BY DOREEN GUTIÉRREZ
Money doesn’t harm people, as many claim. What causes harm is a lack of values, structure, and purpose. It is true that privilege can make some people complacent, but when we grow up with a solid foundation, the right upbringing, and strong role models, it can also foster greatness.
For instance, my husband never faced the kind of real financial hardship I experienced; yet, he had a strong foundation. He was taught discipline, responsibility, and vision—because the hunger to achieve doesn’t always stem from pain. Sometimes it comes from the example set by others, from the desire to honor a legacy, build something of one’s own, and not simply live off what others accomplished before us.
My children hear both stories. Mine—filled with power outages, scarcity, and uncertainty during my time in Cuba—and their father’s, defined by privilege, structure, and abundance. Perhaps that contrast is an advantage; understanding both worlds may allow them to appreciate what they have without becoming dependent.
How do you give your children everything you once dreamed of without stripping away their desire to conquer the world on their own?
I don’t have the complete answer yet. Sometimes, I don’t give them exactly what they ask for. They laugh because I constantly tell them: “I’m the rich one; you guys are broke.” And although I say it in jest, there is an important truth behind the words. They don’t have anything of their own yet, and they will have to work for the things they want to build in their lives.
Of course, I will help them in every way I can as a mother. I always will. But they need to understand something from a young age: earning something yourself feels different than receiving it from someone else. There is a unique satisfaction in building it yourself—even if it’s a small amount, takes time, or isn’t perfect. When something requires effort, you value it differently. You take care of it differently. You respect it differently.
And often, that is the problem with generations that grow up having everything too quickly: they never develop a connection to the effort behind the things they possess. And while I am still learning to strike that perfect balance between providing comfort and instilling a hunger for achievement, I do not want them to grow up fearing a lack of resources. I want them to grow up hungry to become something great.
Ultimately, true wealth is not about growing up with or without money, but about growing up with purpose. And that does not depend on what you have; it depends on how you think. Scarcity does the opposite: it forces you to think, to move, and to act—not because you want to, but because you have no other choice.
Scarcity can teach you how to survive, but values, vision, and purpose are what truly teach you how to build. I want to raise children capable of creating something of their own, even when they have everything.
In the end, true wealth lies not in what you inherit, but in the mindset with which you choose to live.
*Doreen Gutiérrez is an entrepreneur, business strategist, and speaker. She is a leader in the beauty, education, media, and health industries. Instagram: @diariodebelleza
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Notistarz-Photo-Doreen Gutiérrez
