I am asking this question to all those young and upcoming musicians who recently received car donations from Wicknell Chivayo.
This article has been triggered by one of the wives of these musicians who told me that: "I am unfortunately married to one musician (name given) who is a recipient of a Mercedes Benz from Sir Wicknell. Since the day he was gifted that car, we do not see him at home at all. He leaves home at 8 in the morning and does not come back until after midnight. He tells us that he spends his days rehearsing but people tell me that they see him operating his car as a pirate taxi. Before he received that car, he was always at home. There is no food in the house. Rent has not been paid. School fees are outstanding. The children’s medical bills have not been paid and there is no electricity in the house.
Since receiving that car, he has been acting like a wealthy person, a big shot. He gets his clothes on credit from this shop where he is finding it difficult to pay back, but tells everyone he only wears Gucci outfits. On the odd occasion of him flying to South Africa for a gig, he shows off by posting to everyone him climbing on the stairs of the aeroplane, but returns home with nothing.”
I listened attentively and began to wonder whether this irresponsible behaviour is rife among all those musicians who drive donated cars. Certainly not.
My father once told me that the man who needs everyone to see his wealth, has none. They drive expensive cars to look successful yet their families are starving at home. Real wealthy people have no time to show it off. My experience is that those who are pretending to be rich do the boasting and those that are genuinely rich are quite discreet.
This is certainly the case with some people I know.
Sure these boasters have the big house, the fancy cars, the exotic holiday locations and the whole deal looks real. From the outside, everything is looking just picture perfect. But how much debt do they have? How much stress do they have? How much of what they have and do is all just rung up on credit? Remember, you can borrow more the more you earn. But just because you earn it, doesn’t mean you have kept any of it.
I once sat down with a financial planner/mortgage broker and he had quite a few stories to tell me about people hiding behind a mountain of debt. They live behind a facade that is held in place by debt.
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Time and again he told me about people on hundreds of thousands of dollars a year who for years had been paying only the minimum payment on their mortgage and are in serious debt now to the point of having their house repossessed.
The vast majority of people with true wealth do not boast about it. They do not show off. The reason is that most of their wealth is in investments. But let me tell you something most rich men won’t admit: money doesn’t keep you warm at night. Power doesn’t hold your hand when the cancer hits. And success? It sure as hell doesn’t laugh at your bad jokes over breakfast..
Let’s take for instance, a musician such as Jah Prayzah who has gone through all the blood, sweat, and tears involved in acquiring his wealth.
He does not need a car donation from Sir Wicknell. He had already acquired his own fleet of cars before he was gifted with other vehicles. However, the gift was just the icing on the cake.
The vast majority of people with true wealth do not boast about it. They do not show off. The reason is because most of that wealth is tied up in real estate, stocks, or other investments. It’s those so-called “rich” that make good money but spend it all on trivial things.
A musician who lives in a house that is already fully paid for. Is according to me, a wealthy person Their only expenses are utility bills, food, and medical expenses.
To me, the person who possesses qualities such as kindness, generosity, compassion and emotional wealth rather than material wealth.is truly a wealthy person..
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