I want to make money, plain and simple. I know many people say that you need to find deeper purpose in your work. That you need to service the world. Bring forth positivity and real value to society. Cure diseases. Help homelessness. Improve mental health. And yes, those are all admirable causes to strive for.
But, honestly, for my current career, I simply want to make money. I am enamored by this capitalist society that values making a profit – for better or worse. To my understanding, that is what capitalism is. Simply making money for your own well-being.
It may seem kind of selfish from one standpoint. After all, isn’t it kind of greedy to simply want to make money for yourself? Aren’t you putting yourself in the same shoes as those gluttonous corporate CEO’s that get golden parachutes of millions of dollars every time they flee a company? Where is the honor? Where is the purpose? Where is the deeper value in that?
I guess those are all valid questions. But honestly, there is value in simply wanting to make money as well. There is a place in society for those businesspeople (or just people in general) that want to make a quick buck. That want to make as much money as possible. That want to strike it rich. Capitalism isn’t the big evil system where people profit at other people’s expense.
It can breed healthy competition, innovation, and self-improvement. It causes people to work hard and provide good service to their customers. Because chances are, if you are earning money, then you are providing some sort of inherent value to your customers. Value that they are willing to pay for in cold hard cash. That says something right there.
For me, when I’m making money, I know that I am providing real value to my customers. And they are, in turn, providing value to their customers. And on and on it goes down the never-ending supply chain. Eventually, this value turns up in the economy. And this value turns up to the everyday people on the streets.
The product I sell, which goes into making plastics, which goes into automobiles, is then sold to the end consumer that will use it to drive his or her family to soccer practice. Or to the ballet lesson. Or to the school in general. There is inherent value in simply wanting to make money. It will trickle down to society.
So, making money is not wrong. Don’t be afraid to work simply because of wanting to make money. To make a profit. To want to put food on the table and pay the bills and the rent. Most people are not privileged enough to pursue purpose in their everyday jobs. Most people are living paycheck to paycheck. So, it’s okay to simply want to make money.
Purpose and “finding your why” can be a privileged question to ask. And honestly, what’s wrong with labeling making money as your passion? This economic system rewards people who want to make a profit.
Ever since I started in my family business a long time ago, my desire was simply to expand the company and to make as much money as possible. I saw more potential in working in this business than working in the standard 9 to 5 job. I saw more potential to make it big and make an impact on the world thru my own terms. And I will be the first to admit that I am lucky to have this platform to work in.
Many businesses get a bad rap if they claim to simply want to make money in order to sustain their business. The critiques involve selfishness and greed and ego and all that other good stuff. But I think that it is okay to simply want to make more money. It is kind of fun. And I enjoy the process and the grind and doing business with high potential clients.
That’s what makes it fun to be a businessman. Of course, you don’t want to have money as your sole goal, because that could lead to cutting corners and general cheating the system. So, yes, it’s good to temper your money-making ambitions with the need to service to your stakeholders and provide high quality products. It’s a balancing act.
But capitalism shouldn’t be seen as an evil system. It’s what leads to the developing of multi-national corporations and the employment of thousands and millions of people. It provides a jolt to the economy. And yes, it provides much needed tax dollars for the government to use for hopefully meaningful causes.
No one system is better than the other. It’s all relative. And it’s all a double-edged sword. But capitalism, if used correctly, can provide enough meaning for its players and stakeholders. Enough money to survive and thrive. Enough activity to feel fulfilled. Enough innovation to sustain the next generation. And enough fun and entertainment to last a lifetime.