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What's your motivation to do things if you don't need to make money.

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<div class="bbWrapper"><blockquote data-attributes="member: 72777" data-quote="BizyDad" data-source="post: 984347" class="bbCodeBlock bbCodeBlock--expandable bbCodeBlock--quote js-expandWatch"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-title"> <a href="/community/goto/post?id=984347" class="bbCodeBlock-sourceJump" rel="nofollow" data-xf-click="attribution" data-content-selector="#post-984347">BizyDad said:</a> </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-content"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandContent js-expandContent "> This comment fills me with a large degree of empathy and sadness.<br /> <br /> You don&#039;t have to be financially set to feel this. I think a lot of people get to this point.<br /> <br /> On the one hand, I think this is a normal human reaction. On the other hand, it also sounds like a person that&#039;s just kind of given up.<br /> <br /> Which reminds me of the line from Shawshank Redemption.<br /> <br /> &quot;Get busy living, or get busy dying&quot;.<br /> <br /> It&#039;s the choice that everyone faces. Every day.<br /> <br /> I&#039;m sad because this sounds like you&#039;re on the wrong side of the equation. Even if you aren&#039;t actually, it sounds like at least part of you is.<br /> <br /> But in some ways, this thread might be the most powerful I&#039;ve seen on the forum.<br /> <br /> No one can give you the answers you seek, but I&#039;ll pray you find them. </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandLink js-expandLink"><a role="button" tabindex="0">Click to expand...</a></div> </div> </blockquote>When I made that comment, I didn&#039;t mean that I don&#039;t want to do anything difficult any more. What I really meant was that the challenge needs to have a payoff that I&#039;m willing to work hard for. If I have just given up. I wouldn&#039;t be here trying to find my next new thing.<br /> <br /> In the past, that payoff was money. Why is everyone here working on their businesses so hard? It is to make money. For some that money is a means to an end. For others, money is a way of keeping score.<br /> <br /> To me, each dollar I made always had a purpose. That&#039;s why I had threads like buying a Ferrari for $20k. The challenge was, can you take $20k and buy a Ferrari. My challenges were never, can you make $1M. They would be more like, I want that mountain cabin and it costs $1M. So the challenge would be, can I make $1M so I can buy that mountain cabin.<br /> <br /> I don&#039;t want to do a challenge for the simple fact of doing a challenge.<br /> <br /> When I talk about discomfort, I don&#039;t want discomfort for no reason. When I think about starting a new business, that is adding discomfort to my currently cushy life for no reason. But if you find me a reason, I will jump on that discomfort train happily, because I actually liked the grind when it was all grinding to something.</div>
 
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<div class="bbWrapper"><blockquote data-attributes="member: 23" data-quote="biophase" data-source="post: 984370" class="bbCodeBlock bbCodeBlock--expandable bbCodeBlock--quote js-expandWatch"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-title"> <a href="/community/goto/post?id=984370" class="bbCodeBlock-sourceJump" rel="nofollow" data-xf-click="attribution" data-content-selector="#post-984370">biophase said:</a> </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-content"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandContent js-expandContent "> When I made that comment, I didn&#039;t mean that I don&#039;t want to do anything difficult any more. What I really meant was that the challenge needs to have a payoff that I&#039;m willing to work hard for. If I have just given up. I wouldn&#039;t be here trying to find my next new thing.<br /> <br /> In the past, that payoff was money. Why is everyone here working on their businesses so hard? It is to make money. For some that money is a means to an end. For others, money is a way of keeping score.<br /> <br /> To me, each dollar I made always had a purpose. That&#039;s why I had threads like buying a Ferrari for $20k. The challenge was, can you take $20k and buy a Ferrari. My challenges were never, can you make $1M. They would be more like, I want that mountain cabin and it costs $1M. So the challenge would be, can I make $1M so I can buy that mountain cabin.<br /> <br /> I don&#039;t want to do a challenge for the simple fact of doing a challenge.<br /> <br /> When I talk about discomfort, I don&#039;t want discomfort for no reason. When I think about starting a new business, that is adding discomfort to my currently cushy life for no reason. But if you find me a reason, I will jump on that discomfort train happily, because I actually liked the grind when it was all grinding to something. </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandLink js-expandLink"><a role="button" tabindex="0">Click to expand...</a></div> </div> </blockquote>Speaking of discomfort...<br /> <br /> One interesting thing that I&#039;ve never experienced in my life before is learning something that carries a great physical risk. This past summer <a href="https://www.thefastlaneforum.com/community/members/10479/" class="username" data-xf-init="member-tooltip" data-user-id="10479" data-username="@JasonR">@JasonR</a> and I took mountain biking lessons because we are trying to get better at the technical aspects of it. We have these goals of being able to do a gap jump or drop off a 5&#039; ledge. The consequences of crashing on these things are fairly severe. Landing a jump or a drop definitely gives you a little butt pucker and a spike of adrenaline.<br /> <br /> I can&#039;t think of any class, mentorship, coaching or workout where the progression of learning comes with a feeling of danger. It&#039;s one of those scary and exciting things.<br /> <br /> Our instructor said, if you can visualize yourself doing it, then you can do it. I was like &quot;yes, I can see myself doing it.&quot; He said, good then you are ready to try. I&#039;m like, &quot;Um, really? cause that shit looks scary.&quot; Talk about discomfort. LOL<br /> <br /> But the mature part of me is thinking about the asymmetric risk reward equation and even though I really want to do that jump, I just can&#039;t get myself to do it.</div>
 
<div class="bbWrapper"><blockquote data-attributes="member: 4862" data-quote="Kak" data-source="post: 984350" class="bbCodeBlock bbCodeBlock--expandable bbCodeBlock--quote js-expandWatch"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-title"> <a href="/community/goto/post?id=984350" class="bbCodeBlock-sourceJump" rel="nofollow" data-xf-click="attribution" data-content-selector="#post-984350">Kak said:</a> </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-content"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandContent js-expandContent "> This one is simple. I need to be everything I can be. Anything short of my very best brings me more dissatisfaction than satisfaction.<br /> <br /> I have not, and don’t ever plan to, make the decision to be LESS than I’m capable of. That’s a BIG decision. </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandLink js-expandLink"><a role="button" tabindex="0">Click to expand...</a></div> </div> </blockquote>We can all do more, but I don&#039;t think you should be blindly doing the MOST you can do either. I&#039;m not sitting here saying that I&#039;m just not going to use my current skills. But I need to pick a direction to use them. I can go very fast and far, but in the wrong direction. I have time to think about my next step.<br /> <br /> 10 years ago, I thought like you. I ate, drank and slept business. I never thought I&#039;d want to retire. Retirement is boring. But guess what else is boring too? Working for the sake of working. <br /> <br /> <blockquote data-attributes="member: 4862" data-quote="Kak" data-source="post: 984350" class="bbCodeBlock bbCodeBlock--expandable bbCodeBlock--quote js-expandWatch"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-title"> <a href="/community/goto/post?id=984350" class="bbCodeBlock-sourceJump" rel="nofollow" data-xf-click="attribution" data-content-selector="#post-984350">Kak said:</a> </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-content"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandContent js-expandContent "> I also hated the book “Die With Zero,” thought it was a pile of hot garbage for an entrepreneur. It implies the limitation that work=money. A 1:1 exchange. I can kind of understand it for a job person… Basically the importance of time. Yeah yeah. Beyond that, it sucked. “Experience bucket dividends,” lol, GMAFB. My richest day will be the day I die… I’ll enjoy playing with my wealth more if it’s accumulating faster than I can spend it. I also enjoy accumulating it in the first place. </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandLink js-expandLink"><a role="button" tabindex="0">Click to expand...</a></div> </div> </blockquote>I have many friends that have your same motivation. Money is a scorecard to them. It&#039;s just never been that for me. I guess mine was always real estate. I had a scorecard of real estate in my head. About 6 years ago I set a goal to have a house in Scottsdale, Sedona, Chicago and Colorado. I have accomplished that, plus 2. The problem I found out with my scorecard is that I can&#039;t physically be in all my homes. So the more homes I add to my scorecard, the less enjoyment out of each one I get. Crazy, but I never thought I&#039;d have that issue! I think I need a new scorecard now.</div>
 
