what money really means and how to get rich_60

_{George Kinder has fashioned a lecture series and workshop on this type of}

_{George, in all of this, explores what money means."You should really speak}

_{with him," was what I was told. So, I do.}

_{I call George on the telephone and schedule an interview with him.}

_{Meanwhile, he suggests that I read his book. All authors suggest you read their}

_books.

_{In George's book, he talks about innocence, pain, knowledge, understanding,}

_{vigor, vision, and aloha.These are the seven stages to resolving those inner con-}

_{flicts around money, as he calls it. It's about becoming at ease with money, realizing}

_{that money isn't how much, but "What does it have to do with who I am?"}

_{George's seven stages portend to get people to that point of discovery.}

_{As a Buddhist, of course, George infuses some of his spiritual lingo into his}

_{represent certain emotions, like pain, suffering, love, and fear. He'll talk about}

_{Tibetan Buddhist poem.As a Buddhist, he comes from a perspective that we're}

_{all suffering. The essential question is how to stop the pain.}

_{George devised his seven stages to help people stop the pain associated}

_{with money.}

_{Stage one: Innocence.This represents the beliefs, thoughts, stories, attitudes,}

_{and assumptions about money that we hold on to. Stage two: Pain.This has to}

_{do with the conflict, guilt and, shame that surround money. Stage three:}

_{Knowledge.This is the practical side of money, such as saving, investing, financial}

_{planning. Step four: Understanding. This is patience and realizing that}

_{things don't always work out at first as we wish. Stage five:Vigor. This is the}

_{enthusiasm to find what constitutes freedom in the world of money. Stage six:}

_{Vision. This is focus and directs our sense of life purpose. Stage seven: Aloha.}

_{This is connecting with the world, wholly, deeply, and truthfully.}

_{The seven stages speak for themselves. They are a process by which one}

_{can embark toward self-discovery. But I'm more interested in having George}

_{tell me what money means to him.}

_{So, I show up at George's office in Harvard Square, I climb the two flights}

_{of stairs required to reach his office, and I ask him the question: What does}

_{money really mean—to him? A simple answer I don't get.And, given how I've}

_{described George's various interests and manifestations, that shouldn't come as}

_{any big surprise.}

_{First, he tells me about Nasrudin.}