Your most important asset...YOU!
Last month, I wrote about the need to feel relevant. But what happens when you’re thrown a curve ball and suddenly find yourself either under-employed or unemployed, and thus, seemingly irrelevant? We have an expression: “Mann denkt und G-tt lenkt” or “Man thinks and Hashem steers.” It can be a shock to the system to realize that the profession one had for so long can no longer pay the bills. It is at that moment that one must make a decision: do I change tracks and try a different profession, or remain defiant to reality and continue to try and make it work in my field? I believe it’s worthwhile to consider trying something new. If it is what we were meant to do, Hashem will help us make it happen.
In a high school bookkeeping course, I was introduced to the concept of “assets and liabilities.” An asset was defined as “something that one owns,” while a liability is “something that one owes.” I also learned that most assets depreciate over time. Understood in this way, success in life can be defined as “the one with the most ‘toys’ wins.”
But there’s another way to understand assets and liabilities that can be more profitable. In Rich Dad Poor Dad, Robert Kiyosaki changed the definition of asset from “something I own” to “something that will put money into my pocket.” For example, the car you own depreciates daily, but if you use it to deliver food in your Uber Eats business, or you rent it out to others, it changes into an asset, because it is now earning money for you. The money pit known as your home can make money for you as an Airbnb.
However, I believe your most valuable asset is you. It is up to you to learn how to use talents in a way that enriches your life, both monetarily and emotionally. But let’s be honest, reinventing oneself is not easy. The proposition can be daunting and terrifying. The questions you must explore are “What are my strengths?” “What do I love?” and finally, “How do I turn my passion and strengths into cash?” For example, if one enjoys listening to and helping others solve problems, one could become a life coach. There are courses online and books detailing the process. Within a few months, one can begin a potentially lucrative career. If one is mechanically astute and enjoys fixing things, one could become a handyman. If one enjoys the open road and making their own hours, Uber or any of those types of “side-gigs” may be the ticket. If you enjoy visiting patients, maybe chaplaincy is your calling. If you can help people move through the stages of grief, grief counseling may be your way of expression. The bottom line is “Find your passion and turn it into income, because you are your greatest asset.”
If you would like help in this area, give me a call and let’s work together to discover your true passion. I look forward to hearing from you.
Rabbi Fred Nebel
Director of Jewish Family Services
(574) 233-1164 ext 1806
RabbiNebel@TheJewishFed.org