I don't love money, but I love having money.
I don't like being stressed about money. I don't like feeling trapped. I don't like someone else controlling my time.
Having money removes these stressors from my life, and let me tell you, they are HUGE for achieving a tranquil life.
This is why research shows that beyond a specific number, more money doesn't make people happy. Because for most of us, removing money problems makes us happier than having more money to buy stuff.
So I love having money because it removes pain.
Beyond that, I love having money because of the freedom and autonomy it grants.
I don't necessarily like spending money, though I spend without hesitation for the things that matter.
I've been doing this entrepreneur thing for 15 years now.
Many people start companies and become wealthy overnight.
I don't envy these people because I know how much they still have to figure out.
I don't compare my journey to theirs because I know it's the journey that matters and not the money or status or awards or attention.
People confuse money as the goal. Money is not the goal.
A good life is the goal, one with balance and fulfillment and community and purpose.
Let me tell you something about money.
I've had no money, negative money, and now some money.
When you get money:
- You realize how little changes (and if you were hoping to unlock the secret to happiness, you quickly realize that was delusional)
- You'll realize how little money you need to take care of the base needs—security, autonomy, freedom of time, etc.
But many people get money and are too caught up in the getting of money that they fail to recognize these critical lessons.
So they fall into the trap of more. More money, more awards, more status, more distractions, more pursuit.
They believe more is the answer.
It never is.
This is why I believe the "dream" for the modern human should be this:
- Enough money and investments to control what you work on and how you spend each day.
- Freedom of location and time—if you have a job, remote work and flexible work can be yours if you make yourself valuable to an employer (or you can freelance or be a one-person business).
- Longterm saving and reinvesting $ that is left untouched so you can eventually reach FU money status (while this isn't needed, you should still go for it).
- Lots of free time to spend with friends and family and on hobbies and passion pursuits.
- The security and freedom to raise a family and to be around for it.
- Peace of money from money worries.
When you get a little bit of money, you realize how little money you actually need to live the list above.