Thou Shall Prosper: Ten Commandments for Making Money

by Rabbi Daniel Lapin

One of the gigantic economic advantages that Judaism confers on its devotees is this deep, internalized conviction that making money is largely the consequence of a mutually beneficial interaction with other human beings.

Jewish tradition strongly establishes the principle that each person makes his or her own needs the primary concern, although not the only concern.

As the Sabbath ebbs away each Saturday night, Jewish families prepare for the productive work week ahead by singing the joyful Havdalah service. This observance divides the Sabbath from the upcoming work week and asks God to increase both the families’ offspring and their wealth. It also highlights their hands, as if to beseech blessing on the work of those very hands. The Havdalah service is recited over a cup of wine that runs over into the saucer beneath.

In other words, I am obliged to first fill my cup and then continue pouring as it were, so that I will have sufficient to give away to others, thus helping to jump-start their own efforts. Judaism views attending to your own vineyard not as shameful, but as a moral obligation.

If you really believe the dogs are there, the problem is not the dogs, it is the belief. The problem is nearly always the belief.

business transaction is more spiritual than physical.

Economic activity is another way in which humans satisfyingly distance themselves from the animal kingdom and draw closer to God.

People have many needs, some are uplifting and have to do mostly with our souls while others are simpler, having mostly to do with our bodies.

All can be legitimate and business is blessed for being the mechanism by means of which we obtain those many needs.

“God’s gift of economic creativity” is Cheyn.

Ayn Rand observed that when extracting specific performance from people, the only alternative to a gun is money.20

One of the Hebrew words for businessman is Ohmein, which means “man of faith” and shares the same root with the liturgical Amen.

With no verifiable information that he will be successful selling his wares, the merchant nonetheless purchases inventory. He then delights in selling out his entire inventory, even vital commodities like food or clothing, in exchange for little metal discs. Instead of despair at how he will now feed and clothe his children, he has complete faith that whenever he wishes, there will be someone who will gladly sell him food or anything else he may need for those very metal discs. It is that faith that converts metal discs and printed paper into money. There is little actual value in the metal disc or the paper strip he holds. It cannot be used as food, medicine, clothing, or housing. It is really a spiritual representation of a magical combination of a promise and a claim. And without faith in the value of a promise, the promise itself is useless. Were he to trade on the basis of doubt and suspicion, he would contract no business at all. It is chiefly his faith that makes possible his profits. Does this sound like a dehumanizing activity?

Judaism always accepted that faith is the fuel that drives both commerce and religion.

“Business is business” cannot serve as a convenient explanation for moral departures in the marketplace because business is really tied to life by overall spiritual awareness.

In so doing, they will inevitably be helping others also improve their lot, because as you have seen, it is virtually impossible to profit without doing something of greater value for other people.

altruistic

Focus on the good, the wonderful, and the miraculous. Think of how much you have to be grateful for.

building many new friendships and relationships is crucial to your quest.

In both your business and your personal life, try to become comfortable with the second best solution if the very best solution is unattainable.

Lead Consistently and Constantly

Don’t try to become a leader,

just do it. Just lead.

corner

“the art of mastering change,”

“the ability to inspire and develop others.”

I am sure that stressful circumstances have created more leaders than have all the leadership training programs put together.

Learn to follow if you want to learn to lead.

Maintain a clear vision of your goal.

• Confrontation is often ...

To this day, it is not uncommon to find conspicuously successful Jewish business leaders who defer many major decisions to an aged parent who was the original founder of the business.

demonstrate that you do not operate capriciously on the

basis of whatever you happen to feel like doing.

In other words, do everything possible to avoid sounding like a big shot.

MAINTAIN A CLEAR VISION OF YOUR GOAL

You must have a vision of your goal. More important, you have to know when to focus on your goal and when to focus on the intermediate steps. Suppose your project is to build a house. Should you focus on the overall design and how it will integrate with surrounding scenery, or should you focus on finding a supplier for the bricks? In other words, vision or details? What would someone who aspires to leadership do?

Thus the answer to the original question is that you should be able to focus on both the goal and on the intermediate steps.

At regular intervals, you should glance up at the bigger picture to make certain that you are still on course.

Jews absorbed into their very beings the idea that you must act as if the desired outcome was already the reality.

You marry on on the basis of belief and faith.

It simply is not adequate to merely think positive thoughts; instead, you must also actually utter them.

Early in each day, find a quiet opportunity to say out loud an affirmation of faith having to do with your business challenge.

Dr. Benson might call it repeated uttering out loud of phrases and sentences that describe you succeeding, while simultaneously shutting out any negative thoughts.

This process should take about two or three minutes a day—don’t rush it. Do it where you need not fear being overheard by someone. Say your affirmation loudly enough for your own ears to hear, and do it regularly for a period of at least two weeks before you dismiss it as ineffective. If you follow these instructions diligently, you will be pleasantly surprised.

Are you expected to cope with two conflicting ideas simultaneously? Yes. If you want to lead, you must.

As challenging as it may be, light serves as a reminder that for a leader to change a reality, he or she must nearly always cope with conflicting ideas and even conflicting demands. Not everyone can do it. Not everyone wants to make the effort to learn how. Leaders do.

dichotomy

It is very difficult to find the balance between caring and effectiveness, but that is the challenge.

Are you in a meeting? Stop playing with the pencil. Don’t cross and then uncross your legs every five minutes.

Being a lion means doing everything possible to elevate others.