You Don’t Really Want to Make More Money

My friend is starting a new venture. He is taking the entrepreneurial leap and going into business for himself. I congratulated him, and then I asked him, “How much money do you want to make?” He said, “As much as possible.”

He said, “Well, of course I want to make as much as possible.” Again I told him, “No, you don’t want to make as much as possible, and you need a goal.” Back and forth we went. Until I explained to him why he didn’t want to make as much money as possible.

I told him that if he wanted to make as much money as possible, he’d hire people to do the work for him, and he would lead the business, focusing on the sales, marketing, and ensuring his customers were happy. He’d scale the business up so that he could increase his revenue, his profit, and his personal income. I told him, he’d work a lot of hours, too.

He said, “You’re right. I don’t want to make as much money as I possibly can. I don’t ever want to do those things.” And then he told me how much money he really wants to make, and how he is going to do it. It’s a good plan, and it makes perfect sense.

He values the quality of his life more than he values money. He values his freedom, and he values the time he has with his family. The decision he is making is based on his personal values and goals.

You Don’t Want to Make More Money

You might say you want to make more money, but it isn’t likely that you really mean it. It’s more likely that you mean you would like to be paid more for what you are doing now.

If you really wanted to make more money, you would already be making more money now. You would be working to create more value and take on more responsibility. You would change jobs, get an additional job, or start a business of your own. You would work on weekends, evenings, and early mornings without complaint.

You would be working harder than you are right now. And smarter, too.

If you want to make more money, it is there to be made. But you are going to have to do more than say the words. You are going to have to do things that produce more money.