Perhaps one of the most opinionated writers of the twentieth century has been the beloved, hated, and all-around controversial Ayn Rand, author of The Fountainhead, Atlas Shrugged, and many others. Her strong libertarian views have assisted in establishing an image and reputation which continues to outlast her: one of a financially-conscious individual who understood and emphasized the centrality of money, arguably to a fault.
Why is Rand relevant? Rand has a quote which gets to the heart, not only of her personal take on money, but on what appears to me to be an ethos which deserves to be emulated: “Money is only a tool. It will take you wherever you wish, but it will not replace you as the driver.”
I think there are a number of different ways to read Rand’s statement. One might understand Rand’s words to speak of an innate desire to let money make itself, an attraction to laziness which threatens a person’s work ethic, the source of monetary gain. Yet I think the diametrically opposed interpretation of this quote might be even more relevant to the present-day reader. Often, I hear people speak of themselves as victims of money: “If only I had more money, I could go to Aruba.” “Because I don’t have money, I won’t be able to pay off my loans.” These are sentiments we all express, quite understandably when we are faced with financial obligations, tight budgets, and unexpected costs.
Yet what if we challenged ourselves to change perspectives? To see money as a tool which we all have access to? Surprisingly, we are largely in control of our savings and our spendings. To a greater extent than we think, we are in control of our incomes; if you are dissatisfied with your salary, freelancing your skills is often a flexible and easy way to earn extra cash. If you are investing your time in a profession which isn’t paying the bills, remember that you, like all people, are home to a wealth of skills, only a few of which are being utilized at your primary job. By challenging ourselves to feel empowered by the constant money-making opportunities which regularly come our way but are easy to miss, not only can we become more financially secure, but better-empowered to achieve our goals and serve as role models to others.
Sometimes, people romanticize the idea of poverty, the victimhood one has to money, especially when compared to a wealthier person. Start changing this perspective. Money is an opportunity, not a disincentive. Money is a tool, as Rand says, a tool which you, like all others, have access to if you only think creatively and with a disciplined mind. Dare yourself to appreciate money and the tool it can be. You might be very happy that you did.