"Looking around us, we can observe that many super rich families often discover that their estate cannot survive the third generation.
The first generation often starts out poor, but through sheer hard work and thriftiness and a little bit of luck become wealthy. From being wealthy, many of them then join the class of the super rich as a result of good entrepreneurial skills and judgment. Many of them, however, remain thrifty even when they become very rich.
The second generation very often grows up during the time their parents were struggling to make their fortune. They are better educated and often will be taught by their parents to "fish" intelligently. So when the family fortune passes to their hands, many of them can still maintain the business and some even expand on it. They are, of course, less thrifty than their parents, and will often marry someone from a rich family.
However, the third generation is usually born with silver spoons in their mouths. They are generally brought up in a life of luxury. They are usually not taught how to fish but are pampered with all sorts of expensive "fish" and hobbies. Many of them are sent overseas for education, but it is not uncommon to find some of them just fooling around and living an extravagant lifestyle. They are given everything and because of that, they do not really know how to cope with difficult situations and the intricacies of the business world.
Adding to that, the family wealth inevitably gets diluted among the more numerous siblings in the 2nd and 3rd generations, especially when these generations are unable to do much to expand the family businesses.
So, the wealth that was passed down just withers away. This is commonly known as the Curse of the Third Generation".
Fate, Cursed or whatever you want to call it, as a Muslim I believe:
“…Surely Allah does not change the condition of a people until they change their own condition…” (Qur’an 13:11).
Salaam.
2 comments:
Alif laam meem. Do you think they will be left alone because they say, "we believe", and will not be tested? Indeed We tested those (who have lived) before them. And Allah will certainly make known (the truth of) those who are true, and will certainly make known (the falsehood of) those who are liars
(Qur'an 29:13)
May Allah swt. have mercy on all our souls.
Hello...
Premise: Adversity leads to growth and resilience. Prosperity can lead to complacency and sloth.
I will freely admit that I belong to the 'second generation' cited in your post. But being the youngest member of my family I experienced life more as a member of the 'third generation'.
Several things saved me,
- the sudden passing of my late father,
- marriage and fatherhood, and
- the 'unwelcomed guest'... cancer.
Soon I learnt to 'fish' for myself. And to also pass on my 'catch' to my immediate family and others when the seasons permit.
I had fortune and fate on my side... and frankly I do not think I would have changed my course in life had it not been for the three things cited in the above paragraph.
My observation is that Bruneians are generally 'untested' and 'untried'. As a people we have never really faced adversity. The closest thing in recent memory was the Japanese war (WW II), but that was experienced by either our parents or our grandparents. A good sixty plus years ago.
I will propose another 'curse' to your list: the extended family.
The extended family can be such a blessing. It can provide a support mechanism in our day-to-days, but also especially during times of dire need.
But... it can be misused.
I have seen graduates from overseas slip right into complacency once they come home to Brunei. With no sense of urgency for securing employment and becoming self-sufficient.
We have become 'soft'... and we are in danger of passing this 'softness' on to the next generation.
If we are not careful... it may very well be the undoing of the nation.
Wassalam.
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