Hi Botixx,
thank you for your thoughtful reply.
I must correct you though on one of your points; "Making money is a zero sum game, and in order for me or You to have more of it, someone somewhere in the world is bound to have less. "
This is not in any way true.
Worldwide poverty levels have dropped massively in the last five decades. This is only one sign, that debunks that idea that for someone else to do well, someone must do poorly.
Keep in mind that gold and silver are mined daily and governments create money, economies grow giving more people of an opportunity to have more money.
When you create value for another person and they are willing to part with their hard earned money for that value, they are not losing. In fact, they are gaining. You both do.
You may have just provided them with a tool or knowledge that gives them the chance to add value to another person, who in turn will buy something from them. Again, growing more value.
I've said it often - "Your paycheck, (or the money you earn) is simply a reflection of the number of people you have positively impacted"
So while money may move from one person to another, the person gaining the money is not the only one who is gaining. It is the value to the other person that must also be considered.
And yes - be sure to invest your money, in yourself, in your business and/or in markets that will return you "more" than you put in. Money doesn't do much good under your mattress except make it hard and lumpy.