Do you ever worry that there’s not enough prosperity to go around? Enough money, enough time, enough influence, enough paying clients?

I’ll be honest. I do.

Sometimes it seems like others get their fair share, or more, and there isn’t enough left for me.

While listening to NPR’s Planet Money podcast recently, I heard of an influencer, Rony Boy, who received a very different share of the prosperity pie than another influencer.

Adrian Ma, a host on Planet Money, shares, “Rony told us about this time he and a white influencer were hired for the same marketing campaign. He says they both had about the same number of followers. But when Ronald asked that white creator how much they were getting paid, they said a thousand bucks. And meanwhile, Rony says he wasn’t offered any money upfront, just a potential commission.”

Rony is intent on learning the game well, so the game doesn’t use him.

Sometimes, the game doesn’t seem to be fair.

While I admit to having a certain level of privilege, I had an experience recently that made me feel like I was not being fairly treated.

For years, I have enjoyed cheesecake for my birthday. This year, due to a couple of events happening around the time of my birthday, I didn’t get my cheesecake until a couple weeks later. I had blackberry cheesecake, and it was one of the best I’ve had.

After I thought everyone (that wanted one) had a slice of the cheesecake, I was thrilled to discover there was still a slice left. A slice I was eager to enjoy. I checked with everyone to see that everyone had a piece. I learned that Martha, my wife, had not yet had a slice. Oh no!

I felt bad.

I also felt sad/disappointed that I wasn’t going to enjoy a second piece.

Martha told me I could have it. She’s generous like that. Plus, she wanted me to have it because it was my birthday cake.

I cut the remaining piece in half and put it away in the refrigerator, so she could enjoy it when she wanted.

I also checked with the rest of my family to see if anyone had more than one piece, which would explain why there was only one slice of cheesecake left rather than two. They all insisted they only had one slice.

Somehow the infamous Not Me got a piece. I don’t know how or why.

I was able to enjoy my slice, and later Martha enjoyed her slice.

In a finite world, it often seems like there’s not enough to go around and make everyone happy. In this case, we discovered there was a way to make everyone happy. I believe we live in a prosperous world where everyone can enjoy a share. Sometimes, it requires a little more creativity and intention.

I’ll tell you, sharing that last slice of cheesecake made it even sweeter than the first.

Be sure to download Prosperity Breakthroughs 12 women who are breaking the barriers to equal opportunity.

Shine brightly!

Stef

(xe/xem)

equal pay fair share gender equality shared prosperity