I attended my youngest brother’s Ted talk last Saturday (13 Sep 2025) in Singapore and I’m so proud of him as he has dedicated his life to Nurturing youth into adults that live with a passion to achieve personal aspirations by founding Praxium more than a decade ago. He is such a talent and has such a focused mission in his life and how I wish he gets a solid patron to let him does what he does which is such an important thing for our youths and society.
Just attending his talk stirred lots of thoughts and reignited something I’ve been thinking of for quite some time. What if the people with the most power and wealth were also the ones driven by the deepest sense of purpose to do good? It’s a question I’ve been wrestling with, and it seems to get to the heart of a pretty significant disconnect in our world.
On one side, you have the powerful and the rich—the movers and shakers. Whether it’s in business, politics, or finance, they hold the keys to incredible resources and influence. But let’s be honest, we often see their focus tilted heavily towards self-interest and profit. The headlines are full of stories about deals that benefit the few, and decisions made without much thought for the collective good.
On the other side are the idealists—the activists, the non-profit founders, the volunteers. These are the people who are fueled by a passionate desire to make the world a better place. They work tirelessly to fix problems, lift up communities, and fight for what’s right. Yet, so many of them struggle for funding, lack influence, and find themselves operating on the fringes of power.
The result is a chasm. The people who can make the biggest changes are often focused on personal gain, and the people who want to make the biggest changes often lack the means to do so. The overlap—that rare individual who is both powerful and profoundly selfless—is so small you’d need a magnifying glass to find it. But what if we made that overlap bigger? What if we could close the gap?
I believe we need a new kind of social contract. We need more powerful and wealthy people to embrace a higher purpose, and we need more idealists to learn how to build power and wealth to amplify their impact.
So, how do we make this happen? It won’t be easy, but we can start by doing a few key things.
For the Powerful and Rich
It’s time to redefine success. It’s not just about the size of your portfolio or the number of people who report to you. True success should include the positive impact you have on the world.
- Integrate purpose into profit. Look for opportunities where doing good and doing well are one and the same. Invest in sustainable companies, fund social enterprises, or create products that solve real-world problems. Your influence can shape entire industries.
- Mentor idealists. Find those passionate, purpose-driven people and use your network, capital, and expertise to help them scale their efforts. You have the business acumen they need to turn a great idea into a lasting movement.
- Advocate for systemic change. Use your political and economic power to push for policies that create a more just and equitable society. Don’t just give money to charity; work to fix the systems that create the need for charity in the first place.
For the Idealists and Change-makers
Your idealism is your greatest asset, but to achieve your goals, you need to think strategically about power.
- Learn to build a business model. Whether you’re a non-profit or a social enterprise, a strong, sustainable financial model is what will allow your mission to thrive beyond a single project. Think like an entrepreneur, not just an activist.
- Master the art of influence. Understand how power works in your field, whether it’s through policy, media, or community organizing. Learn to tell your story in a way that resonates with those who have resources and influence.
- Embrace collaboration. Find powerful allies in business and government who share your vision. Don’t see them as the enemy; see them as partners who can provide the resources and leverage you need to succeed.
Imagine what we could achieve if the powerful and the selfless were one and the same. It’s a vision of a world where profit and purpose are partners, not rivals. And it’s a future worth fighting for.
If you had read this far and is indeed rich and powerful, would you be keen to support a meaningful purpose by helping youths discover and achieve their aspirations? Too many times we have seen young people with so much passion only to grow up living life in a dead end job just to pay bills, put food on the table and go for holidays without passion in life. If you as keen to fuel this mission, let me know. I can connect Louis at Praxium with you.