I am not a rich man. I'd like to be (one day), but I am not now. When I am, I will have more shit and travel more places, but I doubt I'll be a lot happier.
I've got a general thesis about money: it's an enabler, not an end in and of itself. Money does not wake up naked in bed with you on a Sunday morning nor does it hold an intelligent, riveting conversation. But it can buy you booze and let you live in a big city. Most importantly, it enables you to "have impact." That's a phrase one of my mentors coined today and I like it (thanks Seth!).
There's a few things that motivate me, and surely entertainment has its place. But really, my favorite thing is working with genuine people toward a common, substantive goal. And really, those two things go together: Good people want to do real shit.
If you want to find good people, start doing real shit. And what is real shit? It's a nebulous idea, I know, so I'll clarify: Things that have impact on the world, that affect how we live as a society and function as a species. The best people gravitate toward real accomplishment. They get frustrated with work (and people) that lacks substance. Assuming they've got the requisite guts, they quickly leave that which is safe and unsatisfying for greener pastures. And inevitably, they cluster together in networks of quality.
Since I quit my day job as a paramedic in NYC and went full-time on SpeakerText, I've found myself meeting some fantastic human beings. It's been awesome.
So to all you people I've met and interacted with over the last 6 weeks who've made my life better: Thank you. Leaving my old job and a steady source of income behind has been scary, and interacting with you has made me feel awesome about making the jump. Even if this startup thing were to crash & burn (it's not, we're doing some AWESOME stuff and making some killer progress on the biz dev side), I feel enriched already.
Anywho, I thought of this because I'm starting to notice that there's a positive correlation between wanting to have impact and overall trustworthiness and good character. And the people who just want money and are shameless opportunists, well, that correlates with something too, and it's not good.
Saying this aloud makes it sound obvious and trite, but c'est la vie. I am grateful.
And when you yourself are trying to figure a person out and judge their overall character and trustworthiness, I'd ask what you think it is that motivates them? Look at their past. Is it money they seek, is it fame or is it achievement?
Got some good stuff here, been following you for a couple of weeks. There’s a sublime satisfaction in creation, and obviously more than money, is necessary to lead a fulfilling life. Whether it be turnips or startups, getting your hands dirty and your mind working will lead to great fortunes, but they are themselves the real wealth.
Although on my part, I find it difficult to find anyone like that. I’m in early development of my startup, and recruiting people who are genuinely interested in creating something worthwhile has proven tougher than I planned. Admittingly, I haven’t been as proactive pursuing such people as I could, nonetheless it is hard.
On another note, I had an idea you might like, relevant to your startup. Hit me up.
-John
Got some good stuff here, been following you for a couple of weeks. There’s a sublime satisfaction in creation, and obviously more than money, is necessary to lead a fulfilling life. Whether it be turnips or startups, getting your hands dirty and your mind working will lead to great fortunes, but they are themselves the real wealth.
Although on my part, I find it difficult to find anyone like that. I’m in early development of my startup, and recruiting people who are genuinely interested in creating something worthwhile has proven tougher than I planned. Admittingly, I haven’t been as proactive pursuing such people as I could, nonetheless it is hard.
On another note, I had an idea you might like, relevant to your startup. Hit me up.
-John
Great post, obviously. I’d add one to your punchline list — independence. It’s a bit more selfish but “enables” the other three directly.
Great post, obviously. I’d add one to your punchline list — independence. It’s a bit more selfish but “enables” the other three directly.
Amen Matt. Just came across Chris Dixon’s and Caterina Fake’s responses. Good luck out there!
PS SpeakerText is very cool. Nice work.
Amen Matt. Just came across Chris Dixon’s and Caterina Fake’s responses. Good luck out there!
PS SpeakerText is very cool. Nice work.
Dude, great f’ing blog. Will add it to my must-read list!
Dude, great f’ing blog. Will add it to my must-read list!
Thanks for the love, dude.
And yes, it is a pay-it-forward culture. That is perhaps my favorite thing about it.
Thanks for the love, dude.
And yes, it is a pay-it-forward culture. That is perhaps my favorite thing about it.
Glad to hear it. Ping me on twitter @mattmireles or drop me a line sometime. I’d love to hear about what you’re doing and how/if I can help.
Glad to hear it. Ping me on twitter @mattmireles or drop me a line sometime. I’d love to hear about what you’re doing and how/if I can help.
Simple, yet kinda profound, no?
Simple, yet kinda profound, no?
Just repaying an old debt, bro.
Just repaying an old debt, bro.
I have not heard of this, which is ironic as I just sent Gary V an email a few days ago. Thanks for the heads up.
I have not heard of this, which is ironic as I just sent Gary V an email a few days ago. Thanks for the heads up.
Sounds all like Gary V’s ‘Legacy over currency’ mantra. You will go farther with legacy then some currency currently available at this point in time. It’s part of the reputation economy that is currently developing.
Sounds all like Gary V’s ‘Legacy over currency’ mantra. You will go farther with legacy then some currency currently available at this point in time. It’s part of the reputation economy that is currently developing.
Well said Matt. The hollowness of “moneypreneurship” is at the core of the missioneurs movement. There’s a great post by one of our founders that echos your idea of “doing real shit”:
http://www.missioneurs.com/2010/04/big-ideas-are-not-enough/
Well said Matt. The hollowness of “moneypreneurship” is at the core of the missioneurs movement. There’s a great post by one of our founders that echos your idea of “doing real shit”:
http://www.missioneurs.com/2010/04/big-ideas-are-not-enough/
Matt,
Couldn’t agree with you more. Thanks for inspiring me.
Kev
Matt,
Couldn’t agree with you more. Thanks for inspiring me.
Kev
I agree completely. I am a little bit behind you in the start-up process but I am meeting a ton of great people and find that entrepreneurs love to help each other out. It is a lot different than in some of the corporate jobs I have had.
Love your Blog. I came across it a few weeks ago.
Bill
I agree completely. I am a little bit behind you in the start-up process but I am meeting a ton of great people and find that entrepreneurs love to help each other out. It is a lot different than in some of the corporate jobs I have had.
Love your Blog. I came across it a few weeks ago.
Bill
“there’s a positive correlation between wanting to have impact and overall trustworthiness and good character.”
interesting idea…
“there’s a positive correlation between wanting to have impact and overall trustworthiness and good character.”
interesting idea…