Why do we want more money?
Everybody wants more, for reasons that can be categorized as either:
- Security
- Power (ambition, achievement, self-confidence)
- Enjoyment (of experiences)
- Altruism
- Or freedom of choice
Very few of us want money for money’s sake, but for what it can allow in our lives. Yet many of us seem to have lost sight of our ultimate goal; we live as if money itself was the object of our desire.
For example, do you know anyone who wants money for the freedom of choice, yet works so hard at her business that she rarely has time to get away?
Or someone who says that his family is the most important part of his life, yet he rarely sees them because of his career?
Now, constant life balance is rarely possible. We all have deadlines and special circumstances that require our extra attention at the office for a while. But what if that becomes the norm?
If our families never see much of us…and we don’t really see an end in sight to that rhythm, how can we say that they are the most important thing to us? The truth is, they were at some point, but no longer; they have been displaced by other more pressing motives.
We might not have intended for that to happen, but it’s the truth. If you are one of those people, be brutally honest: how much is the drive at work to be a good provider, and how much is for other reasons (self esteem, the adrenaline of winning, fear of losing out, etc.)
If our business was supposed to give us freedom but has gobbled up all of our time and energy with no end in sight, when do we think we are going to be able to enjoy that freedom?
What we do with our lives is up to us, and if a person wants to concentrate most of her time on her career, that’s totally her choice. Let’s make sure it truly is a choice and not a runaway life.
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