<div class="bbWrapper"><blockquote data-attributes="member: 23" data-quote="biophase" data-source="post: 984370" class="bbCodeBlock bbCodeBlock--expandable bbCodeBlock--quote js-expandWatch"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-title"> <a href="/community/goto/post?id=984370" class="bbCodeBlock-sourceJump" rel="nofollow" data-xf-click="attribution" data-content-selector="#post-984370">biophase said:</a> </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-content"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandContent js-expandContent "> Why is everyone here working on their businesses so hard? </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandLink js-expandLink"><a role="button" tabindex="0">Click to expand...</a></div> </div> </blockquote>I guess that&#039;s where I am different.<br /> <br /> I could work literally any business to make money.<br /> <br /> I work this business so hard because it gives me several things that I want from my life.<br /> <br /> Interesting conversations. Ongoing learning. Meeting new people. A shifting landscape of challenges. Helping others achieve their goals.<br /> <br /> I did that off the top of my head, but reading it again it seems like a pretty legit top five. These are the things about my biz that get me up in the morning. That keep me going when times are tough. <br /> <br /> Making money would be in the top 10. If you told me there was another business I could start that would ultimately make me more money but I wouldn&#039;t get these things, I&#039;m not interested. If you told me there was another business I could start that I with my skill set could get more of these things, but I make somewhat less money for a time, I would strongly consider it. <br /> <br /> I don&#039;t want to say that I&#039;m not money motivated, but it&#039;s not my primary concern. I&#039;ve always believed in the mantra that you do the right things and the money follows.<br /> <br /> Shoot, to be honest, I don&#039;t even value the time freedom this business gives me nearly as much as I probably should. I value it from the standpoint that it allows me the flexibility to spend as much time with my kids as needed. But I certainly don&#039;t take advantage of the time period of nearly as much as I could.<br /> <br /> Left to my own devices, I have some days that maybe I wake up late. I&#039;ll take a mental health day off here or there. But ultimately I&#039;m coming back to do this work, because I enjoy the work, it helps me connect with people, and it continually engages my brain.<br /> <br /> There isn&#039;t some great overriding challenge that I&#039;m necessarily looking to accomplish. (I guess it would be figuring out the Google algorithm, but I also don&#039;t believe it&#039;s entirely possible to figure out the Google algorithm) I&#039;m more approaching everything one day at a time, and seeing how far everything will go.<br /> <br /> <blockquote data-attributes="member: 23" data-quote="biophase" data-source="post: 984165" class="bbCodeBlock bbCodeBlock--expandable bbCodeBlock--quote js-expandWatch"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-title"> <a href="/community/goto/post?id=984165" class="bbCodeBlock-sourceJump" rel="nofollow" data-xf-click="attribution" data-content-selector="#post-984165">biophase said:</a> </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-content"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandContent js-expandContent "> Now it&#039;s like playing a game with no score that never ends. </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandLink js-expandLink"><a role="button" tabindex="0">Click to expand...</a></div> </div> </blockquote><br /> In other words, I&#039;ve gotten to this point too, maybe with less zeros involved, but I&#039;m enjoying playing the game. I love playing the game. I don&#039;t plan on ever retiring; I&#039;m happy that the game never ends.<br /> <br /> I keep score with myself. Am I better today than I was yesterday?<br /> <br /> And looking back on it now, I wasn&#039;t always this way. I used to be much more goal oriented, and maybe some part of me still is. I don&#039;t know, the last couple years have been pretty transformative for me too. <br /> <br /> I think part of your solution might just require some new neural pathways. At least that&#039;s what I think happened with me.<br /> <br /> Anyways, I want to thank you for taking the time to respond. And I&#039;m glad to hear that you&#039;re not as despondent as I was thinking you were.</div>
 
<div class="bbWrapper"><blockquote data-attributes="member: 55234" data-quote="Antifragile" data-source="post: 984358" class="bbCodeBlock bbCodeBlock--expandable bbCodeBlock--quote js-expandWatch"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-title"> <a href="/community/goto/post?id=984358" class="bbCodeBlock-sourceJump" rel="nofollow" data-xf-click="attribution" data-content-selector="#post-984358">Antifragile said:</a> </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-content"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandContent js-expandContent "> <a href="https://www.thefastlaneforum.com/community/members/4862/" class="username" data-xf-init="member-tooltip" data-user-id="4862" data-username="@Kak[/USER<br /> <br /> I am not poor, nor do I have f-u money either. But if I wanted to, I probably could retire in luxury. Still I cannot relate to what [USER=23]@biophase">@Kak[/USER<br /> <br /> I am not poor, nor do I have f-u money either. But if I wanted to, I probably could retire in luxury. Still I cannot relate to what [USER=23]@biophase</a> you are sharing. (Sorry about your dog, sad moment for anyone). It sounds like money was the purpose of working hard and now waking up. It&#039;s a mental state situation. If I had more money, I&#039;d have a much larger business, even more employees and I&#039;d love it. </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandLink js-expandLink"><a role="button" tabindex="0">Click to expand...</a></div> </div> </blockquote>I used to think this. Grow my business to $50M, have multiple offices and 50 employees. But no more. I&#039;m happy where my business is at.<br /> <br /> <blockquote data-attributes="member: 55234" data-quote="Antifragile" data-source="post: 984358" class="bbCodeBlock bbCodeBlock--expandable bbCodeBlock--quote js-expandWatch"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-title"> <a href="/community/goto/post?id=984358" class="bbCodeBlock-sourceJump" rel="nofollow" data-xf-click="attribution" data-content-selector="#post-984358">Antifragile said:</a> </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-content"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandContent js-expandContent "> This quote comes to mind:<br /> &quot;Look at a day when you are supremely satisfied at the end. It’s not a day when you lounge around doing nothing; it’s a day you’ve had everything to do and you’ve done it.&quot; - Margaret Thatcher </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandLink js-expandLink"><a role="button" tabindex="0">Click to expand...</a></div> </div> </blockquote>I actually love the lounge around and do nothing days now. But more importantly, my &quot;everything to do&quot; daily list is like 1-2 items long and I get them done in 30 minutes. The problem is that I don&#039;t actively add anything to my plate.<br /> <br /> <blockquote data-attributes="member: 55234" data-quote="Antifragile" data-source="post: 984358" class="bbCodeBlock bbCodeBlock--expandable bbCodeBlock--quote js-expandWatch"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-title"> <a href="/community/goto/post?id=984358" class="bbCodeBlock-sourceJump" rel="nofollow" data-xf-click="attribution" data-content-selector="#post-984358">Antifragile said:</a> </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-content"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandContent js-expandContent "> “The best moments in our lives, are not the passive, receptive, relaxing times—although such experiences can also be enjoyable, if we have worked hard to attain them. <b>The best moments usually occur when a person’s body or mind is stretched to its limits in a voluntary effort to accomplish something difficult and worthwhile</b>. </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandLink js-expandLink"><a role="button" tabindex="0">Click to expand...</a></div> </div> </blockquote>I think the key word in the quote is &quot;worthwhile&quot;. Everyone&#039;s definition of something worthwhile will be different.</div>
 
