Joseph's "Just My Thoughts"

Both a life in which money is the goal and a life that ignores money while focusing on the limitations of existence are enslaved to money. People are wary of greed for money but feel pity for a life constrained by its lack and filled with excuses. However, these two are essentially the same phenomenon, stemming from a misunderstanding or lack of knowledge about the essence of money. Both conditions prevent individuals from achieving the freedom that money can provide. That is why money becomes a source of unhappiness when it is viewed either as a purpose or merely as a means. There is nothing more precious than the freedom to exercise sovereignty over my life independently. The world divides into those who seek wealth for freedom and those who earn money to become slaves to it. There is no neutrality. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”

The most common excuse for people who can’t save money is that they don’t have enough to spend. This is true, but it is also unacceptable. You don’t have enough to spend because you’ve pulled your future income into the present and spent it in advance. Taking a loan, getting an investment, and using a credit card all share one thing in common: they move future time into the present. There can be no investment that ignores the effect of time and no money management that does not consider time. Discounting the future means that there is no present income; instead, future income is drawn into the present and used. There is only one way out of this trap. Currently, the only way to reduce expenditure is through frugality. After that, you can only increase your income. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”

When stating that prices have risen, it signifies that something else has decreased in price. If house prices are up by 10%, then something else indicates that the price is down by 10%. What is this “something else”? It is the value of money–a number derived from converting the value of an inflationary object into a currency. As the prices of goods increase, the value of money decreases correspondingly. If the object is compared in value to something other than currency, then something else that has increased in value compared to the object has depreciated in value. Most values are expressed in currency, so if the price of an object relative to currency rises, the value of the currency is relatively low. Therefore, if you receive cash from sales, wealth is created and preserved only when you exchange it for something else that is appreciating in value compared to cash. If you keep the cash intact, you will undoubtedly become poorer. Wealth is always a relative concept, not an absolute ...

Trust must be created and maintained. Building and maintaining trust always comes at a cost. Even if the cost is not monetary, it must be paid in the form of labor or some other means instead of money. Cafe owners face the uncertainty of not knowing when their customers will arrive. Knowing exactly when customers are coming, the cafe owner will avoid turning on the cafe lights and machines unnecessarily when there are no customers. The owners only need to prepare for when customers arrive. However, due to this uncertainty, the owner must keep the lights and machines on. If the cafe owner turns off the lights and machines to save money and a customer visits the cafe, that customer may not return. An unprepared appearance undermines the trust between the cafe and the customer. Regardless of type or kind, there is always a cost to building and maintaining trust. Which part am I paying the cost for now? Or am I not paying for it? - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”

Even though $1 million of one’s own money and $1 million of others’ money are numerically the same, their characteristics will differ significantly. In other words, while money is represented numerically, it serves various purposes, and its usage remains unexpressed when distributed in the market. Money is accounted for to illustrate this situation because the purpose of its use is more significant than the number (amount). Specifically, double-entry bookkeeping is the most reliable method for reflecting both the amount and its use. Therefore, if a CEO doesn’t understand double-entry bookkeeping, it is akin to managing blindly. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”

Let’s say someone bought a building with a bank loan. If the landlord fails to pay the interest, the bank is forced to pay the principal. If the principal isn’t paid, the bank can put the building up for auction, even though the landlord owns it. Interest is the cost of borrowing money over time. The reason I can purchase a building without using my own money is that I can leverage time through interest. When we say time is money, it doesn’t just mean to save time and live diligently. It emphasizes that time truly represents money. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”

I think it’s not just that many people are living in this world; rather, their lives may come together to create this world. I believe everyone is born with their own destiny. Words express the heart, thoughts, and feelings, but spending money reflects a person’s morality. The way a person approaches and uses money embodies their faith like a religion. While money may not be faith itself, it serves as one of the most essential foundations for its external expression. Money is a fundamental element for survival and a symbol of value exchange. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”

For entrepreneurs, making money is the most crucial aspect, but as the business grows, the nature of the money itself and accounting principles often determine its survival. Numbers represent money, but there is an invisible attribute accompanying it. Even with the same one million dollars, one million dollars in capital and one million dollars in debt represent fundamentally different attributes of money. Money has an invisible label attached to it, and understanding this can enable you to grow your business even further. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”

It’s not that there is no money, but rather that people can’t find a worthwhile entity to invest in. The businessman misunderstands that he can’t do what he wants simply because he lacks money. However, just as water flows to a low place, money naturally gravitates toward where it’s valued, even if you have no cents. In other words, it’s not that they don’t have money; it’s that they don’t instill the kind of trust in investors that encourages spending it. No matter how dire the situation in the country may be, money doesn’t simply evaporate. You miss opportunities because the conditions aren’t right for investment. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”

