I get that for a lot of people, money is a yardstick. It’s just not what gets me up every day excited to hit my office.
I advise because I want to help businesses. That’s the motivation. The money comes from doing the work I want to do.
I hand delivered a size exchange for a local buyer of DryFins headed on vacation earlier this week. We sell shorts to allow guys to more fully enjoy their time in the water. That’s why we do what we do - the money comes from doing that work.
My experience working with founders and entrepreneurs is showing me that I’m not alone. While money was certainly a factor in jobs early on (gotta CRUSH it!), many are moving on to solve a problem or scratch an itch they have.
Sure they want to make a living, but it’s the process of doing what they want to do that motivates.
The money is the result of what they are doing, not why they are doing it.
I’ve worked in places with the whole ‘coffee is for closers‘ mentality in Glengarry Glen Ross.
Not my jam.
I lead with what sounds interesting. What makes me excited (and where I see an opportunity). Then I figure out how to monetize.