<div class="bbWrapper"><blockquote data-attributes="member: 72777" data-quote="BizyDad" data-source="post: 984376" class="bbCodeBlock bbCodeBlock--expandable bbCodeBlock--quote js-expandWatch"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-title"> <a href="/community/goto/post?id=984376" class="bbCodeBlock-sourceJump" rel="nofollow" data-xf-click="attribution" data-content-selector="#post-984376">BizyDad said:</a> </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-content"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandContent js-expandContent "> &quot;<a href="https://www.thefastlaneforum.com/community/goto/post?id=984165" class="link link--internal">biophase said:</a><br /> Now it&#039;s like playing a game with no score that never ends.&quot; </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandLink js-expandLink"><a role="button" tabindex="0">Click to expand...</a></div> </div> </blockquote><br /> <blockquote data-attributes="member: 72777" data-quote="BizyDad" data-source="post: 984376" class="bbCodeBlock bbCodeBlock--expandable bbCodeBlock--quote js-expandWatch"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-title"> <a href="/community/goto/post?id=984376" class="bbCodeBlock-sourceJump" rel="nofollow" data-xf-click="attribution" data-content-selector="#post-984376">BizyDad said:</a> </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-content"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandContent js-expandContent "> In other words, I&#039;ve gotten to this point too, maybe with less zeros involved, but I&#039;m enjoying playing the game. I love playing the game. I don&#039;t plan on ever retiring; I&#039;m happy that the game never ends. </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandLink js-expandLink"><a role="button" tabindex="0">Click to expand...</a></div> </div> </blockquote>Your response elicited a memory for me. Many years ago I went to play basketball at a church league. When I got there, I found out that they didn&#039;t keep score. They told me it was because they were playing for fun and didn&#039;t want to anyone getting upset.<br /> <br /> Our team sucked, I know they weren&#039;t keeping score, but I knew that if they were we would be losing by ALOT! First time I got the ball, jacked up a shot and missed. My bad, I said. Then I realized, it doesn&#039;t matter if I miss all my shots because they don&#039;t keep score. And it doesn&#039;t matter if the other team makes all of their shots. Without consequences or rewards, I suddenly didn&#039;t care about the game any more. I guess I&#039;d rather not play, than play for nothing.</div>
 
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<div class="bbWrapper">Biophase - what about doing some coaching again.<br /> <br /> It doesn&#039;t even have to be e-commerce focused - I think a lot of people would really value your overall advice and input on business and life. <br /> <br /> And it could be a good way to get your focus on other things. <br /> <br /> When you did the coaching before did you find it got you fired up and motivated to do more yourself?</div>
 
<div class="bbWrapper"><a href="https://www.thefastlaneforum.com/community/members/23/" class="username" data-xf-init="member-tooltip" data-user-id="23" data-username="@biophase">@biophase</a> what would you be doing if money did not exists? How would you spend your day?</div>
 
<div class="bbWrapper"><a href="https://www.thefastlaneforum.com/community/members/23/" class="username" data-xf-init="member-tooltip" data-user-id="23" data-username="@biophase">@biophase</a> <br /> You say that most would trade places with you. You are right, most: non-entrepreneurs, who have no money or savings, no business etc. <br /> <br /> But let&#039;s talk about the rest of us, the 1%. Anyone who has an 7-8-9 figure net worth and a business? My life is surrounded with family, colleagues, friends. I want to make a real impact in all of their lives. Even billions of Net Worth won&#039;t matter - it&#039;s about action. <br /> <br /> Thinking of trading places with you scares the hell out of me. It has nothing to do with money. It&#039;s your lack of ambition. I am younger, the thought that hitting 50 could meant posting about waking up at 11am because I got nothing to do, nothing to look forward to, nothing motivates me... Or that starting a dog shelter is inconvenient for travel, so I won&#039;t. Even though I want to help dogs... all of this sounds depressing to me. If dogs are important - I hope my mind stays sharp and I find the way. Calling on my new favourite phrase from this form forum <a href="https://www.thefastlaneforum.com/community/members/4862/" class="username" data-xf-init="member-tooltip" data-user-id="4862" data-username="@Kak">@Kak</a> - <b>Think BIGGER</b>. But you don&#039;t, you don&#039;t want to. My point is that when I read your posts here, you do not sound happy, or inspiring to trade places. <br /> <br /> You won&#039;t like my response here, I rub people the wrong way when I say things like the above. Just remember that <b>I have no pony in your race</b>. Sincerely, I only hope that if I lift a mirror and you look at it, you might see something that surprises you, and changes things for the better. <br /> <br /> Good luck, hope you find your new spark, new drive.</div>
 
<div class="bbWrapper"><blockquote data-attributes="member: 23" data-quote="biophase" data-source="post: 984378" class="bbCodeBlock bbCodeBlock--expandable bbCodeBlock--quote js-expandWatch"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-title"> <a href="/community/goto/post?id=984378" class="bbCodeBlock-sourceJump" rel="nofollow" data-xf-click="attribution" data-content-selector="#post-984378">biophase said:</a> </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-content"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandContent js-expandContent "> Your response elicited a memory for me. Many years ago I went to play basketball at a church league. When I got there, I found out that they didn&#039;t keep score. They told me it was because they were playing for fun and didn&#039;t want to anyone getting upset.<br /> <br /> Our team sucked, I know they weren&#039;t keeping score, but I knew that if they were we would be losing by ALOT! First time I got the ball, jacked up a shot and missed. My bad, I said. Then I realized, it doesn&#039;t matter if I miss all my shots because they don&#039;t keep score. And it doesn&#039;t matter if the other team makes all of their shots. Without consequences or rewards, I suddenly didn&#039;t care about the game any more. I guess I&#039;d rather not play, than play for nothing. </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandLink js-expandLink"><a role="button" tabindex="0">Click to expand...</a></div> </div> </blockquote>I like this analogy. <br /> <br /> See, I hear that story, and I think to myself okay here&#039;s a guy who doesn&#039;t value practice.<br /> <br /> That&#039;s all practice is. Going through the activities of a game situation so when the score is being kept, you&#039;re ready. It&#039;s about building muscle memory. It&#039;s about improving. It&#039;s about the ritual of practicing the fundamentals.<br /> <br /> The thing is, there&#039;s always a score being kept. If I was playing in that league, I&#039;d be keenly aware that we&#039;re losing. I&#039;d be even more keenly aware that I missed every shot.<br /> <br /> I don&#039;t need somebody else&#039;s scoreboard for it to matter to me. I&#039;m not externally motivated in that way.<br /> <br /> It matters to me because improvement matters to me. It matters to me because I want to be a guy who can be trusted to dribble the ball, be trusted to pass the ball, be trusted the shoot the ball. And if I&#039;m missing every shot, then I&#039;m not trusting myself. My score keeping is internal. <br /> <br /> It matters to me because I enjoy pondering why I missed every shot, when normally I&#039;m good for xx% of them. I&#039;ll figure out what went wrong, then turn around and go out and dribble, pass, shoot some more.<br /> <br /> And if my teammates don&#039;t pass me the ball, I&#039;m not going to take it personally. I know whether I can handle the ball when given the opportunity. And that&#039;s what I&#039;m here for. Control what I can control.<br /> <br /> I can&#039;t be me if all I care about is the score. The score shouldn&#039;t have an effect on my game. Some people get crushed by the weight to the score. It can demotivate them. Not you though. The great ones thrive with the pressure. For you, you&#039;ve become an excellent scorer/passer/dribbler at business. <br /> <br /> Sticking with the analogy even further, do you want to be Allen Iverson or do you want to be Kobe Bryant at the game of life? Allen famously only cared when the score was being kept. Kobe woke up everyday, got his work out in, practiced his fundamentals, and was icing his knees before other professionals were stirring in their bed. <br /> <br /> Every day is another opportunity to practice this thing called living.</div>
 
