Letters from readers

Jake Cantrell writes:  Your column on the effects of wealth on one’s happiness (“Money and happiness,” Aug. 15, 2014) caught my attention and reminded me of a popular discussion on our site, Wall Street Oasis, one of the largest online finance communities with over four million page views per month.

Our piece complements what you’ve written.  Many of our members have chimed in on how money has or hasn’t changed them, with comments coming from professionals in various industries. Like your piece, ours stresses the diminishing effect that money has on our happiness past a certain threshold. It raises great questions about whether wealth actually changes our character or simply reveals it.

I thought you’d find the article and some of the follow-up posts interesting.  Here’s the discussion: https://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forums/how-has-the-money-changed-you.

My reply:  Thank you for the link.  The various posts are interesting, and worth perusing, for readers who would like to delve further into the realities of money and happiness.  Based on my experiences with family businesses, I firmly believe that all of us do need a certain amount of wealth to be secure and content, but beyond this level, having more money often brings with it discontent, jealousy, and unhappiness.

Generation X

Benson Ng writes:  I am a member of Gen X and handling a company in the Philippines.  I just want to say that I see myself 100 percent in your description of Generation X (Jan. 9, 2015).  You hit the nail on the head.  I enjoy reading your column, more power.

My reply:  Thank you for your support.  I myself am Generation X, and though I am not running a company, I see the pros and cons of our generation, in terms of attitudes towards life and work, evidenced in the various studies here and abroad.  The way we view our world and act in it are shaped not just by our family and environment, but also the times and circumstances we were born into and grew up in.

Eddie Baldoria writes:  I read your column (Jan. 9, 2015) regarding generations.  I found it interesting; it’s a good guide to a deeper understanding of the many generations on how they act and react to certain situations.  I have been looking for the first part, but I do not have the Inquirer copy on file.  If you would be kind enough to e-mail me a copy of the first part, I would be very grateful.  Will you be having an article again on the other generations?

My reply:  I am glad you found the column useful.  Most of the content of the Inquirer is already on the web, on the website www.inquirer.net.  The column you read tackled Generation X, which was the second of three columns on Generations.  The first discussed Baby Boomers, which came out on Jan. 2, 2015.  The third discussed Generation Y, which came out on Jan. 18, 2015.

This column usually comes out on Fridays, but because of the papal visit, the last part (on Generation Y) appeared on a Saturday.  Our apologies go to readers who were waiting for this particular column. The easiest way to get all columns would be to Google my name, Inquirer, and the specific generation you are interested in.

The youngest generation in the world now is Generation Z, but most of them are still in school, so there is scanty data on how they behave in the workplace.  However, US psychologists and consultants predict that they may likely behave very similarly to Generation Y.  Perhaps in a couple of years, when initial studies appear, I will write about the pioneer workers of Generation Z.

Seminars

Nino Besanes writes:  My dad forwarded to me your article “Top 10 Questions for Family Businesses, Part 2” (Dec. 12, 2014).  I found it to be a wonderful read. Well done!

I would like to ask regarding any upcoming seminar on family businesses. It would be wonderful to hear what you have to say and I might be able to convince my parents and siblings to join one.

My reply:  I hope you also enjoyed the first part of the Top 10 Questions, which came out on Dec. 5, 2014.  You should find it on the Inquirer website—see specifics above on how to access past columns.

On speaking engagements, I receive frequent invitations to do seminars on family businesses from various civic and business groups, but the audience is usually by invitation only.

However, the Ateneo de Manila Family Business Development Center, under the leadership of Ricardo Mercado, does seminars for the public several times yearly.  (Full disclosure:  I am on the board of the Center.)  Visit the website https://ateneofamilybusiness.weebly.com/ for updates.  I will also announce upcoming public seminars in this column.

Next week:  Women, math and business

Queena N. Lee-Chua is on the Board of Directors of Ateneo de Manila University’s Family Business Development Center.  Get her book “Successful Family Businesses” at the University Press (e-mail [email protected].)  E-mail the author at [email protected].