The essence of money is ‘credit.’ When individuals with no credit possess a significant amount of money, they use it less efficiently than those with credit who have the same sum. This inefficiency incurs additional costs, resulting in lower profitability compared to someone who is trusted. In our world, even an equal amount of money is influenced by credit. The most fundamental step in establishing credit is to honor your verbal commitments. Individuals who do not fulfill their verbal promises tend to experience slower growth or may even fail, regardless of having an equivalent amount of money. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”

Money is largely divided into two categories: Standard Currency and Fiat Currency. Standard Currency’s value is tied to real goods, while Fiat Currency relies on legal enforcement for its value exchange. Standard Currency is termed convertible gold if it can be exchanged for gold and convertible silver if it can be exchanged for silver. However, for any currency to be created and circulated in the market, bonds must exist first. When the government issues Fiat Currency and distributes it, the central bank lends money to commercial banks; this process is effectively a loan. A loan is legally recognized as a bond and represents a debt that must be repaid. Without debt existing in the world, money cannot circulate. The government manages the economy by adjusting the money supply in the market, either by collecting or lending more of these loans. Many people aspire to make money, but few truly understand what money is. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”

If the means of value exchange is recognized only in the fiat currency issued by the government, the accumulation of wealth that has taken place can only be expressed in terms of value versus fiat currency. Due to the limited quantity of money, if I make money, someone will lose it. In other words, my profit is someone’s loss. Of course, the opposite is also true. Therefore, it is said that currency possesses the property of ‘goods’ whose value changes according to market functions. So, is there a structure where everyone can gain profits, rather than a game where someone loses while someone else earns? This essence will not change, but the methods by which productivity grows and the ability to create added value will improve, creating the best win-win system in the current scenario. If we must share a pizza, making a larger pizza itself is akin to making everyone happier than before. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”

Regardless of your earnings, spending is inevitable. Therefore, spending holds more significance than merely earning, and wealthy individuals emphasize teaching their children how to allocate money toward education. This highlights that human emotions and desires are central to economic theories. Spending can be categorized into two main types: “consumption” and “investment.” “Consumption” refers to expenditures on necessities or perishable goods, whereas “investment” involves acquiring assets aimed at production. Without grasping these distinctions, money spent may be seen as a “waste.” - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”

The exclusive power of the state to print money, rather than that of private individuals, creates a situation where we all must operate within a limited amount of currency. This limitation implies that because wealth is quantified and acquired through money, whenever one person gains money, another must lose an equivalent amount. It’s similar to the fact that when I settle my bank loan, another person has to go bankrupt. The opposite holds true as well. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”

What happens if you have significant debt but also have the ability to issue money? In this case, the debt may become irrelevant. While the government can issue currency, the private sector lacks this capability. So, how does the private sector create money? There are limited methods, including adding value through production, establishing reasons for exchange that involve considerations, or receiving a gift, such as an inheritance. All other methods are illegal. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”

Trust acts as glue, binding individuals’ needs, while money operates like a magnet; when distance is introduced, it attracts unwanted elements. Essentially, trust enhances efficiency, whereas money, in the absence of trust, leads to avoidable expenses. When money substitutes for what trust should fulfill, inefficiency and waste significantly increase. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”

Business isn’t just about “doing something” — it’s about “building trust.” In running a café, my focus should be on fostering customer confidence in my service rather than simply selling coffee without consideration. Before making sales, establishing trust as a business owner should be a priority. Gaining experience by working part-time in another café can facilitate this trust-building process. When you create financial credibility, running out of money can harm your reputation. However, if you earn money through established trust, you can regenerate funds even after they have been depleted. Trust serves as the foundation of money and is central to successful business operations. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”

There is a saying that bears perform tricks and their owners have money. Ownership, and thus rights, are powerful when they become a platform. The odds of making vast sums of money from video creators are small. However, most of them need video editing, regardless of their profits. In fact, rather than making money for video creators, video editing software companies make money. There are far more ads in job openings asking for editors than for video creators. The more online shopping malls there are, the more money delivery companies make. Since business is a competition within finite conditions, the primary virtue of business is to be in the best position above all else. It must be hard to get into the wrong line and compensate for it with something else. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”

The lower the trust, the higher the economic and relationship costs. If performance is low beyond costs, efficiency is reduced. Trust is the most important asset in all areas where human intervention involves value. Higher trust increases the efficiency of the money use. Some people get high satisfaction even if they spend the same amount of money, but others get complaints. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that all money is the same. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”

Extending a loan is buying time with money. However, banks turn time into money. Purchase time with cash makes you poor, but changing time with money makes you rich. To pay off your debt, you have to change your time into cash and buy money (debt) with that money. All economic activity is an attempt to turn time into money. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”