<div class="bbWrapper">As a person who is in a similar position I want to add that some posts here completely miss the mark. It does NOT matter what <a href="https://www.thefastlaneforum.com/community/members/23/" class="username" data-xf-init="member-tooltip" data-user-id="23" data-username="@biophase">@biophase</a> would do if money didn&#039;t exist because for all intents and purposes money has NO impact on his life anymore (because he can afford anything he wants). Also, his lifestyle is already super rich. He can have anything he wants (except for stuff you can&#039;t buy).<br /> <br /> So this isn&#039;t really about money. It&#039;s more of a psychological problem that makes you not care about stuff in life, regardless of what it is (material possessions, philanthropy, challenges, self-improvement). It really isn&#039;t about finding a hobby because if you don&#039;t CARE about anything, what would finding a hobby do? Nothing, because you don&#039;t care. Granted, sometimes mood follows action but I doubt that with such a long-term problem that&#039;s the case.<br /> <br /> I myself have ups and downs. Sometimes I&#039;m motivated to engage in new stuff and sometimes I think it&#039;s all meaningless (which in reality it most certainly is; some people are just good at denying this fact). A friend told me I&#039;m dealing with depression and need a therapist and medication. Maybe he&#039;s right but in my mind it isn&#039;t that bad because I do have days when I&#039;m motivated (or at least am not neutral). Are you ever motivated, <a href="https://www.thefastlaneforum.com/community/members/23/" class="username" data-xf-init="member-tooltip" data-user-id="23" data-username="@biophase">@biophase</a>, or for the past year you were always &quot;blah&quot; about every single thing every single day?<br /> <br /> Leaving this Naval Ravikant&#039;s quote here for some pondering:<br /> <br /> <blockquote data-attributes="" data-quote="" data-source="" class="bbCodeBlock bbCodeBlock--expandable bbCodeBlock--quote js-expandWatch"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-content"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandContent js-expandContent "> <i>Here’s a hot tip: There is no legacy. There’s nothing to leave. We’re all going to be gone. Our children will be gone. Our works will be dust. Our civilizations will be dust. Our planet will be dust. Our solar system will be dust. In the grand scheme of things, the Universe has been around for ten billion years. It’ll be around for another ten billion years.<br /> <br /> Your life is a firefly blink in a night. You’re here for such a brief period of time. If you fully acknowledge the futility of what you’re doing, then I think it can bring great happiness and peace because you realize this is a game. But it’s a fun game. All that matters is you experience your reality as you go through life. Why not interpret it in the most positive possible way? <br /> <br /> Any moment where you’re not having a great time, when you’re not really happy, you’re not doing anyone any favors. It’s not like your unhappiness makes them better off somehow. All you’re doing is wasting this incredibly small and precious time you have on this Earth. Keeping death on the forefront and not denying it is very important.<br /> <br /> Whenever I get caught up in my ego battles, I just think of entire civilizations that have come and gone. For example, take the Sumerians. I’m sure they were important people and did great things, but go ahead and name me a single Sumerian. Tell me anything interesting or important Sumerians did that lasted. Nothing.<br /> <br /> So maybe ten thousand years from now or a hundred thousand years from now, people will say, “Oh yeah, Americans. I’ve heard of Americans.”<br /> <br /> You’re going to die one day, and none of this is going to matter. So enjoy yourself. Do something positive. Project some love. Make someone happy. Laugh a little bit. Appreciate the moment. And do your work.</i> </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandLink js-expandLink"><a role="button" tabindex="0">Click to expand...</a></div> </div> </blockquote></div>
 
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<div class="bbWrapper"><blockquote data-attributes="member: 5905" data-quote="MTF" data-source="post: 984437" class="bbCodeBlock bbCodeBlock--expandable bbCodeBlock--quote js-expandWatch"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-title"> <a href="/community/goto/post?id=984437" class="bbCodeBlock-sourceJump" rel="nofollow" data-xf-click="attribution" data-content-selector="#post-984437">MTF said:</a> </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-content"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandContent js-expandContent "> Leaving this Naval Ravikant&#039;s quote here for some pondering: ...<br /> <br /> <i>You’re going to die one day, and none of this is going to matter. So enjoy yourself. <b>Do something positive.</b> Project some love. <b>Make someone happy.</b> Laugh a little bit. Appreciate the moment. And <b>do your work.</b></i> </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandLink js-expandLink"><a role="button" tabindex="0">Click to expand...</a></div> </div> </blockquote><br /> <a href="https://www.thefastlaneforum.com/community/members/5905/" class="username" data-xf-init="member-tooltip" data-user-id="5905" data-username="@MTF">@MTF</a>, how can you and I read the same paragraph but get completely opposing message out of it? I read Naval&#039;s works as a push to do everything I can, to be the best version of myself, to love life and accomplish as much as I can for my own benefit. To do my work...<br /> <br /> And you? ... <img src="/community/imgs/emoticons/em-eeew.png" class="smilie" loading="lazy" alt=":clench:" title="Clench :clench:" data-shortname=":clench:" /></div>
 
<div class="bbWrapper"><blockquote data-attributes="member: 55234" data-quote="Antifragile" data-source="post: 984441" class="bbCodeBlock bbCodeBlock--expandable bbCodeBlock--quote js-expandWatch"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-title"> <a href="/community/goto/post?id=984441" class="bbCodeBlock-sourceJump" rel="nofollow" data-xf-click="attribution" data-content-selector="#post-984441">Antifragile said:</a> </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-content"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandContent js-expandContent "> <a href="https://www.thefastlaneforum.com/community/members/5905/" class="username" data-xf-init="member-tooltip" data-user-id="5905" data-username="@MTF">@MTF</a>, how can you and I read the same paragraph but get completely opposing message out of it? I read Naval&#039;s works as a push to do everything I can, to be the best version of myself, to love life and accomplish as much as I can for my own benefit. To do my work...<br /> <br /> And you? ... <img src="/community/imgs/emoticons/em-eeew.png" class="smilie" loading="lazy" alt=":clench:" title="Clench :clench:" data-shortname=":clench:" /> </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandLink js-expandLink"><a role="button" tabindex="0">Click to expand...</a></div> </div> </blockquote><br /> I didn&#039;t interpret it as something negative and I didn&#039;t post it to justify someone&#039;s lack of ambition.<br /> <br /> I interpret it more like the philosophy of absurdism. That is to say that such a pursuit as yours can generate meaning for an individual, but death still renders the activity ultimately meaningless. So yes, you can find joy and meaning in your life but ultimately it&#039;s completely meaningless because death nullifies everything. It&#039;s a distraction people engage in during their lives to feel good.<br /> <br /> Does it mean being depressed? Not at all. It just means acknowledging that life is absurd. As Reinhold Messner said:<br /> <br /> <blockquote data-attributes="" data-quote="" data-source="" class="bbCodeBlock bbCodeBlock--expandable bbCodeBlock--quote js-expandWatch"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-content"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandContent js-expandContent "> Most of us are forgetting that from the beginning of our life, we are approaching death…Life is absurd. But you can fill it with ideas. With enthusiasm. You can fill your life with joy. </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandLink js-expandLink"><a role="button" tabindex="0">Click to expand...</a></div> </div> </blockquote><br /> Perhaps this quote works better for you <img src="/community/imgs/emoticons/em-smile2.png" class="smilie" loading="lazy" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" data-shortname=":)" /><br /> <br /> Either way, this is how I see it. Not necessarily as a dark thing. People who tend to think too much about the meaning of life and who are struggling to enjoy it may possibly benefit from this philosophy:<br /> <br /> 1. Accept that life IS meaningless. Stop fooling yourself that stuff like making more money, a &quot;meaningful&quot; purpose, or pushing yourself to be the best you can be will suddenly heal you.<br /> <br /> 2. Do whatever the F*ck you want to do instead of being depressed about being unable to find meaning (because there&#039;s none). After all, you get one life so do whatever you want. It doesn&#039;t have to be a &quot;high&quot; purpose because in the end, according to absurdism, there&#039;s no difference between dedicating your life to philanthropy, mountaineering, or a quiet unambitious family life.</div>
 
<div class="bbWrapper">For me, money is the main motivator. Nothing cheers me up more than knowing that I will make money.</div>
 
