Car paradox

When you see someone driving a nice car, your really think, wow, the guy driving an expensive car is cool. Instead, you think, wow if I had that car people would think I am cool. Subconscious or not, this is how people think.

There is a paradox here, people tend to want wealth to signal to others that they should be liked and admire. But in reality those other people often bypass admiring you, not because they do not think wealth is admirable, but because they use your wealth as a benchmark for their own desire to be liked and admired.

I began thinking about all the people driving up to the hotel in their Ferraris, watching me gawk. People must gawk everywhere they went and I am sure they loved it. I am sure they felt admitted.

But did they know I did not care about them or even notice them? Did they know I was only gawking at the car and imagining myself in the drivers’ seat?

Did they buy a Ferrari thinking it would bring them admiration without realizing that I and likely most others, who are impressed with the car did not actually give them, the driver, a moment’s thought?

Does this same idea apply to those living in big home? Almost certainly.

My point here is not to abandon the pursuit of wealth or even fancy cars.

It is a subtle recognition that people generally aspire to be respected and admire by others and using money to buy fancy things may bring less of it than you imagine. If respect and admiration are your goal, be careful how your seek it. Humility, kindness and wealthy will bring you more respect than horsepower ever will.