TENTH finger..
$ Issue..
a) Aside from the definitions of money you may have heard of or already know, I’d like you to ask this question of yourself, and others: “What is money?” Write your thoughts down in your own words about what the function of money, what you think it is. Consider what does money mean to you? Or – what is your relationship to money?
- To me, money is just like a tool to all mankind to use/ buy something that they want/ need. I use money in my everyday life, in supermarkets, shopping centres, etc. However, I do not like money, because I feel that money is very dirty and evil. In fact, I did ask myself this question many times before. Nevertheless, my answer was always the same. Why must there be money? Why can’t we just go back to the time where people use goods to exchange for goods? Money to me is used just for the sake to get it along with life and interact with the rest of the world, or not I would just be left behind.
b) Consider: Money makes the world go round … (true/false/why?)
- True, I totally agree with this statement for now. In the world now, no one can live without money. If you penniless, you would then be looked down upon and considered as a ‘useless’ person. Compare a person with lots of money, the person would be able to buy many luxurious things and do many things that he likes. On the other hand, for a person without money, he/she might even face troubles with a simple meal to eat. Thus, it is definitely true that money makes the world go round in this era. However, it does not mean that we have to continue with this belief forever, because the world revolves around the sun, not money! If I have a choice, I would rather live in a world without money..
c) Consider: Money is the root of all evil … (true/false/why?)
- Personally, I think that money should not be accused as the root of all evil. Human mankind is! Money is just an invention that human made, just a piece of paper. What harm can a paper do? Nothing! However, its all thanks to human mankind beliefs and thoughts, thus money in their hands can then be used to murder, kill or even destroy the world.
d+e) What else?: Money is …
- Money is like a “communication tool”. People depends a lot on it for transactions. Money is like God to some people. As they find life meaningless without money, and not being able to be happy. To me, money is as dirty as newspaper. It goes around holding in everyone’s hand, recycling in a routine cycle.
f) Do you care about money? Why/not? What would happen if you didn’t have money at all? What would happen if you got a million dollars?
- Yes, definitely I care about money. Who doesn’t? No matter how much you hate/dislike money, it is impossible to not care about money totally. Because, we have to live with it everyday.
It depends on when and how I end up without money. If it is due to personally reasons, I think that it is my rightful deserved punishment. If it is happens in the future where money is no longer needed for use (globally), then I would take it as an advantage.
And if I got a million dollars? I would definitely use that amount of money to travel round the world with my loved ones, then enjoy a simple life at somewhere peaceful, then use the remaining money to donate to charity.
g) List down all your ideas and assumptions about Money, and examine them. How did you come to these conclusions? When did you start to think of money that way? Who influenced you to think that way? Was/is that always true?
- As stated above are already the ideas and assumptions I have about money. I come to all these conclusions after much thoughts and hearing of others. I had my impression of money since young. Since young, I was always curious about things, and different people would always provide me with different opinions of their own. I would not say that my thinking and impression of money is the most accurate one, as I believe that there are many more other reasons and explanations give to the invention and uses of money. Thus, it wouldn’t be fair for me to make this final judgement.
h) What can money do (for you)? And what does money enable you to do? And what does money stop you from doing?
- Money can definitely give and help me to achieve many things, like food and clothes etc. It can satisfy me with unlimited material pleasure, however, not trust and relationship ties among people. As money could follow along with fame, causing impact and influence to even personal lifestyle. It would then stop me from having a normal lifestyle compared to others, like joining certain events or activities.
i) How much are you worth? Try to imagine, and come up with a $ value/figure, and then explain why you are worth this amount. What emotions do you feel as you contemplate this question? What is the significance of this reaction?
- If there must be a price to name me as a designer, I think I am worth $999 999. As I believe I am someone who takes much pride of my work similarly to myself. So instead of pricing myself of $1mil, I still want to give myself a space for improvement. Thus, this explains the price of $999 999. In a way, to act like a motivation and encouragement to hit and be the highest. I do not have much emotions while contemplating this question, I just feel that I deserve this price rightfully.
j) Imagine a scenario where you were hired by a client to do a design job. How much would you charge for it? What if you doubled the amount? What if you halved the amount? What are your reactions to each price range? Would you do it for free? Why?
- It depends on what project would I be handling? Besides, I am not sure with the market prices out there for each project, so maybe I would range it from $20 000~$50 000? If I doubled the amount, it would definitely means that the customer can expect the best quality of work. However, if the budget is reduced to half, the quality of work would then be affected. I am very flexible to each price range, because to me the it is the choice of the customer. Although I would definitely recommend and quote them a reasonable price first.
I would do a project for free (example, for a charity good deed). As long as I feel that someone needs help and is doing this project for the good, I would have no hesitant and volunteer for it.
k) What is the significance of these reactions? How does your professional fee relate to your own self-image/self-worth?
- It is to reflect on your thoughts, to help you realize and understand more about how are you as a person? I think that the professional fee reflects on how much you think you are worth of yourself as a person.
l) Relate your personal brand to your self-worth/professional price-value. Are you charging a fee worth your while, or you are working at a deficit? What can you do about it?
- I think that the price that I suggested is totally reasonable, as my personal branding has many good points which are an ‘insurance’ to prove my abilities. Meanwhile, I would still continue to improve myself to add more advantages to gain the trust of others.
m) Now it’s time to sum up your thoughts on money. Read the 3 online-articles on Money, and then Blog your thoughts about the role of money in your life, and the way you relate to it. Cheers!
- After reading the 3 online articles that were provided, I have heard more opinions that others have about ‘Money’. Some stated the same stand as me, that money is harmful and does evil. While there are examples stating the benefits with ‘money’. Some see ‘Money’ as an art, while some see it as a threat/bomb that may go off anytime. All in all, I think that they are all correct, as there are both ways of thinking and reasons. I feel that how we see it depends on how we use ‘Money’, and what comes out at the end of it. This would then determine the “value” it has.
