Bossin' before Flossin'
"Why do you think the old stories tell of men who set out on great journeys to impress the gods? Because trying to impress people just isn't worth the time and effort." - Henry Rollins
Not so long ago I found out that because I used my car 80% for work, I could claim 80% off in tax on its purchase or lease value. Praise be! I immediately began to dream of the Mercedes GLE 4WD I was going to procure for my driving pleasure.
I made the ‘mistake’ (AKA sense check) of sharing my crazy vision with my husband. First of all, this man is one of the most humble and simple human beings I know. Second of all, he is a non-believer in flossing. He thinks all flossers are tossers AKA Australian for idiots. At my announcement, he raised an eyebrow and asked, ‘you bossing yet?’
I blanched and shook my head.
See, I got him loud and clear. What he meant was this – until both he and I reached our financial goals for the year, put enough capital in worthy investments, nurtured our business interests to where they needed to be and could buy the GLE outright, I/we weren’t boss enough to floss.
He wasn’t against getting a great car. He was urging caution and spending what we could afford. He’s still not a fan of flossing though – he rocks a 20-year-old Pajero that he won’t sell.
I’m still a massive GLE fan. I love the car’s design and workmanship. But I’m also a very concerned observer and over the years, I’ve become a conservative spender. There are far too many people flossing, not bossing, in the business world.
They’re racking up debt, renting large offices, leasing fat cars, buying designer bags, stressing their partners and putting themselves under immense stress to look the part of a successful business owner.
My mother, a very successful international trauma psychologist who leads major crisis responses globally, reminded me not so long ago how she started her psychology practice. With a broken dining room chair, a side table from our living room and a Peugeot 405 we named the ‘aerojet’ because its four doors arbitrarily swung open if you took a slight corner.
Then there’s my mum in law who bought a brand new car for the first time at age 70, after years of investing, scrimping and saving to build a real estate empire worth millions.
Let’s not forget Warren Buffet, the billionaire CEO of Berkshire Hathaway. He never spends more than $3.17 on breakfast, and he lives in the same house he bought for $31,500 in 1958 (or $260,000 in today’s dollars). In 2014, he reportedly bought a Cadillac XTS, a car with a retail price of around $45,000. It was an upgrade from his previous car: a 2006 Cadillac DTS, which he decided to get rid of when his daughter Susie told him it was embarrassing. (via CNBC.com)
Steve Ballmer, owner of the Los Angeles Clippers and former CEO of Microsoft drives a $28,000 Ford Fusion. Mark Zuckerberg, a 30,000 black Acura TSX. They’re all bosses, but they’re not flossing.
The intrinsic lesson is this – be a boss before you floss. Be in control, be in charge and become more than able to afford your lifestyle before you buy big-ticket items. There’s nothing wrong with beautiful things if you’re collecting them for the right reasons, to enjoy them and delight in their workmanship… not to floss and make yourself seem like someone you’re not.
Also remember this, the true whales –the really wealthy among us – rarely need to show it off. Because when you’ve arrived, there’s no need to remind people where you’re at. The right people will know and the right people will find you there.
Insight Inspiration
The less you floss with, the more you have to leave to those who come after you.
One of the loveliest things my mother ever told me was that her life’s work was dedicated to leaving a legacy to my siblings and I. She worked from dawn to midnight, drove an ordinary ‘flying’ car and scrimped and saved, all so we could have an education and strong foundation to stand on.
She also worked tirelessly – and continues to do so – in her community, church and within Kenya, starting a school in the worst slum in Nairobi where she fed and educated 1,000+ kids for free. What’s remarkable is that her dedication to leaving a legacy positioned her for greatness.
She counts the US Embassy, USAID, Coca Cola, IBM, British High Commission, Google and Mastercard amongst her clients.
She currently sits on the board of numerous global organisations and has led international crisis response teams at some of the world’s worst terrorism attacks and war locations. She was recently named the International Trauma Ambassador for the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, lobbying governments globally to invest more in mental health and trauma support.
She does it all without calling attention to herself; letting her actions and work speak for her. What’s she’s left me with is a legacy of integrity, humility, a hard work ethic, giving to those in need and a spirit of joy regardless of the circumstances. Plus a secret love for cars that can fly!
Think on it.
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