But there’s also another factor to consider: your happiness and values. And as your income grows and your investments compound, you may find yourself asking, what is all of this for?
For many of us, money becomes the currency with which all work is valued. This is myopic. The value of what we choose to work at spans far beyond the paycheck that is attached to it.
Most people think it’s for buying things. We all need to buy things. The truth is, we’re not after the money. We’re wanting a feeling – the feeling of contentment, connection, and meaning.
Values are not things. If you are tempted to say, “I value living in a nicer house” or “I value driving fast cars,” try asking yourself why. Keep on asking yourself the question until you get to a fundamental belief.
Time is the limited resource; we are all going to run out of it. Sure, for years we have to trade our time for money. That’s what work is: being compensated for adding value to society.