hope to money-bags-sticky dreamstime

 

“… for there’s money in hope: the more desperate the hope, the richer the pickings.”

Richard Dawkins

 

 

 

“While there’s life, there’s hope.”

Cicero

 

 

 

Well.

 

While it may sound naïve or maybe silly… I do believe there is nothing more important in business, individuals and Life … then Hope.

 

In addition.

I actually believe the world revolves around hope.

 

Think about it.

 

 

In relationships … in moments of anger or spite we starve the relationship of hope … in moments of compassion and love we feed hope.

 

In business … while we speak of vision and purpose as the most important organizational aspect … in fact … it is actually hope.

Leaders are like hope meteorologists providing daily, weekly and long term forecasts <sometimes even hourly>.

Employees go to sleep thinking about the weather that day and wake up checking the forecast for the day.

 

 

Anyway.

 

I thought about this in a business meeting yesterday.

 

hope cup ofThe conversation was endlessly circling a mind numbing array of technological patents owned by the company and how to make money from these  highly effective relatively simple to use <but with some usage flaw characteristics> products.

 

On and on ….

 

Patent.

Superior than ‘x’ <already in market>.

Get rich.

<repeat loop endlessly>

 

Look.

 

Pragmatically I know that functional superiority is important … can I make whites whiter … can I make mold disappear faster from the shower … can the pen write while upside down in a space where there is no gravity and Yanni music plays nonstop.

 

I started tuning out.

 

And then I remembered one of the most important brand consulting lessons I learned years ago … and I dangled hope in front of them and the conversation.

 

 

“look … it all comes down to hope … we are all dealers in hope … hope for something better … hope to be better … hope to live better or have better … hope to actually help make the world better <either personally – as in making your kids and family better – or societally – as in doing things that contribute to a better world> … you have a bunch of patents on a bunch of shit that really does seem to work better than most of the shit out there in the market … but what hope do they meet? What do you hope happens with your shit being used?”

Me

 

 

<note: while slightly bored at this point … and slightly deflated by the conversation up to that point … I edited out the ‘shits’ from my mental monologue>

 

 

Well.

 

That changed the whole tone and dynamic of the conversation.

 

Even the entrepreneur owner lit up.

We started talking about affecting obesity … affecting how much food is wasted by a typical household … affecting people’s health … affecting hope.

 

hopeWe started talking about real benefits of use beyond functional benefits. And even better? We started talking about benefits beyond ‘personal benefits.’

 

I admit.

 

It amazes me how I often I … a huge believer in hope … forgets how relevant hope is in every environment, to almost every discussion and choice … and how no matter the situation … taps into every soul in the room.

 

And, yes, even those who seem to be focused on ‘getting rich’ can be inspired by hope.

 

Along that thought … remember … money is not inherently evil.

But it is often dangerous because it has a power to make us forget about what is most important.

 

Ok.

It doesn’t make us forget … maybe it just blinds us in its dazzle.

 

When a person gains ‘enough money’ <however an individual may define their own personal ‘enough’> they begin to feel that they are a success and in doing so they can forget their failure in some other aspects of Life.

And worse?

 

It can make you forget about hope.

 

Rather than trusting in money … we should trust in hope. Hope richly supplies us with all things to enjoy.

Hope provides far more security than any amount of money you can ever earn.

 

Regardless.

 

No real reason I wrote this other than the fact I was thinking about hope … and I imagine we all could take a little more time to think about hope.

 

Think about Hope in our personal lives … and <surprisingly to some> … in our business lives.

 

I will never tire of thinking and talking about Hope.

 

Hope is certainly worth more than money.

But finding hope … and how to fulfill hope … can have many rewards <even money in some cases>.

 

 

Anyway.

hope dance money

I hope you dance with Hope. In any room and even without music.

 

 

You will never go wrong in Life or business.

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Written by Bruce