I expect most people would answer, 'Yes', to that question. I mean, who wouldn't want a few million dollars sitting in their bank account. But is that really the right question?
I recently took some time off work and spent a lot of time thinking about my goals, my life, and my finances. I started asking myself, Why? Why am I working all these jobs? Why am I burning myself out? Why am I doing what I doing? Is there an income that would make me happy? No. Is there a job that would make me happy? Nope. Is there a specific dollar amount in my account that would make me content? Hmmmm. I could not figure that out.
I'm a numbers person so I like having a numerical value in mind but with all the pondering I did, I realized no number would ever satisfy me. Once I hit a goal I automatically make another one. So, what did I really want? What I want is FREEDOM. Freedom to do what I want, when I wanted, wherever I wanted, with whom I wanted, and as many times as I wanted.
Most of us don't ever achieve this type of freedom. The few that do, might reach it after retirement if they are lucky. But so much time is lost prior to that including the loss of people, experiences, and your youth.
I realized I had my freedom tied to an elusive number. One that once I reached, I knew I wouldn't be satisfied. I made a decision to stop focusing on reaching a number and instead focus on enjoying the freedom of being ME.
"Freedom is being you without anyone's permission."
So maybe, instead of looking to be the next Jeff Bezos or Oprah Winfrey, what you really want is the freedom to be yourself.
My freedom is to travel and educate. Getting paid is not important, because that is is my passion!