So the 1 million dollar will turn into a huge sum of 270-280 million rupees. That is quite a lot, if you ask me. Even a dream of such intensity will seem unrealistic. But, I have recently watched "Obsession", so I find it way more easier to believe it. So yeah, let me brag about it for some time.
First Reaction
My first reaction would probably be disbbelief. In a country where pessimism has taken over life in every field and many people struggle to make ends meet, such an amount would be life changing, not just for me but for others as well. Yet, being a realist, I do not believe that suddenly receiving a large amount of money will automatically change everything.
For me, busy-ness is the real business
So one thing is clear: I am not quiting my job at all. Many people might call me a idealistic for saying this, but I see work as more than just a source of income. It gives me structure, purpose, social experiences and opporutnities to learn something on daily basis. Therefore, I would continue working until I found myself fully engulfed with other things. Leaving everything behind just because money arrived does not seem like a wise decision. Financial freedom should create opportunities, not sluggish nature.
Lucky in a while
Another necessary thing is to understand that I would never rely solely on luck. Winning money may be a fortunate event, but building and continuing with it requires knowledge, discipline, planning and hard x smart work combo. History is full of stories about people who become rich overnight and lost everything within a few years. All this because they believed that luck is going to continue till death tear them apart. I would not like to treat this money as a reward to spend, rather as a responsibility to manage.
Win-Win Scenario
My major focus would be on building small and medium enterprises (SMEs) throught my country. While many people might expect investments in glamorous businesses or trendy stocks; I would prefer businesses that directly contribute to communities and create employment oppotunities.
Moving forward, I would establish dairy farms, poultry farms, agricultural gardens and eventually invest in commercial plazas and apartment buildings. It may sound traditional investments, but there is a reason these sectors continue to survive. They address basic human needs and provide long-term economic stability.
There is the bonus point in these businesses. They are not individual projects; they are communal efforts. They create a chain of opportunities that extends far beyond proper understanding. Let us say if these ventures collectively employed around 1000 people. Those 1000 individuals would then support their families, educate their children and contribute to local economies. In reality, those simple jobs would positively impacts thousands of lives.
I would love to see people earning through honesty and with dignity. That dignity is, often, more valuable than the money itself. Instead of creating complete dependence, productive bussinesses create sufficiency. The impact is shared by all. From owner to employee to family, from one family to another community, and ultimately, to society as a whole.
Agriculture related businesses would be of great importance to me. Because I come from South Punjab, a region largely famous for it contribution to such field. Investing in agriculture gardens and farmss would not only create employment but also contribute quite positively to the environment. It may be a meager drop, but it does matter especially in this harsh weather conditions. More trees, greener spaces and better practices can improve environment as well as economy.
In my opinion, the greatest form of charity is helping them become capable of standing on their own.
And of course, helping people would remain one of my priorities. However, my approach is slightly different in this manner. I would love to establish a charity house. Still, I would prefer a system that encourages folks to earn their way out rather than depend entirely on generations. Charity is noble and necessary, especially during the harsh times, but long-term sweetness is only possible through empowerment. Rather than simply giving away money, ironical I am getting it the same way, I would focus on creating training centers, emplyement opportunities even with zero experience and then skill developing programs. If someone can work, learn and grow, then they can also earn. It is this simple.
Knowing Taxes
Legal wealth in any form is full of taxation and financial compliances. Receiving and managing such a large sum requires better understandings. So, I would make sure that taxes, regisstrations and all relevants obligations to be handled properly. I am just going to hire some experts and then decide on the best approach. On humanitarian grounds, good financial management is not about avoiding taxes (still easy in this world); it is about understanding them and planning accordingly. And once again, responsible wealth benefits not only individuals but also the broader economy.
I would also dedicate 25 percent of the total amount to future investments and emerging world. As we all know, the world is changing rapidly. And I would like to stay connected with modern technology, renewable energy, education initiatives or innovative agricultural solutions.
In the end, traveling the world is certainly enjoyable. Buying luxury items also sounds tempting. But neither of those options would create lasting impact. And what about happiness? For me the real value of wealth lies in what remains after the excitement fades. Businesses continue operating. Employees continue earning. Families continue growing. Communities continue developing.
"WE make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give". - Winston Churchill
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This is my entry for IndiaUnited's Contest: What would you do if you won $1 million tomorrow?
