: you are correct with your statement. Many successful business owners have lost their family to a workaholic mental attitude.

@ melatonia: thank you for your input.

@ Jonathan: Yes, for sure. Like you, I also think character plays a huge role in everything we do. It is also the vehicle to keep us grounded.

By: Jonathan

Jonathan — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 20:15:12 +0000

I think that your character has a direct effect on how you manage wealth. If you have a stable character and gain money slowly you learn to cope with it and the expectations. If you are soley focussed on money at the expense of everything else and come into money then the character is not sufficiently developed.

By: melatonina

melatonina — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 06:37:59 +0000

it is difficult to do both because doing a succesful business takes away most of your time.

By: A dust collecting fool

A dust collecting fool — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 01:21:36 +0000

Success in business does not always mean success at life. It is very difficult to do both correctly.

By: Monika Mundell

Monika Mundell — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 02:11:46 +0000

@ Henry Lee: Cynicism. I didn’t even think of that. Funny enough the shunning could also be done by those friends instead like you mentioned. Good point.

By: Hendry Lee

Hendry Lee — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 16:07:51 +0000

That is exactly one of the topics we discussed when I hanged out with a friend last week. They said perhaps I will go out less often with them once my business goes stronger.

I know this is true for some people. Even if friends are still important to me, perhaps they will be the one who leaved, perhaps because of cynicism.