When is it Enough?
Does a better salary mean that our desires and appetite for more will finally resolve itself, or will that simply let on to acquiring more?
Another friend of mine decided to get his degree in English. However, upon graduation, a college friend asked him to jump on board with her to start a new technology company. She knew he could hack it, and she found great value in his computer skills. Within a matter of five years, each of the executives of this company purchased small islands off Malaysia and retired (all under 30). My friend ended up staying in North America and pursuing one of his biggest dreams—to rebuild and run a lake resort. Now, almost ten years later, he is going back to school to receive further education and entering the business world from another angle.
Again, at what point are we satisfied? At what point can we say, we’ve earned enough money or we’re earning enough? Is it about “x” amount of dollars in the bank? Is it about “x” amount of achievements?
I Have a Few Ideas on This Topic.
Society, as a whole, has a tendency to see the world through “green” eyes. By that I mean, naturally, humankind is greedy. The more we get or consume, the more we want. If we can afford to try one thing, we want to try another and another. Until we can appreciate simplicity and what we have, we will always want more. Until we are happy with ourselves, we will always seek for more. Individuals, who have accrued large sums of debt, continue to struggle with debt the more money they make. The reason being is that the more they make, the more they increase their spending and their budgets. There is no appreciation for building up a savings and living on a disciplined amount of money. The other part of this argument is those who stop early to say enough is enough, but in our economy, is it really? Retirement is a scary stage for many individuals. Just how much or how little can one live on and have a decent quality of life, when they finish working?
As far as climbing up the corporate ladder, I’m not sure what the answer is. I’ve always been taught that we strive to reach our potential, no matter what we do. If we are a student in school, we seek out the best learning possible and the best grades. If we are a teacher or a doctor or engineer, we reach to the highest heights possible. I guess for me, personally, I have a hard time stopping early or short of the end goal. My life is driven by the goals I want to achieve during my lifetime. To say that I was satisfied short of those achievements would be a lie for me. Of course, not everyone lives with this philosophy. Many can say they’ve achieved enough. Many can say they’ve earned enough. Many can be satisfied in the job opportunity they’ve found and finish it out.
Where is the Value Created
The value of work plays an important role here. What makes vacations highly enjoyable and relaxing? It’s the fact that we have worked ourselves to death to get there. We sacrifice day in and day out, and then, the vacation obtains value. However, to vacation non-stop or play non-stop, without ever achieving something seems pretty pointless. While retirement seems great, and maybe it will be at the proper age, retiring in one’s 20’s or 30’s seems to create an empty void. If individuals do seek this, I would suggest filling that new time with something worthwhile—such as starting a non-profit organization or dedicating one’s life to a new found service to help others. Work gives us purpose and meaning.
Each person will answer differently to the questions asked above. The important thing is that an individual is contemplating these ideas on a regular basis. Again, at what point have you earned enough? At what point are you satisfied with what you are earning? At what point are you satisfied with your life’s achievements and work?
