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AA ATTITUDE TOWARD WEALTH
(Updated Tuesday, Apr 1, 2008, 05:07:06 PM to reflect the 100 most recent valid responses.)

Assuming you are an Asian American, how important is wealth in your assessment of a person's attractiveness?
It's one of the most important. | 19%
It's just one of many factors. | 36%
It's less important than other qualities. | 29%
I don't care about a person's wealth. | 16%

Assuming you are an Asian American, which best matches your feelings toward your own wealth?
I'd give up weekends to double my income. | 20%
I'd work longer hours for 50% more income. | 39%
I'm happy with my current income. | 24%
I'd give up some income for more free time. | 17%

This poll is closed to new input.
Comments posted during the past year remain available for browsing.

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WHAT YOU SAY

[This page is closed to new input. --Ed.]
Your children are your legacy...if you think money and wealth can bring you happiness.....your in for a big surpirse, i had it all.....and in a few minutes, it can be taken away from you....your happiest moments are with your family....materialism is not worth the price...i am american i know.....my father was a dr my mother a lawyer...i had no life and i am also a dr. ...
get smart and love your family not money...
bekkah    Tuesday, November 13, 2001 at 19:28:51 (PST)
Simply put, if I'm not rich then I won't pretend that I am. I'm not going to buy luxury cars, buy expensive designer clothes, etc. if I don't have the resources. I'm not saying I'm going to live and look like a pauper but neither am I going to put on a facade of wealth.
More to life than $$    Tuesday, November 13, 2001 at 11:03:30 (PST)
When I was growing up, my parents would entertain their colleagues and friends. As a result, I would meet many very successful people. They were impressive, but as I got to know them, I began to feel that I could do what they did - I could become rich and at least somewhat famous.

Then, as I got to know them more, I consciously decided that their lifestyles were not for me.

One was an American division CEO of XXXXXX Securities, one of the largest international investment banks. He even wrote books about Wall Street that were some of the best sellers (in English and Japanese). People who just want to be seen with him always surrounded him. He was successful for sure, but his home life was a wreck. His wife lived in Japan (he lived in NY), and his kids were scattered all over the world in prestigious boarding schools. His long hours of work, entertainment, and travels resulted in his family members being just acquaintances with each other.

Another was a founder - full partner at a very prestigious law-firm. At that time, his law firm was one of the largest merger and acquisition services firm in the country. He was also very successful and well known. He has married several times because he never spent any time with his spouses or kids. Since they didn’t get the attention they needed, the wives divorced him and got enough money to live very comfortably. I hanged around his son sometimes. Although he benefited greatly from his father's wealth, he didn't have many good things to say about his father.

There were numerous others I've met through my parents who were impressive on the outside, but lacked happy family life. By the time I finshied undergraduate studies, I had realized that the truly happiest moments were the times I spent with my family. It was not when my parents bought me nice things like sports cars. About that time, I came to the conclusion that I just couldn't see myself working that hard to be that rich and famous. I just wanted to be economically comfortable with a happy life.

Realizing this, I paid for my own way to get an MBA. Why? I didn’t want my parents to have leverage on what jobs I should take.

Now, I know it is possible to be very economically successful and maintain a happy family life. However, what drove many of these people to be one of the premier personalities in their fields is to work excessively smart and hard. To the point, their families were not in their pictures.

There is nothing wrong with endeavoring towards wealth. Just don't forget what is really important to you and people who love you.

... Currently, I have a lovely wife, and we live fairly comfortably and very happily. Eventually, we’ll have children. I just hope that I will not forget what is truly important for us.

My life is great    Monday, November 12, 2001 at 12:31:53 (PST)
The truth is that for most of us, you can either live like a millionaire or be one. Personally I'd rather live like a millionaire then be a millionaire. I'm not advocating total irresponsibility but once I shed this mortal coil, all my frugality will have been for nothing. As far as leaving my children a fortune, I'd rather leave them with a legacy of compassion and my lust for life.
Seaman    Wednesday, October 31, 2001 at 08:48:42 (PST)
To Thomas:

Agreed 100%.

