“R-E-S-P-E-C-T
Find out what it means to me
R-E-S-P-E-C-T
Take Care, TCB”
-Respect, by Aretha Franklin
As you might guess from today’s opening lyrics, today we’re going to talk about, well, respect. That is, holding the people and things around you in esteem, treating them as if they have intrinsic value, and showing courtesy and good behaviour to the people around you.
What does this have to do with personal finance, you ask? Well, on the surface, perhaps not much; but respect really underlies every aspect of the monetary system. If you don’t respect the companies that issue stock, why should they expect to get any of your money? If your investment advisors don’t respect you, what’s to stop them from taking your money and running (a la Bernie Madoff)? And of course, if other countries stop respecting America and trusting in our ability to pay our bills, just think of what will happen to our currency and standing in the world. In short, respect is an important part of lives, and there are many people and things of which we should be respectful.
Whom Should I Show Respect?
Your Family – Treating the members of your immediate and extended family as valuable, important people is an excellent place to start. If you genuinely respect your relatives, regardless of their choices in life, you help to form stronger, more durable connections to them and have them much more willing to help you in future, should the need arise. (Not that such an ‘emergency plan’ should be your primary motivation for respecting them, of course; it’s just a nice bonus.)
Your Coworkers – If you want a work environment where your stapler doesn’t suddenly disappear on you or your lunch gets eaten right out of the company fridge, it all comes down to respect. Do your best to treat those around you respectfully, and hopefully, your sentiments will easily be returned. While strict enforcement of company policies can help to decrease the problems of a workplace with disrespectful people, there’s no substitute for having coworkers that return your courtesy towards them.
Your Company – By the same token, you should treat your company and the area you work with respect. Don’t make a mess, behave inappropriately, or treat your boss shoddily. You’re just going to make things less pleasant for your coworkers, and possibly bring your boss’s wrath down upon yourself.
Your Significant Other – I wish I didn’t have to say this, but here goes: if you don’t respect your partner, things will not go well in your relationship. If you are just using your significant other to meet your own needs, whether physically, emotionally, or financially, the best case is that they will quickly tire of you and move on. The worst case ends with a huge court proceeding that drags on foever, and makes you seem like a massive jerk. Just avoid either one by showing respect to your romantic counterparts.
Yourself – Lastly, but perhaps most important, respect yourself. If you don’t respect yourself, nobody else is going to, either. Then, since you aren’t getting respect, you’re not going to give it to anyone else either. Break this circle, find out what about you is good and deserving of respect, and treat others with the respect you now feel. (But don’t go too far in the other direction; there’s a surprisingly thin line between healthy respect for yourself and egotism.)
That’s all I have to say on the concept of respect. Remember, respect yourself, respect others, and respect will come back to you. Now, be safe and respectful to each other, all of you out in reader land!
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