<div class="bbWrapper"><blockquote data-attributes="member: 23" data-quote="biophase" data-source="post: 924772" class="bbCodeBlock bbCodeBlock--expandable bbCodeBlock--quote js-expandWatch"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-title"> <a href="/community/goto/post?id=924772" class="bbCodeBlock-sourceJump" rel="nofollow" data-xf-click="attribution" data-content-selector="#post-924772">biophase said:</a> </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-content"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandContent js-expandContent "> I&#039;ve been thinking about this alot lately because I&#039;m now at the point where I truly think that I have enough. But I&#039;m not 100% certain yet. And it&#039;s also not as much as people may think. I know that is weird to say, but as you get older, you actually need less and less money. It&#039;s an odd place to be in, where your motivation for doing things ever since you were a teenager suddenly disappears.<br /> <br /> I made this post in July 2020 (<a href="https://www.thefastlaneforum.com/community/threads/how-would-you-spend-1-million-dollars-and-get-no-sellable-value-from-it.96341/" class="link link--internal">HOT TOPIC - How would you spend $1 million dollars and get no sellable value from it?</a>). As you can see, this idea of spending money and having enough has been on my mind for a while now.<br /> <br /> Then, someone recommended this book to me a month ago, (<a href="https://www.thefastlaneforum.com/community/threads/book-discussion-die-with-zero.98387/" class="link link--internal">BOOK - Book discussion: Die With Zero</a>) and it basically reinforced what I had already been thinking.<br /> <br /> Getting back to how much is enough. That&#039;s a tough question. I&#039;m going to be 50 this year and if I estimate that I&#039;ll live till 90, that&#039;s 40 more years of spending money. However, let&#039;s do some math here. If I had $4M, I could spend $100k a year. Many of you may think that $100k a year is not enough. However, if you factor in investments, real estate appreciating, rent increases, it&#039;s pretty clear that one could spend alot more than $100k a year and still have a substantial amount at age 90. So in reality, I could probably spend $150k a year on $4M. Now let&#039;s assume that I had $6M. Well now it&#039;s truly a no brainer. I mean $200k a year for the next 40 years with no living expense?<br /> <br /> Now imagine if I continue to work 5 years. During this time I will increase my net worth and then have only 35 years to go. So now my yearly spend number increases to $250k-$300k? It&#039;s sort of going in the wrong direction. This is why I&#039;m pondering all this right now. Just before I turn 50, and not 55 or 60.<br /> <br /> So where is this going? Well, the funny thing is that alot of the things I have wanted to do was money motivated. And without the money part, I wonder if I still want to do them.<br /> <br /> For example, I&#039;ve always wanted to buy land and build tiny homes on them. Buy why did I want to do this? Well, the building part was cool and the finished product is cool too. But the last part is where you put them on Airbnb and make $200/night x 350 nights = $70,000. Multiply that by 5 tiny homes and you got $350,000/yr coming in. Again the dream was money based. What else would I do with them? Leave them empty? Sell them?<br /> <br /> So I&#039;m wondering if I should still but land and build Airbnb tiny homes, IF I don&#039;t care about what they can bring in. What is the purpose of this project then? Is it a hobby that I&#039;d do regardless of monetary consequences? That&#039;s a question I haven&#039;t answered yet.<br /> <br /> People tell me, you should buy bitcoin... but why?<br /> You should buy XXX stock, but why?<br /> You should buy real estate in XXX, but why?<br /> <br /> Why should I if there is no money motivation?<br /> <br /> This past week me and <a href="https://www.thefastlaneforum.com/community/members/65/" class="username" data-xf-init="member-tooltip" data-user-id="65" data-username="@snowbank">@snowbank</a> went around Sedona looking at lots and new construction. I am trying to look at things without a money lens, but it is so hard. When you stand on a lot that is asking $300k. You look at the beautiful views. But then you ask, how much does it cost to build, how much does the next house over sell for? Then you do the calculations in your head. Hmmm, if I buy this and build this, it will be worth this and I can sell it for this. But should any of that really matter if you want a house of your dreams on this lot?<br /> <br /> I guess I&#039;m trying to get to the point where I don&#039;t make decisions based on money. And I don&#039;t mean I waste money. But the potential profits or future value of things really shouldn&#039;t come into play anymore, if I truly have enough net worth today.<br /> <br /> I&#039;m curious to know so I ask <a href="https://www.thefastlaneforum.com/community/members/1/" class="username" data-xf-init="member-tooltip" data-user-id="1" data-username="@MJ DeMarco">@MJ DeMarco</a>, what is the purpose of your day trading? Is it a fun game you play? Is it something you do to keep your mind sharp? I assume that the day trading returns are a small percentage of your net worth/cash flow?<br /> <br /> Interested to hear everyone&#039;s thoughts. </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandLink js-expandLink"><a role="button" tabindex="0">Click to expand...</a></div> </div> </blockquote>I am now reading and experimenting with calories restriction diet and cold showers, things related to longevity research. <br /> <br /> If I had amassed a financial fortune I would probably spending a larger time perfecting the art of science of it. <br /> <br /> From the perspective of a logical rationale and agnostic individual, after conquering financial freedom the the next hurdle is delaying death. <br /> <br /> It is not just about following a regimented lifestyle and aiming for living 10 years longer. When new scientific breakthrough happens and we could break the natural life expectancy limit of 120 years and achieve a new normal in life expectancy. Reversing aging gene therapy is now theoretically a success with mice. <br /> <br /> But there are necessary conditions for the new technological process to work on you. Your body must not be “damaged beyond repair”. You must be able to financially afford it.</div>
 
<div class="bbWrapper"><blockquote data-attributes="member: 5905" data-quote="MTF" data-source="post: 984448" class="bbCodeBlock bbCodeBlock--expandable bbCodeBlock--quote js-expandWatch"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-title"> <a href="/community/goto/post?id=984448" class="bbCodeBlock-sourceJump" rel="nofollow" data-xf-click="attribution" data-content-selector="#post-984448">MTF said:</a> </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-content"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandContent js-expandContent "> I didn&#039;t interpret it as something negative and I didn&#039;t post it to justify someone&#039;s lack of ambition.<br /> <br /> I interpret it more like the philosophy of absurdism. That is to say that such a pursuit as yours can generate meaning for an individual, but death still renders the activity ultimately meaningless. So yes, you can find joy and meaning in your life but ultimately it&#039;s completely meaningless because death nullifies everything. It&#039;s a distraction people engage in during their lives to feel good.<br /> <br /> Does it mean being depressed? Not at all. It just means acknowledging that life is absurd. As Reinhold Messner said:<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Perhaps this quote works better for you <img src="/community/imgs/emoticons/em-smile2.png" class="smilie" loading="lazy" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" data-shortname=":)" /><br /> <br /> Either way, this is how I see it. Not necessarily as a dark thing. People who tend to think too much about the meaning of life and who are struggling to enjoy it may possibly benefit from this philosophy:<br /> <br /> 1. Accept that life IS meaningless. Stop fooling yourself that stuff like making more money, a &quot;meaningful&quot; purpose, or pushing yourself to be the best you can be will suddenly heal you.<br /> <br /> 2. Do whatever the f*ck you want to do instead of being depressed about being unable to find meaning (because there&#039;s none). After all, you get one life so do whatever you want. It doesn&#039;t have to be a &quot;high&quot; purpose because in the end, according to absurdism, there&#039;s no difference between dedicating your life to philanthropy, mountaineering, or a quiet unambitious family life. </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandLink js-expandLink"><a role="button" tabindex="0">Click to expand...</a></div> </div> </blockquote><br /> This is much better. Thanks <img src="/community/imgs/emoticons/em-smile2.png" class="smilie" loading="lazy" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" data-shortname=":)" /></div>
 
