If There Is So Much Wealth . . .

This is the blog where I document the development of our local team of friends and family, dedicated to carving a chunk of the immense wealth in our economy, for ourselves.

For ten years, I have done a lot of community work, for little to no pay. I have friends with the same passion. Those that serve on local boards, work for Scouting, lead lay ministries in church, volunteer for community programs and charities - these people are under-appreciated. Usually, they undertake a thankless task. Do-gooders too often do not get the recognition they deserve. And more people would do more good, if they did not have to work for a living, for employers that really couldn't care less about spirituality, community, families, friendship.

Yet, it is true that the wealthy have more money than they know what to do with. It also is true that wealth begets wealth. There is not a limit to the supply of wealth in the earth. It can grow as large as we choose to make it. I wonder how much good we could do if people would just get out of the box and embrace novel ways to generate wealth (also known as "fundraising").

My personal project is to create and promote music in my local community of Dexter, Michigan. I cannot make any money doing this, if all I do is promote and create. Nobody wants to pay me to write songs that they have never heard. And even if they liked the song, 99 cents on Itunes is about the most they would be willing to pay for it. I choose to create wealth for me and my friends, however I can (legally), so that we all can follow our dreams and do more good.

But it is not easy.

Consider - since January, I have shared my vision with 58 people. By partnering with me in a business venture where they would get paid on services they are already using (i.e., they do almost nothing different from what they are doing now); they would be supporting my work in the church, community, and schools. These same people can be found as sponsors of the arts in our community, and of other school and charitable causes. For less money, I can ensure a tax deduction for them, and they would be more directly benefitting the unemployed in our community. They would be helping generate cash that could go to poor neighborhoods in Detroit. And taken to its conclusion, less money would be required from taxation. Charities would not have to go around with their hands out anymore.

The vision, and cause, are outstanding. Yet only 6% of the people I met with, were willing to learn more about our approach and opportunity.

Why? Why would people that would part with $500 without even thinking about it, in order to support an artist or athletic program; balk at partnering in a business venture that would create more people that could add more dollars to the same good causes that the original people support?

There is something wrong with our approach. So on June 7th we are meeting at a location TBD in Dexter, to brainstorm how to get to people that will "get it". It is all about getting more of the world's immense wealth into our small community of Dexter.