3 ms·
I have observed in various walks of life that whoever is in "it" for the money ends up being, at best, moderately useful for their organization, moderately effe
by ozataman 14y ago
I have observed in various walks of life that whoever is in "it" for the money ends up being, at best, moderately useful for their organization, moderately effective at growing, moderately effective at learning and ultimately moderately effective at being successful. And that's one of the more optimistic scenarios. As an ironic consequence, they also end up being only moderately successful at getting rich, that is if they even have the mental chops necessary and a healthy dose of luck.
This is like Orwell's double-think: You need to care every once in a blue moon about your well being (compensation, benefits, etc.) and then immediately forget about it and do whatever it is that you're doing for the joy of it. I have found people's sustained focus on their own well-being to be one of the best predictors of their (lack of) contribution to wherever they are in life.
- imissmyjuno 14y agoBeing in it for the money is not the same as caring about your well-being. I have no trouble imagining someone who does not care about money but cares greatly about their well being.
- setrofim_ 14y agoI don't think double-think is necessary here. You need to be passionate about what you do; but you then find a way of using that passion to take care of your well-being. It's not about pursuing one at the expense of the other (well, maybe sometimes, but we don't all have to be "struggling artists").
- Retric 14y agoMore people make 1+ million per year working for other people than cross get there from doing a start-up. And a 7 figure income is a long way from 'wealthy' in today's world. Of course that's not to say you can't retire on 2 million and live vary comfortably, but just because you get a windfall at 17 does not mean your 'done'.