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<div class="bbWrapper"><blockquote data-attributes="member: 33771" data-quote="Fox" data-source="post: 984405" class="bbCodeBlock bbCodeBlock--expandable bbCodeBlock--quote js-expandWatch"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-title"> <a href="/community/goto/post?id=984405" class="bbCodeBlock-sourceJump" rel="nofollow" data-xf-click="attribution" data-content-selector="#post-984405">Fox said:</a> </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-content"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandContent js-expandContent "> Biophase - what about doing some coaching again.<br /> <br /> It doesn&#039;t even have to be e-commerce focused - I think a lot of people would really value your overall advice and input on business and life.<br /> <br /> And it could be a good way to get your focus on other things.<br /> <br /> When you did the coaching before did you find it got you fired up and motivated to do more yourself? </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandLink js-expandLink"><a role="button" tabindex="0">Click to expand...</a></div> </div> </blockquote>This is something I&#039;ve thought about and am doing for some friends right now. I don&#039;t think I want to get into paid coaching again.</div>
 
<div class="bbWrapper"><blockquote data-attributes="member: 55234" data-quote="Antifragile" data-source="post: 984420" class="bbCodeBlock bbCodeBlock--expandable bbCodeBlock--quote js-expandWatch"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-title"> <a href="/community/goto/post?id=984420" class="bbCodeBlock-sourceJump" rel="nofollow" data-xf-click="attribution" data-content-selector="#post-984420">Antifragile said:</a> </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-content"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandContent js-expandContent "> <a href="https://www.thefastlaneforum.com/community/members/23/" class="username" data-xf-init="member-tooltip" data-user-id="23" data-username="@biophase">@biophase</a><br /> You say that most would trade places with you. You are right, most: non-entrepreneurs, who have no money or savings, no business etc.<br /> <br /> But let&#039;s talk about the rest of us, the 1%. Anyone who has an 7-8-9 figure net worth and a business? My life is surrounded with family, colleagues, friends. I want to make a real impact in all of their lives. Even billions of Net Worth won&#039;t matter - it&#039;s about action.<br /> <br /> Thinking of trading places with you scares the hell out of me. It has nothing to do with money. It&#039;s your lack of ambition. I am younger, the thought that hitting 50 could meant posting about waking up at 11am because I got nothing to do, nothing to look forward to, nothing motivates me... Or that starting a dog shelter is inconvenient for travel, so I won&#039;t. Even though I want to help dogs... all of this sounds depressing to me. If dogs are important - I hope my mind stays sharp and I find the way. Calling on my new favourite phrase from this form forum <a href="https://www.thefastlaneforum.com/community/members/4862/" class="username" data-xf-init="member-tooltip" data-user-id="4862" data-username="@Kak">@Kak</a> - <b>Think BIGGER</b>. But you don&#039;t, you don&#039;t want to. My point is that when I read your posts here, you do not sound happy, or inspiring to trade places.<br /> <br /> You won&#039;t like my response here, I rub people the wrong way when I say things like the above. Just remember that <b>I have no pony in your race</b>. Sincerely, I only hope that if I lift a mirror and you look at it, you might see something that surprises you, and changes things for the better.<br /> <br /> Good luck, hope you find your new spark, new drive. </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandLink js-expandLink"><a role="button" tabindex="0">Click to expand...</a></div> </div> </blockquote>Let me clear this up. By no means do I do nothing all day. However, what I call nothing is what many call a full day. I can get more done in one day than most people in a week. That is because I am very efficient. I am also very good at managing processes. However, this doesn&#039;t mean that if I can do the work in 1 hour vs a person taking 8 hours, that I should do 8x the work each day.<br /> <br /> I currently still run a high 7 figure business. But I have gotten it to the point where my current team handles all the day to day. I also own several short term rentals that a property management company manages for me. So basically, I&#039;ve put into place all the fastlane principles to get my life to the point where I don&#039;t spend my day to day working. I&#039;ve also gotten my life to the point where I don&#039;t need more money. Isn&#039;t that what we all strive for?<br /> <br /> So in getting to this point, I have nothing else to do and you say, be ambitious and go do more? I&#039;m asking why? Because guess what. If I go do more, in 5 years I&#039;ll have another business that is running by itself and be making even more money. Then I&#039;ll be in the same spot that I&#039;m in now.</div>
 
<div class="bbWrapper"><blockquote data-attributes="member: 72777" data-quote="BizyDad" data-source="post: 984427" class="bbCodeBlock bbCodeBlock--expandable bbCodeBlock--quote js-expandWatch"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-title"> <a href="/community/goto/post?id=984427" class="bbCodeBlock-sourceJump" rel="nofollow" data-xf-click="attribution" data-content-selector="#post-984427">BizyDad said:</a> </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-content"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandContent js-expandContent "> I like this analogy.<br /> <br /> See, I hear that story, and I think to myself okay here&#039;s a guy who doesn&#039;t value practice.<br /> <br /> That&#039;s all practice is. Going through the activities of a game situation so when the score is being kept, you&#039;re ready. It&#039;s about building muscle memory. It&#039;s about improving. It&#039;s about the ritual of practicing the fundamentals.<br /> <br /> The thing is, there&#039;s always a score being kept. If I was playing in that league, I&#039;d be keenly aware that we&#039;re losing. I&#039;d be even more keenly aware that I missed every shot. </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandLink js-expandLink"><a role="button" tabindex="0">Click to expand...</a></div> </div> </blockquote>I was keeping score in my head. I knew we were losing. I cared, but nobody else did. And because of that I played down to the level that they were playing at. I didn&#039;t like playing with no consequence. I didn&#039;t view it as practice, but maybe I should have. I actually have never viewed a pickup game as practice. Because those are the only real games you have, unless you enter a league.</div>
 
<div class="bbWrapper"><blockquote data-attributes="member: 5905" data-quote="MTF" data-source="post: 984437" class="bbCodeBlock bbCodeBlock--expandable bbCodeBlock--quote js-expandWatch"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-title"> <a href="/community/goto/post?id=984437" class="bbCodeBlock-sourceJump" rel="nofollow" data-xf-click="attribution" data-content-selector="#post-984437">MTF said:</a> </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-content"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandContent js-expandContent "> As a person who is in a similar position I want to add that some posts here completely miss the mark. It does NOT matter what <a href="https://www.thefastlaneforum.com/community/members/23/" class="username" data-xf-init="member-tooltip" data-user-id="23" data-username="@biophase">@biophase</a> would do if money didn&#039;t exist because for all intents and purposes money has NO impact on his life anymore (because he can afford anything he wants). Also, his lifestyle is already super rich. He can have anything he wants (except for stuff you can&#039;t buy).<br /> <br /> So this isn&#039;t really about money. It&#039;s more of a psychological problem that makes you not care about stuff in life, regardless of what it is (material possessions, philanthropy, challenges, self-improvement). It really isn&#039;t about finding a hobby because if you don&#039;t CARE about anything, what would finding a hobby do? Nothing, because you don&#039;t care. Granted, sometimes mood follows action but I doubt that with such a long-term problem that&#039;s the case. </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandLink js-expandLink"><a role="button" tabindex="0">Click to expand...</a></div> </div> </blockquote>I think the question being asked is, what is the point? And I&#039;ve asked this question years ago which is how I got to this point. Years ago, I thought if I took $250k and bought myself a vacation home in Colorado, what benefit did my $250k create? If I let my friends use the vacation home for 10 years, the house may have increased the happiness of 20-50 people. However, if I took the $250k and started a business that helped dogs. The $250k would have increased the happiness of thousands. That is why I started my business and to date it has now donated over $10M in stuff to dog rescues and continues to do so. I&#039;m not selling it. I&#039;m still running it. The reason I grow it is not so I add more dollars into my account, but it is because then I can donate even more.<br /> <br /> It&#039;s the stuff outside of this business that I&#039;m asking. What else? I&#039;ve got alot of time on my hands.<br /> <br /> It&#039;s not that I don&#039;t care about anything. It&#039;s more about, what do I care about enough to dedicate more time to.<br /> <br /> <blockquote data-attributes="member: 5905" data-quote="MTF" data-source="post: 984437" class="bbCodeBlock bbCodeBlock--expandable bbCodeBlock--quote js-expandWatch"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-title"> <a href="/community/goto/post?id=984437" class="bbCodeBlock-sourceJump" rel="nofollow" data-xf-click="attribution" data-content-selector="#post-984437">MTF said:</a> </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-content"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandContent js-expandContent "> Are you ever motivated, <a href="https://www.thefastlaneforum.com/community/members/23/" class="username" data-xf-init="member-tooltip" data-user-id="23" data-username="@biophase">@biophase</a>, or for the past year you were always &quot;blah&quot; about every single thing every single day? </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandLink js-expandLink"><a role="button" tabindex="0">Click to expand...</a></div> </div> </blockquote>I think I&#039;ve been like this for the past 2-3 years. I&#039;ve usually taken a vacation from June to September and when I returned back home in October I was always ready to go to work. But one year, I came back and didn&#039;t have that feeling anymore, I just stayed in vacation mode.</div>
 
