Wealth is created through several means.
- Natural resources can be harvested and sold to those who want
them.
- Material can be changed into something more valuable through
proper application of knowledge, skill, labor and equipment.
- Better production methods also create additional wealth by
allowing faster creation of wealth.
For example, consider our early ancestors. Building a house from
trees created something of greater value for the builder. Hunting and
firewood created food and fed a growing family. Agriculture converted
labor into more food and resources. Continuing use of resources and
effort has allowed many descendants to own much more than that first
house.
This is still true today. It is more obvious to those working with
physical material than to a service worker or knowledge worker. A
cubicle worker may not be aware in how many ways their work is creating
something which is of more value to their employer than the amount that
employer paid to produce it. This profit creates wealth for the owners
of the organization. The process also provides income for employees, and
suppliers, and it makes the continued existence of the organization
possible.
There is a debate in economic literature, usually
referred to as the limits to growth debate in which the ecological
impact of growth and wealth creation is considered. Many of the wealth
creating activities mentioned above (cutting down trees, hunting,
farming) have an impact on the environment around us. Sometimes the
impact is positive (for example, hunting when herd populations are high)
and sometimes the impact is negative (for example, hunting when herd
populations are low).
Most researchers feel that sustained environmental impacts can have an
effect on the whole ecosystem. They claim that the accumulated impacts
on the ecosystem put a theoretical limit on the amount of wealth that
can be created. They draw on archeology to cite examples of cultures
that they claim have disappeared because they grew beyond the ability of
their ecosystems to support them.
Others are more optimistic. They claim that although localized
environmental impacts may occur, large scale ecological effects are
either minor (in terms of magnitude) or non-existent. They sometimes
claim that if these global scale ecological effects exist, human
ingenuity will always find ways of adapting to them. To them, there is
no limit to the amount of growth or wealth that this planet will
sustain.
The limited surface of Earth also restricts potential growth and the
effects upon this planet.
Wealth is a stock, meaning that it is a total
accumulation over time. Income is a flow, meaning it is a rate of
change. Income represents the increase in wealth, expenses the decrease
in wealth. Mathematically, net income (income minus expenses) can be
thought of as the first derivative of wealth, representing the change in
wealth over a period of time.
Each one of us wish to become Wealthy. However, very
few are able to achieve it. The basic reason for failure to become
Wealthy are mostly common. Some of the most common reasons are given
below:
- A sound physical health is essential. Most of us do not give
importance to Physical Health by ignoring the two basic things of
sound physical health.
- Food habits
- Exercise
It is recommended that first & foremost thing to improve is
physical fitness for which one should change his food habits &
everyone should start exercise which suits to his/her needs to
maintain a disease free body.
- A sound mental health is essential to take right decisions to the
maximum possible extend. A right decision can be taken only if it is
taken without fear, greed, anger or influence. Some time should be
spared every day to improve mental health by adopting any one of the
following:
- Pranayam
- Dhyan
- Jap
- Kirtan
It is expected that a normal person can achieve upto 90%
correct decisions if atleast one action is taken for betterment of
mental health.
- The decision to create wealth should be taken with long term
objectives of wealth creation . However , most person take this
decision on friends/neighbors advice without working out their
needs/goals . You should also take advise from experts of this field
in this regard .
- Some persons consider investments as a tool of tax savings rather
than growth & value creation .
The goal of wealth creation can differ from one
person to another. Some examples of targets are given below for example
- A service class person wants to save for retirement & needs
to meet expenses for higher education /marriage etc. of his /her
children.
- A business class person wants to save for growth in business
/emergencies.
- An optimistic person in service may like to save for switch over
from service to business.
- Many people save for buying properties viz., shops/residence/land
etc.
In general there are following investment avenues
which give higher growth rates to your investments:
- Shares
- Mutual funds
- Tax saving schemes-with tax
advantage & high growth rates
- Real Estate