Work for Respect, Not Status

There is a massive difference between respect and status.

There’s this good ol’ book — Rich Dad, Poor Dad.
It was one of my first books I read about business.

It introduced me to the idea that:

There is a difference between rich and poor that goes beyond money.

Over the years, this idea has become more and more nuanced.

There are “rich” people that don’t have money,
and there are “poor” people that have money.

When I started out, I thought:

Status = Success = the Wealth Generated.

But I learned over time:

You won’t make it if the business is just about earning a lot of money.

A business to me is a way to provide for my family
and be a good steward of what God has given to me.

Here’s the interesting pattern you can work for:

  • You gain respect from the rich by outworking them.
  • You gain status from the poor by outspending them.

The amount and attitude toward your work
will influence your relationships with rich people.

The ability of buying shiny status toys = status from the poor people.
But when you own a Lambo or Rolls Royce, people will think you’re rich and that you’re cool.

It’s about status.

Yet the attitude you bring to your work
will be about your diligence.

This will bring you the respect of those ahead.

As Patrick Bet-David said:

“I am not afraid of someone that outspends me,
I am afraid of the person that outworks me for longer.”

Because outworking means you will stack the imagination through your work ethic.

So it’s better to work for respect than for status.

Similar Posts

  • From Busy to Effective with One Question

    We are caught in everyday to-do lists. Some days feel like a golden cage. There are just enough urgent tasks on the list that you don’t immediately quit. I have also tried many fancy, long to-do lists. And the day had just started — and I was already chasing after it. I was running behind on every task. As soon as I deliver & finish my first activity on time. I already ran behind the rest. Even all the productivity hacks can’t help you. They are all good and well until something changes your…

  • Gain Agency of your Life

    Gain Agency of your Life When we talk about starting a business, there is often the question of why should you bother. There is so much work that is required to make a business work. Often it is said to have more time and the most often reason is to make more money. But there is one big reason that I’m willing to work more for – and it’s Agency. You can’t become the best leader of your family if you need to ask for somebody else’s permission to act. If you need to take time off for your…

  • The No. 1 Skill for All Entrepreneurs

    Hey Reader, When I was starting out, my wife said:“You seem to be like you’re on a rollercoaster.” When a video I uploaded performed well — I was excited.I was on top of the world. Another day, I got a bad comment,and the whole day was ruined by insecurity. This continued day in, day out. On extreme days, it was the top of the world in the morning, and the valley of death in the afternoon. This brings me to the most important skill to master: Emotional Resilience. That you don’t take…

  • Don’t Be Scared of a Post to Fail

    Social media gets pretty boring.I read the same posts over and over again. Why do most people post the same stuff? It feels like there is nobody sharing fresh ideas. There are waves of trends.As soon as somebody posts something good,it gets reposted, repurposed a hundred times. They all look alike.Sound alike.Are there no new ideas? I believe it’s for one reason: Because people are actually scared their post won’t get enough likes. They hold back their genuine self, fresh thoughts, and new…

  • Don’t Follow Fishermen, Follow the Fish

    Hey Reader, In business, we are often tempted to jump on big trends. We often feel like we’re missing out if we don’t. Especially at the beginning, it’s hard. The question is: how do you get started? You should go where the fish are. Don’t blindly follow the advice of the fishermen. The fish is the spot, not the fishermen. The rest will follow long after. A friend and I went fishing together. When we arrived at the lake, it was often that way that others were leaving. So you just lost. Ash…

  • Have You Shared Your Story Yet?

    Many people try to grow their online presence —trying to build something unique. Yet they tell stories that everybody has heard before. You could share your story. Tell what happens in your life. It’s hard to do, so maybe — you think there is no story to tell. You have nothing interesting to share. Or you think that it’s scary. You don’t want to tell your story to nobody. I understand all that. But here’s the question:Why did you start? What made you want to start this business in the first…