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Success Vs. Money

Alejandro Bazarte

Organizational Leadership 3311

Michele Guajardo

February 23, 2022

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Abstract

Is it possible to excel in life if you are to do without any financial assistance? In this paper

we will dissect the difference between the independent and dependent variable in a study. Our

independent variable will be utilized by the presence of money, while our dependent variable will

be success. It is our responsibility to look past wealth and see what creates a true leader. We must

ask ourselves whether these qualities will launch or diminish one’s success. Throughout our

research, we will discover how and why having already established money gives an unfair

advantage to those who begin with nothing. We will draw conclusions and comparisons from rea

life examples, as well as factual articles.

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Success Vs. Money

Success can mean a number of different things to people. This may be money, fame, etc. Everyone

starts their journey completely different from their peers and it is essential to analyze what it takes

to be successful and flourish in a chosen career. Of course, it is expected of you to work hard in

order to achieve your goals and get to the top of where you want to be; whether this be a general

aspiration, or a career motivated one. However, is it fair if you are competing with those who may

be one step ahead of you already? Some may begin with established money, while others are not

afforded the same opportunities. We must ask ourselves, regardless of fairness, if either situation

would eventually form a good leader, one who is capable of running an effective business. Once

that question has been answered, then we will be able to elevate our understanding of what money

and success can really do for a person. While there are several aspects to obtaining success and

money, you cannot have one without the other. The ideology of success is extremely dependent on

how much money you possess.

In this study, we will establish the difference between our given variables. Our independent

variable would be considered money, and the dependent variable would be success. In order to

determine the difference between the two, first we have to define the variables. The main

difference between these two variables is that the independent variable is able to be manipulated

for the purpose of manipulation in order to see the impact they have on other variables. The

dependent variable is generally dependent on other variables. It is the variable that is measured or

tested by the researcher (Bhandari., 2022, p. 1). Money can always fluctuate and be manipulated,

hence why we have labeled it as our independent variable, while success is very general. So how

do we apply this to our hypothesis? Oftentimes, the main motivation for anything in terms of

success is money. Let’s say that motivation is stripped from a person, and everyone begins with no
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money, would that make a drastic difference as to how we view success? Or would it simply lower

its value? We have to really understand why this is. The saying “money buys happiness” may not

be as true as people think; it may just be that it is the only means of living. Money motivation may

be a selfish act or a necessary one; it is all dependent on one's background. It is crucial to examine

an individual's incentive in a given career. Binghamton University suggests that there are two

factors that play into materialism; success and money. They found that happiness materialism

usually stems from wealth and material consumption equates to negative influences in life. It either

leads the person to be dissatisfied with their standard of living or to not find satisfaction in other

important aspects of life. This could be anything from family and social life, health, etc. On the

other side of the spectrum, success materialism like wealth and possessions positively influence

satisfaction by boosting a person's economic motivation (Binghamton University., 2019,

September 3). Either one of these materialistic choices prove that the world is rooted in wealth.

You are only as successful as you present yourself, and again all of this requires good financial

stability. I would argue that in order to be successful, you have to have an established amount of

income. It certainly would even the playing field. It is very difficult to prevail while you are

competing against individuals who are already three steps ahead of you; frequently a person's

funds is a major factor. It is impossible to expect a person beginning with ten dollars to reach the

same level of success and power as opposed to a person granted ten thousand dollars. It is not a

question of fairness, but justice. We each must be on the same level if we are expected to achieve

the same success. Oftentimes we look to men and women who have achieved success in their

careers and idolize it. However, we rarely look at what obstacles they faced in order to get there.

For example, we can take a look at the Obama vs Trump administration and compare their

successes. While both candidates have had their downfalls during their presidency, it is pretty
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obvious which individual began their career with established money and success. The Trump

administration thrived off of his celebrity status and gained less than respectful followers, while

the Obama administration began with his work as a Senator and started off his presidency with

critics. Now, they each have gained the same position, however, it is clear following both of their

journeys, the success was vastly different.

It is argued that while it may seem unfair, that is the way the world works, and you are

expected to not only work as hard as your competitors, but strive to exceed them. In doing this we

are put on an uneven balance, constantly comparing ourselves to each other based off what we

provide. While one individual may be working towards success, their competitors are already at

the brink of it. The American Express study questioned respondents to rank 22 factors on how

important they are to success. Upon further research, they found that on the list of “having a lot of

money” it ranked 20th with only 33% of the respondents considering it necessary for success.

What they deemed necessary was the management of the money they already have (Rates., 2013,

May 23). With this logic, we are expected to diminish the importance of money. It is easy for

people who already have money to respond to these questions and advise money management.

