Gary Vee is one of my favorite entrepreneurs of today. His net worth is $50 million, yet he says he knows many multimillionaires who lost health due to the pursuit of wealth and are miserable people, hating what they do.
He says that not many people love to work all the time, like he does. He even buys and sells in his free time, as business is his passion. He claims that making a million or more a year is indeed possible, but that will require a lot of daily hard work, and do you really want to spend your life this way?
Gary insists that most people would be much happier if they, instead of pursuing the media’s exalted ideal of wealth, would earn little yet have plenty of time to enjoy themselves and do something meaningful with their lives.
He insists that most people would be much more joyous if they would earn enough through their self-expression to lead simple life, and then spend the rest of the time in any way that they please.
I fall into this category. I don’t earn much. But I’m really happy.
That’s because I earn through my creativity, and then I have a lot of time to enjoy the fruits of my labor and do what I please, such as developing myself and traveling.
Even today half of my waking hours were spent cycling in a nearby village as it’s beautiful there. Then I came back to my land (I recently purchased rural land in Lithuania), did some gardening work, and here I am, writing this piece.
I lead a very simple, yet deeply fulfilling life. I do what I want, and such freedom of self-expression is the most important thing to me.
I believe that if people would deeply think over what’s most important to them, they too would find that freedom is a bigger priority than wealth. But because most people are seduced by the media-portrayed ideal life of opulence, they don’t even take time to assess what are the matters of the greatest importance.
Listen to “Don’t Be Afraid to Have Less Than Others” on Spreaker.
And what’s even worse, they see all the people around them displaying their newest gadgets, driving the cars purchased with loans, living in lavish houses that they’re deeply in debt for.
What’s all this display for? What’s the point of living a nicely-decorated lie? If you can’t afford it, don’t buy it. Otherwise debt will take away your freedom.
There’s no need of copying people who try hard to impress others with purchases that aren’t in harmony with their true financial condition. That kind of life is what’s considered a poor man’s way to impress others.
Good times don’t last forever, so should the economy crash, such people would quickly go from a luxurious facade to extreme poverty.
I just recently read an 1867 book on wealth principles and here’s what the millionaire author says about people who live beyond their means:
People in this situation vainly imagine that their real deficiencies and faults do not appear, like the ostrich, which hides his head in the sand or a bush, and conceives that his huge, ungainly form is similarly obscured.
How to Make Money, and How to Keep It by Thomas Alfred Davies
Yes, some people indeed would thrive working hard every day to build wealth empires. And yes, some individuals are bigger than life and their self-expression attracts millions of dollars. But those are very few, and your road might be totally different.
If you try to copy others you may miss your own unique purpose in life. And finding as well as materializing what your special gift to the world is is much more empowering than copying someone else’s.
Instead of obsessing with running after the media-created dream of wealth, it’s best to focus on finding and developing your gifts and becoming the best version of yourself.
If this attracts wealth, so be it. And if it doesn’t, at least you thoroughly enjoyed your life and can boast of having lived meaningfully.
Another gem Simona.
Though my story may sound a bit like a page from a brag book thought of sharing it as it somewhat resonates with what you have said.
Thirteen years ago I got a position that made me our country’s first woman to hold such a position. So I was featured on television and newspapers and got offers to address global conferences, was offered international positions. Was jet setting regularly – Washington, Tokyo, Stockholm, Paris and several other cities due to work.
It was not money that drove me. My passion for work.
I never asked for the post. I was chosen for it and once I was into it I got addicted to work. Worked 16 hours per day seven days of the week as I liked work. Created many innovations in the field. A workaholic in every sense of the word.
If this was not enough, following my masters degree I was asked to teach human rights at the most prestigious university, as a visiting lecturer.
So I was juggling with both my job and teaching.
All this at a relatively young age and it gave me a great sense of achievement.
An early achiever….
However it all came at a price.
I fell sick several times due to work stress but continued. After four years into the post I told management I wanted to give up position. They advised me to delegate work. Told me to take things easy.
The management had always been nice to me.
Delegation wasn’t easy as not everyone had the same dedication, or perhaps that’s how I saw it.
So I continued….and gradually a sense of emptiness started creeping in.
I realized that despite all achievements I was not ‘happy’.
Finally in 2015, eight years into the position and when everyone thought I was at the ‘peak of the career”, I stepped down against the wishes of the management.
After my step down…and when life became ‘normal’ I started noticing the birds and squirrels that came to my garden to eat the bread crumbs left by my brother. I started seeing the beauty in green grass and even my wooden staircase.
I started noticing the little kind gestures of people and started feeling so sorry for the entire human race.
Thanks to my eight year stint during which I got so many things for the company even today I am being looked after fairly well. Now I work as a consultant at a much more relaxed pace.
If someone asks me today as to what I feel is the most important decision in my life, I would not cite accepting the top post.
I would always say its the courage to give it up.
Just ‘being’ is enough for me today.
I still work as I need a livelihood….and I have so much of free time now.
Champika
So few appreciate the small things, yet that’s what gives so much happiness and gratitude. Thank you for sharing your story, I hope your health is good now.
Dear Simona, thanks…my health….the long hours in front of the computer and perhaps due to bad posture I am left a nerve compression on neck….other than that I am fine…I used to get bad bouts of gastritis when I was holding the position. Was hospitalized several times. However I am more or less healed now. Its very sweet of you that you inquired about my health. Thank you so much.
This is another most sought piece of advice from you. Many of such advices have come at appropriate times from your blogs. These are making life easier. Otherwise, it is a non stop journey of life.
Thank you, Ajit.