Is money the most important thing in your life? This was the question for group discussion when I was doing CAT preparation 9 years back. I was sure that money was not the important thing in life. But during that discussion I was unable to justify my stand. Questions like can love alone buy you food, house, can character ensure your child get good education had only one answer " No". We need money to get all this. For every transaction money was required.
Though in that GD the group supporting " Money was not the most important thing" failed miserably to justify the stand, even after that was over , the question kept harping in my mind. I tried to give various justifications like but none was satisfactory and I knew it wouldnt stand a tough scruitny. Finally I stopped actively thinking about it but this question remained in my mind.
It was during those those days I was selected for interview during campus recruitement. During the interview one of the questions asked was " What will I do if I get one million rupees". I gave a quite realistic answer. I told them I would want to buy a house, would like to go for a tour to Europe, would buy gifts for my parents, relatives, friends and definetely I would contribute some part of it to support the education of girls from under priveleged background. I told them that education is one thing which I believe will bring in a change in society , hence I am supporting the cause.
Next question asked to me was " Do you think money is the most important thing" . I said " No". Then he said for all the things you mentioned early you need money, you will not get anything without money. I paused for a second and then the answer that has eluded me for long for that question suddenly came to my mind. I spoke " Sir if I need money I need a job, If I need a job I should be convincing you I am capable of doing of the job, I need to convince you my values and beliefs are the one you are looking for an employee. So Sir what I am is important, my talents, my beliefs, my values are important. If I believe in myself and my ability money will follow me and Sir I want money to follow me, not other way around"
I could see a small smile appearing on one of the interviewers and knew I had made it. It was one of the toughest panel of the 4 panels we had that day. Of the 10 people they interviewed that day they only shortlisted 2. Myself and another guy whereas 7-8 people where shortlisted from other panels.
So even today my belief is intact. Money is not the important thing in life. You are important and your belief in yourself is important. Money will follow you and as individuals we should make money our slave and should not become slaves of money.