<div class="bbWrapper"><blockquote data-attributes="member: 23" data-quote="biophase" data-source="post: 984515" class="bbCodeBlock bbCodeBlock--expandable bbCodeBlock--quote js-expandWatch"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-title"> <a href="/community/goto/post?id=984515" class="bbCodeBlock-sourceJump" rel="nofollow" data-xf-click="attribution" data-content-selector="#post-984515">biophase said:</a> </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-content"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandContent js-expandContent "> It&#039;s not that I don&#039;t care about anything. It&#039;s more about, what do I care about enough to dedicate more time to. </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandLink js-expandLink"><a role="button" tabindex="0">Click to expand...</a></div> </div> </blockquote><br /> Do you think it has to be something pro-social where others benefit from it or is there anything you care about enough personally to satisfy your own wants/needs? I assume that at this level it&#039;s probably only or mostly about contribution?</div>
 
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<div class="bbWrapper"><blockquote data-attributes="member: 5905" data-quote="MTF" data-source="post: 984519" class="bbCodeBlock bbCodeBlock--expandable bbCodeBlock--quote js-expandWatch"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-title"> <a href="/community/goto/post?id=984519" class="bbCodeBlock-sourceJump" rel="nofollow" data-xf-click="attribution" data-content-selector="#post-984519">MTF said:</a> </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-content"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandContent js-expandContent "> Do you think it has to be something pro-social where others benefit from it or is there anything you care about enough personally to satisfy your own wants/needs? I assume that at this level it&#039;s probably only or mostly about contribution? </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandLink js-expandLink"><a role="button" tabindex="0">Click to expand...</a></div> </div> </blockquote>I really think that my own wants and needs just disappeared once I could afford them.<br /> <br /> When I look back the past few years. It&#039;s like I just realized that I can have all the stuff I&#039;ve ever wanted and I just went out and bought them all. For example, I was driving a 2005 4Runner. I saw a really nice lifted new 4Runner in a parking lot one day and thought I really like that car. The next morning I drove to the dealer and bought one, got it lifted plus big tires. Done.<br /> <br /> Prior to last year, the most expensive mountain bike I bought was $2300 from craigslist. I had been riding this old bike for 5 years when I could have easily afforded a better one. Now in the last year I spent $14,000 on mountain bikes.<br /> <br /> So I realized that I did begin to spend money and purchase things I wanted. But it also made me realize that I didn&#039;t want alot of stuff. Else I would have already bought them.<br /> <br /> edit: Typing this out has also made me feel that I was delaying gratification for many things in my life too. I definitely do not do that any more. I wonder if that has also made my wants disappear because many times wants and things that you want but cannot afford. Now that I can afford them, a want is fulfilled within a few days.</div>
 
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<div class="bbWrapper">I just do what I want and try to help others whilst doing it. Wealth to me is just fun tokens. I believe that, men especially, are here as men to evolve as spirit. A comfortable life from birth does not equal spiritual progress IMO. I don&#039;t have children, the thought of bringing kids into this current clown world is a scary thought to me. But if I did, I wouldn&#039;t be leaving them an inheritance. They need to gain that themselves and earn the self development the process gives. It&#039;s not the end point that counts, it&#039;s the journey to the end...truth is there is no end. If your goal is $10M net worth and you get to $10M do you just kill yourself because you reached your goal? Of course not, you set new goals. The journey is never ending; the snake eating it&#039;s own tail. The hero&#039;s journey is never ending.<br /> <script class="js-extraPhrases" type="application/json"> { "lightbox_close": "Close", "lightbox_next": "Next", "lightbox_previous": "Previous", "lightbox_error": "The requested content cannot be loaded. Please try again later.", "lightbox_start_slideshow": "Start slideshow", "lightbox_stop_slideshow": "Stop slideshow", "lightbox_full_screen": "Full screen", "lightbox_thumbnails": "Thumbnails", "lightbox_download": "Download", "lightbox_share": "Share", "lightbox_zoom": "Zoom", "lightbox_new_window": "New window", "lightbox_toggle_sidebar": "Toggle sidebar" } </script> <div class="bbImageWrapper js-lbImage" title="dcqsLTU.png" data-src="/community/proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FdcqsLTU.png&amp;hash=ea172ac664bad9cdf61e2f20a6505dcb" data-lb-sidebar-href="" data-lb-caption-extra-html="" data-single-image="1"> <img src="/community/proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FdcqsLTU.png&amp;hash=ea172ac664bad9cdf61e2f20a6505dcb" data-url="https://i.imgur.com/dcqsLTU.png" class="bbImage" data-zoom-target="1" style="" alt="dcqsLTU.png" title="" width="" height="" loading="lazy" /> </div><br /> <br /> I&#039;m fortunate to have experienced nonduality through meditation so I know, at the end of the day, nothing really matters in the grand scheme of things. Make honest, well thought out choices and don&#039;t second guess yourself. <br /> <br /> As for wealth, there&#039;s some figure like 90% of wealth is spent in the last 5 years of peoples lives, ie end of life hospital treatments. Personally when I start getting to that age I&#039;m just going to go out into the wilderness with no clothes on, meditate, catch hypothermia and die. Why end a joyous life in misery? This is how every animal on earth does it, except humans, who spend an enormous amount of time, money, and other peoples sadness, extending their lives when they aren&#039;t even mobile enough to enjoy it.</div>
 
<div class="bbWrapper"><blockquote data-attributes="member: 23" data-quote="biophase" data-source="post: 984367" class="bbCodeBlock bbCodeBlock--expandable bbCodeBlock--quote js-expandWatch"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-title"> <a href="/community/goto/post?id=984367" class="bbCodeBlock-sourceJump" rel="nofollow" data-xf-click="attribution" data-content-selector="#post-984367">biophase said:</a> </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-content"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandContent js-expandContent "> I have thought about something similar. Since my passion is helping dogs, I&#039;ve thought about starting a really cheap doggy daycare, or a company that builds dog houses that makes no profit.<br /> <br /> The problem is that I don&#039;t want to start another business. I think much of this comes from already knowing how much work and effort goes into starting a business. For sure, my next business needs to start with me hiring people. I just don&#039;t want to do the day to day stuff any more. It&#039;s just not exciting for me.<br /> <br /> Honestly, what still excites me is buying houses, remodeling them, furnishing them and then short term renting them. I spend alot of my day browsing real estate listings. But I can buy only 1-2 houses a year, so it doesn&#039;t take up much time at all. </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandLink js-expandLink"><a role="button" tabindex="0">Click to expand...</a></div> </div> </blockquote>I own rentals in my mobile home park. It&#039;s a pain to manage, but I provide the only group of affordable housing in my community. I have 20 households on disability or seniors -- or both. I have 50 kids who live here. Every once in a while I really get to see what it all means to people who have the housing. Many have nowhere else to go if I wasn&#039;t here for them. <br /> <br /> I have a disabled vet tenant who is having end-of-life issues. She walks with 2 canes. When I went to town yesterday, she rode along with me. I was able to help her get some groceries. My husband came and helped her carry them into her house. <br /> <br /> The people I want to help with new business are represented by the people who show up at my office porch to fill their water jugs. I have a hose bib and a hose out there that I let them use. I have dumping facilities for their RV during the summers. And then there are the other people who show up and pay me a small fee to take a shower in my office bathroom. <br /> <br /> Yes, we make a good living off of our rentals and I&#039;m very good at managing things. I could sell out and walk away. But, what I&#039;m trying to say is that it gets very real when you actually see and talk to the people you are helping. It&#039;s the small kindnesses that really count. Many of these people have no one who cares about them. Sometimes it&#039;s just smiling and saying hello that is enough.</div>
 
