o d d s .
1 in 195,249,054.
statistically, you're beat.
i believe luck is your only option.
money is a debilitating pursuit. some struggle daily as others rake in salaries that can support 10 families. we live in a messed up world that thrives on the power of money. greed leads to deception and deception eventually results in pain... money is the best and worst thing that has ever happened to humanity. it drives everyday people to gamble their savings away in vegas and do silly things with money they don't have. i guess this is where my story begins.
it was my 18th birthday and i remember purchasing my first lottery ticket. the gas station attendant took my request and printed off the powerball. as he handed it to me, he wished me "good luck." and i went on my way. the numbers were random and the deed was done. sure it was a pipe dream, but what if? what if this 18 year old high school senior hit the multi million dollar grand prize?
everything would be different, absolutely everything. i was a different person back then and it's quite possible that i would've bought a ton of toys, ridiculously sized homes, and splurged a significant amount of cash on material crap.
it's been nearly 8 years since my 18th birthday and it's impossible for me to fathom being a teenage millionaire. hell, right now, i owe money in multiple directions and to think that that stress would be completely null, only if i was printed the exact random numbers, absolutely blows my mind.
today, my life is different. my values are unique and completely rooted in the experiences, relationships, and memories that i've created. i periodically purchase a lottery ticket to appease the gambling gods, not because i think i'll win, but rather because i know i'll never win without taking a chance.
although, it's inevitable, when you gamble, to consider the hypothetical. for example, how will my life change if a $1 lottery ticket hit the 200 million dollar jackpot?
i've always been told to surround myself with people that are good at the things that i struggle with, so the first thing i'll do is hire a good accountant and pay them well. i think that all of the winnings except for 5 million dollars will be placed into a standard interest growing bank. i will donate a large portion of my winnings to my summer camp and i may explore the possibilities of starting my own philanthropic organization.
i hope that my everyday lifestyle wouldn't be altered; however, the big difference will be that i can "afford" to treat my friends and family to whatever they desire. if their dream is to hike the pacific coast trail, then i'll help them make it happen. if a friend has a dream to start a restaurant, then i'll be the number 1 financial backer, as long as i can work in the kitchen or as a bartender. i would also treat my parents to the luxuries that they've never experienced. specifically, i would throw awesome family reunions and pull my father out of the wicked marriage (crazy stepmother) that has handcuffed his relationship with his siblings and children. my mom would get everything she ever wanted, as long as she doesn't lose the skill of bargaining and catching a deal (she loves that shit). i would offer trips to my friends and family with the hopes of documenting some of the most incredible parts of our travels.
for me?
i think i'd buy 3 things...
1) a fantastic computer & external hard drives
2) an excellent digital slr camera
3) a high definition video camera and mic equipment
frankly, that's all i need.
i think a bank full of money will allow me to embrace the spontaneous opportunities of life, without the anxiety of going in the red... although, it's sometimes fun and exciting to live on the cusp of going broke.
fortunately or unfortunately, i'll probably be the guy that continues to live from one paycheck to the next... we'll just have to wait and see.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
what type of millionaire would you be?
the type that wears armani or the type that lounges in a pair of cheap gap jeans?
will you spoil your kids or let them fend for themselves with jobs during high school?
how much of your winnings is too much to donate?
i guess these are interesting question to ask and frankly, you'll never know, unless you're 1 in 195,249,054.
statistically, you're beat.
i believe luck is your only option.
money is a debilitating pursuit. some struggle daily as others rake in salaries that can support 10 families. we live in a messed up world that thrives on the power of money. greed leads to deception and deception eventually results in pain... money is the best and worst thing that has ever happened to humanity. it drives everyday people to gamble their savings away in vegas and do silly things with money they don't have. i guess this is where my story begins.
it was my 18th birthday and i remember purchasing my first lottery ticket. the gas station attendant took my request and printed off the powerball. as he handed it to me, he wished me "good luck." and i went on my way. the numbers were random and the deed was done. sure it was a pipe dream, but what if? what if this 18 year old high school senior hit the multi million dollar grand prize?
everything would be different, absolutely everything. i was a different person back then and it's quite possible that i would've bought a ton of toys, ridiculously sized homes, and splurged a significant amount of cash on material crap.
it's been nearly 8 years since my 18th birthday and it's impossible for me to fathom being a teenage millionaire. hell, right now, i owe money in multiple directions and to think that that stress would be completely null, only if i was printed the exact random numbers, absolutely blows my mind.
today, my life is different. my values are unique and completely rooted in the experiences, relationships, and memories that i've created. i periodically purchase a lottery ticket to appease the gambling gods, not because i think i'll win, but rather because i know i'll never win without taking a chance.
although, it's inevitable, when you gamble, to consider the hypothetical. for example, how will my life change if a $1 lottery ticket hit the 200 million dollar jackpot?
i've always been told to surround myself with people that are good at the things that i struggle with, so the first thing i'll do is hire a good accountant and pay them well. i think that all of the winnings except for 5 million dollars will be placed into a standard interest growing bank. i will donate a large portion of my winnings to my summer camp and i may explore the possibilities of starting my own philanthropic organization.
i hope that my everyday lifestyle wouldn't be altered; however, the big difference will be that i can "afford" to treat my friends and family to whatever they desire. if their dream is to hike the pacific coast trail, then i'll help them make it happen. if a friend has a dream to start a restaurant, then i'll be the number 1 financial backer, as long as i can work in the kitchen or as a bartender. i would also treat my parents to the luxuries that they've never experienced. specifically, i would throw awesome family reunions and pull my father out of the wicked marriage (crazy stepmother) that has handcuffed his relationship with his siblings and children. my mom would get everything she ever wanted, as long as she doesn't lose the skill of bargaining and catching a deal (she loves that shit). i would offer trips to my friends and family with the hopes of documenting some of the most incredible parts of our travels.
for me?
i think i'd buy 3 things...
1) a fantastic computer & external hard drives
2) an excellent digital slr camera
3) a high definition video camera and mic equipment
frankly, that's all i need.
i think a bank full of money will allow me to embrace the spontaneous opportunities of life, without the anxiety of going in the red... although, it's sometimes fun and exciting to live on the cusp of going broke.
fortunately or unfortunately, i'll probably be the guy that continues to live from one paycheck to the next... we'll just have to wait and see.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
what type of millionaire would you be?
the type that wears armani or the type that lounges in a pair of cheap gap jeans?
will you spoil your kids or let them fend for themselves with jobs during high school?
how much of your winnings is too much to donate?
i guess these are interesting question to ask and frankly, you'll never know, unless you're 1 in 195,249,054.
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