Society mistakes wealth for leadership. The one with money is treated as the one with authority. But money is a tool, not a trait. The ones people follow are the ones who create meaning.
Investor ≠ Leader. In any group, the person with capital is an investor. Leadership is not leveraged through money. Investors provide capital. Leaders provide vision, integrity, accountability, and empathy.
Separate tools from traits. Money is a tool. Leadership is a trait. Tools change hands. Traits define direction. A leader may use money, but can also move people through thought, belief, voice, or culture. Money is optional. Leadership is not.
A leader carries risk with the group, skin in the game. They share costs, own mistakes, and protect the mission. Investors can exit when things fall apart. Leaders remain.
History shows the split. Fortunes rise and collapse, movements built on vision outlast fortunes built on cash.
Society will keep rewarding capital with status. The practice is to pause and ask: do they align with your vision, share accountability, and hold integrity when it costs them?
If not, you follow capital, not leadership. Chasing capital and status does not build trust or belonging.
Money amplifies. Leadership directs. One funds the stage. The other moves the crowd.
"The best things in life are free" - Killing Joke
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All comments (8)
Self-reflection on money and leadership inspired by Killing Joke’s 'Money Is Not Our God'. The @paragraph essay is paired with $HIGHER for anyone who wants to collect. Onwards, hb. https://paragraph.com/@catra/money-is-not-our-god?referrer=0xe8bB2E08e6f52f11D8B65e2A3db772DaA60e117e
what prompted you to write this catra? this is beautifully written
Thank you nishu Had a chat with my wife this morning about money and power. Funny how people worship the wealthy just for being wealthy. Made me realize wealth doesn’t equal influence or leadership.
ty for sharing ser, v beautiful
thank you for writing this, catra ↑
enjoy John. hope this resonates higher
it does!
Society often equates wealth with leadership, but @catra emphasizes that money is just a tool, not a leadership trait. True leaders offer vision, integrity, and accountability, while investors bring capital. Leaders bear risk and share costs with their group, unlike investors who can withdraw. Money may amplify influence, but it’s leadership that inspires connection and trust. It's crucial to look beyond capital and ensure those we follow align with our values and vision.