<div class="bbWrapper">There is a lot of gloomy nihilism on this thread.<br /> <br /> From a Christian (I am not one to preach at all by the way so I’m not preaching) or rather, western philosophy perspective, this is...how do the experts say... “whack, bro.”<br /> <br /> You should have a family. And your family matters. They will inherit your legacy, and hopefully, pass it on to their people too.<br /> <br /> And through countless generations, even when your name is forgotten, your life will have mattered - significantly.<br /> <br /> Look, I know we are tiny blinks in life, but we all matter tremendously when you think about the butterfly effect, the human race, and the doubling of generations coming after you.<br /> <br /> That’s not to even speak of what you may gain after you leave this life, which I am working on being more conscious of myself. Maybe you don’t believe in heaven or even any other afterlife? Well... many people do.</div>
 
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<div class="bbWrapper"><blockquote data-attributes="member: 23" data-quote="biophase" data-source="post: 984521" class="bbCodeBlock bbCodeBlock--expandable bbCodeBlock--quote js-expandWatch"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-title"> <a href="/community/goto/post?id=984521" class="bbCodeBlock-sourceJump" rel="nofollow" data-xf-click="attribution" data-content-selector="#post-984521">biophase said:</a> </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-content"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandContent js-expandContent "> I really think that my own wants and needs just disappeared once I could afford them. </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandLink js-expandLink"><a role="button" tabindex="0">Click to expand...</a></div> </div> </blockquote>I agree. The things I used to want to buy hold no power over me anymore. They aren&#039;t even interesting. If there is an item that I want now -- I can buy it, rent it, trade for it, or borrow it. If I do own a &quot;thing&quot; and find that I don&#039;t want it anymore, I go out and find someone who needs that item more than I do. Giving it away is many times more fun than ownership. Most of my wants now are for personal values and characteristics that I must earn rather than purchase.</div>
 
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<div class="bbWrapper">Say yes to more people and activities.<br /> <br /> I don&#039;t think you&#039;ll discover your next mission here on this thread or from deeply thinking about it.<br /> <br /> Most of the things we are attracted to or push against are things that happen in our day to day lives.<br /> <br /> Went through a &quot;not really bothered about anything&quot; funk too over the last 6 months. Financially comfortable (for a single 24 y/o), real estate management biz on cruise control, ability to achieve my low level goals/travel, kind of like Rob mentioned in his post. Many of the hobbies I engage in don&#039;t require all that much money.<br /> <br /> The only way I know to drag myself out of this is to be around more people and say yes to more random things. Things that take you out of your daily routine. This was even more difficult with the lockdowns etc as I spent a lot of time living alone and isolating after foreign travel or close contacts and when sick.<br /> <br /> I wouldn&#039;t beat yourself up too hard over all this. Everyone goes through this at different levels and at different stages of their lives.<br /> <br /> P.S I know its been nearly two years but I really enjoyed our chat at the summit. Things have gone well with the property business over the last two years. Not as fast as I would have wanted but I&#039;m still making solid progress. I often think back on your comments about how you invest post 2008. It seems that you are a casualty of the stunning success of your methods now!</div>
 
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<div class="bbWrapper"><blockquote data-attributes="member: 92164" data-quote="nothingness" data-source="post: 984524" class="bbCodeBlock bbCodeBlock--expandable bbCodeBlock--quote js-expandWatch"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-title"> <a href="/community/goto/post?id=984524" class="bbCodeBlock-sourceJump" rel="nofollow" data-xf-click="attribution" data-content-selector="#post-984524">nothingness said:</a> </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-content"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandContent js-expandContent "> I just do what I want and try to help others whilst doing it. Wealth to me is just fun tokens. I believe that, men especially, are here as men to evolve as spirit. A comfortable life from birth does not equal spiritual progress IMO. I don&#039;t have children, the thought of bringing kids into this current clown world is a scary thought to me. But if I did, I wouldn&#039;t be leaving them an inheritance. They need to gain that themselves and earn the self development the process gives. It&#039;s not the end point that counts, it&#039;s the journey to the end...truth is there is no end. If your goal is $10M net worth and you get to $10M do you just kill yourself because you reached your goal? Of course not, you set new goals. The journey is never ending; the snake eating it&#039;s own tail. The hero&#039;s journey is never ending.<br /> <div class="bbImageWrapper js-lbImage" title="dcqsLTU.png" data-src="/community/proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FdcqsLTU.png&amp;hash=ea172ac664bad9cdf61e2f20a6505dcb" data-lb-sidebar-href="" data-lb-caption-extra-html="" data-single-image="1"> <img src="/community/proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FdcqsLTU.png&amp;hash=ea172ac664bad9cdf61e2f20a6505dcb" data-url="https://i.imgur.com/dcqsLTU.png" class="bbImage" data-zoom-target="1" style="" alt="dcqsLTU.png" title="" width="" height="" loading="lazy" /> </div><br /> <br /> I&#039;m fortunate to have experienced nonduality through meditation so I know, at the end of the day, nothing really matters in the grand scheme of things. Make honest, well thought out choices and don&#039;t second guess yourself.<br /> <br /> As for wealth, there&#039;s some figure like 90% of wealth is spent in the last 5 years of peoples lives, ie end of life hospital treatments. Personally when I start getting to that age I&#039;m just going to go out into the wilderness with no clothes on, meditate, catch hypothermia and die. Why end a joyous life in misery? This is how every animal on earth does it, except humans, who spend an enormous amount of time, money, and other peoples sadness, extending their lives when they aren&#039;t even mobile enough to enjoy it. </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandLink js-expandLink"><a role="button" tabindex="0">Click to expand...</a></div> </div> </blockquote>You&#039;re very idealistic. I thought I had it all worked out too -- until I got to those forks in the road...</div>
 
<div class="bbWrapper"><blockquote data-attributes="member: 51608" data-quote="WJK" data-source="post: 984265" class="bbCodeBlock bbCodeBlock--expandable bbCodeBlock--quote js-expandWatch"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-title"> <a href="/community/goto/post?id=984265" class="bbCodeBlock-sourceJump" rel="nofollow" data-xf-click="attribution" data-content-selector="#post-984265">WJK said:</a> </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-content"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandContent js-expandContent "> My new business is to help the little guy in my community. </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandLink js-expandLink"><a role="button" tabindex="0">Click to expand...</a></div> </div> </blockquote>This reminded me of what got me started. Thanks.<br /> <br /> <blockquote data-attributes="member: 51608" data-quote="WJK" data-source="post: 984602" class="bbCodeBlock bbCodeBlock--expandable bbCodeBlock--quote js-expandWatch"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-title"> <a href="/community/goto/post?id=984602" class="bbCodeBlock-sourceJump" rel="nofollow" data-xf-click="attribution" data-content-selector="#post-984602">WJK said:</a> </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-content"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandContent js-expandContent "> it gets very real when you actually see and talk to the people you are helping </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandLink js-expandLink"><a role="button" tabindex="0">Click to expand...</a></div> </div> </blockquote>This is why I still try to do free Zoom calls with people. It keeps me grounded.</div>
 
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