Greed is a Tool: Leveraging Your Own and Others

The Wall Street movie speech by Gordon Gekko is world famous. I know many young kids growing up who knew it by heart. It’s short, simple and powerful. 

“The point is, ladies and gentlemen, that greed -- for lack of a better word -- is good.

Greed is right.

Greed works.

Greed clarifies, cuts through, and captures the essence of the evolutionary spirit.

Greed, in all of its forms -- greed for life, for money, for love, knowledge -- has marked the upward surge of mankind.

And greed -- you mark my words -- will not only save Teldar Paper, but that other malfunctioning corporation called the USA.”

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVxYOQS6ggk

This is why capitalism works. It taps into natural human behavior. The need for more. 

Any system, whether governmental like communism or a religious one like Christianity that try to control or limit this element of human nature is usually ineffective in doing so. But trying to crush and restrain it like they have tried in the Soviet Union, North Korea, Venezuela, Cuba among other places leads to massive poverty and human despair. 

The counter point is this is why America is a capitalist’s dream. As messed up as the place is, I love it. It’s a society that channels ambition and drive. And rewards it tremendously in many cases. That is why there is so much wealth inequality here. 

It’s not for everyone. But for the ambitious, driven and those willing to do the required hard work, this is the best place for you. Environments matter. I never would have gotten where I am without being here. Surrounded by plenty of greed and plenty of fear too. It’s a tremendous platform for impact.

Greed leads to drive. Greed leads to clear interests. No relationship lasts long without clear mutual interests. The search for more and better. This is hard wired into all of us from our caveman days. And there is no point fighting it. 

In fact, we should understand this evolutionary drive for more, control and channel it. Direct it to good things. Accumulating for the right things & reasons. Make more money and more resources for your freedom, for your family, for your ability to help others. To donate to charity and support causes that are society positive. Treat it like the tool that it is and channel your greed for good.