Love your work or don't work at all?!.?

[run_fly]

Did this article Steve wrote make people think?

It really struck me and re-think about my career and finances.

I have a career that I absolutely love and I will be will off financially following this career (pilot) but I also run a part time network marketing business to increase my wealth but I am doing this business not because I love or enjoy doing it..

Before reading this article I thought sure why not build wealth using network marketing, I don't really enjoy doing it and I get tired being on the phones all the time but in the long run I will have more money.... Being passionate about personal development it seemed increasing wealth is an important aspect of personal development

But now I am rethinking it all

Before my thought process was

extra work to earn extra money on the side = increase wealth = increase happiness and have a better life and more freedom

Now I am rethinking this

doing something you don't enjoy to improve wealth = deteriorating your spirit and health = not worth it

This article is really making me think. I'm starting to believe increasing wealth is only worth it if you really enjoy the journey.

[1000feet]

It's all just tools. A career you really like can be a tool to enjoy your life more without having to pay more. A business can be a tool to give yourself time to do other things by doing a few things that are motivated by profit. In the end it should be for a good goal, but if you think it's better to get there by increasing your income now that's a start.

[Brutha]

increase wealth = increase happiness

Often that equation doesn't work. If you are well off financially additional money won't increase your happiness significantly.

You might also consider what investing more energy in that career that you love will do for you.

[smartile]

I agree with Brutha and would suggest a new math applies,

increase happiness = increase wealth

Do what you love

Stephen Martile — Personal Development Made Simple

[Jonathan Mead]

I think the problem is when money is confused for actual wealth. Wealth is abundance in all aspects of your life, abundance of love, happiness, free time, passion, etc.

If a lack of money is causing you stress, you can't eat or pay your bills, than yes, money can bring you some relief and happiness. Money is simply a tool, it's not an end in itself.

[Ali from The Office Diet]

I agree -- I've cut down from 5 days a week to 4 because I can afford it (I'm keeping my outgoings low!) and because I want time to do what I love -- writing and blogging.

The only way money makes me HAPPIER is to increase the amount of freedom I have to do what I want to do. I suspect you'll find the same. Tying yourself into a job you dislike when you don't have to seems a bad idea to me; it'll inevitably decrease your freedom.

Best,

Ali

[run_fly]

Thanks for the reply guys...

I am trying to get my head on straight about money. It seems like every decision to increase my wealth has consequences.

Another thing I was considering doing to increase wealth is to be an active investor but there again it takes time away from other areas in my life to study and will increase stress and I don't enjoy or love it as much as my career.

I really like the idea of the stress free oldschool method of.
1.Work hard at my job (I love my job and it feels great) Even tho it's a typical 9 to 5 salary job...
2.Put money away to get out of dept
3.Invest in Index funds, mutual funds, bonds.
4. Be smart with greed that sets in when I get money from my job and keep liabilites low. (Ex: I don't need a car right now in my current life situation)

5.Don't bother with investing in real estate or any other investments that require active work to take care of.

Simple, stress free, passive, and balance - Enjoy life without obsessing with money. I know it goes againsts some wealth gurus philosophies with Robert Kiyosaki.

I know this will not make me incredibly rich or anything but it's really ok. Life is short and for me personally being really well off financially is not a main priority of my life values. What I love to do in life happens to pay me 50k to 100k a year. I am a big student of personal development and at the beggining I thought getting rich was important being it a major topic of personal development.

[Dave Kaminski]

Originally Posted by run_fly

Thanks for the reply guys...

I am trying to get my head on straight about money. It seems like every decision to increase my wealth has consequences.

Another thing I was considering doing to increase wealth is to be an active investor but there again it takes time away from other areas in my life to study and will increase stress and I don't enjoy or love it as much as my career.

I really like the idea of the stress free oldschool method of.
1.Work hard at my job (I love my job and it feels great) Even tho it's a typical 9 to 5 salary job...
2.Put money away to get out of dept
3.Invest in Index funds, mutual funds, bonds.
4. Be smart with greed that sets in when I get money from my job and keep liabilites low. (Ex: I don't need a car right now in my current life situation)

5.Don't bother with investing in real estate or any other investments that require active work to take care of.

Simple, stress free, passive. - Enjoy life without obsessing with money.

I know this will not make me incredibly rich or anything but it's really ok. Life is short and for me personally being really well off financially is not a main priority for my life values. I am a big student of personal development and at the beggining I thought getting rich was important.

Do whatever makes you happy and causes the least or no harm to others. If working 9-5 and saving makes you happy, DO IT.

Don't get caught up in over spending and cut out the luxuries you can do with out (plumbing is utility, a pool is luxury) and you won't have to work at some point if you continue to save.