By Jim Miles
In the mid-1960s, after several years of graduate studies, I began my working career
by teaching high school algebra and history.
 I absolutely loved it. I found my work with the students that I taught
to be personally rewarding and fulfilling. But I thought that to really
amount to something I needed to make money; a lot of money. My
philosophy back then could be summed up by the words of that old
rock and roll song by Barrett Strong:
“The best things in life are free, but you can keep ’em for the birds
and bees…give me money, that’s what I want…”
So, I became a stockbroker. And yes, I made money. But for some
reason, I soon discovered that selling investments wasn’t for me. I never
truly believed in or embraced that profession as a service to others. I
came to see my work as a hustle. There was definitely nothing about
my job that I could say I loved or found fulfilling.
Becoming disillusioned with the investment banking field, I opted
for real estate brokerage work to, you guessed it, make more money.
But after several successful years in my new profession, I still wasn’t
happy. The money was coming in, but my heart wasn’t in my work.
Again, I was left with an uncomfortable,
empty feeling.
Then, in my fourth year of real estate, I
chanced upon an opportunity to design
and teach real estate courses to adults who
wanted to obtain real estate licenses. Back
in teaching, I came alive and my heart
began to sing. I became truly happy for the
first time in years. Even though I wasn’t
making as much money as I was in real estate brokerage, I knew I
was providing a real service to others, preparing them for the state
licensure exams. I began to see real estate in a different light. And I
began to see myself in a different light as well.
With this new perspective, my life began to dramatically shift. Former
real estate deals lying dormant suddenly came to life and commission
checks rolled in. A top realty management position opened up, further
teaching and speaking opportunities appeared, and my social life
flourished. As my heart opened up in enthusiastic service, the universe
responded in kind as “my cup runneth over.”
It was then that I began to realize how toxic and unhealthy my
attitude toward money had been. For all those years, deep in my
subconscious mind, I had held the belief that money was scarce. So
I was always worried about getting more money, rather than realizing
that money is the natural by-product of offering goods and services.
I had been exclusively focused on money’s lack rather than its
abundance. Therefore, I had continuously attracted lack of money in
my life. By changing my mind-set, believing money is always available
in abundance; positive changes beyond my wildest dreams began to
take place.
I began to take actions I never would have allowed myself to even
contemplate. I followed my inner guidance, knowing that the universe,
with its infinite abundance, would make what I needed available to
me. Eventually, I took a lengthy sabbatical, studying, traveling, writing,
teaching, and sharing the transformation I was experiencing. Instead
of high-powered jobs, I worked on “interesting” projects. I was calm,
happy, and at peace.
Surely investment banking and real estate brokerage are honorable
and service–oriented professions. (In fact, after 35 years, I still
maintain a valid Texas real estate broker’s license.) My problem was
not with those professions but with my attitude toward them. What
is your attitude toward your profession, your work or your career? If
money alone is your main driver, you might want to do a self-check.
An attitudinal adjustment might be in order.
Money is neither good nor bad. It is neutral. At some point in our
lives, each of us must come to an honest understanding of what values
we cherish and honor. Seeing one’s work or profession as a valuable
service to others can satisfy the soul as well as the wallet.
In his timeless masterpiece, The Prophet, Kahlil Gibran wrote, “Work
is love made visible.” It took me nearly 15 years to realize the profound
wisdom contained in those words.
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