My Dialoge With John Chow

I found this post at JohnChow.com, The title of it is: It's not how much you make, it's how much you give. My original intention was to post a few excerpts and a link, but as I was reading through it, I realized it might be more interesting to post the article in it's entirety - along with my own comments and observations. So, here goes:


Many people ask me how much I make on the Internet. My blog income recap is always one of the most popular posts of the month.

This is because we'd all like to make that much money, it gives other bloggers and Internet wanna-be entrepreneurs hope. (Here's a link to the post on his March income - if you're curious).

I guess I can’t really blame people for asking.

Actually, John, you want people to ask because us coming to see how much you've made is how you make your money... a sweet little set up to be sure. We want to see how you do what you do, so we sign up for your affiliate programs, copy your template, and leave comments. We talk about you and raise your Google ranking, we link to you and pay for advertising on your blog. It's all about you and how much you make... so of course you can't blame people for asking... you want us to ask!

Most of us equate success with how much money you make. However, I think the true measure of success is not how much you make, it’s how much you give.

And of course, the more you make, the more there is to give... it's a catch 22.

You Can’t Take It With You

OK duh!

While it’s great to have a bunch of fancy toys, you have to keep in mind that you can’t take it with you when your time comes and God isn’t going to judge you based on how many fancy cars you drove.

Another duh! And, actually, you sound like you are bragging a little bit here! Letting us know that you do have a lot of fancy toys and cool cars and other luxury stuff.

My first responsibility to my wife and family. After they’re taken care of, I feel we have a duty to help others in need. I used to like accumulating toys (I still do) but now I find much more fulfillment and pleasure in matching donations to worthy causes.

Alright, so I get it, you're a family guy, a good guy and you have so much stuff that now you are feeling good about donating to worthy causes. You're a philanthropist and a family man who incidentally has lots of cool expensive toys. Hurray for you.

How would you like to be remember; as someone with a lot of toys or as someone who made a difference in the world? You can say what you want about Bill Gates but when he goes, he will be known as one of the greatest humanitarians who’ve ever lived.

So, John, are you a Bill Gates wanna be? And, again, another duh! We all want to make a difference in the world and we all want a lot of toys.

The true measure of a man is not how much he makes, it’s how much he gives.

And again, may I point out that if we are talking about monetary giving - how much you make has a definite impact on how much you can give.

You Have To Give In Order To Get

Now we're down to the heart of the matter. This is what our prosperity project is about this time around, testing to see if this is really a true statement or not.

I’m really fortunate that the Internet has not only provided me with a way to provide for my family, it has also provided me with the means to make a difference in peoples’ lives. Don’t get me wrong, I like buying fancy sport cars as much as the next guy. However, in order to have those fancy things, you have to give first.

Shut up already about the fancy toys and the Internet income.

This is something many people have a hard time understanding but it is a universal truth. The best way to explain the concept is with this quote:

If you want to live with masses, serve the classes.
If you want to live with the classes, serve the masses.

I have a definite issue here. For one thing, if you are going to admit to quoting someone, (this is actually your 3rd quote), you might at least share the source of said quote. And another thing, I deeply resent the "masses - classes" concept. What a derogatory statement. Am I one of the faceless masses just because I don't have fancy toys and a $100,00+ Internet income? Am I "less than" because I have "less than" you?

If You Want To Live with The Classes, Serve The Masses

OK, rub it in some more...

If you look at any successful businesses, you’ll see that they serve a lot of people. The more they serve, the richer they get. Google serves millions of web surfers everyday. Walmart serves more customers than any store in the world. They’re among the richest companies in the world. The rich got rich because they serve the masses. The masses being their customers, employees, shareholders, etc. The poor are poor because they serve the classes (their boss). The more you serve, the richer you become.

Excuse me? Walmart? Serve? They got rich because they had something that other people want. Walmart got rich because they take advantage of 3rd world economics. They routinely screw their employees around, they are all about their bottom line. A certain amount of PR is done to ensure that the "masses" see them in a positive light, but push come to shove, Walmart is here for Walmart - not for me and not even for you.

As for Google... you might have a point there. I personally love Google (this blog is courtesy of Google) they do serve the masses (me) and they also serve the classes (you). Google serves everyone and in return, they make money hand over fist. What's great about Google is that much of what they provide is given freely. And the "classes" (that would be you?) pay to be listed first and featured most on those freely given services.

You attract what you give out. If you give out negative vibes, you’ll get negative vibes back. If you want people to smile at you, just smile at them. If you want love, give your love.

No arguments from me here. I believe this to be true. I have experienced it.

If you want money, give your money. It will all come back to you in greater amounts than you gave.

Here's where I'd like to see your personal financial statements proving this theory. Because I don't believe it at all. I could go out right now and give all my money away. And then what? I wouldn't have any money, that's what. Now, if I channeled all my resources, my energy, my passion into a "worthy" cause... then, yes, I agree. It would come back but not to me, it would come back THROUGH me for that "worthy" cause.

So, the question comes... what constitutes a "worthy" cause? In my opinion, anytime a person or persons has a passion a surge of creative intensity, a drive that transcends the ordinary - regardless of the specifics - there you have a "worthy" cause. JohnChow.com for example. You had passion for it, you channeled your resources, your energy, and now it's a thriving financial success. Or Mother Theresa, she channeled her resources, her energy, and created something pretty amazing. And what about The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, now there was passion, energy, resources, and look what happened with that! Everyone gave 120% and they created something spectacular.

When you donate to worthwhile causes, you are serving the masses. You serve enough of the masses, you will live with the classes.

Bullshit! (Sorry - but that's what I think). Again, "masses" ?? "classes" ?? I'm wondering, do you have a donation button on your site? Something new that you get a small kick back on?

-oOo-

OK, that was fun! So, what do you guys think? Any insights or comments? Do you read John Chow?