Scarcity rulezzz…
I ran into an old acquaintance. On the street. It was only a short while ago, and at the same time it seems like an eternity, because it was before the C-crisis. C = corona. We can hardly stand the word anymore.
“Hey. Hans,” I heard behind me. I looked around and saw – euphemistically speaking – a well-fed man. Vaguely in his outline I recognized my old college friend Berend.
It was him. At his leisure, slightly shuffling, he walked there in a lammy coat. A lammy coat, that's a coat with fur all over. In his hand Berend had a cardboard box. From the black gold I could see that it was a pastry box from the local pastry jeweler.
I had lost sight of Berend, but I knew of his good fortune. Well sold, nicely inherited, had the wind at his back. He deserves it wholeheartedly. He stood before me as a slow, fat man. Cheerful and nice, no doubt about it. But his ship had been in the safe harbors of abundance for a long time, and Berend can no longer sail.
Berend is 'in'. That's what it's called. Sheep on dry land. Money like water.
Floating in abundance. Now that I write this down, I realize again how much money and water have in common.
Without money and without water nothing grows. Both are also always in motion. It comes in and it flows out. Both are difficult to control and waste is part of it.
When it's still it starts to stink. Also so striking.
But there is another similarity between money and water.
Money and water: you can play with them nicely. But to make things grow, it has to be distributed smartly and strategically. Just enough in all places.
Abundance is not okay at all. I will tell you even more: humans do not do well on abundance at all. We benefit from slight scarcity.
You. Me. The king and the queen. Berend. We are all built for scarcity.
Scarcity is different from want. Want: that is hunger, cold and thirst. Want is bad. Scarcity is a slight desire. A silent pull. Scarcity keeps us razor sharp.
It keeps our ambition burning. It makes us eager.
We walk a little faster. Move more smoothly. Try a little harder. We join in the game.
Scarcity also gives value to an object or a material. Scarcity is – in short – good for a person.
The C crisis brings scarcity. That is annoying or even disastrous. But it gives us an unprecedented boost. My belief is this:
Anyone who was successful before corona, can be successful during corona and after corona. There are always - always - possibilities. Guard your mental strength.
Scarcity rulezzz…
But what should you do if you live in abundance, like Berend?
Very simple. You have to give yourself that silent pull. Actively build scarcity into your life. You do that by dividing your money smartly and strategically. Just enough in all places. Also important: divide your money ethically.
Invest. Create. Support the companies you believe in.
Set up a scholarship fund for children. Whoever those children are.
Or work on an emergency fund for people close to your heart.
And remember this: there is no more lucrative resource than a scarce resource.
Let's keep our angles square.
Hans Ruinemans, boardroom monk
PS A 15 minute meet-up call in my online agenda? Click here.