3 Reasons Why Greed Is Good
There is a reason why greed is one of the seven deadly sins. History can present enough evidence to prove it. However, we humans tend to find utilization of things to make them work in our favor. And sure enough, we can use this capital vice to grow in life.
Words of caution, greed without limit or consideration of others will do more harm than good. It will have a negative impact on yourself and the people surrounding you. Regularly reflecting on your thoughts and actions can help you maintain the balance.
Recently I chatted with Shantanu Deshpande, founder and CEO of Bombay Shaving Company. We talked about work-life balance, consumers, branding, and more exciting things. And we both agreed on how greed could be good if it is not at the cost of someone else. So here are 3 such reasons I dare say “greed is good”!
1. You deserve more
Greed will be your best friend when negotiating compensation for your job. Your coworker, doing the same work as you, can earn significantly more only because their greed compelled them to ask for that extra pay.
You will end up being highly dissatisfied at your job if you find out about such a discrepancy later. Companies arrange many activities and team-building exercises to retain candidates for the long term. Many factors can contribute to job dissatisfaction, but money is often the most significant incentive to persuade you to stay at a job. It can also help you ride up the corporate ladder quicker.
2. Keeps you focused
Greed will be your biggest motivator in life. You have to be greedy to achieve your goals. They will remain mere dreams if you do not aspire to push yourself hard enough.
You may read about your favorite sportsperson and envy the record-breaking success. However, if you can be greedy enough to think of achieving the same success for yourself, you can work towards it.
We often come across local retailers who charge more than other shops. We quickly award them with the tag of being greedy. But that greed means they can expand their business fast, which creates an employment opportunity. Here, social reform may not have been the motivation, but greed does result in some positive outcomes.
3. Self-love is not selfish
Greed will allow you to invest in yourself without making you feel guilty.
A gaming console you have been eyeing for a long time, a spa day to pamper yourself for the month’s hard work, or an expensive learning course. We often tend to neglect spending on ourselves as we fear looking selfish.
Excessive splurging without a second thought is never healthy. But neither is deprivation. The first step in taking care of others is taking care of yourself.
Once you start adding a bit of greed to your life, no one can stop you from crushing your goals. List areas where you feel you need to be greedy. Add the whys and hows, and keep moving forward while being conscious of bringing people forward with you.
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