March 3rd, 2021 | Updated on June 27th, 2022
The capitalist system has put us in a perpetual state of overachievement and burnout, as we lose sight of what is important in life.
Personal transportation is a case in point and the problem becomes clear when you ask yourself why nobody dreams from childhood to own a Kia Forte. No, instead, we envision that, when we make it big one day, a selection of exotic sports cars and bespoke luxury carriages will grace our driveway.
Then why was Bill Gates’ daily conveyance a Ford Focus for several years at the height of his career, and not a Lamborghini or the latest Ferrari?
Surely, a billionaire can do his bit to reinforce the ‘rich’ stereotype and show us where his automotive fancy takes him, money being no object? What does he know about the meaning of life that we don’t? Bill Gates and Paul Allen would eventually become the two cofounders of Microsoft, but it all started in Lakeside School in Seattle, where they met and became friends. Reflecting on what brought him his success, he would later return to his alma mater to talk to the students about this.
In summary, these were his thoughts on success:
- Perhaps surprisingly, he emphasized the importance of getting good-quality sleep.
- He also stressed the importance of neverending curiosity and the eagerness to learn new things.
- He said he’s also an unfailing optimist and that the students should remember past successes in the midst of failures.
- Letting go and delegating when necessary is vital.
Keeping it simple then, and prioritizing the quality of life and learning experiences to aid achievement, is the recommendation. But what does this really mean for you and me?
Keeping It Simple
Keeping it simple doesn’t mean sacrificing ambition and subduing your ambitions. Quite the contrary.
It means focusing on the things that enhance your experiences and reduce stress, so you can focus on the job at hand without being distracted by the clutter that wealth brings. And we can only stick to our guns if we start exercising these muscles even before the wealth comes.
The Kia Forte Analogy – Again
There’s a reason we keep returning to the Kia Forte. Think of it as Bill’s Ford Focus. And think of all the reasons it wouldn’t even cross your mind as your car of choice.
Wouldn’t you prefer something more luxurious than a Kia? Think of the features premium models from boutique brands could offer and that you’d be missing out on if you have to settle for a Kia:
- Plenty of space to stretch out and a huge trunk for all your cargo
- Premium touchscreen infotainment with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Ventilated seats, multi-zone climate control, and wireless phone charging
- Powerful, turbocharged performance and a seamless automatic transmission
- A full suite of safety and driver-assistance features
- An incredible 10-year, 100,000-mile drivetrain warranty
The next bit of information speaks to both our prejudices and priorities in life: we have described the features of the 2021 Kia Forte above.
It is available from your local Kia dealership and in top-tier spec is full to the gunwales with every conceivable extra Kia is willing to fit, and it won’t even touch an MSRP of $30,000 dollars in the USA.
And it conveys you in safety, comfort, and reliability down the same road as a Rolls-Royce Ghost or fast Italian coupe does, but at less than a tenth of the price and with vastly better fuel economy than even the ‘base model’ Rolls-Royce, if there is such a thing.
In fact, there are currently no luxury vehicles, no matter how expensive, that can best the humble Forte’s mechanical warranty. So it requires us to ask ourselves how much we really need and how many of those trappings add value to our lives or just bragging rights.
What Matters Most, Not What Costs Most
Do people need $350,000 hand-made luxury cars or do they just buy them because they can? But at what price, other than in terms of finances? You cannot pop down to the local campsite with it or park near anyone at the dog park, lest someone scratches your made-to-order $10,000 paint job.
Daily joys of life you wouldn’t think twice about jumping in your Forte and making the most of. While your expensive article sits in wait for its special care in a climate-controlled garage, the simple things in life pass us by – and the happiest and most care-free people most often wave from their Kia Fortes.
It is time to return to the basics and take our priorities for a test drive. Make sure you get good sleep, don’t lose your sense of curiosity, remain an optimist, and learn to delegate.