Again, it is impossible to gain the same level of experience when you are competing against

someone of a different caliber. It is likely that most people have not experienced what it is like to

start with absolutely nothing. If money management were the issue, the path to success would be

alot easier than what we imagine. However, these resources are not always available to those

seeking assistance, and if it is, it requires a mass amount of money to recover. While your finances

do play a big part in the role of success, it may not be the only option. Your likeness as a person

for example, does count towards your accomplishments. People in power, in high positions, will be

studying your ability to work well with others and focus on your professional relationships. If you
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have already established a certain relationship with your peers, you are able to excel, but it will

inevitably cost you. If you have money but lack the likeness, it is hard to tell whether or not you

will make it.

Knowing this, we are able to understand that you can not have one without the other.

Money is impeding on success; the look of success is based on money. Take a look at any

celebrity; we are constantly taught that being flashy and materialistic equates success. These

individuals are deemed to be role models for the public, but it is important to look into their

background and the delicacy of their personality. We must question their morals; whether or not

they worked hard for their money and success or if it was just handed to them. In order to follow a

leader, we must be sure that they are the type of person we would like to emulate ourselves. This

would encourage leadership in individuals. While before, money was the main motivator, building

professional relationships is another. Forming a leader does not always require money; it relies

mainly on personality. Many question what type of person would be best to fit a position of power.

A strong and firm individual, or a passive, weaker person? A transformational leader describes a

change in an individual and their social systems. It creates valuable and positive change in the

followers with the end goal of developing followers into leaders. As previously stated, a leader is

only as good as its prospects/followers. A great leader allows its followers to grow and prosper into

leaders themselves. It does not hold them back or restrict them from obtaining the same success as

their leader. In terms of success, it would be in good interest to strive for a leader that has good

morals and values in order to apply that to each individual goal.

For example, we can look to real world leaders that have utilized transformational leadership;

Steve Jobs. He was vital to the success of the Apple company because he was at the forefront of its

development. He encouraged creativity within the company which ultimately led to money and
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power for not only the company, but the employees as well. With the information provided, we

must ask ourselves if that would make him a good leader compared to those who have had a

different approach. We are able to look into transactional leadership; their style focuses on

supervision, organization and performance. In a corporate environment, this approach would

heavily utilize micromanaging, self interest motivation, practicality, etc. These types of leaders

would be considered CEO’s, NFL coaches; mainly men and women in positions of leadership that

do not allow for much creativity. In comparison to a transformational leader (Steve Jobs) we can

look into Bill Gates as our transactional leader. He was known for his strict following in the chain

of command. He delegates and guides through his employees what exactly he needs and how it can

be worked on, giving them very little freedom. With these comparisons, it is easy to stray from the

original point. Neither of these approaches make these leaders bad, they are just structured to

assess the situations they have been put in.While one leader follows a more creative style, the other

relies mainly on performance and tends to be more strict. These different approaches make for

good leaders. This does not necessarily make either approach better than the other, rather which

works best for certain situations. In our case transformational leadership works for money and

success.

This type of leadership is vital to one’s success, however we have discovered that money

often encompasses everything an individual would strive for in order to gain a successful

career/lifestyle. We established money as our independent variable, being able to change within its

limits, and our dependent variable being success. Both of these variables rely on each other in

more ways than one. It is not just to expect an individual to overcome obstacles that were not

awarded to his/her counterparts. Throughout all comparison, it is clear that careers are mainly

financially motivated. These motivators form a different structure for different people. Money,
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while it is argued to be nothing more than a stepping stone, is and has always been the structure for

success. It is a fallacy to state that established money holds no weight in the race to success. The

idea of what success should look like has always been on the straight and narrow scale, leaving

little to no room to those fighting the same battle with restricted resources.
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References

Money can't buy you happiness, but it could motivate you to live a better life - binghamton news.

News - Binghamton University. (2019, September 3). Retrieved February 21, 2022, from

https://www.binghamton.edu/news/story/1973/wealth-can-lead-to-more-satisfying-life-if-viewed

-as-a-sign-of-success-instead-of-happiness

Bhandari, P. (2022, February 18). Independent and dependent variables. Scribbr. Retrieved

February 21, 2022, from https://www.scribbr.com/methodology/independent-and-dependent-

variables/

Transformational leadership - langston.edu. (n.d.). Retrieved February 21, 2022, from

https://www.langston.edu/sites/default/files/basic-content-files/TransformationalLeadership.pdf?

_sm_au_=iVVSs0KVQws6DJWq

What is transactional leadership? Indeed Career Guide. (n.d.). Retrieved February 21, 2022, from

https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/transactional-leadership#:~:text=Tran

sactional%20leadership%20involves%20motivating%20and,system%20of%20rewards%20and%

20penalties.
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