We Asian American are just like the rest of the Americans. Our ancestors come to America for better life, we get their benefit, we get lazy and become asianized white trash. Then we start to complain about the new immigrants that would work for nothing and take over your jobs.

So when you think you are getting lazy in America, instead of letting your children becoming yellow trash, move back to the old country!

Your wealth and oversea-ness will be welcome. Your children will be admired by their local cousins. A win win situation. By the next generation, move back to America again to start the whole process!!!
2020    Thursday, October 25, 2001 at 14:28:44 (PDT)
When, oh when, will Asians realize that having "expensive" cars, clothes, cell phones etc, etc...does *NOT* make you wealthy. It actually makes *other* people wealthy (or makes little children work harder overseas).

Fools a lot of us are!

Learn the TRUE secrets of millionaires in this country. Here's a few, God forbid (!), will probably *shock* alot of you!:

1. Frugality.
2. Make & adhere to personal/family budgets.
3. Allocate more time towards money accumulating strategies & investments.
4. Most importantly, again: FRUGALITY!
Mongol Horde    Tuesday, October 23, 2001 at 21:32:19 (PDT)
My mother and father worked really hard to support my siblings and myself but I used to resent their focus on money. Now that I'm grown, and realize how difficult life is with a very limited income, I regret rebelling against them, and basically rejecting education in spite. I never had any difficulty academically, and I guess for that reason, assumed it was not "real". My main personal goals were basically about trying to feel like I belonged socially. I was never especially successful in this goal, and now wish instead that I had actually spent my energy getting more education. I used to blame my parents for not caring enough about me, but now I see, and am not blaming anyone but myself now.

I used to hate money conciousness. But the less you have, the more you focus on it. It's better to take care of it right away, so that it doesn't become a constantly urgent matter.
chinese cdn girl    Sunday, October 07, 2001 at 08:17:39 (PDT)
You know what's been bothering me lately when I bumped into a childhood friend.

I started a business after graduating from college. Worked hard and become realitively sucessful. I get my work ethic from the people I've seen in Chinatown who bust their butts to make a better life for themselves and their children.

As an Asian American who has assimilated relatively well into American culture. I believe our opportinities are must greater then our parents. I also believe the Selective Hard Work = Wealth = Better Lifestyle.

So on day I bump into a friend of mine who is a child of a very successful businessman in Chinatown. In our conversation my friends states "Niether my siblings nor myself want to take over the business. Why work so hard just to retire by 60."

I got nothing to say about taking over a family business, because some business are pretty tough in Chinatown.

But to state you plan to work at a 9-5 entry level government position thinking it can support your lifestyle that your affluent parents have made you accustomed to...is delusional

I guess everyone should thank daddy for sending you to law school and giving you a BMW M5.....


Confused    Saturday, September 15, 2001 at 19:35:32 (PDT)
It's interesting listening to young Asian men and women complain about how difficult their parents have been and how their parents push them to succeed.

Do y'all think it's because your parents value money too much or value success too much? Listen to the complaints. It's so disingenuous that children are complaining about their parents actually giving a sh!t about how their lives turn out. Imagine if your parents didn't give a rat's ass about what you did in school, who you associated with or whether you want to be a doctor or dishwasher. Think about it.... your parents push you not because of greed, but to give you something that they never had.... an opportunity to create something out of yourself. Not to waste your youth in angst and whining..... when you see a young lad driving his shiny new S500 -- chances are, his parents pushed him to strive to be the best that he can be and not to do anything half-assed.

Don't dis your parents by think that they are greedy people who hoard money like a chimpmunk gathering nuts. They know that if you don't use every morsel of soul.... you're wasting your life.

Then, you get married... have a few kids... become trapped in the corporate machine.... you'll be thankful to your parents to told you to become a doctor and not dishwasher.....
Show Me Da $$$    Tuesday, August 21, 2001 at 17:52:05 (PDT)
money can't buy happiness, but it's a good down payment!!!
Alexandria 81    Thursday, August 16, 2001 at 18:54:34 (PDT)

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