Schussler ends his book with a chapter on Philanthropy. He quotes Winston Churchill, “We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give.” He closes this chapter with another quote that also strikes a chord with me. “What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us, what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal.”
Right now at this point in my life, I find it so hard to give back where it’s due. It’s sad, because I know that giving is what life is really all about, but when work absorbs the majority of your time, it makes it hard to follow through. Where do we find the time to make a difference in other people’s lives while continuing to give a full effort towards our own success?
I’ve always told myself that my main goal in short term is to make a secure life for myself and my family, and in the long run I hope to be able to reach back and extend my efforts to those that are also in need. I feel like it’s a tough road that all of us run into, we all struggle with it. As entrepreneur, especially one that is driven for financial security, you sometimes have to ask yourself is this what life is all about. Making money, commanding respect, personal glory? Even though I somewhat oppose this life choice, we live in a society that demands us to make money in order to live. So where do we do we draw the line in satisfying personal interests and the value of other’s wellbeing above our own?
I think it’s a question that has no right or wrong answer, but I’d like hear what others have to say. In the meantime, I’ll give where can, treat others with respect, and try to never make myself unavailable for someone that truly needs me. It haunting to know that no matter what the rat race brings us, its all gone in the end. The legacy that we leave behind has more to do with the effect we had on others rather than ourselves.